EP3619118B1 - Device and method for filling open-mouth sacks with bulk products - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device and a method for filling bulk goods into open-top bags. Such a device can be designed, for example, as a form-fill-seal system (FFS). An FFS system produces the open bags intended for filling, for example from tubular film, directly on the machine. However, it is also possible for prefabricated open bags to be fed to the device. The device and the method are used in particular for filling bulk goods in which a certain proportion of air enters the open bag, which is at least partially diverted from the open bag again during or after the filling.

A wide variety of devices and methods have become known for filling bulk goods into open-ended sacks. The DE 199 33 486 C2 discloses a device for filling and closing sacks that are open on one side and are preferably gusseted. A filling station with a filling nozzle for filling the sacks and a vibrator acting on the bottom of the open sack are provided. Various grippers are used to transport the empty open sacks, to hold the open sacks in the filling station and to transport the filled open sacks away. A conveyor belt begins below the filling station to support and transport the filled open sacks. The conveyor belt has a strand running around two deflection rollers and over two buckling rollers. Below the filling station, part of the conveyor belt can be lowered and raised again by pivoting a deflection roller. Between the upper and lower run of the conveyor belt, a floor vibrator is attached in the pivotable or foldable part of the conveyor belt and directly below the filling station, which in the folded up position acts on the upper run of the conveyor belt and thus on a sack bottom standing on it. In the known device, an open bag is attached to the filler neck. The length of the open sack is such that the bottom end of the open sack would rest on the swiveled-up part of the conveyor belt. At the beginning of the filling process, however, the foldable part of the conveyor belt is pivoted downwards so that the bottom end of the open bag hangs freely at the bottom. During the filling process, the part of the conveyor belt that has been folded down is swiveled upwards so that the upper run comes into contact with the bottom end of the open bag to be filled. The vibrator attached directly under the upper run thus acts directly through the upper run on the bottom end of the open bag to be filled. As a result, effective compression of the bulk material in the open bag is achieved even during the filling process.

The DE 10 2008 020 253 A1 and DE 10 2008 020 254 A1 disclose packing systems for filling prefabricated open sacks with bulk goods, with a rotating and clocked packing machine being used for filling. Various stations are provided on the perimeter. The U.S. 4,873,815 A also shows a device for filling and closing bags. In another known device, the conveyor belt does not begin below the filler neck, but is arranged downstream of the filler neck. A floor vibrator is provided below the filler neck and can be raised and lowered as a whole. As a result, in this known device, the bottom vibrator can be lowered before filling begins. The bottom end of the open bag to be filled then also hangs freely above the bottom vibrator at the beginning of the filling. As a result, the product pile that first enters the open bag opens the bottom end of the open bag completely and, as a rule, without creases. The bottom vibrator can then be raised until the bottom vibrator supports the bottom end of the open bag to be filled and acts on it in a vibrating manner, so that effective compression can take place during a substantial part of the filling process. After the filling process has ended, in this known device the filled open bag is pulled onto the conveyor belt via push flaps. At the open top end of the open bag, grippers guide the open bag while moving on the conveyor belt. This prior art also works satisfactorily. The disadvantage, however, is the increased effort, since on the one hand the floor vibrator can be raised and lowered via a separate drive and since the thrust flaps are still used to pull the filled open bag from the floor vibrator onto the conveyor belt. As a result, the drive used for this must be of considerable strength.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a device and a method with which an effective filling of bulk goods into open-mouth bags is possible with less effort.

This object is achieved by a method with the features of claim 1 and by a device with the features of claim 8. Preferred developments of the invention are the subject matter of the subclaims. Further advantages and features of the present invention emerge from the general description and from the description of the exemplary embodiments.

1. a) ein Offensack wird unter einen Füllstutzen einer Füllstation platziert;
2. b) der Füllstutzen wird abgesenkt und der Offensack wird an den Füllstutzen angehängt;
3. c) der Füllstutzen wird mit dem angehängten Offensack nach oben gefahren, sodass das Bodenende des Offensacks freihängt;
4. d) der Füllvorgang wird gestartet und Schüttgut wird in den Offensack eingeleitet, sodass sich das freihängende Bodenende des Offensacks entfaltet.

