EP2792600A2

EP2792600A2 - Bagger

Info

Publication number: EP2792600A2
Application number: EP20140165303
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefano Ferdenzi
Original assignee: INTEC di Ferdenzi Stefano
Current assignee: INTEC di Ferdenzi Stefano
Priority date: 2013-04-19
Filing date: 2014-04-18
Publication date: 2014-10-22
Also published as: ITPR20130037A1; EP2792600A3

Abstract

A bagger comprising:
i) forming means (200) for forming a bag that is apt for receiving a product to be bagged, said forming means (200) comprising:
- a forming body (2) that is apt for passing inside a first tubular tract (3) that is intended to create said bag;
- closing means (6) for closing at least one edge of said first tubular tract (3);

ii) gripping means (4) for gripping the forming body (2) and comprising at least a first and a second supporting means (41, 42) for supporting the forming body (2); said first supporting means (41) gripping the forming body (2) upstream of the second supporting means (42) with respect to the feed direction of the first tubular tract (3).

In a first configuration, the first and the second supporting means (41, 42) perform their gripping action on the forming body (2), whereas in a second configuration, the first supporting means (41) does not carry out a gripping action on the forming body (2) so as to permit passage of the first tubular tract (3), while the second supporting means (42) performs its gripping action on the forming body (2).

Description

The object of the present invention is a bagger. There are known baggers of the type comprising:

a forming device comprising an elongated body around which a sheet is wrapped and sealed along two overlapping edges so as to obtain a tubular element (this seal is realized by means of a vertical sealing machine that is supplied at all times);
means for sealing a lower edge of the tubular element so as to obtain a bag that is open at the top;
a feed hopper that brings about the insertion of a product inside the open bag; and
means for sealing the upper edge of the filled bag.

This solution is not without drawbacks relating to the fact that the positioning of an open sheet around the forming device requires complex technical measures, as well as a considerable level of energy consumption to seal the overlapped edges needed to obtain a tubular element. Moreover, the need to seal the overlapped edges requires time, which is detrimental to productivity.
There are also known baggers comprising a wound strip that is unwound and cut into portions that are gripped sequentially and conveyed beneath the filling machine. The strip is constituted by a flattened tubular element so as to have two faces overlap. The stage of conveying the portions beneath the filling machine is carried out by gripper hands that grip one end of the portion, overturn it and at the same time, draw the two overlapped faces away from each other by means of special suction cups so as to make an "opening" in the tubular portion.
This solution is also not without drawbacks principally related to the complexity of the structure required (which means higher production and maintenance costs).
In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to improve the productivity of the bagger while simultaneously optimizing the components with the aim of minimizing the costs thereof.
The defined technical task and the specified aims are substantially achieved by a bagger comprising the technical characteristics recited in one or more of the attached claims.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the approximate and thus non-limiting description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a bagger, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a bagger according to the present invention.

