EP3860920A1

EP3860920A1 - Filling box and method for filling packages

Info

Publication number: EP3860920A1
Application number: EP19790147.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andre Siewecke
Original assignee: Haver and Boecker OHG
Current assignee: Haver and Boecker OHG
Priority date: 2018-10-02
Filing date: 2019-09-30
Publication date: 2021-08-11
Also published as: US20220119136A1; CN112789221B; WO2020070071A1; US12037147B2; CN112789221A; DE102018124348A1; CA3115132A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging system (200) for filling bulk material (50) into packages (60), comprising a filling unit (100) with a filling box (1), and to a filling box (1) for a filling unit (100) of a packaging machine (200) for filling bulk material (50) into packages (60), comprising a receiving area (2) which is open at the top for a package (60), said receiving area (2) being laterally delimited by lateral walls (3, 4, 5, 6). A negative pressure device (15) is provided which is arranged in a corner section (9) between the lateral walls (3, 4, 5, 6). In the method for filling packages (60), a package (60) is supplied to the receiving area (2) of such a filling box (1) of a filling unit (100) of a packaging system. The negative pressure device (15) is then activated in order to suction a flexible wall (61) of a package (60) against the corner section (9) between the lateral walls (3, 4, 5, 6) of the receiving area (2) of the filling box (1).

Description

Filling box and method for filling containers

description

The present invention relates to a filling box for a filling unit of a packaging machine for filling bulk goods into containers. In this case, such a filling box comprises at least one receiving space, which is at least partially open at least upwards, for at least one container, the

Recording space is laterally limited by at least two side walls. It can be used as a container in particular

Open bags are used. The present invention

also relates to a packing system with at least one

Filling unit comprising at least one such filling box. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for filling containers with such a packaging machine.

Various packaging machines for filling bulk goods have become known in the prior art, and here

especially filling carousels can be used for high performance.

Depending on the machine type, open bags or valve bags can be filled. The material of the packaging to be filled also determines the design of the packaging machine.

To fill open sacks, they are usually attached to a filler neck and filled during the rotation of the filling carousel. Large sacks often stand on a sack chair.

With smaller containers, however, it depends

Design preferred that the container to be filled or Sack to be filled is placed in a so-called filling box and rotates in the filling box on or with the filling carousel and is filled during the rotation.

The containers or open bags can then depending on

Design in an upstream of the filling carousel

Bag production produced and transferred to a filling box by means of a transport box.

When inserted or inserted into a filling box

However, the mostly flexible walls of the container can at least slightly sink inwards, since that

Containers stand freely in the filling box and not on one

Filler neck hangs. As a result, it may happen that a non-optimal filling opening is available and / or that a stamp for compacting the bulk material does not enter the opening of the

Can be introduced.

EP 3 197 784 B1 proposes that the flexible walls of the container be sucked in via openings in the side walls of the filling box, so that the container opening collapses

prevent. The disadvantage here, however, is that the

Sidewalls of the container immediately as soon as they come into contact with the negative pressure prevailing at the openings contact the side walls. This results in a more or less uncontrolled application of the flexible walls of the container to the side walls of the filling box, so that the

Container opening is usually kept open, but here too an optimal shape of the container shape can often not be achieved.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to improve the disadvantages described above.

This task is solved by a filling box with the

Features of claim 1, by a packing system with the Features of claim 10 and by a method for

Filling bulk goods in containers with the characteristics of

Claim 11. Preferred developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. Further advantages and features of the invention result from the exemplary embodiments.

The filling box according to the invention for a filling unit of a packaging machine for filling bulk goods into containers comprises at least one at least upwards

sectionally open receiving space for at least one container. This receiving space is laterally delimited by at least two side walls. According to the invention

at least one vacuum device is provided, which is arranged at least in sections in at least one corner section between the at least two side walls.

The filling box according to the invention makes it possible that a container introduced into the filling box by means of the

Vacuum device is clamped into the corner sections of the receiving space, so that the preferably flexible wall of a container or the shape of the container is optimized into the corners of the receiving space. For this purpose, vacuum devices are preferably provided in all corner sections, so that the shape is clamped optimally into the corners.

According to the invention, a corner section is to be understood in particular as the edge or the corner between at least two side walls. If only two side walls are provided, the corner sections of these side walls are preferably an edge, the roughly oval shape of the receiving space then being achieved through the two side walls. At three

Side walls a triangular contour of the molding box can be achieved, with vacuum devices preferably also being arranged here in all three corner sections or in the edges between the side walls. With more than three Side walls can then be reached with any polygonal contours of a filling box.