The method according to the invention is used to fill bulk goods into open-top bags and comprises the following steps in this or another suitable sequence:

1. a) an open bag is placed under a filling spout of a filling station;
2. b) the filler neck is lowered and the open bag is attached to the filler neck;
3. c) the filler neck with the attached open bag is moved upwards so that the bottom end of the open bag hangs freely;
4. d) the filling process is started and bulk material is introduced into the open bag so that the freely hanging bottom end of the open bag unfolds.

In particular, in a method step e) the filler neck with the attached open bag is lowered onto a conveyor device. The bottom end of the open bag is preferably supported from below, in particular by the conveying device, during at least a (considerable) part of the filling process. The bottom end of the open sack is particularly supported while the product is still getting into the open sack.

The method according to the invention has many advantages. A significant advantage of the method according to the invention is that the filler neck is first lowered so that an open bag is attached to the filler neck and that the filler neck with the attached open bag is then moved upwards so that the bottom end of the open bag hangs freely. This enables the filling process to be started and bulk material to be introduced into the open bag, while the bottom end of the open bag hangs freely and can thus unfold without creasing. In contrast to the prior art, a separate drive for a height-adjustable floor vibrator is not required.

In addition, it is possible to position a conveyor device below the filling station, which transports the filled open bag away after the end of filling.

It is preferred that in process step b) the filler neck dips into the open bag. It is also preferred that the filler neck then completely opens the open bag in method step b). Before or in method step a), it is preferred that the open sack is gripped at the head end of the open sack by a set of feed grippers and transported to the filler neck.

In the context of the present invention, the term "open bag" is understood to mean a certain type of bag and not the state of the bag. For example, a (still open) open bag is regularly closed with a head seam after it has been filled. But even a closed open bag is still an open bag in contrast to, for example, a valve bag, which has a Usually has a sewn or glued-in valve which automatically closes the valve sack after filling, so that there is a certain protection against leakage of material from the interior of the valve sack. Open sacks, on the other hand, are filled via the open top end. In this case, there is usually a large filling cross-section, which can optionally be limited by gussets and corner weldments provided therein.

The invention is intended in particular for use in the high and maximum performance range, with more than 1800 bags per hour and in particular more than 2400 bags per hour and particularly preferably more than 2500 or 2600 or 2700 bags or more per hour (produced and) being filled . The filling of the bulk material takes only about 0.4 to about 0.8 seconds at such speeds, since the remaining cycle time is required for attaching the empty open bag and removing the filled open bag. With such fast cycle times, high acceleration forces have to be overcome when transporting the filled open sacks. A driven conveying device underneath the filling nozzle, on which the filled open sack rests with its sack bottom, enables a considerably simpler acceleration than the use of thrust flaps which pull a filled open sack off a bottom vibrator. A "sack" in the context of the present application is always understood to mean an "open sack".

In preferred embodiments, in a method step e) the filler neck with the attached open bag is lowered onto a conveying device, where the bottom end of the open bag is supported from below during at least part of the filling process. This means that the open bag is lowered during the filling process and while bulk goods are being filled into the open bag. It is possible that the lowering process is started before the flow of bulk material is started. However, it is essential in the context of the present invention that the bulk material reaches the bottom end of the open bag before the bottom end of the open bag is supported by the conveyor device. Whether first the filling process or first the lowering process started is a question of controlling and coordinating the process. What is important, however, is that the bottom end of the open bag can unfold freely through the bulk material bump. This is guaranteed if the bottom end hangs freely at the time of impact.

The bulk material in the open bag standing on the conveying device is preferably compressed, in particular at least from below, during the filling process. For this purpose, at least one compression device can be integrated into the conveyor device or incorporated therein, which already has a vibrating effect on the standing surface of the conveyor device from below during the filling process in order to compress the bulk material in the open bag.

