EP2740670B1 - Filling system for filling powder and method for this - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a filling system for filling powder into a filling container to be sealed of the type specified in the preamble of claim 1 and a method for filling powder in a target container by means of such a filling system.

Certain powders such as detergent powder are prepared as loose bulk material and then metered by means of a metering device in specified subsets. The dosed subsets are then filled into a destination container. Such target containers may be film packages of water-soluble film containing a unit dose of the powder for later use by the end user. Such packaged in water-soluble film unit boxes are intended to be inserted into the washing machine. Upon contact with the washing water, the film packaging dissolves and releases the intended amount of washing powder.

In such and similar applications, it is important to keep the target container for receiving a certain dosage no larger than necessary and to fill it to the brim. This is difficult to realize in practice. The metering device is usually positioned above the upwardly open target container, so that the metered subset of the powder falls as a result of the force acting force in the open, later still to be sealed target container. This forms a loose bulk cone, which must not exceed a certain height. If the height level of the powder cone is kept low, the target container can not be filled to the brim. At a higher Schüttkegel that extends beyond the level of container sealing surface is the subsequent sealing process endangered. The bulk cone is then contrary to the application of the aufzusiegelnden cover sheet. Powder can get on the sealing surface, which affects the quality of the subsequent sealing. A full utilization of the container volume is therefore not possible.

From the WO 2006/003377 A1 a filling system with a hopper is known, the outlet pipe is guided into the target container. The target container is set in vibration, which should favor a compaction of the powder to be filled.

The invention has the object of developing a generic filling system such that an improved degree of filling of the target container is possible.

This object is achieved by a filling system having the features of claim 1.

The invention is further based on the object of specifying a method for filling powder in a target container, by means of which the available container volume can be better utilized.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 5.

According to the invention, it is provided that, based on the direction of the weight force below the metering device, a compression element for the powder is arranged, wherein the compression element for the filling process can be lowered from above to the target container.

In the associated method, the powder is first metered by means of the metering device and filled in the direction of weight force from above into the target container open at the top.

During the filling of the powder or subsequent thereto, a compaction of the powder and an equalization of its free surface by means of the compression element, after which the filling process is completed.

The advantages of the invention come in particular for carrying a filling system, which comprises a transport chain for receiving and transporting the target container. In such a conveyor chain, in particular designed as a plate chain, it is not possible, due to its damping properties, to set the target containers in vibration in order to achieve in this way a compaction of the powder and a homogenization of the free surface. Rather, an influence on the powder does not take place on the container side, but from above by means of the compression element, which is arranged below the metering device and therefore during the filling process between the metering device and the target container. By means of the compression element, either the formation of a bulk cone is prevented or such a bulk cone - if present - leveled. At the same time, compression of the otherwise loosely charged powder also occurs. The result is a uniform, almost flat powder surface in the target container whose height level can be adjusted relative to the sealing surface of the still open target container. In particular, it is possible to bring the free powder surface at least approximately exactly to the same height level as the sealing surface. In conjunction with the concomitant compaction of the powder, the available container volume can be maximally utilized, while at the same time the sealing surface of the container can be kept free of disturbing powder residues. As a consequence, the ratio of the amount of expensive container or packaging material to the fixed powder dosage amount can be minimized.

The compacting element is designed as a vibrating element with a vibrating drive, wherein the vibrating element protrudes at least partially from above into the target container during the filling process. In the associated method, the compression element designed as a vibrating element is lowered from above to the target container so that it at least partially protrudes from above into the target container. During the filling of the powder or subsequent thereto, the vibrating element is vibrated by means of its vibrating drive. The powder in the target container is subjected to vibration without causing the container itself to vibrate. During the filling process, the formation of a bulk cone is prevented. Alternatively, in a later shaking process, any powder pour cone that may be present can be made uniform to a flat, free powder surface. In both cases, the shaking also leads to a compaction of the powder in the target container, so that the available container volume can be optimally utilized.

At the bottom of the Rüttelelementes several Rüttelvorsprünge are formed, by means of which the Rüttelelement protrudes during the filling process from above into the target container and the powder bed located there. Such Rüttelvorsprung are expediently designed as vertically aligned finger, but may also have a different shape, for example, according to a U-shaped bracket. This has proven to be expedient to exert on the one hand a good Kompaktier- and homogenization effect. On the other hand, the vibrating element can subsequently be pulled out of the powder volume again without disturbing the compaction and equalization that has been made.

In addition to the preferred embodiment described above, it may be advantageous that the compression element is designed as a pressing element with a pressing surface facing the open side of the target container. In the associated method, after the powder has been introduced into the target container, the pressing element is lowered with its pressing surface onto the free surface of the powder in the target container. This also results in a good compaction of the powder and the formation of a flat as possible, uniform free surface achieved.