The filling box according to the invention offers many advantages. A significant advantage is that it is preferably flexible

Wall of a container by means of the vacuum device arranged in the corner sections or

Vacuum devices are optimally stretched into the corners, so that the shape or contour of the container is optimally formed within the receiving space.

As soon as the preferably optimal container shape or

predetermined container cross-section up to the corners of the

Is formed into the receiving space, preferably an additional or even exclusive suppression can be generated on the side walls of the receiving space. For this purpose, openings can in particular also be provided in the side walls, via which air is sucked in and so in

Suppression can be generated.

This ensures reliable filling of bulk goods through a fully opened container opening. In addition, it is possible to reliably insert a stamp that is as close to the contour as possible to compress the bulk material into the container.

In appropriate embodiments, the

A vacuum device in the corner section suppresses air by sucking air out of the receiving space. In such configurations, in which the vacuum device achieves a vacuum by suction, the corner section is preferably designed as a groove, so that air can be sucked out and the flexible container wall can be stretched or formed into the corners. The vacuum device preferably comprises at least one venturi device. There is a venturi device

preferably designed in such a way that a vacuum is generated in the corner section via the generation of an air flow, that is to say the blowing out of air, so that the contour of a

Container is optimized or stretched right into the corners. The suppression is generated in particular when a container is inserted into the filling box and the air flow flows between the filling box and the container. Thus, by generating a directional airflow according to the Venturi principle, a suppression between two surfaces is created.

The venturi device particularly preferably comprises at least one nozzle which is arranged at least in sections in at least one corner section. Using such a nozzle, which in particular provides at least one air outlet opening, air can be blown out within the receiving space along the corner section or along the edge between at least two side walls.

In expedient refinements, the receiving space is at least partially conical at the top. This means in particular that the

The receiving space is widened at least in sections in the direction of the upper opening or becomes wider at the top than the container to be accommodated in the receiving space.

In advantageous configurations, the nozzle is the

Venturi device aligned such that a generated air flow is directed towards the upper opening of the receiving space. As a result, as soon as a container is placed in the molding box, a suppression is generated by the upward flowing air flow between the corner section and the container wall. The nozzle is preferably arranged in the upper half, preferably in the upper third and in particular in the upper quarter of the filling box or the receiving space. It is particularly preferred that at least the upper section of a container and preferably the area of the opening of the container is drawn into the corner sections of the filling box, so that at least the opening in the

Filling box is present.

In practical developments there is at least one

Suction device provided, in at least one

Side wall at least one opening is provided, which is connected to the suction device. By means of such an opening in at least one side wall, via which a suppression in the molding box is achieved by suction of air, the preferably flexible wall of a container can additionally be sucked into the side wall of a filling box, in particular without wrinkles, via the side walls. This ensures that the container fits as closely as possible in the molding box, so that the container is filled reliably and also by means of a near-contour

Stamp can be optimally compressed.

At least one suction device is particularly preferred

provided, wherein in the bottom of the receiving space at least one lower opening is provided which connects to the

Suction device is connected. By means of one

Suction device, the container can be sucked into the molding box or the

Introducing the container into the receiving space can be supported. By providing such a suction device in the lower area or through an opening in the bottom of the

The receiving space ensures that the empty container is completely inserted into the molding box. In advantageous configurations, the suction device comprises at least one fan device. By means of one

Air can be sucked out of the filling box by the fan device. This is particularly advantageous if no other vacuum connection is provided.

The packaging machine according to the invention for filling bulk goods into containers comprises at least one filling unit with at least one filling box, as was described above.

The packaging machine according to the invention for filling

Bulk material already points to the filling box

described advantages.

The method according to the invention is suitable for filling containers with bulk goods by means of a packing system, as described above. The container is the first

Receiving space of the filling box fed to a filling unit.

Subsequently, the vacuum device is activated at least temporarily in order to suck at least one flexible wall of at least one container at least temporarily into at least one corner section between at least two side walls of the receiving space of the filling box.

This ensures reliable filling of bulk goods through a fully opened container opening. This results from the fact that by generating a negative pressure in the corner sections of the molding box, the preferred

flexible wall of a container is optimized or stretched into the corners. It is thus achieved that the predetermined contour of a container is optimal up to the

Filling box is created into it.

