FR2804654A1 - Installation for filling bags of different size, comprises suction arms which bring bags alternatively from different bag stores to common intermediate position before using common filling mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

Smaller bags (6) in store (2) are picked by arm (14) having suction nozzles (18). Arm rotates about pivot (16) and brings bag to intermediate position (P1) where it is seized by gripping units (26) on arm (22) and raised to vertical position (P2) for filling (34). Larger bags (8) are lifted to common intermediate position (P1) by beam (37) with suction nozzles (40) before transit to filling position (P2) by gripping units (26).

Description

The present invention relates to a bagging plant comprising bag filling means and at least two bag magazines in which the bags are folded according to their two opposite edges. The bags have a bottom and an opposite opening which is guided towards the filling means.

The bagging plants are generally organized as a conventional production line in which bagging products and bags are arranged upstream. Filling and closing means of the bag constitute the middle of the chain and, downstream of the means of transport, make it possible to route the bags containing given amounts of product to the desired location.

Such facilities are generally straight and bags are guided by a treadmill or the like.

The empty bags are stored in a bag store which includes means for gripping and moving to take the bags in the store and to present them in line with the filling means.

However, this type of installation allows only one type of packaging at a time and the change in size can be done without interruption of the chain, nor without significant modification of the operating parameters of the installation.

To bag products under two different packaging, one could have imagined facilities with bag store on each side of the chain. The two stores would supply the machine with bags of different sizes by controlling the gripping means of one or the other of the stores, each means of gripping and transport of the bags being adapted and adjusted to the size of the bag he takes and carries.

However, such an installation would require the operator to make important trips to replenish each store. Indeed the chain is sometimes long and has devices, upstream and downstream of the filling means, which must be bypassed to access the stores.

In addition, it is necessary to provide separate gripping and transport means, on each side of the chain, adapted to each bag size to take a bag in a store and to bring it in line with the filling means. Moreover, these transport gripping means are relatively bulky.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bagging facility with a minimal footprint whose bag stores are more easily accessible than in the aforementioned facilities.

To achieve this object according to the invention, the bagging installation comprises bag filling means, said bags having an opening in their upper part opposite a bottom, and at least two bag magazines in which said bags are folded. according to two opposite edges defining the width. The installation comprises: gripping and moving means for gripping a single bag in a first bag magazine and moving said bag to a first intermediate position, gripping and moving means for gripping a single bag in a first bag; second bag store and move said bag to put it in said first intermediate position, and unique means for gripping and moving said bag adapted to take said upper part of the bag, in said first intermediate position, to move and put it in a second intermediate position in line with said filling means. The gripping and displacement means cooperate with said gripping and moving means, so that when said gripping and moving means position a bag of one or the other of said first and second magazines in said first intermediate position, they release said bag as soon as said gripping means take said bag. It will be understood that the size of the gripping and moving means is reduced since unique means make it possible to take the bags and to bring them up to the filling means.

To do this, the bags are arranged in a first intermediate position given whatever the store from which the bag comes. The bags are brought into this position by means of capture and displacement.

It will be understood that the gripping and moving means hold bag in the first intermediate position and that they release it as soon as the gripping means have taken it. Then, the upper end of the bag is placed in line with the filling means so that the bag is open and filled.

Advantageously, the gripping and moving means of said bag comprise gripping members adapted to take the two opposite edges of said bag.

This bag making makes it possible to maintain the upper part of the bag in a constant position with respect to the gripping means, thus facilitating the recovery of the bag by the filling means and in particular by the opening means.

According to a preferred embodiment of the bags of the first store and the bags of the second store have in particular different widths and the gripping means and displacement are able to take bags of different widths.

It is understood that the advantage of having at least two bags stores is to provide at least two types of bags and in particular bags of different capacities characterized by different dimensions.

Thus, the gripping means have a particular shape that allows them to take the bags of variable dimensions presented in the first intermediate position by the gripping and moving means. Advantageously, the gripping means comprise two grippers whose articulated branches are able to open substantially 180 in a plane perpendicular to the plane defined by the two opposite edges of the bag in said first intermediate position and to pinch said edges at any point of said branches. to take bags of different widths.

It is understood that the opening 180 of the two clamps makes it possible to maintain passage of constant width between the clamps when they are open and the distance separating them from one another is determined. Thus, bags of variable size are likely to be presented between clips in a direction perpendicular to their plane of opening.

However, for the bag to be taken regardless of its width, the branches of the clamps must have sufficient length and be likely to pinch the edge of the bag at any point of the two branches close, from their articulation to their end .

According to a particular mode of implementation, gripping and displacement means comprise two parallel arms whose ends are provided with two grippers adapted to take the two opposite edges of a bag and in that the two arms are capable of being spaced from each other to adjust the distance separating the two clamps to the width of said bag.

 This alternative embodiment also allows the gripping means to take bags of different sizes that the gripping and moving means have placed in the first intermediate position.