In preferred embodiments, holding grippers grip the open bag in method step b). The holding grippers are preferably raised together with the filler neck in method step c). The holding grippers ensure, in particular, that the head end of the open bag and the area of the side folds retain their defined shape and that the filled open bag can then be passed on in a defined manner. This is important so that as little bag material as possible is required. The consumption of only 1% more sack material leads to considerable additional costs in a 24-hour operation per year. Defined handling of the open bags enables economical operation. It avoids unnecessary and undefined re-gripping, which would lead to a greater consumption of bag material. In addition, the holding grippers hold the open bag when it is filled.

In preferred developments, the holding grippers release the open sack after the end of filling and are moved upwards together with the filler neck while the open sack stands up on the conveying device. Particularly preferably, discharge grippers grip the head end of the open bag before the holding grippers release the open bag in order to ensure defined conditions at all times.

In all of the configurations, it is particularly preferred that the open bag is transported further by means of the conveyor device after the end of the filling process. The drive for such a transport can be implemented easily.

The open bag is preferably guided by removal grippers at the head end during further transport.

In all of the configurations, it is preferred that the open bag is formed from a tubular film before it is attached. It is preferred here that the tubular film is unwound here from a film roll. A bottom seam is preferably first introduced into the tubular film and the tubular film is then transported further by one cycle length and in particular one sack length. The tubular film is then preferably cut off at the head end in order to form an open bag. After the bottom seam has been produced, separate bottom seam cooling can be provided so that high speeds are possible.

It is preferred that the head end of the open bag is pre-opened or opened before it is attached to the filler neck and in particular before it is placed under the filler neck. This can be done, for example, using lateral suction devices that pre-open the open bag in a defined manner at the head end.

In an opening station (pre-opening station) which is preferably upstream of the filling station, the open bag is preferably opened (pre-opened) in order to enable the filling nozzle to be more easily immersed. In particular, during the transfer (transport) of the open bag from the opening station (pre-opening station), open holders (with a profile preferably corresponding to the filler neck) keep the open bags open in a defined manner. If the open bag is only pre-opened, it is preferably completely opened at the filler neck or through the filler neck.

In all of the configurations, it is preferred that the filler neck is designed as a flap connector and in at least one pre-opened head end is immersed, and that the flap socket then folds open and the head end opens further. The filler neck can also be designed as a fixed (or non-hinged filler neck) and z. B. be designed as a hexagonal socket.

A device according to the invention is used for filling (and preferably also for producing and closing) open-ended sacks preferably provided with gussets. The device according to the invention is provided in particular for carrying out the method or a method described above. The device according to the invention comprises a control device and a filling station having a filling nozzle for filling the open sacks with bulk goods. A plurality of grippers is provided, the (plurality of) grippers comprising feed grippers for holding the empty open sacks when they are transported to the filling station, holding grippers for holding the open sacks in the filling station and discharge grippers for holding the filled open sacks during transport from the filling station. Further grippers can also be provided. The device according to the invention further comprises a conveying device extending to below the filling station for supporting the open sacks and for transporting and in particular removing the filled open sacks. At the filling station, the filling spout is held together with the holding grippers on a height-adjustable support device. The filling station is suitable for lowering the carrying device with the filling nozzle and the holding grippers and taking over the open bag with the holding grippers. The filling station is also suitable for lifting the support device with an open bag attached to it, so that the bottom end of the open bag hangs freely above the conveyor device at the start of filling.

In particular, the filling station is suitable for lowering the carrying device with the open bag hanging on it (in particular after the start of filling) onto the conveying device.

The device according to the invention has many advantages. A significant advantage of the device according to the invention is that an open bag to be filled is first attached to a filler neck and that the filler neck is moved upwards at the start of filling so that a product pile of the bulk material to be filled folds out the bottom end of the open bag before the open bag is still being filled or the filling can be lowered so that the bottom end of the open bag stands up on the conveyor or is supported by it.

The filling station is preferably suitable for lowering the carrying device with the open bag hanging on it after the start of filling (in the direction of the conveying device on top).

The filling station is particularly preferably suitable for lowering the support device with the open bag hanging on it after the start of filling, so that the bottom end of the open bag rests on the conveyor device at least in part of the filling process.