In the accompanying figure, a bagger 1 is indicated by the reference number 1. The bagger comprises forming means 200 for forming a bag that is apt for receiving a product to be bagged. This product may be of any sort, preferably a granular or powdery material.
The forming means 200 comprises a forming body 2 that is apt for passing inside a first tubular tract 3 that is intended to create said bag. This forming body 2 can also be called the forming tube. The forming body 2 is also a retractor for retracting two overlapped edges of said first tubular tract 3. At one inlet end, the forming body 2 advantageously has a divergent element 23 that is cone-shaped or truncated cone-shaped for example. In the preferred solution, the bagger 1 comprises feed means 8 for feeding a continuous strip to the forming body 2, said continuous strip being defined by tubing with two faces that are overlapped and/or adhering one to the other. The feed means 8 suitably comprises a reel 80 for storing said strip.
The forming means 200 suitably comprises closing means 6 for closing at least one edge of said first tubular tract 3.
The bagger 1 advantageously comprises gripping means 4 for gripping the forming body 2 and also comprising at least a first and a second supporting means 41, 42 for supporting the forming body 21. The first supporting means 41 grips the forming body 2 upstream of the second supporting means 42 with respect to the feed direction of the first tubular tract 3. The first supporting means 41 conveniently comprises a projection (e.g. a pin or a peg) that is insertable in a corresponding hole found on the forming body 2. The same can be repeated for the second supporting means 42. The forming body 2 thus hangs from the first and/or second supporting means 41, 42.
Advantageously, in a first configuration, the first supporting means 41 (and advantageously the second supporting means 42) performs its gripping action on the forming body 2. Conveniently, in a second configuration, the first supporting means 41 does not carry out a gripping action on the forming body 2 so as to permit passage of the first tubular tract 3 (while the second supporting means 42 performs its gripping action on the forming body 2, thereby preventing it from dropping).
In a third configuration, the second supporting means 42 performs its gripping action on the forming body 2, unlike the first supporting means 41. Conveniently, the first and second supporting means 41, 42 are hydraulically activated. This improves operating reliability.
The forming body 2 has a prevalent axial direction 21 of extension. The forming body 2 conveniently extends prevalently between the top and the bottom. The forming body 2 preferably extends vertically. An inlet zone of the forming body 2 (e.g. the divergent element 23) is conveniently found at the top, whereas an exit zone for exiting from the forming body 2 is found at the bottom.
The forming body 2 conveniently comprises partitions that are movable transversely with respect to the prevalent axial direction 21 of extension (advantageously, these partitions move radially with respect to the axial direction 21 of extension). In this manner, the widening of said first tubular tract 3 can be adjusted. This makes it possible to adapt the forming body 2 to different sizes of the first tubular tract 3. In this regard, in the preferred but non-limiting solution, at least one of said partitions is connected to a worm screw driven by an electric motor.
The bagger 1 conveniently comprises cutting means 5 that separates said first tubular tract 3 from continuous tubing. The continuous tubing consists of the strip coming from the feed means 8. The cutting means 5 thus makes it possible to adjust the length of the eventual bag. The cutting means 5 defines a path encircling said forming body 2 so as to cut the first tubular tract 3. The cutting means 5 could conveniently comprise a mechanical blade (preferred solution), but it could also comprise a nozzle that generates a jet of pressurized liquid or a laser ray or something else. The cutting means 5 preferably comprises a thrust bearing.
The cutting means 5 comprises a drive gear for moving a cutting element (blade, nozzle or something else). Advantageously, at least said gear is made of Teflon. This makes it possible to minimize the weight of the cutting means 5.
The bagger 1 conveniently comprises a first clamp 43. Conveniently, this first clamp 43 cooperates with driving means 44 for driving the first tubular tract 3 so as to define tensioning means for tensioning the first tubular tract 3. The driving means 44 comprises a belt intended to come into contact with a surface of the first tubular tract 3 and that frictionally drags the first tubular tract 3.
The cutting means 5 is interposed between the first clamp 43 and the driving means 44 of the first tubular tract 3. Thus the cutting means 5 is able to cut the first tubular tract 3, thereby separating it from the remaining tubing. In a similar manner, the cutting means 5 is located upstream of the first supporting means 41 with respect to the feed direction of the first tubular tract 3 along said forming body 2.
The bagger 1 can conveniently comprise auxiliary driving means 45 interposed between the first clamp 43 and the cutting means 5. This auxiliary driving means 45 facilitates advancement of the first tubular tract 3.
The bagger 1 comprises a second clamp 46. This second clamp 46 is located downstream of the second supporting means 42. The task of the second clamp 46 is to keep the bag integral with the forming body 2.
The forming body 2 conveniently comprises an inlet 20 at a lower end for insertion of the product in the bag.
The bagger 1 further comprises a filling tube 9 that is operationally interposed between a storage tank 90 for storing the product and the inside of said forming body 2 (and thus the insertion inlet 20). The storage tank 90 can comprise a storage hopper 91 that leads into a metering hopper 92, which makes it possible to meter the amount of product that flows into each bag. In a first operational mode, the filling tube 9 is moved away from the forming body 2. The first tubular tract 3 can thus pass in a space interposed between the forming body 2 and the filling tube 9. In a second operational mode, the filling tube 9 leads into said forming body 2 (to transfer the product from the storage tank 90 to the forming body 2). The filling tube 9 advantageously comprises at least one sliding tract that moves away or close to the forming body 2. The forming body 2 comprises a lateral opening 93, in which, in the second operational mode, the filling tube 9 is partially inserted.
The second clamp 46 is found downstream of said lateral opening 93.
In a similar manner, the second supporting means 42 is found downstream of said lateral opening 93.
The closing means 6 is conveniently located downstream of said inlet 20. In particular, the closing means 6 comprises sealing means. This sealing means 6 seals two lower edges of said first tubular tract 3 to obtain a bag that is open at the top (and advantageously also seals the two upper edges of the first tubular tract 3 so as to close the bag filled with the product).
In a particular embodiment, which is not illustrated, the bagger 1 comprises a carousel located downstream of the forming body 2. This carousel can include closing means 6. The carousel can comprise a plurality of stations where a predetermined activity is performed in each one.
The object of the present invention is also a method for packaging a product in a bag. This method is conveniently implemented by a bagger 1 comprising one or more of the characteristics disclosed hereinabove. This method comprises the stages of:

i) releasing the grip on said forming body 2 by a first supporting means 41, while maintaining the grip on said forming body 2 by the second supporting means 42 (conveniently located downstream of the first supporting means 41);
ii) feeding at least a first tubular tract 3 apt for defining the bag, around the forming body 2. Conveniently, this first tubular tract 3 comes from a continuous strip made available from a reel 80. This continuous strip has two layers that overlap each other so as to define flattened tubing. As it is fed around the forming body 2, the first tubular tract 3 is opened and widened. In this stage, the first tubular tract 3 encircles the forming body 2 in a ring-like fashion. The stage of feeding at least a first tubular tract 3 around the forming body 2 comprises the stages of:
- passing said first tubular tract 3 between said forming body 2 and the first supporting means 41;
- gripping said forming body 2 again, by means of the first supporting means 41, following the passage of at least the first tubular tract 3. In this manner, the forming body 2 is always supported at least by either the first or the second supporting means 41, 42.