In the compression element, a hopper is formed. This ensures that filling, compaction and surface homogenization can go hand in hand, while keeping the sealing surface of the target container free of powder.

In a further preferred embodiment, a particular conical distribution surface is formed in the compression element. This distribution surface is particularly effective in connection with the pressing element, in that despite the presence of a pressing surface a uniform powder filling is achieved in the target container.

In an expedient development, the filling system has a cover for the sealing edge of the target container. This provides additional security that, due to the compacting and homogenizing process described above, no powder can reach the sealing surface or the sealing edge.

Fig. 1

in einer schematischen Schnittdarstellung ein erfindungsgemäßes Füllsystem mit einer Dosiereinrichtung und mit einem als Rüttelelement ausgebildeten Verdichtungselement;

Fig. 2

eine Variante der Anordnung nach Fig. 1 mit einem als Presselement ausgeführten Verdichtungselement.

Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

in a schematic sectional view of an inventive filling system with a metering device and with a trained as a vibrating compression element;

Fig. 2

a variant of the arrangement according to Fig. 1 with a compression element designed as a pressing element.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of the filling system 1 according to the invention for filling powder 2 in a target container 3. The target container 3 is an example of a trough-shaped deep-drawn water-soluble film, which is sealed later after the filling with a cover film, not shown , The powder 2 is an example of a washing powder. However, it is also possible to use other powder types and other target containers 3 in accordance with the invention.

The filling system 1 comprises a metering device 4, a compression element 5 arranged below the metering device 4 with respect to the direction of the weight force, a receptacle for the target container 3 to be sealed, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is designed as a schematically indicated transport chain 16, a cover 14 and also during operation the target container 3 itself. The transport chain 16 is executed in the embodiment shown as a plate chain. To illustrate the invention are in Fig. 1 only simplifies a target container 3, an associated compression element 5, an associated cover 14 and an associated portion of the metering device 4 shown with a metering hole 19. In practice, a plurality of target containers 3 arranged in the form of a row or a matrix are filled at the same time, to each of which a separate metering bore, each having its own cover 14 and its own compacting element 5, is assigned. The compression elements 5 can be combined to form a common compression plate. The same applies to the covers 14th

The filling system 1 is provided for filling powder 2 into the target container 3, which is still open during the filling process and later to be sealed. For this purpose, the powder 2 provided as loose bulk material in a storage container, not shown, is first metered into intended partial quantities by means of the metering device 4. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the metering device 4 is designed as a volumetric metering device with a metering slide 18, wherein in the metering slide 18 at least one, here several metering holes 19 are introduced. The metering holes 19 have a fixed volume which corresponds to the desired metering volume of the powder 2. First, the metering slide 18 is positioned so that the metering bore 19 comes to lie below the storage container for the powder 2, as a result of which the powder 2 falls into the metering bore. Subsequently, the metering slide 18 is displaced laterally according to an arrow 20, whereby a partial amount of the powder 2 is metered into the metering bore 19, and whereby this metered subset comes to rest above the target container 3 to be filled. In this case, the metered subset of the powder 2 falls due to the force acting down from the metering 19 and out into the target container 3, as in Fig. 1 is shown. In the upwardly open, not yet sealed state of the target container 3, an upper, free surface 17 of the powder 2 forms in this case.

For a compression of the powder 2 located in the still open target container 3 and for equalization or leveling of the free surface 17, a compression element 5 is provided, which is based on the direction of the weighting force below the metering device 4 and during the filling process between the metering device 4 and the target container located underneath 3 is arranged. In the embodiment according to Fig. 1 is the compression element 5 is designed as a vibrating element 6 with a vibrating drive 7. By means of the Rüttelantriebes 7, the vibrating element 6 can be offset according to a double arrow 22 in a horizontal and lateral vibration or vibration. In the context of the invention, however, other forms of vibration come into consideration.

The metering device 4, the compression element 5 and a cover 14 described in more detail below together form a structural unit which is assigned to a single target container 3 to be filled. This assembly of metering device 4, compression element 5 and cover 14 is positioned in the overall machine not shown in more detail at a stationary filling station, while the target container 3 by means of the transport chain 16 from station to station, ie in particular to said filling station and also to a separate, not shown Siegelstation be moved. In the illustrated embodiment, the transport chain 16 is continuously moved together with the target containers 3 held thereon. The above-mentioned "stationary positioning" of the filling station here means that it or its assembly of metering device 4, compression element 5 and cover 14 only during the dosing, filling, compression and homogenization process in synchronism with the transport chain 16 and held thereon Target containers 3 moved and then based on the direction of the transport chain 16 is returned to its original position. There then begins a new cycle of dosing, filling, compression and homogenization process on a new set of target containers 3. The filling station or its described parts do not run continuously, but only over a short, for the dosing, filling , Compaction and equalization process required path with the transport chain 16 with. But it can also be a clocked expiration expedient. Here, the transport chain 16 is stopped together with the target containers 3 held thereon at the individual stations, ie in particular at the filling station and the subsequent sealing station, where then takes place in the dormant state of dosing, filling, compression and homogenization process or the subsequent sealing process , The method according to the invention described here is carried out analogously in the same way both in continuous operation and in clocked operation of the transport chain 16.

