EP2212204B1 - Device for filling and closing tobacco pouches - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for handling bags for tobacco in particular with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

In a known device for filling and closing tobacco pouches ( EP 0 870 683 B1 ) pouches are positioned in pairs on the perimeter of a turret rotating about a vertical axis as a support for the bags. The revolver forms - as in a square - four pairs of opposing holding surfaces for each two tobacco pouches. The pockets are closed after filling a tobacco portion by sealing in the region of the opening.

Furthermore, an apparatus for producing and filling tobacco bags with winding tab is known (US Pat. EP 1 048 230 A1 ), in which the production, filling and closing of the bags take place in the region of a rectilinear conveying path. The filled and sealed bags are then transferred to a revolver-shaped head with holders for fixing the filled pockets of the bags. The head is arranged with organs for folding the bag into the closed position by wrapping the bag. The finished bags - with the bag wrapping tab - are placed on a discharge conveyor. The system is complex and complex due to the very different aggregates for the individual steps in the production, filling and closing the bag and when folding the bag.

The invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device for the production of bags for tobacco in particular, which achieves a high reliable performance in a compact design.

To solve this problem, the device according to the invention is characterized by the features of claim 1.

The device according to the invention is designed such that the treatment of the bags, namely in particular filling, closing and winding of the tab in a plane of movement of the bag transversely to the direction of Zuförderns and / or the conveying. For this purpose, the bags are taken from the revolver and transported through this along a corresponding orbit. This results in a space-saving division of the trajectories. Moreover, it is possible to process several bags in parallel (transverse) planes, preferably simultaneously and synchronously.

The turret as a carrier and transport means for the bag may consist of several sub-revolvers arranged next to each other coaxially, which transport several bags side by side through the processing stations. The turret or each turret is formed with a polygonal cross-sectional shape, in particular hexagonal, ie with six flat outer surfaces or wall sections, to each of which a holder for a bag is attached. Due to the arrangement of the turret or the partial turret in upright planes or transversely to the feed direction of the bag, a plurality of partial turrets can lie next to one another in the axial direction without substantial change in the machine dimension, thereby considerably increasing the performance of the device.

The bags positioned on the revolver or on the turret surfaces pass through processing stations corresponding to the workflow, namely a filling station, optionally a suction station, a sealing or sealing station and a winding and ejecting station. In the area of these stations are mainly stationary, movable processing organs arranged.

Continuation of the description according to WO 2009/059729 , Page 2, from line 23 beginning with: "Further details of the invention .." to the end of the description.

Fig. 1

einen ungefüllten, offenen (Tabak-)Beutel in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Fig. 2

den Beutel gemäß Fig. 1 während der Befüllung,

Fig. 3

den Beutel während eines (ersten) Faltschritts,

Fig. 4

den Beutel gemäß Fig. 1 bis Fig. 3 in Schließstellung,

Fig. 5

ein Bewegungsschema der Beutel in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Fig. 6

einen Beutelförderer, nämlich einen (Trommel-)Revolver in Seitenansicht,

Fig. 7

den Revolver gemäß Fig. 6 in Seitenansicht gemäß Pfeil VII in Fig. 6,

Fig. 8

einen Ausschnitt VIII des Revolvers gemäß Fig. 6 in vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 9

eine Darstellung analog zu Fig. 9 einer Reinigungs- bzw. Absaugstation,

Fig. 10

die Einzelheit gemäß Fig. 9 in Ansicht entsprechend Pfeil X in Fig. 9,

Fig. 11

eine nochmals vergrößerte Ansicht von Organen gemäß Fig. 9, Fig. 10, teilweise im Schnitt,

Fig. 12

eine weitere Einzelheit XII der Fig. 6, nämlich eine Schließstation, teilweise im Schnitt,

Fig. 13

eine Einzelheit des Details gemäß Fig. 12 in einer veränderten Stellung,

Fig. 14

eine Ansicht bzw. einen Schnitt XIV-XIV der Fig. 6, nämlich eine Wickel- und Abgabestation,

Fig. 15

eine Einzelheit der Darstellurig gemäß Fig. 14 in der Schnittebene XV-XV, bei vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 16

eine Station des Revolvers, nämlich Falt- und Abgabestation in Seitenansicht, in vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 17

die Einzelheit gemäß Fig. 16 bei veränderter Stellung einzelner Organe,

Fig. 18

die Station gemäß Fig. 16, Fig. 17 bei der Anbringung eines Verschlussstreifens am Beutel,

Fig. 19

die Station gemäß Fig. 16 bis Fig. 18 bei der Übergabe eines Beutels an einen Abförderer,

Fig. 20

ein anderes Ausführungsbeispiel für den Revolver im Längsschnitt.

