GB2401357A

GB2401357A - Rotary packing system

Info

Publication number: GB2401357A
Application number: GB0406319A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Liam Larkin; Sean Prenderville
Original assignee: IAWS RES Ltd
Current assignee: IAWS RES Ltd
Priority date: 2003-04-23
Filing date: 2004-03-22
Publication date: 2004-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2024-03-22
Also published as: IES20030308A2; GB2401357B; GB0406319D0

Abstract

The present invention concerns an apparatus 10 for filling one or more containers 24 in particular a bag or the like, with a flowable material such as fertiliser, animal feedstuff, grain or the like. The apparatus may consist of a pair of counter rotatable supports 14, each having a plurality of nozzles 18 thereon, to each of which is secured, in use, one of said containers. Each support is then rotated such as to draw each of the nozzles, sequentially, into a number of positions, the first at which a container is secured to a first end of the respective nozzle, the second at which a second end of the nozzle is brought into fluid communication with a reservoir 32 of the flowable material, in order to allow the container to be filled, and a third position at which the filled container is disengaged from the nozzle. Preferably, the container is attached to the nozzle by a hooked claw (50, Fig 3) spring held off and moved by an actuator (48). Preferably, the nozzle is movable to a third position at which air is blown to open the sack before moving back to be filled. The apparatus may be vibrated during filling. A method of operation is also disclosed.

Description

"A Packing System and Method" The present invention relates to an

apparatus and method for filling a container with a Plowable material, and in particular a granular material such as fertiliser, animal feedstuff, etc. The present invention therefore provides, in a first aspect, an apparatus for filling one or more containers with a Plowable material, the apparatus comprising a support having at least one nozzle thereon, the support being rotatable such that the nozzle may be located in three positions, the first at which a container may be secured to a first end of the nozzle, in fluid communication therewith, a second in which a second end of the nozzle is in fluid communication with a reservoir of the Plowable material, such that the container may be filled therewith, and a third position at which the container may be disengaged from the nozzle.

Preferably, the support may be located in a fourth position intermediate the first and second positions, at which a container, if flexible or collapsible, may be inflated or partially inflated by blowing a gas through the respective nozzle into the container.

Preferably, the support is provided with a plurality of nozzles thereon, such that each position may be simultaneously provided with a nozzle in register therewith.

Preferably, the support is rotatable such as to move a nozzle from the third 2 5 position back to the first position.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a surface in operative association with the second position, which surface is operable to support a container during the filling thereof.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a means for imparting vibration to a container during the filling thereof, in order to consolidate or compact the material within said container.

Preferably, the surface is the vibration means.

Preferably, the apparatus is adapted to disengage a container from the respective nozzle, following filling of said container.

Preferably, each nozzle has a coupling in operative association therewith, which coupling enables a container to be secured in fluid communication with the respective nozzle, and to be subsequently released from said nozzle.

Preferably, each coupling is displaceable away from the nozzle in order to enable a filled container to be lowered from the respective nozzle.

Preferably, each coupling is adapted to automatically disengage from a respective filled container, once said container has been lowered from the respective nozzle.

2 0 Preferably, the coupling comprises an extendible element having a hook at one end thereof for securing a container to the respective nozzle, extension of the element causing the hook to be displaced out of engagement with said container.

Preferably, the hook is pivotally mounted to the extendible element, the coupling 2 5 further comprising a spring having one end connected to the hook, and an other end fixed relative to the respective nozzle, such that displacement of the hook away from said nozzle results in extension of the spring, thereby drawing the hook out of engagement with the respective container.

3 o Preferably, the apparatus is adapted to dispense a pre-determined weight or volume of the Plowable material into a container when at the second position.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a conveyor which extends from beneath the support, at or adjacent the third position, in order to transport filled containers from beneath the support when disengaged therefrom.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a pair of supports adjacent one another which, in use, rotate counter to one another.

The present invention also provides, according to a second aspect, a method of filling one or more containers with a Plowable material, the method comprising the steps of providing an apparatus according to any preceding claim; locating a nozzle in the first position, and securing a container thereto in fluid communication therewith; locating the nozzle in a second position by rotating the support, to bring the nozzle into fluid communication with a reservoir of the flowable material; filling the container, via the nozzle, with the Plowable material; locating the nozzle in a third position; and disengaging the container from the nozzle.

