ES2716470T3 - Packaging machine with increased functionality, particularly for small preformed bags - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Packaging machine with increased functionality, particularly for small preformed bags.

The present invention relates to a packaging machine with increased functionality, particularly for small preformed bags, and a method of packaging, particularly for packaging small preformed bags that can be made with the packaging machine.

Conventional packaging machines are generally provided with discharge outlets that are designed as a function of their size or the shape of the bags to be filled and which have to be totally or at least partially replaced with each change of format.

With such conventional packaging machines, disassembly operations are therefore necessary in order to be able to adapt the output to the format of the bag to be filled during the operation.

In fact, the packaging lines present in the market are not able to pack all types of bags (of different types, sizes and materials) that are present in the market with a single machine model.

For example, some of these conventional packaging machines process the bag to be filled while leaving it standing isolated along the line of advancement, therefore not allowing the processing of all types of bags, since some types of bags do not they stand up.

Other conventional packaging machines, for filling the bag, need the deformation of the lateral accordion portions which must then be restored along the advancing line. This type of execution is quite reliable when the bags are made of paper and the sizes do not differ greatly; but it is impossible to process all other types of bags made of different materials or with funds that do not allow the bag to remain in the vertical position.

In addition, another drawback common to all types of conventional packaging machines consists in the fact that a large amount of air remains inside the containers and, with no system being available that is adapted for disposal, the containers must be perforated with the consequence that the container is no longer perfectly sealed, thus losing its fragrance and emitting unpleasant odors to the outside.

BE 515333 A and FR 2780027 A1 show packaging machines having a combination of elements as set forth in the precharacterising portion of appended claim 1.

The object of the present invention is to provide a packaging machine with increased functionality that is capable of overcoming the drawbacks and limitations mentioned above.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to offer a packaging machine that is particularly adapted to the packaging of small preformed bags.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a packaging machine that is capable of offering the greatest guarantees of reliability and safety in its use.

According to the invention, a packaging machine is provided as defined in the appended claims.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a packaging machine with increased functionality, particularly for small preformed bags, which is illustrated for example with the help of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic side elevational view of the packaging machine according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic plan view from above of the packaging machine shown in Figure 1; Figures 3 and 4 are two schematic side elevation views of the filling cone of the packaging machine shown in the previous figures, respectively before and after its insertion into the bag to be filled in its active opening configuration;

Figure 5 is a schematic side elevational view of the filling cone shown in the previous figures during the step of unloading the product into the bag to be filled;

Figure 6 is a schematic plan view from above of the bag to be filled during the above mentioned unloading step;

Figure 7 is a schematic side elevational view of the filling cone shown in the previous figures illustrating its operation;

Figure 8 is a schematic side elevational view of the bag to be filled during the sealing step and removal of the remaining air contained therein;

Figure 9 is a schematic view of the mouth of the bag to be filled.

With reference to the figures, the packaging machine with increased functionality, particularly for small preformed bags, generally designated with the reference number 1, comprises a plurality of processing stations that are arranged along at least one advance line 2 and which are provided with retaining means 3 and opening means 4 for at least one bag 5 to be filled which are operatively connected to means for advancing the bag 5 that are not shown since they are conventional.

For example, the bag 5 can be a preformed bag of the type with an open mouth with or without side accordion portions, an open mouth with or without a bottom, an open mouth with or without a handle, or an open mouth of the Doy Pack type, or a stable base belt, or Top Slider, etc.

These preformed bags can also be made of materials of different types and the sizes of the bags that can be processed can vary from 300 grams to 7 kilograms.

More precisely, the processing stations comprise at least one filling station which is provided with at least one filling cone 6 which is adapted to discharge loose products 7 into the bag 5, which is open and formed in advance.

In the proposed embodiment there are two filling stations which are arranged in series in order to increase the productivity of the packaging machine 1.

According to the invention, each filling cone 6 is of the type with variable aperture so that it can move between an active configuration of minimum aperture, in which it assumes a substantially pyramid-like shape with an acute angle as shown in the figures 3 and 4, and an active configuration of maximum opening in which it assumes a shape substantially like a parallelepiped with a rectangular cross section as shown in figures 5 and 7.