Further details of the invention relate to the specially trained processing organs of the bag in the different stations. These details will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

an unfilled, open (tobacco) bag in perspective view,

Fig. 2

the bag according to Fig. 1 during filling,

Fig. 3

the bag during a (first) folding step,

Fig. 4

the bag according to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 in closed position,

Fig. 5

a movement scheme of the bag in perspective,

Fig. 6

a bag feeder, namely a (drum) revolver in side view,

Fig. 7

according to the revolver Fig. 6 in side view according to arrow VII in Fig. 6 .

Fig. 8

a section VIII of the revolver according to Fig. 6 on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 9

a representation analogous to Fig. 9 a cleaning or suction station,

Fig. 10

the detail according to Fig. 9 in view according to arrow X in Fig. 9 .

Fig. 11

a further enlarged view of organs according to Fig. 9, Fig. 10 , partly in section,

Fig. 12

another detail XII the Fig. 6 namely, a closing station, partly in section,

Fig. 13

a detail of the details according to Fig. 12 in an altered position,

Fig. 14

a view or a section XIV-XIV the Fig. 6 namely a winding and dispensing station,

Fig. 15

a detail of the Darstellurig according to Fig. 14 in the section plane XV-XV, on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 16

a station of the revolver, namely folding and dispensing station in side view, on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 17

the detail according to Fig. 16 with changed position of individual organs,

Fig. 18

the station according to Fig. 16, Fig. 17 when attaching a closure strip to the bag,

Fig. 19

the station according to FIGS. 16 to 18 when transferring a bag to a conveyor,

Fig. 20

another embodiment of the revolver in longitudinal section.

The exemplary embodiments in the drawings relate to the production or filling and closing of bags 10 for a respective tobacco portion 11 or for other particulate or granular or fibrous packaged goods. The bag 10 is made of an optionally multilayer or multilayer film or other, thin packaging material.

The bag 10 is formed from a single, strip-shaped blank. Two at their edges by seams 13 interconnected, folded along a fold edge portions of the blank form the front wall 14 and rear wall 15 of a pocket 12. The rear wall 15 forms a projecting beyond the pocket 12 extension, namely a winding tab 16. The bag 12 has an opening 17, which serves to fill the bag 10 or to remove the contents. The opening 17 is suitably closed, in particular by a reusable closure strip 18, which is preferably designed as a peel-seal seam.

When filling and closing the bag 10 this is prefabricated, unclosed fed to a filling and sealing station. In its area, the opening 17 is exposed, introduced the tobacco portion 11 and the bag 12 then closed. This is followed by a folding or winding process, provided that the bag 10, as here, is formed with a winding tab 16. The dimensions of the bag 10 are preferably chosen so that three folding or winding sections are formed, which in Fig. 1 are indicated by transverse, dashed lines. The (filled) pocket 12 forms a first winding portion or leg. This is followed by a middle section 19, which consists of a part of the pocket 12 above a filling region and a part of the winding strap 16. At the central portion 19 includes a peripheral tab 20 at.

During the completion of the bag 10, namely during folding, the procedure is such that the middle section 19 is grasped by folding or holding members, in the present case by holding fingers 21, 22, which grip and fix the central section 19. Thereafter, first the bag 12 is folded as a folding leg against the central portion 19. Finally, the edge tab 20 is folded against the bag 12, here against the rear wall 15 thereof. In this finished position, the winding tab 16 or its edge tab 20 is fixed by a standard holding means, here by an adhesive strip or a tape 23. This is attached to the finished, wound bag 10 in the present embodiment ( FIGS. 16 to 18 ). Alternatively, the unfilled bags 10 supplied to the filling and sealing station can already be provided with a tape 23 attached to the winding flap 16.