• die Trageinrichtung mit dem Füllstutzen und den Haltegreifern abzusenken, um den Offensack mit den Haltegreifern zu übernehmen;
• die Trageinrichtung mit einem daran anhängenden Offensack anzuheben, damit das Bodenende des Offensacks (zu Beginn des Füllvorgangs) frei oberhalb der Fördereinrichtung hängt;
• die Trageinrichtung mit einem daran anhängenden Offensack abzusenken, damit das Bodenende des Offensacks wenigstens während eines Teils des Füllvorgangs auf der Fördereinrichtung aufliegt.

In preferred embodiments, the control device and the filling station are designed and set up to

• lowering the carrying device with the filler neck and the holding grippers in order to take over the open bag with the holding grippers;
• to lift the support device with an open bag attached so that the bottom end of the open bag (at the beginning of the filling process) hangs freely above the conveyor device;
• lowering the support device with an open bag attached to it so that the bottom end of the open bag rests on the conveyor device at least during part of the filling process.

The conveyor device preferably has a strand running around (at least two) deflection rollers. Such a strand is designed in particular as a conveyor belt. But a dream can also be designed as a conveyor chain, apron conveyor or conveyor belt or the like.

At least one compression device is particularly preferably included. The compression device is preferably arranged on the conveyor device or received therein. The compression device is preferably arranged below a support surface of the conveyor device. The compression device is designed in particular to act on the (or part of) the support surface of the conveying device (and thus on a sack bottom of an open sack standing thereon). In particular, the compression device acts directly on the strand of the conveyor device. It is also possible, however, for the compression device to act indirectly on the strand and thus the support surface of the conveying device, or to act directly on the bottom of the bag through the strand. This can be B. with linear or strip-shaped conveying means such as belts or z. B. chains can be realized. The compression device then acts preferably in the free spaces between the conveying means, in particular directly on the bottom end. In this case, drivers can be applied to the conveying means at predetermined intervals.

The filling station preferably comprises a drive for raising and lowering the support device. The filler neck and the holding grippers are raised or lowered via the drive.

In all of the configurations it is preferred that the feed grippers and the discharge grippers (and preferably further grippers) are attached to a support frame of a transport device. The transport device can be designed as a linear transport. The transport device preferably comprises pendulum arms and a pendulum drive. This enables the support frame to be pivoted forwards and backwards by one stroke (pendulum stroke). In the case of a symmetrical pivoting, the support frame is in the forward and pivoted-back position in each case at the same height, so that a simple linear transport is made available in this way in which a plurality of processing stations connected one behind the other can be provided at the distance of the pendulum stroke.

One processing station can be configured as a bag forming station and another processing station can be configured as a bag pre-opening station or a bag opening station. A filling station is provided on a regular basis. A head seam station and, if necessary, a cooling station for the head seam can be connected to the filling station. Finally the filled open bag is transported away. In preferred embodiments, the filler neck is designed as a flap neck and is particularly suitable for being immersed in a (pre-opened) open bag.

In all of the configurations, it is preferred that the height of the conveying device can be adjusted in order to be adapted to different bag dimensions. It is not necessary to adjust the height of the conveyor device for each individual open sack to be filled. It is also not possible to lower the conveyor device at cycle rates of 2000 open sacks and more for each open sack and then to raise it again.

In preferred embodiments, a roll holder for holding at least one tubular film roll is included. In particular, a bag forming station is provided for forming open bags from tubular film.

A bottom seam station for producing a bottom seam and / or a top seam station for closing the open bag are preferably included. At least one cooling station for cooling a sealing seam can be included. In this case, such a closure seam can be a bottom seam or also a top seam and in particular be designed as a weld seam. For this purpose, welding jaws are then preferably present.

Further advantages and features of the present invention emerge from the exemplary embodiments which are explained below with reference to the accompanying figures.

• Figur 1 die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung in einem schematischen Seitenquerschnitt in einer ersten Stellung;
• Figur 2 die Vorrichtung nach Figur 1 in einer zweiten Stellung;
• Figur 3 die Vorrichtung aus Figur 1 in einer dritten Stellung;
• Figur 4 einen stark schematischen horizontalen Querschnitt durch die Füllstation;
• Figur 5 eine Seitenansicht einer anderen Füllstation; und
• Figur 6 die Vorrichtung nach Figur 1 in einer vierten Position.