In addition, also according to the invention, means are provided, also not shown, for lifting and lowering both or any of the bag 5 and the filling cone 6 in order to partially insert the filling cone 6 into the bag 5 along the a line of ascent / descent 18.

Advantageously, each filling cone 6 is defined by at least two half-shells 8 and 9 which are pivoted in the outlet 10 of a duct 11 for feeding the loose products 7 so that they can move between the active minimum opening configuration, in which these half-shells 8 and 9 are closed one against the other to give the filling cone 6 the substantially pyramid-like shape with an acute angle, and the maximum opening active configuration, in which the two half-shells 8 and 9 are open between yes to give the filling cone 6 substantially the shape of a parallelepiped with a rectangular cross section.

More precisely, the two half-shells 8 and 9 are both substantially formed as an open vat which is delimited by a central wall 12 extending substantially parallel to the direction of discharge of the loose products 7, and by two side walls 13, with the central walls 12 being mutually opposite and the central walls mutually displaced to define a male-female coupling and allow the insertion of two half-shells 8 and 9 one inside the other and delimit laterally each filling cone 6 in all its active configurations.

It is important to note that the walls mentioned above 12 and 13 are further formed to define, at the outlet of each filling cone 6 two peaks 14 and 15 defining the apex of the filling cone 6 and are adapted to be inserted in the bag 5 during the step to fill it.

Conveniently means 16 are provided to adjust the opening angle of the two half-shells 8 and 9, comprising for each half-shell 8 and 9 a pneumatic actuator 17 which is interposed between a stop 19 which is integral with the feed conduit 11 and a element 20 to support the respective half-shells 8 or 9.

The acute angle of the filling cone 6, which is directed downwards, penetrates the bag 5 with extreme ease, allowing the coupling and packaging of a plurality of bags, some of which are increasingly in demand by the European market; for example bags that have the side accordion portions closed in place, or minipacks of formats ranging from 300 grams to 800 grams. The filling mouth that is defined allows the packaging, with high productivity, of any bag, regardless of the shape, type and size.

The aforementioned opening means 4 comprise at least two mutually opposite sets of suckers 21 which can be moved towards or away from each other at right angles to the line of advance 2 so as to hold the bag 5 by adhering to its side surfaces 23, following its mutual approach, and to open the selvedge 24 of yours, following their mutual spacing.

As for the retaining means 3, they comprise at least two sets of grippers 25 which are mutually opposite and movable approaching or moving away from each other at right angles to the line of advance 2 to retain the bag 5 to be filled in its portions of Side accordion 26.

As will be described in more detail below, the two sets of grippers 25 are moveable approaching or moving away from each other parallel to the line of advance 2 to allow complete opening of the bag 5 with the side accordion portions 26 retained by the sets of tweezers 25 following the thrust applied to the selvage 24 by the peaks 14 and 15 that are inserted in the bag 5, to make the selvedge 23 adhere to the entire outer perimeter of the filling cone 6.

With particular reference to Figure 8, at least one sealing station is provided which is disposed behind the filling station or stations and is provided with at least one set of heat seal bars 27 which are provided with liquid cooling means of the heat seal, for heat sealing the selvedge 24 of the bag 5.

Conveniently, means are provided for adjusting the height of the heat seal bars 27 so as to provide a plurality, for example up to four, of closure types for different types of bags and / or to provide a plurality, for example 3, of different types of bags. types of closure in the same bag.

Also with particular reference to FIG. 8, advantageously, means are provided for removing air 28 to eliminate the residual air contained in the bag 5 in its transfer from the filling station to the sealing station comprising a series in its upper part. of pressers 29 that are adapted to retain the bag 5 and cause the selvage 24 to descend and in its lower part a pair of rollers 30 that are adapted to operate vertically on the lateral surfaces 23 of the bag 5 until they reach the level of the product content there to eliminate air between the product and the selvedge 24.