Preferably, the method comprises the further steps of locating the nozzle in a 2 o fourth position intermediate the first and second positions; and inflating or partially inflating a container, if flexible or collapsible, by blowing a gas through; the respective nozzle into said container.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of vibrating each container 2 5 during the filling thereof.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; 3 0 Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a filling apparatus according to a first aspect of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates a plan view of the filling apparatus of figure 1, in which a hopper has been removed for the purposes of clarity; Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of one of four nozzles forming part of the filing apparatus of figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of a vibratable platform forming part of the filling apparatus of the present invention.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a filling apparatus, generally indicated as 10, for filling one or more containers, in the fonn of bags 24, with a flowable material (not shown), and in particular a granular material such as fertiliser, dried animal feed, grain, etc. The filling apparatus 10, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, comprises a pair of rotatable supports 12 which function as carousels, and which preferably rotate counter to one another, as will be described hereinafter in detail. Each support 12, and associated components as described hereinafter, is a minror image of the other, and functions in an identical manner. The following description therefore describes only the 2 0 configuration and operation of one of the supports 12, which description is consequently fully applicable to the other support 12. The pair of supports 12, in; the embodiment illustrated, are located within a frame 20 which supports various of the associated components, and which also functions as a guard or safety perimeter enclosing the moving parts of the filling apparatus 10.

Each support 12 comprises a substantially circular plate 14, fanned from a rigid material such as steel or the like, mounted on a rotatable spindle 16, the plate 14 carrying, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, four nozzles 18 which extend through the plate 14, and depend therefrom. Each nozzle 18 is adapted to canry a 3 o single bag 24 in fluid communication therewith, as will be described in detail hereinafter, the support 12 being rotatable in order to consecutively position each bag 24 at a number of locations, wherein one or more operations are carried out. i It will however be appreciated from the following description that more or less than the four nozzles 18 could be provided on the support 12, with suitable modifications to the operation of the apparatus 10. The support 12 is driven by a motor (not shown) which may be electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, or otherwise powered.

Referring in particular to figure 2, in the prcfenred embodiment illustrated, the filling apparatus 10 is adapted to position each nozzle 18 at four consecutive 1 o locations, each separated by one quarter of a revolution of the support 12. In brief, each nozzle 18 is therefore positionable at a first position A, at which a bag 24 is connected to the nozzle 18, a second position B at which the bag 24 is inflated, a third position C at which the bag 24 is filled with the flowable material, and a fourth position D at which the bag 24 is disengaged from the nozzle 18, and I 1 5 deposited onto a conveyor 22, for subsequent transport from beneath the supports 12.

Therefore, taking each step in turn, the support 12 is initially positioned such that an empty nozzle 18 is located at the first position A. Situated beneath the nozzle 2 0 18 is a platform 26 on which an operator (not shown) stands, and secures a single bag 24 to the nozzle 18, again as will be described in detail hereinafter. It should be understood that the platfonn 26 is not essential to the operation of the apparatus 10, and merely situates the operator at a height, relative to the nozzle 18, which enables ease of location of the bag 24 onto the nozzle 18. The platfonn 2 5 26 also serves to define the location at which the operator is to stand.

After a pre-determined interval, or alternatively following a signal generated by the operator, via a switch, foot pedal, or the like (not shown) the support 12 is rotated one quarter of a revolution, wherein the nozzle 18 and associated bag 24 3 0 are then located at the second position B. At the second position B. the bag 24 is I inflated, either partially or fully, in preparation for filling with the flowable material. In order to effect inflation of the bag 24, the filling apparatus 10 is provided with a first fan 28 mounted, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, above the support 12, the first fan 28 having a supply tube 30 extending therefrom, terminating above the plate 14 at the second position B. The supply tube 30 is downturned at the free end thereof such as to be directed downwardly into the respective nozzle 18 when in the second position B. Once the support 12 has stopped, with the nozzle 18 in the second position, the first fan 28 is activated for a pre-detenmined period, thereby forcing a stream of air, or any 1 o other suitable gas, through the nozzle 18 and into the bag 24, at least partially inflating same.

At the same time as the above bag 24 is being inflated at the second position B. another empty nozzle 18 will have been rotated into the first position A, wherein the operator fits another empty bag 24 onto same. Once done, the support 12 will again rotate, drawing said empty bag 24 into the second position B. while the nozzle 18 and bag 24 previously at the second position B will be rotated on to the third position C. 2 0 At the third position C, the nozzle 18 situated thereat is located directly beneath a hopper 32 and associated discharge chute 34, which hopper 32 contains the Plowable material. The hopper 32 and discharge chute 34 (not shown in Figure 2) are permanently located above the plate 14 at the third position C. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is further provided a second fan 36 which is in fluid communication, via a duct 38, with the discharge chute 34, which is itselfin fluid communication with the nozzle 18 when located in the third position C. Thus, before a pre-defined quantity of the llowable material is discharged into the bag 24 on the respective nozzle 18, the second fan 36 blows a charge of air into the bag 24, in order to ensure that same is adequately inflated to receive the plowable 3 o material.