In the figures show:

• Figure 1 the device according to the invention in a schematic side cross-section in a first position;
• Figure 2 the device after Figure 1 in a second position;
• Figure 3 the device off Figure 1 in a third position;
• Figure 4 a highly schematic horizontal cross section through the filling station;
• Figure 5 a side view of another filling station; and
• Figure 6 the device after Figure 1 in a fourth position.

The Figures 1 to 4 each show the same device in a schematic side cross-section in different positions or states. Components and parts of the real device have been omitted in all figures in order to make the overview easier. The Figures 1, 2 , 3 and 6th show the same device, but not all components are shown in all figures and not all reference symbols are entered in all figures.

The ones in the Figures 1, 2 , 3 and 6th The device 1 shown is used for filling bulk goods into open sacks 2. The open sacks 2 are preferably produced in a sack forming station 27 of the device 1. For this purpose, the device 1 comprises a roll holder 24 for a tubular film roll 25. The roll holder 24 can be mounted on the device 1 or placed separately in front of it.

An intermediate store, not shown in detail here, is made available via various deflection rollers 31, which are only shown here in a highly schematic manner, in order to ensure that the tubular film roll 25 unrolls as continuously as possible enable. However, it is also possible for prefabricated open bags to be fed to the device 1.

The device 1 comprises a frame 40 on which the various components of the device 1 are mounted. A bottom seam station 29 is arranged at the bag forming station 27, which here comprises two welding jaws which introduce a bottom seam into the supplied tubular film 32. After the tubular film 32 has been clocked by one sack length, the sack is cut off at the head end with the cutting knife 33 so that a separate open sack 2 to be filled is available. The open sack 2 is held by grippers 10 (empty sack grippers). Meanwhile, the bottom seam of the open bag 2 can be cooled at the cooling station 28, so that the bottom seam has the necessary stability for the amount of product to be filled.

The bag forming station 27 is followed by various processing stations, including in particular the filling station 5, the pre-opening station 39 and the head seam welding station 42 with welding jaws 41. The open bags 2 are transported between the individual stations (5, 27, etc.) via a transport device 20, which in the Result, the open sacks 2 are transported linearly or horizontally through the device 1. The transport device 20 comprises a support frame 21 to which various sets of grippers 10 are mounted. The support frame 21 is held oscillating between two pivot positions by two pendulum arms 22. A pendulum drive 23 in the form of an electric motor is used to drive the transport device 20, which via an eccentric 19 enables the pendulum movement between a forward and a retracted position of the support frame 21. The filling station 5 comprises a drive 18 for raising and lowering the support device 8.

In the in Figure 1 In the swiveled position shown in the figure, the open bag 2 shown can be attached to the filling nozzle 6, which is designed here as a flap nozzle 26. In the pivoted back position, not shown here, can the open sack previously formed in the sack forming station 27 can be taken over by the feed grippers 11 by the supply grippers 11. During the next pendulum cycle, the open bag 2 is then transported from the bag forming station 27 to the next station. After the sack forming station 27, a further cooling station 28 can be provided or, for example, a sack opening station directly follows, in which the head end 30 of the open sack 2 by means of z. B. Sucker strips (front) is opened. The filling station 5 is reached in a further cycle, as shown in FIG Figure 1 is shown.

In the in Figure 1 The position shown is the pre-opened open bag 2 below the filler neck 6. The bottom end 9 of the open bag 2 rests on the conveyor 7. The conveying device 7 is arranged on the frame 40 in a height-adjustable manner by means of a height adjustment 38 in order to compensate for and set different bag lengths. The conveying device 7 is not moved in height with each individual filling, which enables a considerably simpler drive and a considerably simpler execution of the height adjustment.

If necessary, the conveying device 7 can also be arranged separately on the floor. The conveying device 7 comprises a strand 15, which is designed in particular as a conveyor belt. The surface of the strand 15 here forms a support surface 17 for, for example, filled open sacks 2.

The strand 15 is deflected via deflection rollers 14. An electric motor 37 can be used for the drive.