The packaging method, obtainable with the packaging machine 1 described above, particularly for packaging small preformed bags, is described below.

According to the invention, the packaging method comprises the following steps:

- Retain the bag 5 to be filled by retention means 3,

- Advance the bag 5 to be filled until it is arranged in at least one of the filling stations described above,

- Open the selvage 24 of the bag 5 to be filled by the opening means 4, an operation that can also occur before or during the previous advancement step.

More precisely, the retaining means 3 and the opening means 4 respectively comprise the sets of grippers 25 for retaining the lateral accordion portions of the bag 5 to be filled and the sets of suckers 21 for opening the bag 5; the first operate on the sides of the selvage 24 of the bag 5 to keep the accordion portions closed, and move one towards the other on the horizontal axis while simultaneously the seconds once adhered to the bag 5 are separated so that it can be opened with In order to make the selvedge 5 define an opening of oval shape.

Subsequently, after the progress, the following steps are executed:

- Partially insert each filling cone 6 into the bag 5 to be filled by the lifting and lowering means,

- Open each filling cone 6 and move the retaining means 3 to make the selvedge 24 adhere to the entire outer perimeter of the filling cone 6,

- Download the loose products 7 in the bag 5 to be filled.

Advantageously, at least two steps of:

- The step of partially inserting the filling cone 6,

- The step of opening the filling cone 6,

- The step of unloading the loose products 7,

They can also occur simultaneously.

More precisely, the outlet of each filling cone 6 and the selvedge 6 of the bag 5 to be filled can be mutually coupled and uncoupled thanks to the vertical and horizontal movements of the mouth or of the retaining means 3 of the bag 5 which they are connected to the support frame of the output 10.

After the bag 5 to be filled, with the selvage 24 open in an oval shape, has been positioned under the outlet of the respective filling cone 6, it is held and maintained by an additional set of bag retaining clips which are positioned below. of the output or discharge outputs.

The filling cone 5 can thus partially penetrate the bag 5 and then open horizontally towards the accordion portions and discharge the product 7 into the bag 5.

During the opening step, the outlet of the filling cone 6 deforms the initially oval cross-section of the selvage 24 causing it to take the shape of the outlet itself, ie a shape very similar to that of the transverse cross-section of the bag 5 which is now filled, almost rectangular.

In this way, the outlet of the filling cone 5, during the opening step, moves a part of the accordion portions that are not held in place by the retaining means 3 so that the outlet of the filling cone 6 can defining a larger opening, thus exploiting approximately 80% of the width of the selvedge 24 of the bag 5.

More precisely, during the opening step of the filling cone 6 and discharging the products 7, the retaining means 3 holding the selvedge 24 of the bag 5 with the accordion portions held in place are separated in order to put the selvedge 24 of the bag under tension and make it adhere to the entire outer perimeter of the outlet of the filling cone 6.

In this way, the opening of the outlet of the filling cone 6, in addition to allowing the product 7 to enter the bag 5, also modifies the original oval shaped opening of the selvage 24 causing it to take an almost rectangular shape.

When the filling is completed, the filling cone 6 and the selvage 24 are separated and the bag 5 is then held by the retaining means 3 so that they can hold, align and transport the bag 5 whose retaining means have a pair of claws or jaws that rotate in a vertical descending plane to separate and join.

More precisely, such retaining, aligning and transporting means allow alignment of the selvedge 24 by a mutual spacing movement along the horizontal axis and alignment can be achieved both under the outlet of the filling cone 6 and in a subsequent station.

Subsequently, the bag is translationally moved to the subsequent station for the operations of discharging the air contained in the bag 5 to be filled by means of air removal 28 and to heat seal the selvage 24 by the set of heat seal bars 27.

More precisely, such translatory movement occurs through the grippers for holding, aligning and transporting, accompanied by auxiliary movement means operating at the bottom of the bag, such as for example conveyor belts and movable arms.

The bag is moved to the heat sealing station directly by the air-removing means 28.

Once the operations of the air removal means 28 are completed, the bag 5 is immediately heat sealed by the set of heat seal bars 27.