The bag 10 is held in a vertical plane before or during the winding process. A special feature is that while the bag 12 is located above the winding tab 16 and therefore by downward or downward folding ( Fig. 3 ) is placed against the central portion 19. The downwardly facing edge tab 20 is therefore folded upwards. The holding members or retaining fingers 21, 22 remain until the completion of the bag or during a transfer to a discharge conveyor in the holding position according to Fig. 4 ,

The central aggregate of the filling and sealing station is a bag conveyor which conveys the bags 10 through the required number of processing stations. The bag feeder is a (drum) turret 24, a hollow body which is driven to rotate about a horizontal axis, in successive steps from station to station. The revolver 24 has a continuous outer wall 25 as a carrier of the externally applied bag 10. The hollow body is according to the embodiment Fig. 10 closed on only one side by an end wall 26, but opposite open ( Fig. 10 ). The end wall 26 serves to mount the revolver 24 on a drive shaft 27.

On the outside of the revolver 24, namely on the outer wall 25 receptacles 28 are arranged for bag 10. For this purpose, the revolver 24 is provided with a polygonal outer contour. A plurality of respective planar wall portions 29 are interconnected to form a uniform cross section. Particularly advantageous is the in Fig. 6 shown embodiment with a hexagonal turret 24 and therefore six consecutive flat wall portions 29 which are arranged at equal angles to each other. Each wall portion 29 has a receptacle 28, wherein the wall portion 29 and attached thereto receptacle 28 are each associated with a bag 10.

The revolver 24 is rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis. This results in a closed orbit for the receptacles 28 in the vertical plane. The revolver 24 preferably consists of a plurality of partial revolvers 30, 31, 32, 33, which are adjacent to each other in the axial direction. In the present embodiment, the turret 24 with four partial revolvers 30..33 one unit, namely a common hollow body. This is mounted on a common drive shaft 27. The partial turrets 30..33 are formed consistently and with the same dimensions. As a result of the uniform design, the bags 10 arranged on each partial revolver 30... 33 are simultaneously conveyed through the processing stations assigned to each partial revolver 30... 33 and processed simultaneously therein. Accordingly, a number of bags 10 corresponding to the number of partial revolvers 30... 33 is simultaneously completed and stored at the same time. Alternatively, it is possible to form the partial turrets 30..33 as independent bag conveyors, which are either mounted on a common drive shaft or can also be driven separately. In this embodiment can the partial turrets 30..33 can be replaced individually. Overall, the capacity of the turret 24 can be increased by changing the number of partial turrets 30..33 in a simple manner, without thereby significantly changing the machine-relevant dimension of the device.

The revolver 24 or each partial revolver 30..33 is provided with a plurality of receptacles 28 which are distributed along the circumference. An embodiment is advantageous in that a receptacle 28 is attached to each wall section 29. The receptacles 28 are plate-shaped shaped pieces with organs or tools for holding and aligning each of a bag 10. The holding means can act mechanically and / or pneumatically.

In the embodiment shown, the receptacle 28 is eccentrically mounted on the respective wall portion 29, namely offset in the direction of rotation of the revolver 24. The plate-shaped receptacle 28 forms a planar contact surface 35 substantially for the installation of the flat, aligned winding tab 16. In addition, a trough-shaped mold surface 36 is formed for the system of the bag 12th

The prefabricated, unfilled bag 10 is placed on the receptacle 28 and fixed by suction and / or by clamping members. A pocket holder 37 pivotally connected to a free end of the plate of the receptacle 28 is placed against the bag 10 so that substantially the area of the pocket 12 is grasped and fixed. Another holding member detects the winding tab 16, namely a clamping lever 38 which is pivotally mounted pivotally mounted on a support member 39 of the adjacent wall portion pivotally. The clamping lever 38 detects the winding tab 16 with an angular holding leg in the region of the edge tab 20. Alternatively, the clamping lever 38 can take on a different or additional task. If - as an alternative to the embodiments shown - the tape 23 is supplied together with the unfilled bag 10 of the filling and closing device, the clamping lever 38 can serve as a cover member for the exposed portion of the adhesive side of the tape 23. The leg of the clamping lever 38 covers the adhesive part of the tape 23, preferably with a small distance from the adhesive surface.

An important holding means for the bag 10 in the region of the receptacle 28 are suction bores 34 both in the region of the contact surface 35 for the winding strap 16 and in the region of the molding surface 36 for the pocket 12. The bag 10 is largely flat even with stretched bag 16 by the Suction holes 34 fixed. These can be switched off in their effect during the winding process.

The relative positions of the revolver 24 and the rotational steps are selected so that during the respective standstill two opposing wall sections 29 directed vertically and two further wall sections 29 are directed roof-shaped obliquely in the lower region and in the upper region, in a position symmetrical to an imaginary vertical median plane. The stations of the revolver 24 are distributed so that the bag 10 or corresponding blanks are applied to the obliquely downwardly directed receptacle 28 in a lower loading station 40. By pivoting the pocket holder 37 and the clamping lever 38 until it rests against the bag 10 and by negative pressure to the suction holes 34 this is fixed.

