GB1585703A - Packaging apparatus - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO PACKAGING APPARATUS (71) We, ZUPACK-GEsELLscHAFT m.b.h., a German Body Corporate, of Otto-Rohm Strasse 81, D-6100 Darmstadt, Federal Republic of Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to apparatus for the production, filling and sealing of bags.

One type of packaging apparatus is known comprising a tube machine which tube machine comprises a tube station in which a web of packaging material is withdrawn from a supply roll and shaped into a tubular web, a bag station in which bags are produced from tube lengths, a filling station, a sealing station and a delivery station which stations are arranged one behind the other on a conveyor for the bags.

Primarily, but not exclusively, liquid packages, for example for milk, fruit juice and the like, are produced on apparatus of this kind. This kind of apparatus has become widely established due to the continuous and automatic manner of operation and the use of packaging material delivered in supply rolls. It has appeared that the working speed of the entire apparatus is limited essentially by the maximum possible working speed of the conveyor on which the filling station, the sealing station and the delivery station are arranged. If a greater output is required, a second apparatus must be provided.

Furthermore, if different packages are to be produced at the same time, for example with different volumes and/or different fillings, separate apparatus must be provided for this purpose for the production, filling and sealing of the different packages.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an apparatus for the production, filling and sealing of bags, comprising a bag station at which bags are formed, and a transfer device which delivers the bags to two adjacent conveyors, each of which is provided with a filling station, a sealing station and a transfer or delivery station, wherein the conveyors are formed by two chain-conveyor tracks extending side by side and wherein the transfer device comprises an intermediate magazine which is displaceable in timed manner transversely to the conveying direction and which displaces the bags received individually from the bag station, alternately on either side for iransference respectively to a chainconveyor track.

While hitherto the maximum possible output quantity was limited by the performance of the conveyor on which the filling station, the sealing station and the delivery station are arranged, now this bottleneck is eliminated due to the fact that the conveyor has several tracks. A further doubling of the achievable output quantity results from the fact that two tube machines are provided, without a substantially higher construction expense being necessary for this purpose in the region of the conveyor. Since each tube machine works on two tracks of the conveyor, the capacity of the tube machine, which is higher than that of a single-track conveyor, is fully exploited. Due to the use of two tube machines it is also possible to produce different packages side by side, for example different package sizes and/or different package contents.By way of example, in a dairy concern it is possible to produce litre packages and half litre packages of milk and cocoa side by side.

On each tube machine there is arranged intermediate magazine displaceable in timed manner transversely of the conveying direction, which magazine displaces the bags, taken singly from the bag station of the tube machine, alternately to the two sides for transfer to one track in each case of the conveyor. With low construction expense this intermediate magazine renders possible the alternate and uniform supplying of two tracks of the conveyor.

At the position of acceptance by the intermediate magazine and at the two positions of transfer to the tracks of the conveyor there may be scraper devices which move the bags into and out of the intermediate magazine. Thus no special ejector devices or the like are necessary at the intermediate magazine. The packages are conveyed into the intermedaite magazine as soon as the latter is situated at the acceptance position and out of it as soon as it is situated at one of the two delivery positions.

The intermediate magazine preferably comprises two commonly transversely displaceable, upwardly and downwardly open reception shafts for the bags. The two intermediate magazines are preferably driven through separate racks by one common pinion. The pinion is preferably drivable by means of a control cam and a cam follower for limited rotating movements.

The conveyor, the tube machines and the intermediate magazines may be in drive connection with one another through one common main control shaft. The tube magazines may individually be uncouplable according to choice.

By way of example, one embodiment of packaging apparatus according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an apparatus for the production, filling and sealing of packages in lateral elevation, Figure 2 shows the apparatus in plan view, the part of the apparatus shown on the left in Figure 1 being omitted for the sake of simplicity.

Figure 3 shows a view in the direction of the arrow III in Figure I, Figure 4 shows an enlarged partial representation of the intermediate magazine in a view in the direction of the arrow IV in Figure 1, Figure 5 shows a plan view of the part of the apparatus as shown in Figure 4, and Figure 6 shows a lateral elevation in the direction of the arrow VI in Figure 5.

The apparatus as shown in Figure 1 for the production, filling and sealing of packages, for example milk and cocoa packages in a dairy concern, comprises two tube machines I placed side by side. In each tube machine 1 a packaging material web 2, for example of synthetic plasticscoated paper, is withdrawn from a supply roll 3 and conducted over an upper reversing roller 4. In a tube station 5, which is represented only in simplified form, a tubular web 2.1 is produced from the web 2 of packaging material by connection of the two edges of the web.

