ITAR20120036A1 - INCREASED PACKAGING MACHINE, PARTICULARLY FOR SMALL SIZE PRE-FORMED BAGS. - Google Patents

Description

"PACKAGING MACHINE WITH INCREASED FUNCTIONALITY, ESPECIALLY FOR SMALL PREFORMED BAGS"

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a packaging machine with increased functionality, particularly for small pre-formed bags, and a packaging process, particularly for the packaging of small pre-formed bags, which can be produced with said packaging machine.

Known packaging machines are generally equipped with discharge openings conceived as a function of the size or shape of the bags to be filled, which must be replaced totally or at least in part at each size change.

With such known packaging machines, therefore, disassembly operations are necessary in order to adapt the mouth to the bag format to be filled during processing.

In fact, the packaging lines on the market are unable to package all types of bags (different in type, size and materials) on the market with a single machine model.

For example, some of these known types of packaging machines process the bag to be filled leaving it free along the feed line, thus not making it possible to process all types of bags, because some do not stand up.

Other known packaging machines, in order to fill the bag, need to deform the lateral bellows, which must then be restored along the line of advancement. This type of execution is quite reliable when the bags are made of paper and the dimensions do not differ much; On the other hand, it is impossible to work all other types of bags, made with different materials or with bottoms that do not allow the bag to remain in a vertical position.

In addition, another drawback common to all types of known packaging machines consists in the fact that a lot of air remains inside the packages and, since there are no systems suitable for eliminating it, the packages must be perforated, with the consequence that the package is no longer perfectly sealed, losing its fragrance and emitting unpleasant adores on the outside.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a packaging machine with increased functionality which is capable of obviating and overcoming, respectively, the drawbacks and limits mentioned above.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a packaging machine particularly suitable for packaging small preformed bags.

A further object of the present invention consists in realizing a packaging machine which is capable of giving the widest guarantees of reliability and safety in use.

The aforementioned task, as well as the aforementioned purposes and others which will appear better later, are achieved by a packaging machine with increased functionality, particularly for small preformed bags, comprising a plurality of operating stations developing along at least one feed line and equipped with holding means and opening means for at least one bag to be filled operatively connected to means for advancing said at least one bag to be filled along said forward line, said operating stations comprising at least one filling station equipped with at least one filling cone suitable for discharging loose products into said at least one previously opened and shaped bag to be filled, characterized by the fact that said at least one filling cone is of the variable opening type in such a way as to be movable between an operating configuration of minimum opening , in which said at least one cone of ri filling assumes a substantially pyramidal shape with an acute angle, and an operating configuration of maximum opening, in which said at least one filling cone assumes a substantially parallelepiped shape with a rectangular section, raising and lowering means of at least one of said at least one bag being also provided to be filled and said at least one filling cone for the partial insertion of said at least one filling cone into said at least one bag to be filled.

Further characteristics and advantages will become clearer from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a packaging machine with increased functionality, particularly for small preformed bags, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the attached drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation view of the packaging machine according to the present invention;

- figure 2 is a schematic top plan view of the packaging machine represented 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 operating opening configuration;

- figure 5 is a schematic side elevation view of the filling cone represented in the previous figures during the phase of unloading the product into the bag to be filled;

- figure 6 is a schematic top plan view of the bag to be filled during the previously mentioned unloading step;

- figure 7 is a schematic side elevation view of the filling cone represented in the previous figures illustrating its functions;

- figure 8 is a schematic side elevation view of the bag to be filled during the sealing phase and elimination of the residual air contained therein;

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

With reference to the aforementioned figures, the packaging machine with increased functionality, particularly for small preformed bags, globally indicated with the reference number 1, comprises a plurality of operating stations extending along at least one feed line 2 and equipped with holding means 3 and means 4 for opening at least one bag 5 to be filled operatively connected to means for advancing the bag 5, which are not represented as they are known per se.

For example, bag 5 can be a preformed bag of the open mouth type with or without side gussets, open mouth with or without pad, open mouth with or without handle, open mouth type Doy Pack, stand-up pouch, Top Slider etc.