For the filling, compacting and homogenizing or leveling process according to the invention, the target containers 3 are initially positioned below the dosing and filling unit described above. Said unit including the compression element 5 and the cover 14 is then lowered according to an arrow 21 from above to the target container 3 out.

The target container 3, in the still-open state shown, has an upwardly directed circumferential sealing edge 15 onto which a cover film is later sealed. By the lowering process described above, the cover 14 is placed on the sealing edge 15, so that the sealing edge 15 is covered and can not come into contact with powder 2. In addition, the cover 14 has a passage opening which corresponds in its contour to the upwardly open side of the target container 3 and therefore allows unhindered entry of the powder 2 from above into the target container 3.

As a result of the lowering process described above, the vibrating element 6 projects at least partially from above into the target container 3 in that a corresponding part of the vibrating element 6 comes to lie below the sealing edge 15 in the interior of the target container 3 and within the metered and filled powder quantity.

The filling process performed in this state of the filling system 1 is composed of two sub-processes which can be performed sequentially, simultaneously or overlapping in time. The first sub-process is the filling of the powder 2 through the Verdiekchtungselement 5 through into the target container 3, as described above subsequently to the dosing. In support of this einfüllende sub-process is performed in the vibrating element 6 as a compression element 5, a hopper 12 with a bottom circumferential edge 8. Through the hopper 12, the falling down from the top of the metering hole 19 powder 2 2 is directed through the compression element 5 purposefully into the target container 3. The second sub-process of filling consists in a compression of the powder 2 located in the target container 3 to form a uniform, at least approximately flat, free surface 17 by means of the compacting element 5.

For the second sub-process, this protrudes in the exemplary embodiment Fig. 1 It may be expedient that the vibrating element 6 or the filling funnel 12 with the lower edge 8 in the target container 3 and in the Powder 2 protrudes. In the illustrated embodiment, at least one and here several Rüttelvorsprünge 9 are formed at the lower edge 8, which are here carried out by way of example each as vertically aligned fingers. In the embodiment shown, the upper assembly is lowered so far that the peripheral edge 8 of the hopper 12 is approximately at the height level of the sealing edge 15, while only the Rüttelvorsprünge 9 project into the target container 3.

It can now be first filled the powder 2 in the target container 3 in the manner described above, while the vibrating element 6 is at rest. Here, the filled powder 2 forms a non-illustrated bulk cone with loose powder coating. By a subsequent shaking, in which the vibrating element 6 is vibrated by means of Rüttelantriebes 7 corresponding to the arrow 22, this vibration is transferred by means of the Rüttelvorsprünge 9 on the powder 2. Due to the registered vibration energy, the powder 2 is compacted while at the same time at least approximately flat free surface 17 forms.

Alternatively, the vibrator drive 7 may already be switched on during the filling of the powder from the metering device 4. In this case, no bulk cone can develop in the manner described above. Rather, in the current filling process, a continuous compaction of the powder 2 while maintaining an at least approximately flat, uniform free surface 17. Of course, in the context of the invention, a temporally overlapping execution of both sub-processes so possible and appropriate that initially filling from the metering device 4th started and then the vibratory drive 7 with time delay, but still turned on during filling. In any case, by the compaction or by the compression of the powder 2 in the target container 3 and by the formation of the uniformed free Surface 17 ensures that the target container 3 can be filled completely at least approximately up to the height level of the sealing edge 15 with powder 2, without a subset of the powder 2 on the sealing edge 15 disturbing addition, and without powder 2 can reach the sealing edge 15 , Only after the process steps described above, the filling process is completed. Said at least approximately complete filling means that a leveled, evened free surface 17 of the compacted or compacted powder 2 is aimed as precisely as possible at the height level of the sealing edge 15 and is also possible. But this also includes over the said height level, a slight underfill to increase the process reliability or a slight, above the sealing edge 15 beyond reaching overfilling, provided that the subsequent sealing process is not affected.