Advantageously, the gripping and moving means for gripping a single bag in the first bag magazine are the gripping and moving means for gripping a single bag in the second bag magazine.

In this configuration, the unique means of capture and movement are controllable so as to enter a bag in one or other bag stores and position it in the first intermediate position. According to another particular feature, there is provided a third bag magazine and gripping and moving means for gripping a single bag in the third bag magazine so as to move the bag to put it in said first intermediate position.

This characteristic makes it possible to package the products to bag in three different formats. In this configuration, the preceding embodiment is preferred. Thus the unique means of seizure and movement are able to seize the bags in the various stores on order.

Preferably, the gripping and displacement means comprise controllable movable devices on which said grippers are fixed to move them apart from each other, after bagging, so as to tension the upper part of said bag.

It is understood that the unique means of gripping and movement are suitable for all sizes of bags, but in cases where the grip is not optimal, when the upper portion of the bag is not sufficiently tight, the mobile devices controllable allow to overcome this disadvantage.

Thus the recovery of the bag in the second intermediate position by the filling means, and in particular the opening means, is made easier.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of particular embodiments of the invention given by way of indication but not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which <B> - 1 is a schematic partial sectional view of the bagging installation, perpendicular to the chain, showing two bag magazines, the gripping and moving means and the gripping and moving means; Figure 2 is a schematic view of the elevational installation perpendicular to that of Figure 1 showing the gripping and moving means, the gripping and moving means and two bag stores <B>; </ B> and - Figure 3 is a schematic view of the installation in elevation at an angle identical to that of Figure 2, in a particular embodiment.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, will describe an installation according to the invention, and in particular the shape of the elements that constitute it and its mode of operation.

The installation comprises a magazine 2 with small bags and a magazine 4 with large bags, in which are folded respectively small bags 6 and large bags 8, according to two opposite edges.

In order to seize the bags and to move them, input and displacement means 10 are provided for the small bags 6 and grasping and moving means 12 for the large bags 8.

The gripping and moving means 10 of the small bags 6 comprise an arm 14 hinged to an axis 16, and vacuum suction cups 18 capable of holding an object having a relatively smooth flat surface, such as a paper object.

The magazine 2 with small bags is located in line with the axis 16 and the arm 14, raised in a vertical position, applies the suction cups 18 to the first bag 6 of the small bag magazine 2. When the air circuit is depression, the suction cups 18 fix the bag on their end and the arm 14 is lowered into a horizontal position. The bag 6 is then cleared from the magazine 2 on the lower edge of which it came into abutment.

The magazine 2 is in an inclined position so that the taking of a bag 6 by the suction cups 18, in the lowest position, causes the sliding of the entire stack of bags 6 so that the first bag is in a position identical to that occupied by the bag previously seized. The supply of bags 6 is made by the highest part of the magazine 2. When the arm 14 is in its horizontal position it positions the suction cups maintain in a position said first intermediate position P1.

In this first intermediate position P1, unique means of gripping and moving 20 take the bag 6.

Reference will also be made to Figure 2 to describe the function of the different means.

The gripping and displacement means 20 comprise two arms 22 and 21 articulated on an axis 24 and gripping means and 27 fixed to the end of each of the two arms 22 and 21.

The gripping means consist of grippers each comprising two branches, 30, 31 and 32, 33, said grippers opening at 180.

Thanks to the open position of the branches 30,31 and 32,33, the gripping means and moving the bag 6 move the bag from the store to the first intermediate position without the clamps can hinder the movement of the bag.

Furthermore, the clamps can take bags whose width is variable within the length of the branches. In addition, the positioning of the bag in the first intermediate position is not exactly identical for each bag, and the gripper system makes it possible to ensure the grip of the two edges of the bag regardless of the small variations in position.

When the bag 6 is in the first intermediate position P1, held by the suction cups 18 of the arm 14, the clamps 26 and 27, fastened to the end of the arms 22 and 21 whose branches 30, 31 and 32, are closed respectively, take the two opposite edges of the top of the bag, near the opening.

As soon as the clamps 26 and 27 hold the bag, input means are deactivated. The arms 22 and 21, originally in a vertical position when the clamps 26 and 27 take the bag, are then controlled to bring said bag into a second intermediate position P2.

In the latter position P2, the filling means, and in particular the opening means 34, grip and separate the two opposite walls of the bag so as to bring it to the plumb with the filling hopper.

As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the arms 14, and 21 are articulated in parallel planes, and the arm 14 is articulated in a plane equidistant from the two planes of the arms 22 and 21. In addition, the device bag loading is substantially perpendicular to the bagging chain axis.

The foregoing description relates to the seizure of a bag in the small bag 2 store and its displacement until filling. Referring now to Figure 3 to describe the means for filling a large bag.

large bags store 4 is located below the first intermediate position, above the gripping means 20.