The method comprises the stage of cutting the first tubular tract 3, separating it from continuous tubing located upstream. As mentioned hereinabove, the continuous tubing is tubing coming from the reel 80. The stage of cutting the first tubular tract 3 takes place when the first tubular tract 3 is fitted on and encircles the forming body 2. The stage of cutting the first tubular tract 3 provides for moving the cutting means 5 around the forming body 2.
The stage of cutting the first tubular tract 3 is contemporaneous with the stages of:

retaining said continuous tubing by means of a first clamp 43;
pulling said first tubular tract 3 by means of driving means 44 for the purpose of tensioning said first tubular tract 3 (the driving means 44 pushes said first tubular tract 3 away from said first clamp 43). The cutting means 5 is interposed between the first clamp 43 and said driving means 44.

The method further comprises the stage of sealing two edges of a first end of the first tubular tract 3, thereby obtaining a bag that is open at a second end of the first tubular tract 3. The stage of sealing the first end of the first tubular tract takes place after the first end has arrived downstream of the forming body 2 (in fact, in this zone the opposite edges can come close to each other again as the forming body 2 is no longer interposed therebetween). The first end of the first tubular tract 3 is the lower end of the first tubular tract 3.
The method then comprises insertion of the product in said open bag, passing it through an inlet 20 of the forming body 2 leading into said open bag. The stage of inserting the product in said bag comprises passing the product through said inlet 20, which lies at an exit end of the forming body 2. The exit end of the forming body 2 is found at a lower end of the forming body 2. The insertion inlet 20 thus faces downwards and passage of the product takes place by gravity.
The forming body 2 extends prevalently between the top and the bottom; during the stage of inserting the product in said open bag, the upper edges of the bag encircle and are in contact with the forming body 2 so as to minimize depositing of the product on the upper edges of the bag (which could negatively affect the subsequent sealing of the second end).
The stage of inserting the product in said open bag by passing it through an inlet 20 of the forming body 2 is preceded by the stage of moving a filling tube 9 to insert one end of the filling tube 9 in said forming body 2 through an opening 93 (setting a tank of the product in communication with said inlet 20 of the forming body 2).
The stage of feeding at least a first tubular tract 3 around the forming body 2 comprises having said first tubular tract 3 move beyond the opening 93 so that the opening 93 sets the inside and the outside of the forming body 2 in communication (without the opening being obstructed by the first tract 3).
Following the sub-stage of gripping said forming body 2 again by means of the first supporting means 41 and prior to the stage of sealing a first end of the first tubular tract 3, the method comprises the stages of:

releasing said forming body 2 on the part of the second supporting means 42;
feeding the first tubular tract 3 along the forming body 2, positioning the first end of the first tubular tract 3 beyond an end zone of the forming body 2 (thereby enabling subsequent sealing).

In the preferred solution, the operation of the invention can be summarized as follows:

the forming body 2 is supported by the first and the second supporting means 41, 42 (the first and the second supporting means 41, 42 comprise at least one or more pegs that enter the holes afforded in the forming body 2 and prevent it from dropping);
the first clamp 43 and the first supporting means 41 are opened;
the auxiliary driving means 45 drags the film downwards for the length required to form a new bag;
the first clamp 43 can be closed so as to permit locking of the film around the forming body 2 and the tensioning thereof by the driving means 44;
the cutting means 5 (a thrust bearing) separates the first tubular tract 3;
the cut film is dragged downwards until the first supporting means 41 is freed;
the first supporting means 41 is locked and the second supporting means 42 is opened;
the cut film is lowered until the lower edges reach the closing means 6 (sealers), which provides for closing the bag at the bottom thereof;
the bag is lowered until the lateral opening 93 on the forming body 2 is freed, which enables entry of the filling tube 9;
the second clamp 46, which has the task of keeping the bag integral with the forming body 2, is closed (in the meantime, the product to be inserted in the bag is passed from the storage hopper 91 to the weighing hopper 92, in an amount sufficient to fill just one bag);
the filling tube 9 is inserted in the forming body 2 through the lateral opening 93;
an outlet valve 92 of the weighing hopper 92 is opened and the bag filling process takes place;
the filling tube 9 is withdrawn, the bag is freed from the second clamp 46 and is rested, now full, on a forklift;
sealing of the upper end of the bag is performed and the bag is unloaded. The invention thus conceived makes it possible to achieve many advantages.