The conveyor 7 extends to below the filling station 5 and also to below the filler neck 6 in such a way that a compression device 16 received or arranged on the conveyor 7 is also located in the vertical direction below the filler neck 6.

The compression device 16 is received on the conveyor device 7 in such a way that the compression device 16, when it is active, acts on the upper run 15 of the conveyor device 7 and on the support surface 17 of the conveyor device 7. This makes it possible for an open bag 2 standing on the conveyor device 7 or an open bag 2 supported by the conveyor device 7 to be processed with the compression device 16 (after the filler neck has been lowered). As a result, the bulk material located in the open bag 2 can already be compressed during the filling process.

But first the open bag 2 is attached to the flap connector 26, as Figure 2 represents. For this purpose, the support device 8 with the filler neck 6 or flap connector 26 received thereon and the holding grippers 12 located thereon are lowered until the in Figure 2 the situation shown. The tips of the flap connector are already immersed in the pre-opened head end of the open bag 2. Similarly, here in Figure 2 Unrecognizable holding gripper 12 in the area of the side folds of the open sack 2, so that the grippers 10 on the support frame 21 can release the open sack 2 to be filled. The bottom end 9 of the open bag 2 to be filled still rests on the conveyor 7. With direct filling, this would mean that the bottom end does not (always) unfold cleanly.

Following this, the support device 8 with the filling nozzle 6 and the holding grippers 12 is inserted into the FIG Figure 3 position shown raised. The bottom end 9 of the open bag is raised so far that it is no longer in contact with the conveying device 7. On the other hand, there is at least one (small) gap between the bottom end 9 of the open bag 2 to be filled and the support surface 17 of the conveyor device 7. At least the degree of freedom of the bottom end 9 is so great that the bottom with the first incoming product (product bump) is free can unfold.

In Figure 3 the flap connector 26 is still opened so that the filling process can start. The flap connector is located together with the support device 8 and the holding grippers 12 in the raised position 34. The support device 8 is still in the raised position 34. The bottom end 9 of the open bag 2 hangs freely.

The filling process is then started, with bulk material being guided into the open-ended bag 2. The timing is carried out (in particular on the basis of empirical values) in such a way that the product pile that first enters the open bag 2 folds out the bottom end 9 of the open bag 2 (as free from creases as possible). A folded-out bottom end 9a is schematically shown in FIG Fig. 3 shown in dashed lines.

A lowering of the support device 8 can then be initiated in a coordinated manner, so that the bottom end 9 of the open bag 2 is supported by the conveyor device 7 as quickly as possible after the bottom end 9 of the open bag 2 has been unfolded. This makes it possible that the compression device 16 accommodated there acts on the bottom end 9 of the open bag 2 and already effectively compresses bulk material already contained therein during the filling process.

In Figure 3 the open holder 43 can also be seen, which holds the open bag 2 open during the transfer of the pre-opened open bag 2 to the filler neck 6.

Figures 4 and 5 show two variants of the arrangement of the holding grippers 12 on the support device 8 of the filling station 5. It shows Figure 4 a horizontal cross-section through the filling station with the filling nozzle 6 shown schematically in section, to which an open bag 2 is attached. The filler neck and also the holding grippers 12 are held by the support device 8. The holding grippers 12 are shown here in the closed state and grip the side folds 3 of the open bag 2 in order to hold the open bag 2 in a defined manner during the filling process. Also shown in dashed lines is a Holding gripper 12 in the open position. The holding gripper 12 must be pivoted outward so far that an open bag to be filled can be transported away (and transported on) between the holding grippers 12.

Figure 5 shows another variant in which the holding grippers 12 are pivotable not about vertical but about horizontal axes 36. The holding grippers 12 can be pivoted within the carrying device 8 and are in turn used to grip the gusset areas 3 of the open sacks 2. Here too, the open sack 2 is again received on the filler neck 6.

Figure 6 finally shows a schematic side cross section of the device Figure 1 , wherein a filled open bag 2 is shown in a schematic manner.