The tubular web 2.1 is conducted over lower deflector cylinders to a bag station 6 where the tubular web 2.1 is opened out by means of an expanding mandrel 6.1 and welded transversely and severed at the lower end of each tube section, so that individual bags are produced which are shaped by the expanding mandrel 6.1 for example into parallelepipedic bags.

At the same time the bags 2.2 are transported from the expanding mandrels 6.1, which are fitted on a horizontally circulat ing endless chain 7, to an intermediate maga zine 8, one intermediate magazine 8 being provided for each of the two tube machines 1.

The intermediate magazines 8, which are described in greater detail hereinafter, pass the bags 2.2 to a conveyor in the form of a horizontal endless conveyor 9 which comprises individual small boxes 9.1 to receive one bag 2.2 each.

On the endless conveyor 9 there are provided side by side four tracks of receiving boxes 9.1, two tracks being allocated to one tube machine 1 in each case. All the tracks 9.2, 9.3, 9.4 and 9.5 of the endless conveyor 9 run in succession in each case beneath a filling station 10 and a sealing station 11 working in several stages, where the upper package seal is produced. Then the packages pass to a delivery station 12, where they are delivered to a further conveyor (not shown) or a packing apparatus.

Details of the intermediate magazines 8 and their drive are shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6. Each intermediate magazine 8 comprises two upwardly and downwardly open receiving shafts 8.1 for the bags. Each intermediate magazine 8 is connected with a rack 8.2 and displaceable in timed manner transversely of the conveying direction. The two racks 8.2 are driven by a common pinion 13. The pinion 13 is secured on a shaft 13.1 which carries an arm 13.2 on the free end of which a roller 13.3 is mounted which constitutes a cam follower of a control cam 14. The control cam 14 is secured on a main control shaft 15 (illustrated only partially) extending in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus.

As may be seen from Figure 4 the control cam 14 has a peripheral section 14.1 with small diameter and a peripheral section 14.2 witll large diameter. As long as the cam roller 13.3 is running on this control cam section 14.1 with smaller diameter, the intermediate magazines 8 are situated in the position as shown in Figure 4, that is to say in each case one of the receiving shafts of each intermediate magazine 8 stands in the middle position and is ready to receive a bag 2.2, while the other of the two receiving shafts 8.1 is situated above one of the two inner tracks 9.3 and 9.4 of the endless conveyor 9. When the cam roller 13.3 is pivoted by the control cam 14 and rolls on the control cam section 14.2, the two intermediate magazines 8 are each shifted outwards in relation to the position as shown in Figure 4, so that then a receiving shaft 8.1 is situated over each of the two outer tracks 9.2 and 9.5.

This positive mechanical drive of the intermediate magazines has proved very trouble proof even in rough working conditions.

Vertically arranged endless conveyor belts 16.1 and 16.2, each having a dog 16.3, form scraper devices which scrape the bags 2.2 away from the expanding mandrels 6.1 for transference into the receiving shafts 8.1 and thence convey them into the individual boxes 9.1 of the endless conveyor 9. From Figure 6 it may be seen that the scraper belts 16.1 and 16.2 are driven by one common drive shaft 16.4.

The apparatus as described renders possible a most extensive adaptation to different operational requirements. lf for example an especially great output of a single type of package is desired, the two tube machines 1 deliver the same bags which are filled with the same filling material in the filling station 10. If for example the basis is adopted that the capacity of a single track of the conveyor moving in timed manner beneath the filling station 10 amounts to 2,000 package units per hour, and that the capacity of each tube machine is 4,000 package units per hour, then on this apparatus it is possib!e to achieve an output quantity of 8,000 package units per hour.

If different packages are to be produced, by way of example the one tube machine can produce litre packages and the other tube machine half litre packages. Each package size can then also be filled with two different filling materials, for example milk on one track for litre packages and one track for half litre packages and cocoa on one track for litre packages and one track for half litre packages. In this example of embodiment the apparatus as described delivers 2,000 litre packages and 2,000 half litre packages of milk and 2,000 litre packages and 2,000 half litre packages of cocoa per hour.

The advantage of this embodiment of the invention is that an apparatus of the initially stated kind is provided so that a simple adaptation with relatively slight construction expense allows the apparatus to deal with different operational requirements for example as regards different package sizes, different package contents and different out Dut quantities, and output quantities going far beyond the performance capacity of known machines are also achievable.

