Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
  • B65B9/06—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it
  • B65B9/08—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it in a web folded and sealed transversely to form pockets which are subsequently filled and then closed by sealing
  • B65B9/087—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it in a web folded and sealed transversely to form pockets which are subsequently filled and then closed by sealing the web advancing continuously
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
  • B65B43/12—Feeding flexible bags or carton blanks in flat or collapsed state; Feeding flat bags connected to form a series or chain
  • B65B43/123—Feeding flat bags connected to form a series or chain

Definitions

• the invention concerns a method for filling contents into film bags, where film bag items in one continuous web are conveyed through a filling station.
• the invention fur- thermore concerns an apparatus for filling contents into film bags, where film bag items are conveyed in a continuous web that includes a channel-shaped opening rim area with bag openings for filling the bags with a liquid fluid when these are passed through a filling station, as the bags after filling are closed and separated from the web.
• the invention also concerns a packing web for use in the method and in the ap- paratus.
• EP 0 696 997 An example of technology for such filling is indicated in EP 0 696 997 in which is specified that the opposite upper edge areas of the bag item web are made with folded, channel-forming rim parts for drawing on guide rods, which in the direction of con- veying have a mutual extension for producing opening of the bag items so that these may be filled e.g. through an overlying filling funnel, after which the guide rods are narrowed again towards each other for preliminary closing of the filled bag items. These may then be closed finally by welding below the said duct parts, after which these are cut off and the items are mutually separated.
• the channel parts there may be used edge thickenings that may be received in slotted guide tubes for quite corresponding conveying of the bag items. This technique is not ideal for filling liquid or paste-like fluid into the bags.
• EP 0 396 838 and EP 0 825 116 is indicated working with a closed flat tube web of the film which running may be cut along its upper edge with associated integrated unfolding and gripping of the upper edges thus cut up without these being particularly designed neither as ducts nor with thickenings, which would signify a marked simplification of the requirements for formation of the bag web.
• the cut up upper edge parts are unfolded for clamping between respective moved belts, which are formed with longitudinal recesses, and corresponding cords for pressing in, whereby a suitably firm carrying engagement can be established.
• product pene- trating down into the belts of the driving arrangement etc.
• there is risk of axial displacement of web material which can cause formation of folds and problems with welding problems coming thereof.
• this is achieved with a method of the type men- tioned in the introduction, which is peculiar in that a mandrel is successively guided into a channel-shaped opening rim area of the web of coherent film bag items, whereby bag openings are opened for receiving the contents, as the bags via the mandrel are filled with a liquid fluid and are then closed and separated from the web, and that squeezing of the channel-shaped area of the channel-shaped opening rim area around the mandrel is established at opposite sides of one or more bag openings for a bag, that the filling is established through one or more openings in the mandrel by displacing a well-defined volume through one or more ducts in the mandrel.
• the apparatus according to the invention is peculiar in that the filling station includes a mandrel for successive guiding coherent film bag items of the web into the channel- shaped opening rim area, whereby the bag openings are opened for receiving the fluid and squeeze means disposed at opposite sides of one or more bag openings for a bag, and which are adapted for squeezing around the mandrel with the channel-shaped opening rim area disposed around the mandrel opposite to one or more openings that are established in the mandrel, and which through one or more ducts in the mandrel are connected with means for displacing a well-defined volume.
• the packing web according to the invention is designed with a continuous row of flat bag items, the web including along a top edge a channel-shaped opening rim area that communicates with bag openings for receiving a content in use, as the bags via a mandrel inserted into the channel-shaped opening rim area are filled with liquid fluid and then is closed and separated from the web.
• the packing web will be peculiar in that the rim strip areas are constituted by a simple extension of the bag side.
• the filling station including a mandrel that is simultaneously used for supporting the web of film bag items and for filling the bags with a liquid fluid.
• the bags are filled directly through duct, there is no risk that the fluid penetrates into the driving arrangement.
• the liquid fluid is pressed via internal ducts in the mandrel out through openings formed in the circumferential surface of the mandrel, and which communicate with one or more ducts in the mandrel, and which are aligned with the bag opening in a filling situation where the squeeze means are squeezing the channel shaped opening rim area around the mandrel, whereby the fluid may only flow into an associated bag through one or more openings connecting the interior of the bag with the closed duct length between two successive squeeze means.
• a mandrel penetrating into the channel-shaped opening rim area is to open this duct where opposite sides will be in close contact.
• filling of the part of the duct surrounding the mandrel will occur very quickly.
• a well-defined volume introduced through the mandrel will thus fill the bag disposed opposite to the filling opening of the mandrel.
• the mandrel contains several ducts that are connected with the associated filling openings, it is possible by a simple filling sequence to fill several juxtaposed bags which are disposed opposite to associated filling openings in the mandrel.
• fluid introduced through the duct will necessarily be filled into the bag without risk of air being confined or letting out fluid, which mean insufficient filling of the bag.
• the clamping is preferably established by the film being squeezed between displacing elastic jaws and the surface of the mandrel.
• the jaws may be displaced by pivoting or a translational displacement.