Referring to Figures 2 and 4, located beneath the bag 24, at the third position C, is a surface in the form of a vibratable platform 40, at a height such that the underside of the bag 24 is seated lightly thereon when in the third position C, prior to being filled with the flowable material. The platform 40 includes a pair of fixed sides 42 extending upwardly therefrom, which are situated such that a bag 24 travclling from position B to position C is guided between the fixed sides 42, to come to rest at position C. Located adjacent the platform 40, and standing vertically, are a pair of posts 44, each of which carries a hingedly mounted panel 46 which, together with the fixed sides 42, form a box-like enclosure above the 1 0 platform 40. Each panel 46 may be automatically (or manually) hinged outwardly away from the fixed sides 42, in order to permit entry and exit of a bag 24 to and from position C. The platform 40 has been omitted from figure I for the purposes of clarity.

1 5 As described above, the platform 40 is located and arranged, as illustrated in figure 2, to permit a bag 24 secured to a nozzle 18, to be rotated from the second position B to the third position C, without obstruction. However, once the bag 24 is located in the third position C, the pair of panels 46 are hinged inwardly towards fixed sides 42, such as to effectively enclose the bag 24 therebetween. At 2 0 this point, the hopper 32 begins to discharge the measured volume of Plowable material, through the nozzle 18, into the bag 24. Once this flow of material begins, the platform 40, in addition to each of the fixed sides 42, and to an extent the panels 46, begin to vibrate, and continues to do so until the bag 24 has been filled. This vibration is thus imparted to the material in the bag 24, consolidating 2 5 or compacting same, in order to ensure the complete and homogenous filling of the bag 24. The platform 40 and panels 46 may be made to vibrate by any suitable means, whether mechanical or otherwise, for example by means of a motor driven eccentrically loaded shaft or the like (not shown).

3 0 In addition to effecting consolidation of the material, the platform 40, surrounding the bag 24, maintains same in a vertical position during the filling, and therefore loading of same. Once the bag 24 has been filled, the panels 46 are hinged back open, wherein the support 14 is rotated a further quarter of a revolution, to bring the filled bag 24 into the fourth position D. As before, this further revolution of the support 14 will locate another empty bag 24 in the third position C, in order to allow the above filling process to begin again.

A filled bag 24, when in the fourth position D, is located above the conveyor 22, which is preferably of standard configuration and operation. Seated on the conveyor 22, beneath the fourth position D, is a pallet 64 onto which the filled bag 24 is to be deposited. Before understanding how the filled bag 24 is deposited on to the pallet 60, it is first necessary to understand how an empty bag 24 is initially secured to the respective nozzle 18. Thus, referring in particular to figure 3, each nozzle 18 is provided with a coupling 48 in register therewith. The coupling 48 c ssentially comprises a hook 50 mounted on an extendible element in the form of 1 5 a ram 52, which may be hydraulically, pneumatically, or otherwise driven. The hook 50 is pivotally mounted to the ram 52 via a pivot 62, a coil spring 60 being secured between the end of the ram 52 and the hook 50. Thus it will be appreciated that the hook 50 is extendible in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the respective nozzle 18, thereby effecting extension of the spring 60.

2 0 Each bag 24 is provided with an aperture 54 located adjacent a mouth 56 of the bag 24. An operator, in securing a bag 24 to a nozzle 18, draws the mouth 56 of the bag 24 around the free end of the nozzle 18, such that the nozzle 18 is in fluid communication with the bag 24. At this stage, the operator then draws the aperture 54 over the hook 50, in order to secure the bag 24 relative to the nozzle 2 5 18. The bag 24 will therefore remain secured to the respective nozzle 18 during rotation of the support 14.