In the Figure 6 The depicted lowered position 35 of the support device including filling spout 6 and holding grippers 12 is assumed shortly after the start of filling so that the bottom end 9 of the open sack 2 to be filled can be processed by the compression device 16 during a substantial part of the filling process in order to effectively compress the filling To effect bulk material.

Since the device shown is a high-performance machine in which up to 2600 open-ended bags and more can be produced and filled per hour, the cycle time per cycle is only slightly more than 1 second. As a result, the actual filling process usually only lasts less than 1 second. Therefore, an effective and early onset of compaction is a considerable advantage.

Overall, the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention offer great advantages since, in a simple manner, by means of a "double nozzle lift", a considerably more effective filling of bulk goods into open-mouth bags is possible with less effort. The conveyor can and should be arranged under the filler neck, so that there is one arranged compression device acts on the bottom end of the open bag already during the filling. For this it is not necessary to design the conveyor belt so that it can be folded down, as is the case in the prior art. It is sufficient to lift the filler neck with the attached open bag again and start the filling process. During the filling process, the open bag is lowered again onto the conveying device and the compression device contained therein. It has even been found that the drive for lifting the filler neck, including the holding gripper, does not have to be made stronger than the drive for lifting the filler neck, which has been used up to now, although the support device 8 is now not only the filler neck 6 and the empty open sack 2 holds, but also a considerable proportion of bulk material before the partially filled open sack is placed on 2 of the conveyor 7.

Furthermore, thrust flaps are no longer required to pull the open bag 2 off a separate vibrator. As a result, the drive for the transport device is no longer so heavily loaded. The drive for the conveying device 7 does not have to be designed to be stronger, since a filled sack also had to be accelerated beforehand.

Granules are preferably filled as bulk goods. But it is also possible to fill cement or similar products with the device according to the invention.

Another advantage is that a separate drive for lifting and lowering a compression device is no longer necessary. It is not necessary to raise and lower the compactor for operation.

It is also advantageous that the compression device can be integrated into the conveyor device or into the bag discharge belt and can be positioned there directly under the upper run. A significant advantage is that the conveyor overall is carried out statically and there is no foldable part.

List of reference symbols:

1 contraption 22nd Pendulum arm 2 Open bag 23 Pendulum drive 3 Gusset 24 Roll mount 4th Control device 25th Tubular film roll 5 Filling station 26th Flap connector 6th Filler neck 27 Bag forming station 7th Conveyor 28 Cooling station 8th Carrying device 29 Ground seam station 9 Bottom end 30th Head end 9a unfolded bottom 31 Pulley for 32 10 Grapple 32 Tubular film 11 Feed gripper 33 Cutting knife 12th Holding gripper 34 raised position 13th Discharge gripper 35 lowered position 14th Pulley for 15 36 Pivot point of 12 15th Dream 37 Drive for 7 16 Compaction device 38 Height adjustment from 7 17th Support surface 39 Pre-opening station 18th Drive for 8 40 frame 19th eccentric 41 Welding jaw 20th Transport device 42 Head seam welding station 21 Support frame 43 Open holder

Claims (15)

1. A method for filling bulk materials into open-mouth bags (2), comprising the following steps:

   a) an open-mouth bag (2) is placed beneath a filling spout (6) of a filling station (5);

   b) the filling spout (6) is lowered and the open-mouth bag (2) is appended to the filling spout (6);

   c) the filling spout (6) with the appended open-mouth bag (2) is moved upwards so that the bottom end (9) of the open-mouth bag (2) is freely suspended;