These pre-formed bags can also be made of different types of materials, the size of the bags that can be processed can vary from 300 grams up to 7 kilograms.

More specifically, the operating stations comprising at least one filling station equipped with at least one filling cone 6 suitable for discharging loose products 7 into the previously opened and shaped bag 5.

In the proposed embodiment, there are two filling stations placed in series with each other in order to increase the productivity of the packaging machine 1.

According to the invention, each filling cone 6 is of the variable opening type so as to be movable between an operating configuration of minimum opening, in which it assumes a substantially pyramidal shape with an acute angle as shown in Figures 3 and 4, and an operating configuration of maximum opening, in the same it assumes a substantially parallelepiped conformation with a rectangular section as shown in Figures 5 and 7.

Furthermore, again according to the invention, raising and lowering means, also not shown, are provided for at least one of the sack 5 and the filling cone 6 for the partial insertion of the filling cone 6 into the sack 5 along a rising line / descent 18.

Advantageously, each filling cone 6 is defined by at least two half-shells 8 and 9 hinged at the outlet 10 of a supply duct 11 for the bulk products 7 in such a way as to be movable between the operating configuration of minimum opening, in the which these half-shells 8 and 9 are closed against each other in such a way as to give the filling cone 6 the substantially pyramidal shape at an acute angle, and the operating configuration of maximum opening, in which the two half-shells 8 and 9 are open one with respect to the other in such a way as to give the filling cone 6 the substantially parallelepiped conformation with rectangular section.

In more detail, the two half-shells 8 and 9 both have a substantially open tank conformation delimited by a central wall 12, extending substantially parallel to the unloading direction of the bulk products 7, and by two side walls 13, with the central walls 12 being opposite each other and with the central walls that are offset from each other in such a way as to define a male-female coupling and allow the insertion of the two half-shells 8 and 9 one inside the other and to laterally delimit each filling cone 6 in all its operational configurations.

It is important to underline that the walls 12 and 13 just mentioned are also shaped in such a way as to define, in correspondence with the discharge mouth of each filling cone 6, two spouts 14 and 15 defining the vertex of the filling cone 6 and able to be inserted in the bag 5 during the filling phase of the same.

Conveniently, means 16 are provided for adjusting the opening angle of the two half-shells 8 and 9 comprising, for each half-shells 8 and 9, a pneumatic actuator 17 interposed between an abutment element 19 integral with the supply duct 11 and a support element 20 of the respective half-shell 8 or 9.

The acute angle of the filling cone 6, which faces downwards, penetrates inside the bag 5 with extreme ease, allowing the coupling and packaging of a multiplicity of bags, some of which are increasingly required by the European market; for example the bags that have the side gussets blocked, or mini packs whose size varies from 300 grams up to 800 grams. The filling mouth that is defined allows the packaging with high productivity of any bag, regardless of shape, type and size.

The aforementioned opening means 4 comprise at least two groups of suction cups 21 opposite each other and moving towards and away from each other perpendicularly with respect to the advancement line 2 in such a way as to grip the bag 5 by adhering to the lateral surfaces 23 of the itself, following their mutual approach, and in such a way as to open its selvedge 24, following their mutual separation.

As regards the retaining means 3, these comprise at least two groups of grips 25 opposed to each other and movable towards and away from each other perpendicularly with respect to the advancement line 2 in such a way as to retain the bag 5 to be filled in correspondence with the its side gussets 26

As will be better described below, the two groups of grips 25 are movable towards and away from each other parallel to the advancement line 2 in such a way as to allow the complete opening of the bag 5 with the side bellows 26 retained by the same groups. of grips 25 following the thrust exerted on the selvage 24 by the jaws 14 and 15 inserted in the bag 5, so as to make the selvage 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, located after the filling station (s) and equipped with at least one group of sealing bars 27, equipped with liquid cooling means for the welding, for welding the selvedge 24 of bag 5.

Conveniently, means are provided for adjusting the height of the sealing bars 27 in such a way as to be able to realize up to a plurality, for example up to four, of types of closure for different types of bags and / or to be able to make a plurality on the same bag, for example three, of different types of closure.