Furthermore, by stretching or stretching the container into the corner sections of the filling box, a As far as possible, the contour of the filler box can be inserted into the container in such a way that it conforms to the shape of the bulk material and compresses it.

Thus, the method according to the invention also has the advantages which have already been explained above for the packaging machine and the filling box.

The suction device preferably generates at least temporarily a suppression at at least one opening in at least one side wall. This ensures that the sack that has already been optimized in the corners or that in the corners

Optimized containers with at least one flexible wall are preferably also sucked in flatly on the side walls, so that a particularly optimal filling and compacting of the bulk material can be guaranteed.

Particularly preferably, the suction device for generating a vacuum at at least one opening in at least one side wall is only activated when the container is not being optimized by means of the vacuum device into the corner section or into the corner sections of the molding box. In this way it is achieved that the walls of the container lie against the side walls of the filling box as wrinkle-free as possible. The suction device can preferably be activated before the optimization and after the optimization into the corners. With a correspondingly strong vacuum device, the

Run through the suction device.

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

In it show: Figure 1 is a purely schematic representation of a

Embodiment of a packaging machine according to the invention in a perspective view;

Figure 2 is a purely schematic representation of a

Embodiment of a filling box according to the invention in a perspective view;

Figure 3 is a purely schematic representation of a

Embodiment of a filling box according to the invention in a view from above;

Figure 4 is a purely schematic representation of the filling box according to section line A-A in Figure 3;

FIG. 5 shows a purely schematic illustration of the filling box according to the section line H-H in FIG. 3

Figure 6 is a purely schematic representation of a

cut vacuum device in one

Enlargement; and

Figure 7 is a purely schematic representation of the operation of the present invention.

In Figure 1 is a purely schematic of an invention

Packing machine 200 for filling bulk material 50 into containers 60 is shown in a perspective view.

In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the packing machine 200 comprises a container production device 201, by means of which containers 60 and in particular open bags 62 for filling bulk goods 50 are produced.

From the container production device 201 in the here Embodiment shown flexible open bags 62 made of film. For this purpose, film is unrolled from a film supply 207 and guided over a shaped shoulder 206. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, a film section placed around a molding box is welded and

Cutting station 208 is formed into a flexible open bag, which is transferred to a transfer device 202 in the transport box 203.

The packing machine 200 also includes a filling carousel 204, over the circumference of which a plurality of filling units 100 are arranged. Each of these filling units 100 comprises a filling box 1, into each of which a container 60 for filling is introduced.

For this purpose, the transport box 203 by means of the

Transfer device 202 is moved at an appropriate position over an empty filling box 1, the container 60 or here the sack open at the top being guided into the filling box 1 by the transport costs 203.

During the rotation of the filling carousel 204, a sack 62 is filled in a filling box 1. Then or in parallel, the bulk material 50 can be compressed in the container 60. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, it is indicated purely schematically that the filling carousel 204 is followed by a compression station 205.

In Figure 2, a filling box 1 is shown purely schematically in a perspective view, which one

Has receiving space 2 for a container 60 to be filled. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the filling box comprises four side walls 3, 4, 5, 6, which define a receiving space 2. A vacuum device 15 is arranged in each case on an upper section of the filling box 1 in the corner sections 9, which device is arranged in the corners 17 or along the edges 18 creates an oppression.

The filling box 1 here comprises an upper opening 10 and a lower opening 14 in the bottom 13 of the filling box 1. Depending on the exemplary embodiment, a suction device 11 can be provided below the lower opening 14, which allows the still empty container to be conveyed in from a transport box 203 the filling box 1 favors.

Such a suction device 11 can be provided, for example, by a fan device 16, which pulls the container 60 down into the receiving space 2 of the filling box 1 through the operation of the suction device 11.

The introduced or set in the filling box 1

Containers 60 are preferably open sacks 62 with more or less flexible sack walls. So that the predetermined shape or contour of the container 60 is form-fitting in the filling box 1 or in the receiving space 2 of the filling box 1 for filling and, above all, for a later compression with a stamp 209 that is as close to the contour as possible

Vacuum devices 15 are provided, which are arranged here in the corner sections 9 between the side walls 3, 4, 5, 6.

If a depression is generated in the corner sections 9, the container 60 is into the corners 17 or the edges 18 of the

Filling box 1 or the receiving space 2 optimized or the container 60 is stretched into the corners 17 or the edges 18. This will make the predefined form of the

Container 60 optimized.