Subsequently, the filling and compression unit described above is raised against the arrow 21, wherein the vibrating element 6 is pulled out of the powder 2 upwards. Simultaneously or slightly delayed, i. during withdrawal or subsequent thereto, the cover 14 is lifted from the sealing edge 15. Subsequently, the target container 3 can be moved in particular by means of the transport chain 16 to the subsequent sealing station. There then takes place the final sealing of the initially still open, about full to the top filled target container 3 by sealing a lid material on the sealing edge 15th

Fig. 2 shows a variant of the filling system 1 after Fig. 1 wherein the compression member 5 is formed as a pressing member 10 with a pressing surface 11 facing the open side of the target container 3. In the compression element 5, here above the pressing surface 11, a distribution surface 13 is formed. The distribution surface 13 may be designed in the form of individual, inclined powder channels or the like and is conical in the example shown. In this case, the conical shape is arranged so that the cone tip points upwards to the overlying metering bore 19. The conical part of the compression element 5, on which the pressing surface 11 and the distribution surface 13 are formed, is connected via webs to the remaining portion of the compression element 5. The conical shape of the distribution surface 13 is interrupted only at these webs and otherwise complete educated. The according to arrows 23 from the metering bore 19 exiting powder flow is divided at the apex and guided along the conical surface, so that it is passed annularly around the pressing surface 11 to the target container 3. Supporting this, the cover 14 has a collar which engages around the outer edge of the conical distribution surface 13. In the said collar an annular formation 25 is introduced, which favors due to its rounded cross-sectional shape despite the presence of the pressing surface 12 a uniformly distributed over the base of the target container 3 powder entry.

The pressing member 10 is movable relative to the metering device 4 by means of a lifting drive, not shown, in the vertical direction. In an associated method step, after the introduction of the powder 2 into the target container 3, the pressing element 10 is lowered with its pressing surface 11 according to an arrow 26 onto the free surface 17 of the powder 2 located in the target container 3. As with the related Fig. 1 described vibrating method is thereby brought about a compression of the powder 2 and a homogenization of its free surface 17 as part of the filling process. After completion of compaction and surface uniformity, the pressing member 10 is raised again against the arrow 26, after which the filling process is completed.

In its other features, reference numerals and associated method steps, the embodiment is correct Fig. 2 with the embodiment according to Fig. 1 match. This also includes the optional but not mandatory possibility, in addition to the lifting movement according to the arrow 26 and a shaking movement according to the double arrow 22 after Fig. 1 in the exemplary embodiment Fig. 2 provided. In this case, the compression element 5 is after Fig. 2 simultaneously formed as a pressing member 10 and also as a vibrating element 6 and can according to the illustration according to Fig. 1 optionally also be equipped with one or more Rüttelvorsprüngen 9.

Claims (5)

1. Filling system (1) for filling powder (2) into a target container (3) to be sealed, comprising a metering device (4) for metering a sub-quantity of the powder (2), a compacting element (5) for the powder (2) and at least one target container (3), wherein, relative to the weight direction, the at least one compacting element (5) is located below the metering device (4), wherein the compacting element (5) can be lowered from above towards the target container (3) for the filling process, wherein the compacting element (5) is designed as an agitating element (6) with an agitating drive (7), wherein the agitating element (6) projects at least partially into the target container (3) from above during the filling process, and wherein a filling funnel (12) with a continuous bottom edge (8) is formed in the compacting element (5) designed as an agitating element (6),
   characterised in that a plurality of agitating projections (9) is formed at the bottom edge (8) of the compacting element (5), and in that the filling system is configured such that the compacting element (5) is lowered until the continuous edge (8) lies at the level of a sealing edge (15) of the target container (3) during the compacting process, while only the agitating projections (9) project into the target container (3).
2. Filling system according to claim 1,
   characterised in that the agitating projections (9) are designed as vertically oriented fingers.
3. Filling system according to claim 2 or 3,
   characterised in that the filling system (1) comprises a cover (14) for a sealing edge (15) of the target container (3).
4. Filling system according to any of claims 1 to 3,
   characterised in that the filling system (1) comprises a conveying chain (16) for the reception and the transport of the target containers (3).
5. Method for filling powder into a target container (3) to be sealed by means of a filling system according to any of claims 1 to 4, the method comprising the following process steps:

   - The powder (2) is metered by means of the metering device (4) and filled in the weight direction from above into the target container (3), which is open towards the top;

   - The compacting element (5) designed as an agitating element (6) is lowered from above towards the target container (3) in such a way that the continuous edge (8) lies at the level of a sealing edge (15) of the target container (3) during the compacting process, while only the agitating projections (9) project into the target container (3);

   - During or after the filling-in of the powder (2), the agitating element (6) is made to vibrate by means of its agitating drive (7), resulting in a compaction of the powder (2) and a levelling of its free surface (17) by means of the compacting element (5), whereupon the filling process is completed.

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