In the case where the width of the large bags 8 is greater than the distance between the clamps 26 and 27, there is provided a device for moving apart the arms 22 and 21. Thus, it is possible to move the large bag 8 from the store 4 large bags to the first intermediate position P1 without the clamps hinder the movement of the bag 8.

grasping and moving means of the large bags 36 comprise, a vertical arm 37 bent in its lower part, itself terminated by a horizontal frame 38 on which are fixed suction cups capable of grasping a large bag 8 in the bag 4 store .

The vertical arm 37 is movable along its vertical axis and moves the suction cups 40 in the same direction.

When the arm 37 is in the low position, the suction cups 40 are applied to a large bag 8 and grip it, then the arm is raised so that the large bag 8 reaches the first intermediate position P1. The suction cups are sufficiently spaced from each other to maintain the bag substantially in the same plane. The clamps 26 and 27 are thus able to take the bag 8 along its two opposite edges in the same way as in the case of small bags.

Then, the suction cups are deactivated so that the gripping and transport means 20 present the large bag under the filling means 34.

The gripping and moving means for the small bags 10 and the gripping means for the large bags 36 find their position, respectively vertical and low, in which they are able to grip a bag, during the phase of movement of the gripping means towards the filling means 34. Thus, by moving these means time masked, optimizes the bagging speed.

In a particular embodiment not shown, is interposed between the clamps and the end of the arms on which they are fixed, a device for moving away or closer to the clamp arm so as to stretch the upper end of the bag pulling both edges. This device comprises in particular a pneumatic cylinder which is actuated after the clamps have grasped the edges of the bag.

In another particular embodiment not shown, there are provided unique means of capture and displacement whose movement is the combination of a rotation and a translation allows them to access at least two bag stores to enter a then to move it to the first intermediate position P1.

This latter configuration is of great interest when it is desired to use bags of several sizes. In fact, in a diagram similar to FIG. 1, a plurality of bag magazines 2 are juxtaposed and the arm 14 is also movable in translation along hinge axis 16. Thus, arm 14 can be positioned with respect to all bag magazines so that the suction cups can grab a bag of this or that size.

 The bags are brought into the position P1 also by the rotation of the arm 14 and by the translation of the same arm along its hinge axis 16.

 In a third particular embodiment, the arm 14 is movable only in rotation about its hinge axis 16. The plurality of juxtaposed bag magazines 2 is movable in translation so that the magazine positioning with respect to the means of seizure and displacement 10 can be made to order depending on the size of the desired bag.

Claims (5)

<U> CLAIMS </ U> 1. Bagging plant comprising means (34) for filling bags (6, 8), said bags (6, 8) having an opening in their upper part opposite a bottom, and at least two bag magazines (2). , 4) in which said bags (6, 8) are folded according to two opposite edges defining the width, characterized in that it comprises means (10) for gripping and moving to seize a single bag in a first magazine (2). ) bag (6) and move said bag (6) to a first intermediate position (P1), means (36) for gripping and moving to enter a single bag in a second bag (4) ( 8) and moving said bag (8) to put it in said first intermediate position (P1), unique means (20) for gripping and moving said bag (6, able to take said upper part of the bag, in said first position intermediate (P1), to move it and put it in a second intermediate position (P2) above said filling means (34), and that said means (20) for gripping and displacement cooperate with said means (10, 36) for gripping and displacement so that when said means (10, 36) position a bag of one or the other of said first (2) and second magazines in said first intermediate position (P1), they release said bag from said gripping means (20). take said bag. 2. Bagging plant according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (20) for gripping and moving said bag comprise pinch members (26, 27) adapted to take the two opposite edges of said bag. 3. Bagging plant according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bags (6) of the first store and the bags (8) of the second store have in particular different widths and in that the means (20) for gripping and displacement are able to take bags of different widths. 4. bagging installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the means (20) for gripping comprises two clamps (26, 27) whose articulated branches (30,31; 32,33) are able to open substantially from 180 in a plane perpendicular to the plane defined by two opposite edges of the bag in said first intermediate position (P1) to pinch said edges at any point of said branches (30,31; 32,33) to take bags of different widths. 5. bagging installation according to claim 3 or characterized in that the means (20) for gripping and displacement comprise two parallel arms (21, 22) whose ends are provided with two clamps (26, 27) adapted to take the two opposite edges of one and in that the two arms are capable of being spaced apart from one another to adapt the distance separating the two clamps (26, 27) to the width of said bagging installation according to the any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said gripping and moving means for gripping a single bag in said first bag magazine are the gripping and moving means for gripping a single bag in said second bag magazine . 7. bagging plant according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it further comprises a third bag store and gripping and moving means for seizing a single bag in said third bag store so as to move said bag to put it in said first intermediate position 8. Bagging apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the gripping and moving means comprise movable controllable devices to which said grippers for spread them apart, after bagging, so as to stretch the upper part of said