In order to create a suppression in the corner section 9 or in the corners 17 or along the edges 18, for example, suppression through corresponding openings in the Corner section 9 are sucked. Then is preferable

at least one suction line is provided, which to the

Openings pulls a suppressor. Then the corner section 9 or the edge 18 is preferably between the individual ones

Side walls 3, 4, 5, 6, formed as a fillet. Such an embodiment can be used expediently depending on the area of use, but is not shown in the figures shown here.

The vacuum device 15 in the shown

The exemplary embodiment is designed as a venturi device 7, which is provided here by a separate component and is attached from the outside to the corner sections 9 or to the edges 18 or corners 17 between the side walls 3, 4, 5, 6.

The venturi device 7 comprises a nozzle 8 which can be connected to a pressure line 19. About these

Pressure line 19 becomes air in the receiving space 2

blown in.

Since the nozzles 8 of the venturi devices 7 in the exemplary embodiment shown are designed and arranged in such a way that the air flow 20 is guided in the direction of the upper opening 14 along the edges 18, the air flow 20 between the corner sections 9 and the container 60 which has already been inserted is guided by the upper opening 10 blown out. By the air flow prevailing between the container 60 and the side walls 3, 4, 5, 6, a suppression after the

Venturi principle generated, whereby the bag walls each extend into the corner sections 9 or into the corners 17 or the edges 18.

In Figure 3, the embodiment already shown in Figure 2 is shown purely schematically in a view from above. In this view can be seen through the upper opening 12 into the receiving space 2 of the filling box 1, which is delimited by the side walls 3, 4, 5, 6.

In this view it can be seen that the receiving space 2 widens slightly conically towards the top. As a result, the openings 12 of the suction device 11 in the side walls 3, 4, 5, 6 can also be seen in this view.

The suction device 11 is operatively connected to the

Openings 12 so that air can be sucked out through these openings 12, as a result of which the walls of the container 60 fit positively against the side walls 3, 4, 5, 6 of the receiving space 2 of the filling box 1.

However, these openings 12 are preferably only occupied with a suppression if the contour of the container 60 does not extend through to the corners 17 or the edges 18

Vacuum device 15 is tensioned. If the

Vacuum device 15 is designed accordingly strong, the suction device 11 can also permanently apply a vacuum to the openings 12. It is then achieved that the sack walls or container walls are wrinkle-free on the

Fit recording room 2.

In FIG. 4, an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention is shown in a sectional view from the side in a purely schematic manner. Here you can also see the upper opening 10. Here you can see in section the design of the

Venturi device 7 or the nozzle 8 of the venturi device 7 in the corner sections 9 between the side walls 3, 4, 6.

In this figure it is indicated purely schematically that an air flow 20 in through the nozzle 8 of the venturi device 7

Is blown towards the upper opening 10. Once a Container 60 is arranged in the filling box 1, a suppression is generated by the air stream 20 flowing between the side walls 3, 4, 5, 6 and the container 60, as a result of which the container extends into the corners 17 or the edges 18.

As soon as this has happened, the suction device 11 can also be put into operation, as a result of which the openings 12 in the

Side walls 3, 4, 5, 6 are subjected to a vacuum, so that the wall of the container 60 is sucked into the side walls 3, 4, 5, 6 of the filling box 1 without creases. However, the use of a suction device 11 and of openings 12 in the side walls 3, 4, 5, 6 is optional.

For a better illustration of the functioning of the filling box 1, a sliding plate 21 or

Bottom plate 21 is drawn, which is preferably removably inserted into the molding box 1 and on which the container 60 introduced into the receiving space 2 stands. The container 60 can be guided on a corresponding sliding surface of the filling carousel 204 on this sliding plate 21. In Figure 4, however, an embodiment is shown in which the

Slide plate 21 is held with retaining fingers, the

Design with holding fingers can in particular also be used in a compression station 205. At a

Filling box 1, the holding fingers can also be omitted, since the sliding plate 21 is supported by the sliding surface.

In the sliding plate 21 there are then preferably passages for sucking air out of the receiving space.

FIGS. 5 and 6 each show sectional views of the configuration of the vacuum devices 15 in FIGS

Corner sections 9 and the nozzles 8 of the Venturi devices 7 are shown in sectional views. In Figure 7, the sequence of the

represented method according to the invention. In the top

The view shows that a container 60 with flexible walls has been introduced into the filling box 1.