Again with particular reference to figure 8, advantageously, air removal means 28 are provided for the removal of the residual air contained in the bag 5, in the transfer of the same from the filling station to the sealing station, which comprise, in correspondence with their upper part , a series of pressers 29 adapted to hold the bag 5 and able to lower the selvedge 24 and, in correspondence with their lower part, a pair of rollers 30 able to act on the lateral surfaces 23 of the bag 5 vertically, up to the level of the product contained in it, so as to eliminate the air between the product and the selvedge 24.

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

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

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

- advancement of the bag 5 to be filled until it is placed in at least one of the previously described filling stations,

- opening of the selvedge 24 of the sack 5 to be filled by means of the opening means 4, an operation which can also take place before or during the previous stage of advancement.

More specifically, the holding means 3 and the opening means 4, which respectively comprise the groups of grips 25 for sealing the side bellows of the bag 5 to be filled and the groups of suckers 21 for opening the same bag 5, act the first ones on the sides of the selvedge 24 of the sack 5, keeping the bellows closed, approach on the horizontal axis and, at the same time, the second ones, once adhered to the sack 5, move apart to allow it to open in order to make the selvedge 5 describe an opening oval in shape.

Subsequently, once the progress has been made, the following phases are carried out:

partial insertion of each filling cone 6 provided in the bag 5 to be filled by means of the raising and lowering means, opening of each filling cone 6 with displacement of the holding means 3 in such a way as to make the selvedge 24 adhere to the entire outer perimeter of the filling cone 6, discharge of bulk products 7 into the bag 5 to be filled.

Advantageously, at least two phases comprised between:

the phase of partial insertion of the filling cone 6,

- the phase of opening the filling cone 6, - the phase of unloading the bulk products 7, can also take place simultaneously.

More specifically, the discharge mouth 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 connected to the supporting frame. of the outlet 10.

After the bag 5 to be filled, with the open selvage 24 shaped like an oval, has been positioned under the discharge mouth of the respective filling cone 6; it is picked up and held by an additional group of bag holding device gripping devices, positioned under the discharge mouth or mouths.

The filling cone 5 can thus partially penetrate inside the bag 5 and then open horizontally towards the bellows and discharge the product 7 inside the bag 5 itself.

During the opening phase, the discharge mouth of the filling cone 6 deforms the initially oval section of the selvedge 24 making it assume the shape of the discharge mouth itself, i.e. a shape very similar to that of the cross section of the bag 5 now filled, almost rectangular.

In this way, the discharge mouth of the filling cone 5, during the opening phase, moves a part of the bellows not blocked by the holding means 3, the discharge mouth of the filling cone 6 can describe a wider opening, exploiting thus about 80% of the width of the selvage 24 of the bag 5.

More precisely, during the phase of opening the filling cone 6 and unloading the products 7, the holding means 3 which hold the selvedge 24 of the bag 5 with the bellows blocked, are spaced apart to allow tensioning and adhering on the entire outer perimeter of the discharge mouth of the filling cone 6 the selvedge 24 of the bag.

Thus the opening of the discharge mouth of the filling cone 6, in addition to allowing the product 7 to enter the bag 5, modifies the original opening of the oval-shaped selvedge 24 making it assume an almost rectangular shape.

When the filling is complete, the filling cone 6 and the selvedge 24 are removed and the bag 5 is then gripped by the holding means 3 so as to hold, align and transport the bag 5 which have a pair of jaws or jaws that rotate on a plane vertical fall, widening and tightening.

More specifically, these holding, aligning and transporting means allow the alignment of the selvedge 24, by means of a reciprocal movement of removal along the horizontal axis, the alignment can be carried out both under the discharge mouth of the filling cone 6 , either at a later station.

Subsequently, the bag is moved to the next station to carry out the operations of eliminating the air contained in the bag 5 to be filled by means of the means for removing air 28 and welding the selvedge 24 by means of the group of sealing bars 27.