In comparison with a plurality of individual apparatuses, the construction expense for the drive and controlling of the individual elements is relatively low; moreover reliable synchronism of all individual elements is ensured.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An apparatus for the production, filling and sealing of bags, comprising a bag station at which bags are formed, and a transfer device which delivers the bags to two adjacent conveyors, each of which is provided with a filling station, a sealing station and a transfer or delivery station, wherein the conveyors are formed by two chain-conveyor tracks extending side by side and wherein the transfer device comprises an intermediate magazine which is displaceable in timed manner transversely to the conveying direction and which displaces the bags received individually from the bag station, alternately on either side for transference respectively to a chain-conveyor track.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein scraper devices for moving the bags into and out of the intermediate magazine are provided in each case at the position of acceptance by the intermediate magazine and at the two transfer positions to the chain-conveyor tracks.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the intermediate magazine comprises two commonly transversely displaceable, upwardly and downwardly open receiving shafts for the bags.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the intermediate magazine is driven through a rack by a pinion which simultaneously drives an intermediate magazine of another apparatus, preferably of similar design, for the production, filling and sealing of bags, likewise through a rack.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the pinion is drivable by means of a control cam and a cam follower for limited rotating movements.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the chain-conveyor tracks and both intermediate magazines are in drive connection with one another through a common main control shaft.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the intermediate magazines of the two apparatuses are individually uncouplable according to choice.

8. An apparatus for the production, till- ing and sealing of bags substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. proof even in rough working conditions. Vertically arranged endless conveyor belts 16.1 and 16.2, each having a dog 16.3, form scraper devices which scrape the bags 2.2 away from the expanding mandrels 6.1 for transference into the receiving shafts 8.1 and thence convey them into the individual boxes 9.1 of the endless conveyor 9. From Figure 6 it may be seen that the scraper belts 16.1 and 16.2 are driven by one common drive shaft 16.4. The apparatus as described renders possible a most extensive adaptation to different operational requirements. lf for example an especially great output of a single type of package is desired, the two tube machines 1 deliver the same bags which are filled with the same filling material in the filling station 10. If for example the basis is adopted that the capacity of a single track of the conveyor moving in timed manner beneath the filling station 10 amounts to 2,000 package units per hour, and that the capacity of each tube machine is 4,000 package units per hour, then on this apparatus it is possib!e to achieve an output quantity of 8,000 package units per hour. If different packages are to be produced, by way of example the one tube machine can produce litre packages and the other tube machine half litre packages. Each package size can then also be filled with two different filling materials, for example milk on one track for litre packages and one track for half litre packages and cocoa on one track for litre packages and one track for half litre packages. In this example of embodiment the apparatus as described delivers 2,000 litre packages and 2,000 half litre packages of milk and 2,000 litre packages and 2,000 half litre packages of cocoa per hour. The advantage of this embodiment of the invention is that an apparatus of the initially stated kind is provided so that a simple adaptation with relatively slight construction expense allows the apparatus to deal with different operational requirements for example as regards different package sizes, different package contents and different out Dut quantities, and output quantities going far beyond the performance capacity of known machines are also achievable. In comparison with a plurality of individual apparatuses, the construction expense for the drive and controlling of the individual elements is relatively low; moreover reliable synchronism of all individual elements is ensured. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An apparatus for the production, filling and sealing of bags, comprising a bag station at which bags are formed, and a transfer device which delivers the bags to two adjacent conveyors, each of which is provided with a filling station, a sealing station and a transfer or delivery station, wherein the conveyors are formed by two chain-conveyor tracks extending side by side and wherein the transfer device comprises an intermediate magazine which is displaceable in timed manner transversely to the conveying direction and which displaces the bags received individually from the bag station, alternately on either side for transference respectively to a chain-conveyor track.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein scraper devices for moving the bags into and out of the intermediate magazine are provided in each case at the position of acceptance by the intermediate magazine and at the two transfer positions to the chain-conveyor tracks.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the intermediate magazine comprises two commonly transversely displaceable, upwardly and downwardly open receiving shafts for the bags.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the intermediate magazine is driven through a rack by a pinion which simultaneously drives an intermediate magazine of another apparatus, preferably of similar design, for the production, filling and sealing of bags, likewise through a rack.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the pinion is drivable by means of a control cam and a cam follower for limited rotating movements.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the chain-conveyor tracks and both intermediate magazines are in drive connection with one another through a common main control shaft.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the intermediate magazines of the two apparatuses are individually uncouplable according to choice.

8. An apparatus for the production, till- ing and sealing of bags substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.