The next conveying cycle brings the bag 10 into an emptying station, in which no work steps are performed. Thereafter, the receptacle 28 together with bag 10 passes into a filling station 41. The bag 12 is now in the lower part of the receptacle 28, with the opening 17 pointing upwards. About the exposed opening 17, the tobacco portion 11 is now inserted into the (upright) bag 10 from above by suitable filling members.

In the next station, in which the bag 10 is tilted, in the present embodiment (tobacco) particles are removed from the region of the opening 17 in a suitably equipped suction station 69.

After a further switching step, the receptacle 28 enters a position in which the bag 10 assumes a sloping inclined position. In this station, a closing station 42, the opening 17 is closed by attaching a sealing seam by thermal sealing. An advantageous alternative provides that the closing station 42 is moved into the area of the suction station 69 and this is omitted without replacement. In this variant, the bag 10 is in an inclined upward sloping position, so that from the (still open) pocket 11 no content can escape.

Thereafter, the receptacle 28 is again promoted by an appropriate rotation of the turret 24 in an upright position. In this area, a winding station 43, at least the winding tab 16 is brought into the pack-oriented position. In the present case, moreover, the tape 23 is attached and in the area of this station 43 the finished bag 10 is transferred to a discharge conveyor 44.

The workstations of the revolver 24 are equipped with task-oriented stationary units. In a suction station 69 enters a suction unit 45 with a tapered suction nozzle 46 into the opening 47 of the bag 12 and is effective above the filling area for the suction of particles. The opening 17 is held by the curved bag holder 37 so far in the closed position that the extraction of tobacco from the interior of the bag 12 is avoided. The sucked in the closed region of the opening 17 particles enter a collecting chamber 47 and are discharged through a transverse, axially parallel suction pipe 48. In the case of a plurality of partial turrets 30... 33 arranged next to one another, a common suction pipe 48 is provided for a plurality of adjacent collecting chambers 47 or suction nozzles 46.

How out Fig. 11 can be seen, the suction port 46 entering the opening 17 is formed with a smaller width than the bag 10 and the opening 17. The suction port 46 is also in the axial direction back and forth, ie in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the opening 17. This is the facilitates the introduction of the suction in the opening 17. On the other hand, it is ensured that the closing area of the opening 17 is completely freed of particles and other residues.

Furthermore, the closing station 42 is designed in a special way. A free edge region of the front wall 14 of the pocket 12 is here connected to the rear wall 15 by thermal sealing, in any case by transmission of heat and pressure. For this purpose, a sealing member 49 is provided, which is pressed during the stoppage phase of the revolver 24 to the bag 10 in the region of the opening 17. A wedge-shaped, heated sealing bar 50 in the present case is pressed against the foils to be joined with a comparatively narrow sealing edge, so that a sealed seam, in particular a peel-seal seam, is produced. The sealing member 49 is transversely movable with respect to the bag 10, namely raised and lowered, in the present case by arrangement on a pivot lever 51. When lifting the sealing bar 50 of the Foils, a hold-down 52 is effective, ie a displaced in a free area to the sealing seam on the films fitting web-like retainer. This is mounted on the sealing member 49 parallel to the sealing bar 50, in a recess 53 of a holder and is under the load of a spring 54. When lifting the sealing bar 50 of the hold-down 52 initially remains in contact with the sealed films, thus preventing lifting thereof with the sealing bar 50. During further lifting movement also the hold-down 52 is released from the bag 10. Between sealing bar 50 and hold-down 52, an insulating separating member is attached, namely a strip 55 made of rubber, plastic, in particular Teflon. The strip 55 is attached to the hold-down 52, namely at its lower edge region, and is lifted off or brought into position with this. The closing station 42 may be arranged in the region thereof when the suction station 69 is removed, that is to say on a wall section 29 directed upward in the direction of rotation.

The winding station 43 is equipped in the present embodiment as a station with multiple functions. The bags 10 are positioned so that the pocket 12 is positioned at the top and the wrap tab 16 extends below the pocket 12.