More specifically, this translation takes place by means of the holding, alignment and transport hands, accompanied by auxiliary handling means acting on the bottom of the bag, such as conveyor belts and movable arms.

The bag is moved to the sealing station directly by the air removal means 28, as previously described.

Once the operations of the air removal means 28 have been completed, the bag 5 is immediately sealed by means of the group of sealing bars 27.

These welding stations can be one or more than one, and on each group it is possible to have bar groups adjustable in height, so as to be able to create up to four different types of closure for different types of bags; or to be able to make up to three different types of closure on the same bag.

In practice, it has been found that the packaging machine with increased functionality, particularly for small preformed bags, and the packaging process that can be obtained with it, accomplish the task as well as the intended purposes as they allow the packaging of different types of bags. , without having to change the outlets, making it suitable for the packaging of both food and chemical products, as well as PetFood.

For example, it allows the packaging of bags of different types such as: bags with gussets, or without gussets, bags with external handle, bags with punched handle, Doy Pack bags, Stand-Up Pouch, Single Life Top Zip bags, Mini Pet Pack bags , Internal Front Zipper bags, Top Slider bags, Hidden Front Slider bags, Easy open bags.

Furthermore, 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 on the feed line always takes place with the bellows blocked, so as to guarantee 100% of the perfect closure of the package.

In fact, the handling of the bags on the feed line takes place always keeping the same in grip and with the bellows blocked, so as to guarantee a reliable production process, without interruptions, and perfect packaging of the bags.

A further advantage of the packaging machine according to the present invention consists in the fact that it allows an optimal sealing of the bags such as to preserve the fragrance and the quality of the product.

In fact, thanks to the air removal means, oxygen is removed inside the sealed package; this avoids having to perforate the package to be able to palletize it.

Moreover, thanks to the presence of liquid cooling means of the welding, it is possible to prevent the material of the bag from deforming with heat, assuming an unpleasant aesthetic appearance, moreover the system avoids the variation of the colors 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 change the format, and is also reliable both from the point of view of the process and of the working parts over time.

The packaging machine with increased functionality, particularly for preformed bags of small dimensions, and the packaging process which can be obtained with it, thus conceived, are susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.

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

In practice, the materials employed, so long as compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements.

Claims (14)