• the jaws only need an elastic surface, e.g. in the form of a rubber coating on metal jaws. Hereby is achieved a secure closing even if tolerances occur between j aws and associated mandrel.
• Such interacting surfaces may e.g. be constituted by slightly elevated parts.
• Such slightly elevated parts may, in case of largely cylindric mandrels, be constituted by bushings that are used for assembling successive tubular parts of the mandrel.
• the filling occurs with an upwards directed flow of fluid through upwards directed open- ings.
• fluid is running out of the mandrel and thereby contribute to an uncertain volume at the filling of each individual bag.
• filling occurs by downwards directed flow of fluid through downwards directed apertures that are directly aligned with bag openings.
• the bag openings are welded after filling in order to close the bags, it is possible to use alternative methods for closing the bags, e.g. by applying a glue strip. After the bags have been closed it is possible to remove exceeding parts of the rim strip areas by cutting. Hereby is achieved a film bag where the rim strip area, which has formed the channel-shaped opening rim area, is removed after filling.
• the method is peculiar in that the bag web is cut up, and the cut free rim strip areas thereby formed are brought into connection with pressing rollers that are arranged downstream of the mandrel, and which are arranged for squeezing around the rim strip areas, whereby the channel-shaped opening mouth areas of the bag web is drawn over the mandrel.
• Correct indexing and thereby correct positioning of the bag openings in relation to associated filling openings in the mandrel can be achieved by using index means in the shape of photo cells that detect holes or colour codes in the bag web and which, via a control unit, are connected to motors for driving the pressing rollers.
• the pressing rollers shall have a speed which is synchronised with the driving speed for further guide means in the shape of endless opposite parallel conveyor runs constituting a part of the transport line.
• the packing web according to the invention may be provided in rolled up state, as it appears as flat bag items with uniform thickness across the entire width. This enables easy handling of material webs that may be provided with considerable lengths, whereby long-time intermittent filling of bags is possible. Alternatively, it is possible to provide the webs of material from a folded supply as alternative to the rolled up supply. Also by such folded supply there will be uniform thickness, giving handling advantages in relation to material webs where different thickness appears transversely of the material webs. Alternatively, in a folded supply there may be used bag items that do not have uniform thickness, as for example bags with zip closure.
• the packing webs are peculiar in that it is made with prepared film bag items extending in from one side edge until a distance from the opposite side edge.
• the flat bag items will already be completely or partly divided in advance, which is easier than the subsequent separation which in principle can be effected by cutting off the unbroken rim strip areas appearing between the opposite side edges of the web and the bag openings that are welded.
• the bags By rolling up, bags will cohere for easy winding. Therefore, the bags will be connected at certain points or at perforations so that they are only partly divided, but may be readily separated anyway by filling. In this way, welding and cutting up may occur in the same operation after which the bags appear separated for subsequent handling in packing equipment.
• the packing web may be designed as a bag which is divided as a large compartment which is only provided along edge areas at the bottom, side edges and a part of the top for leaving a bag opening.
• the bags may be designed with a plurality of weldings between the side edges for dividing the bag into a number of chambers that are mutually connected, and to which access is provided through several juxtaposed bag openings that are juxta- posed at the top of the bag in a side in the channel-shaped opening rim area.
• the bags of the packing web may be designed with one or more inlet ducts connecting the channel-shaped rim strip area with the interior of the bag.
• Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an apparatus according to the inven- tion
• Fig. 2 shows a partial side view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 ,
• Figs. 3 - 5 show a mandrel for use in the apparatus, seen from different sides, and
• Figs. 6 - 8 show different alternative packing webs.
• a film material web 4 may be unrolled which consists of a double film folded around a bottom edge 6 and joined at the edge along the upper edge by a simple welding 8, without any foldings or thickenings of any kind. Therefore, it may also be a tubular film.
• this previously prepared web 4 rather than being better rolled up may appear in a supply box in zigzag folded form, will be threaded into a filling station 34 that include a mandrel or rail 20 extending from a fixed frame part 22 of the unit and which is hollow and serve to be inserted in the channel-shaped opening rim area 38, whereby the channel-shape opening area is opened.
• a filling station 34 that include a mandrel or rail 20 extending from a fixed frame part 22 of the unit and which is hollow and serve to be inserted in the channel-shaped opening rim area 38, whereby the channel-shape opening area is opened.
• openings 42 in the surface of the mandrel are brought to correspond to the bag openings 40.
• the openings 42 of the mandrel communicate with concentrically disposed, internal ducts 44, 46.
• the ducts 44, 46 open into man- drel sections 45 and 47, respectively.
• bushings 49 that are used for assembling pipe sections and which at their upper side have surfaces 50 interacting with displacing elastic jaws 48.
• the jaws 48 are provided on a common frame 51 that may be pivoted back and forth for squeezing against the surfaces 50 on the mandrel with the channel-shaped opening rim area 38 disposed therebetween.
• are formed closed compartments ensuring that liquid from the openings 42 of the mandrel is led down into the bags 12.