   d) the filling process is started and bulk material is introduced into the open-mouth bag (2) so that the freely suspended bottom end (9) of the open-mouth bag (2) unfolds.
2. The method according to the preceding claim 1, wherein in a method step e), the filling spout (6) with the appended open-mouth bag (2) is lowered onto a conveyor device (7).
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bottom end (9) of the open-mouth bag (2) is supported at least during part of the filling process and wherein in particular the bulk material in the open-mouth bag (2) resting on the conveyor device (7) is compacted during the filling process.
4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in the method step b), holding grippers (12) grasp the open-mouth bag (2) and in the method step c), are elevated together with the filling spout (6) and wherein in particular after filling is completed and method step e), the holding grippers (12) release the open-mouth bag (2) and are moved upwards together with the filling spout (6) while the open-mouth bag (2) rests on the conveyor device (7).
5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein after filling is completed, the open-mouth bag (2) is conveyed further by means of the conveyor device (7) and wherein in particular during the further transport, the open-mouth bag (2) is guided at the head end (30) by discharge grippers (13).
6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein prior to appending, the open-mouth bag (2) is formed from a tubular film (32) and wherein the tubular film (32) is unwound from a film roll (25), and a bottom seam (9) is first made in the tubular film (32) and wherein thereafter, the tubular film (32) is conveyed further by one index length and wherein the tubular film (32) is cut off at the head end (30) to form an open-mouth bag (2).
7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the head end (30) of the open-mouth bag (2) is pre-opened prior to being placed beneath the filling spout (6) and wherein the filling spout (6) configured in particular as a flap spout extends into the pre-opened head end (30) and opens the head end wider.
8. An apparatus (100) for filling open-mouth bags (2) preferably provided with side gussets (3), with a control device (4) and a filling station (5) including a filling spout (6) for filling the open-mouth bags (2) and with a plurality of grippers (10); wherein the grippers (10) comprise at least feed grippers (11) for holding the empty open-mouth bags (2) during feeding to the filling station;
   holding grippers (12) for holding the open-mouth bags (2) in the filling station (5) and discharge grippers (13) for holding the filled open-mouth bags (2) during discharge from the filling station (5);
   and with a conveyor device (7) extending up to beneath the filling station (5) for supporting and for transporting the filled open-mouth bags (2); characterized in
   that at the filling station (5), the filling spout (6) together with the holding grippers (12) is accommodated in a height-adjustable supporting structure (8);
   and that the filling station (5) is suitable for lowering the supporting structure (8) with the filling spout (6) and the holding grippers (12) and for taking over the open-mouth bag (2) with the holding grippers (12) ;
   and that the filling station (5) is suitable for elevating the supporting structure (8) with an open-mouth bag (2) appended thereto so that the bottom end (9) of the open-mouth bag (2) is freely suspended above the conveyor device (7).
9. The apparatus (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the filling station (5) is suitable for lowering the supporting structure (8) with the open-mouth bag (2) appended thereto onto the conveyor device (7) and wherein the filling station (5) is suitable for lowering the supporting structure (8) with the open-mouth bag (2) appended thereto after filling begins so that the bottom end (9) of the open-mouth bag (2) rests on the conveyor device (7) at least for part of the filling process.
10. The apparatus (1) according to any one of the two preceding claims, wherein the control device (4) and the filling station (5) are configured and set up

    - to lower the supporting structure (8) with the filling spout (6) and the holding grippers (12) to take over the open-mouth bag (2) with the holding grippers (12); and

    - to elevate the supporting structure (8) with an open-mouth bag (2) appended thereto so that the bottom end (9) of the open-mouth bag (2) is freely suspended above the conveyor device (7) as filling begins.
11. The apparatus according to any one of the three preceding claims, wherein at least one compacting device (16) is comprised and wherein the compacting device (16) is arranged beneath a bearing surface (17) of the conveyor device (7).
12. The apparatus according to any one of the four preceding claims, wherein the filling station (5) comprises a drive (18) for elevating and lowering the supporting structure (8).
13. The apparatus according to any one of the five preceding claims, wherein the feed grippers (11) and the discharge grippers (13) are fastened to a support frame (21) of a transport device (20) and wherein the transport device (20) comprises swing arms (22) and a pendulum drive (23).
14. The apparatus according to any one of the six preceding claims, wherein the filling spout (6) is configured as a flap spout (26) that suitable to extend into an open-mouth bag (2) and wherein the conveyor device (7) is height-adjustable.
15. The apparatus according to any one of the seven preceding claims, wherein a roll accommodation (24) for accommodating a tubular film roll (25) is comprised and/or wherein a bag forming station (27) is comprised and/or wherein a bottom seam station (29) for generating a bottom seam and/or a top seam station for closing the open-mouth bag (2) is comprised and/or wherein at least one cooling station (28) for cooling a closing seam is comprised.

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