Due to the flexible walls 61 of the container 60, they fall slightly inwards in the upper region or in the region of the upper opening 10 of the filling box 1. In this state, on the one hand, the container 60 cannot be filled over the full opening width. In addition, a near-contour stamp 209 cannot be inserted into the container or into the container opening in order to close the bulk material 50 filled in the container 60

condense.

In order to optimize the shape of the container 60 in the

To ensure receiving space 2 of the filling box 1 are

Vacuum devices 15 are provided in the corner sections 9 between the side walls 3, 4, 5, 6, which are also designed as venturi devices 7 in the exemplary embodiment shown here.

Through the container 60 located in the filling box 1 or in the receiving space 2, which here as an open bag 62

is formed by blowing out air in the direction of the upper opening 10 by means of the Venturi devices 7, a suppression in the corner portions 9 or along the edges 18 and the container walls 61.

As a result, the container or the open sack 62 extends optimally into the corners 17 or the edges 18 between the

Side walls 3, 4, 5, 6, in, whereby the open sack 62 is stretched into the corners 17 or edges 18. Bulk material 50 can thus be optimally filled into the open sack 62 and compressed, for example by means of a close-fitting stamp 209 of a compression station 205. Furthermore, FIG. 7 shows again in a purely schematic manner that a suction device 11 with a fan device 16 can be provided below the filling box 1, at least in the area of the transfer station 202, in order to move the container 60 to through the lower opening 14 in the bottom 13 of the filling box 1 below in the receiving space 2 of the filling box 1

suck.

Reference symbol list:

1 filling box

2 recording room

3 side walls

4 side walls

5 side walls

6 side wall

7 Venturi device

8 nozzle

9 corner section

10 upper opening

11 suction device

12 opening

13 floor

14 lower opening

15 vacuum device

16 fan device

17 corner

18 edge

19 pressure line

20 airflow

21 sliding plate / base plate

50 bulk goods

60 containers

61 flexible wall

62 open bag

100 filling unit

200 packing machine

201 container production device

202 transfer device

203 transport case

204 filling carousel

205 compression device

206 form shoulder

207 Foil stock

208 welding and cutting station

209 stamps

Claims

Expectations :

1. Filling box (1) for a filling unit (100) one

Packing machine (200) for filling bulk goods (50) in

Container (60), comprising at least one receiving space (2) which is at least partially open at the top for at least one container (60), the receiving space (2) being laterally delimited by at least two side walls (3, 4, 5, 6),

characterized,

that at least one vacuum device (15) is provided, which at least in sections in at least one corner section (9) between the least two

Side walls (3, 4, 5, 6) is arranged.

2. Filling box (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the vacuum device (15) at least one

Venturi device (7) comprises.

3. Filling box (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least the venturi device comprises at least one nozzle (8), which at least

is arranged in sections in the at least one corner section (9).

4. Filling box (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving space (2) is at least partially conical upwards.

5. Filling box (1) according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the nozzle (8) is oriented such that a generated air flow is directed in the direction of the upper opening (10) of the receiving space.

6. Filling box (1) according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the nozzle (8) in the upper half, preferably in the upper third and

is arranged in particular in the upper quarter.

7. filling box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one

Suction device (11) is provided and that at least one side wall (3, 4, 5, 6) comprises at least one opening (12) which connects to the suction device (11)

connected.

8. Filling box (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one

Suction device (11) is provided and that the bottom (13) of the receiving space (2) has at least one lower opening (14) which is connected to the suction device (11).

9. Filling box (1) according to at least one of the preceding

Claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the

Suction device (11) comprises at least one fan device (16).

10. Packing system (200) for filling bulk goods (50) into containers (60) comprising at least one filling unit (100) with at least one filling box (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims.

11. A method for filling containers (60) with bulk material (50) by means of a packing system (200) according to the preceding claim, wherein a container (60) is fed to the receiving space (2) of the filling box (1) of a filling unit (100), characterized,

that the vacuum device (15) is activated at least temporarily in order to at least temporarily move at least one flexible wall (61) of at least one container (60) into at least one corner section (9) between at least two side walls (3, 4, 5, 6) of the receiving space ( 2) of the filling box (1).

12. The method according to the preceding claim, characterized

characterized in that the suction device (11) at least temporarily generates a suppression at at least one opening (12) in at least one side wall (3, 4, 5, 6).

13. The method according to the preceding claim, characterized

characterized in that the suction device (11) is only activated when the container (60) is not exactly by means of

Vacuum device is clamped in the corner section.