In the station 43, a first folding or winding step on the bag 10 is completed. The fixation of the upper part of the bag, namely the bag 12, is released. For this purpose, the bag holder 37 is pivoted. Furthermore, the suction holes 34 are vented in the region of the mold surface 36. Thereby, the bag 12 can be pivoted in a first winding step down in the position according to Fig. 17 namely, under abutment with the central portion 19 of the wrapper 16. This process of folding the bag 12 is assisted or carried out by a folding lifter 56 which is stationarily but pivotally mounted on a holder 57. An end portion of the pivot lever 56 is formed as a curved finger 58 which is moved with a free end against the bag 10 and the bag 12 and this folded down. In the end position ( Fig. 17 ), the finger 58 comprises part of the pocket 12 and fixes the folding or winding step.

Then, the downwardly facing region of the wrapper 16, namely the edge tab 20, is detected and folded by upward movement against the outwardly directed free side of the bag 10 and the bag 12 ( Fig. 17 . Fig. 18 ). This purpose is a Laschenfalter 59, which is also stationary, movably mounted in the region of the station 43, in the present case coaxially or in the same pivot bearing as the folding lever 56. The angle-shaped or U-shaped Laschenfalter 56 detects the free part of the wrapper 16 with an angled leg 60th By the upward movement of the tab mover 59, the edge tab 20 is moved upwards against the remote side of the curved pocket 12. In the end position (FIG. Fig. 18 ), the correspondingly shaped leg 60 fixes the edge tab 20 in the exact contact with the pocket 12.

The holder 57 for the pivot lever 56 on the one hand and the Laschenfalter 59 on the other hand is stationary within the (unilaterally open) turret 24 is arranged. The organs 56, 59 pass through purposefully positioned recesses or openings in the outer wall 25 of the turret 24 and through corresponding openings and recesses in the region of the receptacle 28. Other processing organs may, if necessary, be arranged stationarily within the turret 24.

Before the tab flap 59 becomes effective, the holding means for the roll flap 16 are released, namely the clamping lever 38 and suction holes 34 in the region of the contact surface 35. The holder 57 with the folding members for the bag 10 in the station 43 is - without further details - in FIG Fig. 10 shown. The simplified illustrated holder 57 is formed as a hollow body for receiving gear parts and drive means for the folding or winding elements, namely for the fingers 58 on the one hand and the Laschenfalter 59 on the other hand, wherein a plurality of unit revolvers connected to a unit 30..33 a common holder 57th have for the folding or winding elements and this holder 57 extends axially parallel within the turret 24. Furthermore, the wall sections 29 and the receptacle 28 are provided with slot-like recesses which allow the passage of the folding and holding members in the region of this station.

In the winding station 43 are also in connection with Fig. 1, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 These are attached to a common carrier, in the present case on two side support tabs 61, 62. These are mounted at a distance from each other on a support shaft 63. In the working position, the support tabs 61, 62 are directed transversely to the receptacle 28. The retaining fingers 21, 22 in turn are transversely, namely hook-shaped arranged to the support tabs 61, 62 ( Fig. 14 ). As a result, the support tabs 61, 62 are outside the area of the bags 10, while the transverse support fingers 21, 22 are in contact with the free side of the bag 10, namely the wrapper 16 for defining the central portion 19 (FIG. Fig. 16 ). The retaining fingers 21, 22 are wrapped in the folding or winding process of the winding strap 16. In the finished bag 10, the holding fingers 21, 22 engage in an inner region defined by the pocket 12 on the one hand and the middle section 19 on the other hand. When the remaining holding members are released, namely, the folding lever 56 and the tab folder 59, the finished-wound bag is carried by the holding fingers 21, 22 in position.

At station 43, another step is taken. The tape 23 for fixing the edge tab 20 to the pocket 12 is brought into position. The tapes 23 are fed by a tape conveyor 64 and held ready for transfer to a bag 10. For this purpose, a transfer member for each tape 23 is provided. This consists of a pivot arm 65 with a pivotally attached to this Tapehalter 66, which is designed here as a suction member, ie as an elastic, cap-shaped element which is attached to the free side of a tape 23 in the region of the tape conveyor 64 and by vacuum the tape 23rd detected and decreases from the tape conveyor 64. By movements of the pivot arm 65 on the one hand and the Tapehalters 66 on the other hand, this passes into a position for packing according to the positioning of the tape 23 on the bag 10 (transfer position according to Fig. 18 ). The edge tab 20 is still held by the Laschenfalter 59.