Therefore, in order to release a filled bag 24 from the respective nozzle 18, the following sequence of operations occurs. The filled bag 24 is suspended above 3 0 the pallet 64 on the conveyor 22. The ram 52 is then fully extended, thereby lowering the filled bag 24 on to the awaiting pallet 64, and extending the spring 60. Once the filled bag 24 is securely seated on the pallet 64, the weight of the filled bag 24 is removed from the hook 50, allowing the tensioned spring 60 to draw the hook 50 rearwardly about the pivot 62, thereby drawing the hook 50 out of register with the aperture 54. At this point therefore, the filled bag 24 is disengaged from both the nozzle 18 and the coupling 48. The ram 52 is then retracted, following which the spring 60 contracts, allowing the hook 50 to fall - back into the position shown in Figure 3, thereby resetting the configuration of the coupling 48, in preparation for receiving the next empty bag 24.

1 0 Thus, once the coupling 48 has been reset, the support 14 is rotated a further quarter revolution, in order to transfer the now free nozzle 18 back into the first position A, wherein the operator secures another empty bag 24 thereto, in order to begin the entire process again. It will of course be appreciated that each of the above described processes, carried out at each of the first to fourth positions A to D, occur in tandem with one another, in order to maximise the efficiency of the filling apparatus 10.

It will also be apparent to the person skilled in the art that one or other of the above steps could be omitted, while still maintaining adequate operation of the 2 0 apparatus 10. For example, it is not essential for each bag 24 to be inflated at position B. before filling the bag 24, especially if the bags 24 were replaced with substantially rigid containers (not shown). In addition, it is not essential for each bag 24 to be vibrated during filling, although it is obviously advantageous.

Claims

Claims: 1. An apparatus for filling one or more containers with a

Plowable material, the apparatus comprising a support having at least one nozzle thereon, the support being rotatable such that the nozzle may be located in three positions, the first at which a container may be secured to a first end of the nozzle, in fluid communication therewith, a second in which a second end of the nozzle is in fluid communication with a reservoir of the Plowable material, such that the container may be filled therewith, and a third position at which the container may be disengaged from the nozzle.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support may be located in a fourth position intermediate the first and second positions, at which a container, if flexible or collapsible, may be inflated or partially inflated by blowing a gas through the respective nozzle into the container.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the support is provided with a plurality of nozzles thereon, such that each position may be simultaneously provided with a nozzle in register therewith.
4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the support is rotatable such as to move a nozzle from the third position back to the first position.

2
5 5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim comprising a surface in operative association with the second position, which surface is operable to support a container during the filling thereof.
6. An apparatus according to any preceding claim further comprising a 3 o means for imparting vibration to a container during the filling thereof, in order to consolidate or compact the material within said container.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6, when dependent on claim 5, in which the surface is the vibration means.
8. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the apparatus is adapted to disengage a container from the respective nozzle, following filling of said container.
9. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein each nozzle has a coupling in operative association therewith, which coupling enables a container to be secured in fluid communication with the respective nozzle, and to be subsequently released from said nozzle.
IO. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein each coupling is displaceable away from the nozzle in order to enable a filled container to be lowered from the respective nozzle.
11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein each coupling is adapted to automatically disengage from a respective filled container, once said 2 o container has been lowered from the respective nozzle.
12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the coupling comprises an extendible element having a hook at one end thereof for securing a container to the respective nozzle, extension of the element causing the 2 5 hook to be displaced out of engagement with said container.
13. An apparatus according to claim 13 in which the hook is pivotally mounted to the extendible element, the coupling further comprising a spring having one end connected to the hook, and an other end fixed 3 0 relative to the respective nozzle, such that displacement of the hook away from said nozzle results in extension of the spring, thereby drawing the hook out of engagement with the respective container.
14. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the apparatus is adapted to dispense a pre-determined weight or volume of the Plowable material into a container when at the second position.
15. An apparatus according to any preceding claim further comprising a conveyor which extends from beneath the support, at or adjacent the third position, in order to transport filled containers from beneath the support when disengaged therefrom.
16. An apparatus according to any preceding claim comprising a pair of supports adjacent one another which, in use, rotate counter to one another.
17. A method of filling one or more containers with a plowable material, the method comprising the steps of; providing an apparatus according to any preceding claim; locating a nozzle in the first position, and securing a container thereto in 2 o fluid communication therewith; locating the nozzle in a second position by rotating the support, to bring the nozzle into fluid communication with a reservoir of the plowable material; filling the container, via the nozzle, with the Plowable material; 2 5 locating the nozzle in a third position; and disengaging the container from the nozzle.
18. A method according to claim 17, comprising the further steps of locating the nozzle in a fourth position intermediate the first and second positions; 3 o and inflating or partially inflating a container, if flexible or collapsible, by blowing a gas through the respective nozzle into said container.
19. A method according to claim 17 or 18 further comprising the step of vibrating each container during the filling thereof.