Such heat sealing stations can be one or more in number, and in each assembly it is possible to have sets of bars that are adjustable in height to be able to execute up to four different types of closure for different types of bags or to be able to execute up to three different types of bags. close for the same bag.

In practice it has been discovered that the packaging machine with increased functionality, particularly for small preformed bags, and the packaging method obtainable with it, achieve the purpose and the intended objects since they allow the packaging of different types of bags without the need to change the discharge outlets so that the machine is adapted for the packaging of both food products and chemical products as well as pet food.

For example, it allows the packaging of bags of different types such as: bags with accordion portions, or without accordion portions, bags with external handles, bags with perforated handles, Doy Pack bags, stable base bags, single life bags Top Zip , Mini Pet Pack bags, internal front zipper bags, Top Slider bags, Hidden Front Slider bags, and easy-open bags.

In addition, it is possible to process bags of any shape, size and material.

Another advantage of the packaging machine according to the present invention consists in the fact that the handling of the bags in the advance line always occurs with the accordion portions held in place, to ensure the perfect closing 100% of the package.

In fact, the handling of the bags in the line of advance occurs while they are constantly held and with the accordion portions held in place, to ensure a production process that is reliable and uninterrupted and a perfect packaging of the bags.

Another advantage of the packaging machine according to the present invention consists in the fact that it allows an optimum sealing of the bags which is such as to preserve the fragrance and quality of the product.

In fact, thanks to the means of eliminating air, oxygen is eliminated from the interior of the sealed container; in this way it is not necessary to perforate the container in order to palletize it.

In addition, thanks to the presence of the liquid refrigerant means of the heat sealing, it is possible to prevent the material of the bag from deforming with the heat, thus taking on an unpleasant aspect; In addition, the system prevents the color variation of the bag in contact with the heat sources.

Another advantage of the packaging machine according to the present invention consists in the fact that it is easy to use and quick to effect the change of format, being also reliable from the point of view both of the process and of the work elements over time.

The packaging machine with increased functionality, particularly for small preformed bags, and the packaging method obtainable therefrom, thus conceived, are susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

In addition, all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, with the condition that they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent shapes and dimensions can be any according to the requirements.

Where the technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by numbers and / or reference signs, those numbers and / or reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such numbers and / or reference signs have no limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by example by such numbers and / or reference signs.

Claims (12)