The bag 10 is completed. In the area of the station 43, the bag 10 is delivered or transported away, by the discharge conveyor 44 designed as an endless or belt conveyor. The bag 10 is lifted off the receptacle 28 by means of a transfer conveyor and deposited on the discharge conveyor 44. This task is taken over here by the retaining fingers 21, 22 in conjunction with the support tabs 61, 62. These are by means of pivot lever 67 from the position on the turret 24 transversely movable and can be stored on an upper run of the discharge conveyor 44. The holding members, namely support tabs 61, 62 with the retaining fingers 21, 22 are rotatable relative to the pivot lever 67 so that the support tabs 61, 62 are directed downward in the storage of the bag 10 on the discharge conveyor 44. To transfer the bag or to release the same of the retaining fingers 21, 22, these are apart moved, by moving apart of the Support tabs 61, 62, so that the retaining fingers 21, 22 come free from the position between the winding tab 16 and bag 12.

The support tabs 61, 62 are rotatably mounted and displaceable in the axial direction on the axially parallel support shaft 63. As in Fig. 7 is shown in a turret 24 of several partial revolvers 30..33 a common support shaft 63 for each bag 10 and each station 43 associated support tabs 61, 62 are provided. The aforementioned organs are therefore operated synchronously or simultaneously. At the ends of the common support shaft 63 pivot lever 67 are arranged so that several, namely four bags 10 simultaneously in the manner described and as shown in FIG Fig. 18, Fig. 19 be lifted from the turret 24 and stored on the discharge conveyor 44.

On the continuous support shaft 63 and the each station associated pivot arms 65 are pivotally mounted for the tap holder 66.

The formation and relative position of the revolver 24 and the consequent conveying direction of the bag 10 enables a special material flow of the overall device ( Fig. 5 ). The prefabricated, unfilled bag 10 are supplied to a feed conveyor 68, in groups in a relative position corresponding to the number of juxtaposed receptacles 28 and the relative position thereof. In the present embodiment, therefore, four adjacent bags 10 are provided in the region of the feed station 40 in the region of the feed conveyor 68, in an inclined position and at intervals corresponding to the distances of the receptacles 28. The bags 10 are then simultaneously, together by obliquely upward Movement created on the recordings 28. The rotary movement of the revolver 24 or the partial revolver 30..33, the bags are transported in a vertical plane circulating, ie transverse to the direction of the feed conveyor 68. the path of movement of the bag to its completion corresponds to nearly a full revolution of the revolver 40th Der Abförderer 44 is offset relative to the feed conveyor 68 in height, so that the bags 10 are delivered after completion before the respective receptacles 28 get back into the feed station 40. The discharge conveyor 44 is directed parallel to the feed conveyor 68, offset to this and preferably while continuing the conveying direction ( Fig. 5 ). A special feature is the arrangement of processing, in particular folding organs in the region of the turret 24. This is open on one side or at one end, so that stationary organs in the interior of the turret 24 can be positioned. The turret 24 or its outer wall 25 is provided with recesses or openings through which the tools arranged in the interior of the revolver 24 can pass in order to be able to act on the outside of the turret 24 in the region of the receptacles 28. Thus, recesses 70 are provided in Revolvermantel for the passage of Laschenfalter in the field of winding station 43. The Laschenfalter 59 are bow-shaped. The recesses 70 are shaped accordingly ( Fig. 20 ). Furthermore, slot-like openings 71 are provided, namely two parallel openings 71 for the passage of the fingers 58 for folding or folding the bag 12, also in the winding station 43. The said organs 56, 59 are pivotable on a common carrier or holder 57, which extends as a fixed member in the longitudinal direction of the revolver 24.

The revolver 24 may advantageously also be designed as in Fig. 20 shown. The likewise polygon-like turret 24 is mounted on a fixed axis of rotation 72. The drum or revolver 24 is rotatably mounted on the axis of rotation 72 or - in the example according to Fig. 20 - On the one hand on the axis of rotation 72 with a pivot bearing 73 and on stationary support rollers 74 at the opposite end. The turret 24 is open at both ends. The drive is transmitted to the revolver 24 via a gear transmission. For this purpose, in an end region of the revolver 24 - here opposite to the rotary bearing 73 - an internal sprocket 75 is connected to the revolver 24. The drive is transmitted via a drive pinion 76, which is arranged off-center here and is in engagement with the ring gear 75. The revolver 24 is provided in the region of the drive with a cover, namely a cover plate 77, which is arranged at the free end of the rotation axis 72. Organs can pass through the cover plate 77.