First of all, it makes it possible to increase the productivity of the system. In fact, it allows for the use of tubular elements requiring only two seals at the ends, and not one seal along a direction of conjunction of the two ends (as in the case in which the bag were realized using one sheet). An additional important advantage relates to the fact that the opening of the tubular element takes place by passing a forming body inside the tubular element. This is made possible by adopting specific measures that make it possible to grip and release the forming body alternatingly.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all of which falling within the scope of the inventive concept characterizing the invention. Moreover, all the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. The materials used, as well as the dimensions, may in practice be of any type, according to needs.

Claims

A bagger comprising:
i) forming means (200) for forming a bag that is apt for receiving a product to be bagged, said forming means (200) comprising:
- a forming body (2) that is apt for passing inside a first tubular tract (3) that is intended to create said bag;

- closing means (6) for closing at least one edge of said first tubular tract (3);

ii) gripping means (4) that act upon the forming body (2) and comprising at least a first and a second supporting means (41, 42) for supporting the forming body (2); said first supporting means (41) being able to grip the forming body (2) upstream of the second supporting means (42) with respect to the feed direction of the first tubular tract (3);
in a first configuration, the first supporting means (41) performs its gripping action on the forming body (2), whereas in a second configuration, the first supporting means (41) does not carry out a gripping action on the forming body (2) so as to permit passage of the first tubular tract (3), while the second supporting means (42) performs its gripping action on the forming body (2).
characterized in that the forming body (2) extends prevalently between the top and the bottom.
The bagger according to claim 1, characterized in that said forming body (2) comprises an inlet (20) at a lower end for insertion of the product in the bag.
The bagger according to either one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first supporting means (41) comprises a projection that is insertable in a corresponding hole found on the forming body (2).
The bagger according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said forming body (2) has a prevalent axial direction (21) of extension and comprises partitions that are movable transversely with respect to the prevalent axial direction (21) of extension so as to adjust the widening of said first tubular tract (3).
The bagger according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises cutting means (5) that separates said first tubular tract (3) from continuous tubing, the cutting means (5) being movable along a path encircling said forming body (2) so as to cut said first tubular tract (3).
A method for packaging a product in a bag, comprising the stages of:
i) releasing the grip on a forming body (2) by a first supporting means (41), while maintaining the grip on said forming body (2) by a second supporting means (42) located downstream of the first supporting means (41);

ii) feeding at least a first tubular tract apt for defining the bag, around the forming body (2); the stage of feeding at least the first tubular tract (3) around the forming body (2) comprising the sub-stages of:
- passing said first tubular tract (3) between said forming body (2) and the first supporting means (41);

- gripping said forming body (2) again, by means of the first supporting means (41), following the passage of at least the first tubular tract (3); characterized in that it comprises the stages of:

iii) sealing two edges of a first end of the first tubular tract (3), thereby obtaining a bag that is open at a second end of the first tubular tract (3);

iv) inserting the product in said open bag, passing it through an inlet (20) of the forming body (2) leading into said open bag; the forming body (2) extending prevalently between the top and the bottom.
The method according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a stage of cutting the first tubular tract (3), separating it from continuous tubing located upstream, the stage of cutting the first tubular tract (3) taking place by means of cutting means (5) when the first tubular tract (3) is fitted on and encircles the forming body (2); the stage of cutting the first tubular tract (3) provides for moving the cutting means (5) along a path encircling the forming body (2).
The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the stage of cutting the first tubular tract (3) is contemporaneous with the stages of:
- retaining said continuous tubing by means of a first clamp (43);

- pulling said first tubular tract (3) at least by means of driving means (44) for the purpose of tensioning said first tubular tract (3), the cutting means (5) being interposed between said first clamp (43) and said driving means (44).
The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that following the sub-stage of gripping said forming body (2) again by means of the first supporting means (41), and prior to the stage of sealing the two edges of a first end of the first tubular tract (3), the method comprises the stages of:
- releasing said forming body (2) on the part of the second supporting means (42); and

- feeding the first tubular tract (3) along the forming body (2), positioning the first end of the first tubular tract (3) beyond an end zone of the forming body (2).
The method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that during the stage of inserting the product in said open bag, the upper edges of the bag encircle and are in contact with the forming body (2) so as to minimize depositing of the product on the upper edge.
The method according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the stage of inserting the product in said open bag by passing it through an opening of the forming body (2), is preceded by the stage of moving a filling tube (9) to insert one end of the filling tube in said forming body (2), setting a tank (90) in communication with said inlet (20) of the forming body (2) leading into said open bag.