A packaging machine (1) with increased functionality, particularly for small preformed pouches, comprising a plurality of processing stations that are arranged along at least one advance line (2) and which are provided with retention means (3) and opening means (4) for at least one bag (5) to be filled that are functionally connected to means for advancing said at least one bag (5) to be filled along said advance line (2), said processing stations comprising at least one filling station that is provided with at least one filling cone (6) that is adapted to discharge loose products (7) in said at least one ball (5) to be filled , which is open and formed in advance, said at least one filling cone (6) being of the type with variable opening so that it can move between an active configuration of minimum opening, wherein said at least one filling cone (6) ) assumes a form usually of the pyramid type with an acute angle, and an active configuration of maximum opening, means being also provided for raising and lowering both or each of said at least one bag (5) to be filled and said at least one filling cone ( 6) for a partial insertion of said at least one filling cone (6) in said at least one bag (5) to be filled, characterized in that in said active configuration of maximum opening said at least one filling cone (6) assumes a shape substantially like a parallelepiped with a rectangular cross section, said at least one filling cone (6) being defined by at least two half-shells (8, 9) that are pivoted in an outlet (10) of a conduit (11) to feed said loose products (7) so that they can move between said active configuration of maximum opening, in which said at least two half-shells (8, 9) are closed together to give said at least one cone of fill (6) said substantially pyramid-shaped shape with an acute angle, and said active configuration of maximum opening, wherein said at least two half-shells (8, 9) are open to each other to give said filling cone (6) said substantially as a parallelepiped with a rectangular cross-section, said at least two half-shells (8, 9) both being formed substantially as an open tub, which is bounded by a central wall (12) extending substantially parallel to a discharge direction of said loose products (7), and by two side walls (13), said central walls (12) of said at least two half-shells (8,9) mutually opposite state and said central walls (12) of said at least two half-shells (8,9) being mutually displaced to allow an insertion of said at least two half-shells (8, 9) into one another and laterally delimiting said at least one filling cone (6) in all their config active urations, said walls (12, 13) of said at least two half-shells (8, 9) being further formed to define, at an outlet of said at least one filling cone (6), two peaks (14, 15) that define a vertex of said at least one filling cone (6) and are adapted to be inserted in said at least one bag (5) to be filled during the filling step of said bag. 2. The packaging machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (16) to adjust an opening angle of said at least two half-shells (8, 9) comprising, for each of said at minus two half-shells (8, 9) a pneumatic actuator (17) interposed between a stop (19) that is integral with said feed conduit (11) and an element (20) to support said half-shell (8, 9). 3. The packaging machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said opening means (4) comprise at least two mutually opposite sets of suckers (21) that can move away or approaching each other at right angles to said advancing line (2) to grip said at least one bag (5) to be filled by adhering to the lateral surfaces (26) of said at least one bag (5) to be filled following its mutual approach and to opening a selvedge (24) of said at least one bag (5) to be filled, following their mutual spacing. The packaging machine (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said retaining means (3) comprise at least two sets of mutually opposite clips (25) that can be moved towards or away from each other at right angles to said advancing line (2) for retaining said at least one bag (5) to be filled in its lateral accordion portions (26), said at least two sets of grippers (25) being further movable approaching or moving away from each other parallel to each other; said advance line (2) to allow a complete opening of said at least one bag (5) to be filled with said lateral accordion portions (26) being retained by said at least two sets of pliers (25) following a thrust applied said edge (24) by said peaks (14, 15) that are inserted in said at least one bag (5) to be filled to make said selvedge (24) adhere to the entire outer perimeter of said at least one cone filling (6). The packaging machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims 3 and 4, characterized in that it comprises at least one sealing station which is arranged behind said filling station and is provided with at least one assembly of thermosealable bars (27) for thermosealing said selvedge (24). 6. The packaging machine (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises means for a height adjustment of said thermosealing bars (27) in order to provide a plurality of types of closure for different types of bags and / or being able to provide a plurality of different types of closures in the same bag. The packaging machine (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises means for eliminating air (28) to eliminate residual air contained in said at least one bag (5) in a transfer of said at least one bag (5) from said at least one filling station to said sealing station. The packaging machine (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that said means for eliminating the air (28) comprises in its upper part a series of pressers (29) that are adapted to retain said at least one bag (5) to be filled and to cause said selvage (24) to descend and in its lower part a pair of rollers (30) that are adapted to operate vertically on the lateral surfaces (23) of said at least one bag (5) up to which reach the level of the product contained therein to eliminate air between said products (7) and said selvedge (24). 9. The packaging machine (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises two filling stations arranged in series. 10. A method of packaging, particularly for packaging small preformed bags, using a packaging machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - retaining said at least one bag (5) to be filled by said retention means (3), - advancing said at least one bag (5) to be filled until it is disposed in at least one of said filling stations, - opening said selvedge (24) of said at least one bag (5) to be filled by said opening means (4), - partially inserting said at least one filling cone (6) in said at least one bag (5) to be filled by said lifting and lowering means, - opening said at least one filling cone (6), and moving said retaining means (3) to make said selvage (24) adhere to the entire outer perimeter of said at least one filling cone (6), - unloading said loose products (7) in said at least one bag (5) to be filled, - removing the air contained in said at least one bag (5) by means of said air removal means (28), - heat sealing said selvage (24) by said at least one set of thermosealable bars (27). The packaging method according to claim 10, characterized in that said step of opening the selvage (24) occurs before said step of advancing said at least one bag (5) to be filled. 12. The method of packaging according to claim 10, characterized in that at least two steps of: said step of partially inserting said at least one filling cone (6). - said step of opening said at least one filling cone (6), - said step of unloading said loose products (7), occur simultaneously.