Inside the turret 24 actuators are also attached here. The carrier or holder 57 for the organs 56 and 59 is mounted inside the turret 24 with the axis of rotation 72 in a respective workstation corresponding relative position. The organs pass through the recesses 70 and openings 71, respectively. The drive for the organs 56, 59 via drive shafts 78, which are stored stationary and enter in the area of the drive side of the turret 24, through the cover plate 77 therethrough.

On the opposite side, namely in the region of the support of the revolver 24 on the axis of rotation 72, the revolver 24 is provided with an end wall 79. This is supported by the pivot bearing 73 on the axis of rotation. The end wall 79 is provided with a system of pneumatic lines, namely with suction holes 80. These are connected via further suction lines or channels with the wall of the turret 24 and with the receptacles 28 for the bag 10 to supply the suction holes 34. The suction holes 80 of the end wall 79 are connected via a fixed, annular vacuum disk 81 with conventional connection channels and connecting lines 82 with a vacuum source. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 10 bag 47 plenum 11 tobacco portion 48 suction tube 12 bag 49 seal organ 13 seam 50 sealing bars 14 front wall 51 pivoting lever 15 rear wall 52 Stripper plate 16 fold-over flap 53 deepening 17 opening 54 feather 18 fastener strips 55 strip 19 midsection 56 folding lever 20 edge flap 57 holder 21 holding fingers 58 finger 22 holding fingers 59 tab folders 23 Tape 60 leg 24 revolver 61 carrying strap 25 outer wall 62 carrying strap 26 end wall 63 carrying axle 27 drive shaft 64 Tape conveyor 28 admission 65 swivel arm 29 wall section 66 Tape holder 30 sub-turret 67 pivoting lever 31 sub-turret 68 feeder 32 sub-turret 69 suction 33 sub-turret 70 recess 34 suction bore 71 opening 35 contact surface 72 axis of rotation 36 form surface 73 pivot bearing 37 bag holder 74 supporting role 38 clamping lever 75 sprocket 39 supporting part 76 pinion 40 loading station 77 cover 41 filling station 78 drive shaft 42 closing station 79 end wall 43 winding station 80 suction bore 44 discharge conveyor 81 vacuum disc 45 suction unit 82 connecting cable 46 suction

Claims (14)

1. An apparatus for handling bags (10) made of sheet material or the like, in particular for tobacco bags, having a pocket (12) which has a closable opening (17) and comprises front wall (14), rear wall (15) and with a closure or wrapping flap (16) as a continuation of the rear wall (15) of the pocket (12), wherein the bags (10) can be conveyed one after the other through processing stations by way of a turret (24) which circulates on a horizontal axis of rotation and which has mounts (28) for a respective bag (10), characterized by the following features:

   a) the mounts (28) for a bag (10) comprise a preferably plate-like carrying element on which the unfilled bag (10) abuts with the rear wall (15) of the pocket (12) and with the non-folded, elongate closure or wrapping flap (16),

   b) the mount (28) has suction bores (34) for fixing the bag (10) on the mount (28) in the region of the pocket (12) and/or of the wrapping flap (16),

   c) arranged on each mount (28) is at least one mechanical retaining mechanism for the pocket (12), namely a preferably curved, movable or pivotable pocket holder (37) and/or at least one clamping lever (38), which is assigned to the wrapping flap (16) of the bag (10),

   d) the bags (10) can be transported by the turret (24) through a plurality of processing stations, namely through a charging station (40) for transferring the bags (10) to the turret (24), through a filling station (41) for the introduction of the contents - tobacco portion (11) - into the pocket (12), through a closing station (42) for closing the pocket (12), through a wrapping station (43) for folding the wrapping flap (16) into the correct pack position.

   (Disclosed on page 9, first paragraph, to page 10, second paragraph of WO)
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the turret (24) comprises a plurality of, in particular four, sub-turrets (30, 31, 32, 33) located one beside the other in the axial direction, wherein each sub-turret (30..33) has mounts (28) for bags (10), said mounts (28) having the same directional and relative positioning, and preferably the sub-turrets (30..33) are connected to form a structural unit with a common, cyclic drive.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the turret (24) has a hexagonal contour with six wall portions (29), preferably of the same size, which are connected at corresponding angles in each case to adjacent wall portions (29) such that in each case two wall portions (29) located diametrically opposite one another in pairs are directed in parallel fashion, wherein the mounts (28) are in each case fitted in the region of a planar wall portion (29).
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized by the following features:

   a) each plate-like mount (28) has a planar abutment surface (35) for the wrapping flap (16) and a trough-like shaped surface (36) for the abutment of the pocket (12),

   b) suction bores (34) for fixing the bag (10) are arranged in the region of the abutment surface for the wrapping flap (16) and in the region of the shaped surface (36) for the pocket (12),

   c) a mechanical retaining mechanism, namely at least one clamping lever (38), serves for fixing the wrapping flap (16) on the mount (28),

   d) the curved pocket holder (37) serves for fixing the pocket (12).
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the turret (24) has a preferably obliquely downwardly directed charging station (40) for accommodating the prefabricated bags (10), a subsequent filling station (41) in a preferably upright plane with the opening (17) of the pocket (12) oriented upwards, a following closing station (42) in a preferably obliquely directed plane and, thereafter, a wrapping station (43) in a preferably upright plane for folding the bag (10) and for discharging same to a removal conveyor (44).
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized by the following features:

   a) the closing station (42) is formed in the region of a obliquely directed wall portion (29) of the turret (24),

   b) a movable sealing mechanism (49), mounted at a fixed position, with a sealing bar (50) can be moved until it butts against the bag (10) in the region of a front wall (14) of the pocket (12), outside the filling region, in order to produce and/or apply a closure seam in the region of the opening (17),

   c) preferably the sealing bar (50) is assigned a holding-down means (52) which, when the sealing bar (50) is lifted off from the bag (10) following a sealing cycle, abuts the bag and which can be lifted off from the latter with a time delay, in particular on account of loading by a spring (54) in the direction of an abutment against the bag (10).
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized by the following features:

   a) arranged in the region of a wrapping station (43) or in the region of a discharge for the completed bags (10) of the turret (24), which forms a plurality of processing stations, is a transfer mechanism for transferring closure strips or tapes (23) for fixing the flap (16, 20) on the bag (10),

   b) the transfer mechanism has a tape holder (66) for gripping a tape (23) in each case and for transfer to the (wrapped) bag (10),

   c) the tape holder (66) if preferably configured as a suction mechanism and attached to a pivoting arm (65) which receives the tape (23) from a tape conveyor (64).
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the folding or wrapping station (43) is formed in the region of an upright circumferential surface of the turret (24), namely in the region of an upright wall portion (29), wherein the bag (10) is retained by means of the pocket holder (37) in the wrapping station (43) with the pocket (12) above the wrapping flap (16) and with the opening (17) oriented downward and, in a first folding or wrapping step, the pocket (12) can be folded over in the downward direction until it butts against a central portion (19) of the wrapping flap (16).
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the pocket (12), following release of the pocket holder (37) and possible stopping of the air supply to the suction bores (34), can be folded over by a folding lever (56) for butting against the pocket (12), wherein the folding lever (56) is mounted at a fixed location preferably in the interior of the turret (24) and has at least one angled finger (58) for acting upon the pocket (12).
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or one of the further claims, characterized in that a bottom region of the wrapping flap (16), namely the peripheral flap (20), can be folded in the upward direction by a preferably fixed-location actuating mechanism until it butts against a free surface of the bag (10) or of the pocket (12), in particular on the rear wall (15) of the same.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the peripheral flap (20) can be folded, and fixed in the folding position, by a flap folder (59), which is mounted preferably at a fixed location in the interior of the turret (24), by way of an angled, in particular bracket-like leg (60).
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized by the following features:

    a) the turret (24), which is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, is open (in part) on at least one side,

    b) mechanisms for carrying out operations on the bags (10) and carrier mechanisms (57) for fixed-location, movable handling mechanisms, in particular folding mechanisms, retaining mechanisms and the like, project via the open side into the interior of the turret (24),

    c) the processing mechanisms are positioned in the region of a processing station of the turret (24) and can be guided through apertures (70) or openings (71) in the wall (25) of the turret (24) in order to execute handling operations on the outside of the turret (24).
13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the turret (24) has an end wall (26 or 29) which can be subjected to loading and is intended for mounting or supporting the turret (24) on a driveshaft (27), which is fitted at one end, or on a fixed axis-of-rotation element (72), which is guided through the turret (24) in the longitudinal direction and on which the turret (24) is supported by means of rotary bearings (73).
14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the turret (24) is driven in rotation by means of toothed gear mechanisms, in particular by means of a drive pinion (76), which meshes, on an open side of the turret (24), with a toothed ring (75) fitted peripherally within the turret.

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