CLAIMS 1. Packaging machine (1) with increased functionality, particularly for small preformed bags, comprising a plurality of operating stations developing along at least one feed line (2) and equipped with holding means (3) and opening means (4 ) of at least one bag (5) to be filled operatively connected to means for the advancement of said at least one bag (5) to be filled along said advance line (2), said operating stations comprising at least one filling station equipped with at least one cone of filling (6) suitable for discharging loose products (7) into said at least one bag (5) to be filled previously opened and shaped, characterized by the fact that said at least one filling cone (6) is of the variable opening type in such a way as to be movable between an operating configuration of minimum opening, in which said at least one filling cone (6) assumes a substantially pyramidal shape at an angle acute, and an operating configuration of maximum opening, in which said at least one filling cone (6) assumes a substantially parallelepiped conformation with a rectangular section, raising and lowering means being also provided for at least one of said at least one bag (5) to be filled and said at least one filling cone (6) for the partial insertion of said at least one filling cone (6) in said at least one bag (5) to be filled. 2. Packaging machine (1), according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one filling cone (6) is defined by at least two half-shells (8, 9) hinged at the outlet mouth (10) of a feeding duct (11) of said bulk products (7) in such a way as to be movable between said operating configuration of minimum opening, in which said at least two half-shells (8, 9) are closed against each other in such a way as to give to said at least one filling cone (6) said substantially pyramidal shape with an acute angle, and said operating configuration of maximum opening, in which said at least two half-shells (8, 9) are open relative to each other in such a way as to give said at least one filling cone (6) said substantially parallelepiped conformation with rectangular section. 3. Packaging machine (1), according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said at least two half-shells (8, 9) both have a substantially open tank conformation delimited by a central wall (12), extending substantially parallel to the direction discharge of said bulk products (7), and from two side walls (13), said central walls (12) of said at least two half-shells (8, 9) being opposite each other and said central walls (12) of said at least two half-shells (8, 9) being offset from each other in such a way as to allow the insertion of said at least two half-shells (8, 9) one inside the other and to laterally delimit said at least one filling cone (6) in all its configurations operative, said walls (12, 13) of said at least two half-shells (8, 9) being furthermore shaped in such a way as to define, in correspondence with the discharge mouth of said at least one filling cone (6), two spouts (14, 15) defining the vertex of said at least one filling cone (6) and adapted to be inserted in said at least one bag (5) to be filled during the filling phase thereof. 4. Packaging machine (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (16) for adjusting the opening angle of said at least two half-shells (8, 9) comprising, for each of said at least two half-shells (8, 9), a pneumatic actuator (17) interposed between an abutment element (19) integral with said supply duct (11) and a support element (20) of said half-shell (8, 9). 5. Packaging machine (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said opening means (4) comprise at least two groups of suction cups (21) opposed to each other and movable in reciprocal approaching and moving away from each other perpendicularly with respect to said advancement line (2) in such a way as 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 their mutual approach, and in such a way as to open the selvedge (24) of said at least one bag (5) to be filled, following their mutual separation. 6. Packaging machine (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said holding means (3) comprise at least two groups of grips (25) opposite each other and moving towards and away from each other perpendicularly with respect to said advancement line (2) in such a way as to retain said at least one bag (5) to be filled in correspondence with its side bellows (26), said at least two groups of grips (25) being also movable towards and away from reciprocal with each other parallel to said advancement line (2) in such a way as to allow the complete opening of said at least one bag (5) to be filled with said lateral bellows (26) retained by said at least two groups of grips (25) in following the thrust exerted on said selvedge (24) by said beaks (14, 15) inserted in said at least one sack (5) to be filled so as to adhere said selvedge (24) over the entire external perimeter or of said at least one filling cone (6). 7. Packaging machine (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one sealing station located after said filling station and equipped with at least one group of sealing bars (27) for sealing said selvedge (24). 8. Packaging machine (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for adjusting the height of said sealing bars (27) in such a way as to be able to produce up to a plurality of types of closure for different types of bags and / or to be able to make a plurality of different types of closure on the same bag. 9. Packaging machine (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises air-removing means (28) for removing the residual air contained in said at least one bag (5) in the transfer of said at least one bag (5) from said at least one filling station to said sealing station. 10. Packaging machine (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said air-removing means (28) comprise, in correspondence with their upper part, a series of pressers (29) adapted to retain said at least one bag (5) to be filled and adapted to lower said selvedge (24) and, in correspondence with their lower part, a pair of rollers (30) adapted to act on the lateral surfaces (23) of said at least one bag (5) vertically, up to the level of the product contained therein, so as to eliminate the air between said products (7) and said selvedge (24). 11. Packaging machine (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two filling stations arranged in series with each other. 12. Packaging process, particularly for the packaging of small preformed bags, by using a packaging machine (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: retention of said at least one bag (5) to be filled by means of said retaining means (3), advancement of said at least one bag (5) to be filled until it is placed in at least one of said filling stations, - opening of said selvedge (24) of said at least one bag (5) to be filled by means of said opening means (4), partial insertion of said at least one filling cone (6) into said at least one bag (5) to be filled by means of said raising and lowering means, - opening of said at least one filling cone (6) with displacement of said holding means (3) in such a way as to make said selvedge (24) adhere to the entire outer perimeter of said at least one filling cone (6), discharge of said bulk products (7) into said at least one bag (5) to be filled, - elimination of the air contained in said at least one bag (5) by means of said air removal means (28), welding of said selvedge (24) by means of said at least one group of sealing bars (27). 13. Packaging process, according to claim 12, characterized in that said opening step of said selvedge (24) takes place prior to said advancement step of said at least one bag (5) to be filled. 14. Packaging process, according to claim 12, characterized in that at least two phases comprised between: said partial insertion step of said at least one filling cone (6), - said opening step of said at least one filling cone (6), said unloading step of said bulk products (7), occur simultaneously.