• the mandrel 20 has an upwards projecting knife member 24 that by advancing the web 4 will cut the upper edge 8 thereof concurrently, and a horizontal knife member 32 that is cutting the channel-shaped opening rim area 38 from the bags 12 at the cutting line 16, whereby rim strip areas 54 are formed, passing at both sides of the supply pipes 56, 58.
• the rim strip areas 54 are then brought around rollers 25 and guide means in the shape of pressing rollers 26 pressing around the rim strip areas 54, thereby advancing the bag web over the mandrel. Furthermore, there is arranged a support system for carrying on, consisting of opposite, parallel conveyor runs 30 in the shape of tooth belts that are pressed into engaging opposite side edges at the upper side of the bags at a position immediately below the welding 31 closing the bags. These runs 30 are arranged in order to support the weight of the filled bags 12 and are disposed around reversing wheels 33, 35, of which the first wheel 33 is disposed so that the filled bags 12 are supported before they are separated from the support on the mandrel 20 by the knife elements 24, 32.
• the channel-shaped opening rim area 38 is drawn in over the mandrel 20.
• a welder 36 including two jaws 37 that are moved against opposite sides of the bag items in order to weld the bag openings 40 together. This occurs e.g. immediately under the top of the slits 10.
• the welder 36 is disposed after the knives 24, 32.
• the welder may be provided before the knife so that there may be performed a subsequent cutting of and re- leasing of the filled and closed bags from the rims strip areas 54 of the web which are then rolled up as excess.
• the pumps 60, 62 used may at each stepwise advancing of the bag web fill two juxta- posed bags that are disposed opposite the sections 45 and 47, respectively, which is Fig. in Fig. 2. This filling is effected with the jaws 48 in squeezing abutment against the surfaces 50 (see Figs. 3 - 5), whereby advancing of fluid/liquid from each of the two displacement pumps 60, 62 is provided to each juxtaposed bag. It is possible to fill several juxtaposed bags by having several concentric tubes inside each other. However, in such a situation the mandrel may become disproportionately long.
• the ducts with liquid from the same container or with different types of liquid if it is desired to fill juxtaposed film bags 12 with different content.
• the channel-shaped opening rim area 38 is separated at the intrusion of the mandrel 20.
• it is possible to assist this opening by using vacuum nozzles that draw the bag sides apart at the insertion of the mandrel. As men- tioned above, this occurs in a method allowing access of air, either via duct in the mandrel or via openings in the bag sides, to the interior of the bag for enabling opening of the bag openings 40.
• the openings 42 are facing upwards, whereas by filling with high viscosity liquids or pasta-like products the openings will face downwards and be directly aligned with the bag openings 40 in order to avoid oil-containing and pasta-like products coming in contact with the bag sides, thereby preventing welding. There will be a separation of the bag sides in order to open the bag openings 40 as described above. If the openings face downwards, it is preferred by the filling that displacement pumps or pistons are performing a short return movement in order thereby to avoid dripping after the filling has been terminated. Furthermore, it is to be noted that subsequent bags 12 do not need to have the same width. It is possible to use bags with different width and thereby with different volume content. This may be advantageous when filling different substances in succeeding bags 12.
• the mandrel 20 can be exchanged in a simple way in order thereby to be adapted to new bag width and or dimension on the opening rim area 38.
• the mandrel 20 may thus be provided with bayonet sockets on the fixed support part 22.
• the squeeze jaws 48 may be disposed displacing in the longitudinal direction of the mandrel, so that they may easily be adjusted to different distance between the interacting surfaces 50.
• Figs. 6 - 8 are illustrated different examples of packing- webs that contain different bag types 12 which via the channel-shaped opening rim area 38 are supported by the mandrel 20.
• a bag 12 in which is provided three juxtaposed bag openings 40 that each are communicating with the channel-shaped opening rim area 38.
• the bags 12 are made with opposite bag sides, partly welded together at punctiform vertical weldings 13 and punctiform horizontal weldings 15.
• the bag is produced with a number of chambers 12' that are mutually connected, and which enables making of a filled bag having a relatively flat shape and which e.g. may be used for making ice cubes.
• a bag 12 having one bag mouth 40 extending over largely the entire width of the bag.
• Each bag has one large chamber and is only closed at bottom, side edges and top as described in connection with web shown in Fig. 1.
• a bag 12 provided with a channel-shaped filling opening 17 where the bag opening 40 communicates with the channel-shaped opening rim area.
• a bag may, as alternative to the above shown types, also be formed as a standing bottom bag, e.g. for juice, dairy products and the like.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
• Bag Frames (AREA)
• Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
• Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=29286049

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (12)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 2002
  • 2002-05-02 DK DK200200669A patent/DK200200669A/da not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2003
  • 2003-04-02 US US10/513,176 patent/US20050121099A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-05-02 EP EP03718650A patent/EP1499530A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-05-02 WO PCT/DK2003/000284 patent/WO2003093112A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-05-02 AU AU2003236200A patent/AU2003236200A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-05-02 JP JP2004501260A patent/JP2005524580A/ja active Pending

Patent Citations (4)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events