WO2006111139A1

WO2006111139A1 - Method and system for treating flexible bags

Info

Publication number: WO2006111139A1
Application number: PCT/DE2006/000672
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jürgen BEINGHAUS; Albert Schmitz
Original assignee: Laudenberg Verpackungsmaschinen Gmbh
Priority date: 2005-04-20
Filing date: 2006-04-18
Publication date: 2006-10-26
Also published as: US20090113850A1; EP1871672B1; DE502006005584D1; ATE451305T1; EP1871672A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for treating flexible bags, especially for transporting, opening, filling and closing the bags in subsequent treatment stations (10, 20, 30) by a) transporting the bags in holding devices (14) in a plurality of webs from one treatment station to the next. The method is characterized in that b) the bags are transported in a continuous movement; c) the respective treatment station (10, 20, 30) is entrained during treatment from its initial position in synchronicity with the bags; and d) after treatment, the respective treatment station is returned to its initial position.

Description

Method and system for handling flexible bags

The present invention relates to a method for treating flexible bags, in particular for transporting, opening, filling and closing, in successive processing stations, in which the bags are transported in holding devices from one processing station to the next in a multi-lane manner. The invention further relates to a system for handling flexible bags, which is particularly suitable for carrying out the method.

Methods and systems for handling flexible bags have long been known, for example, the Applicant has for many years marketed a system in which bags are suspended in holding devices which are mounted on a rotary machine and passed to various processing stations in which the bags are opened with a fixed one or liquid material filled and then sealed. A clocked rotary drive is described, for example, in US 2004/0011008 A1, to which bags are supplied via a memory by means of a transfer device.

EP 1 164 081 A1 shows a transfer device which passes on individual, clocked incoming bags in succession with the aid of suction cups to a filling and packaging device.

EP 1 043 233 A1 describes a filling and packaging system in which bags accommodated in holders are guided past processing stations on a circulating transport device. The bags are taken from a feeder, which moves synchronously with the transport device.

A method and a device for the treatment of flexible bags are also described in EP 0 908 386 B1, where the foil bags are subjected to different treatments in different work cycles. Here several bags pass in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the row processing stations simultaneously and synchronously, so that the bags are treated simultaneously and synchronously in such a series of stationary processing stations. The bags hang in the holding devices of a receiving element with at least two holding devices per bag, wherein the respective first holding device and the associated second holding device are movable relative to each other.

The device described in DE 103 22 556 Al for treating containers is used in particular for filling and closing of bottles, jars or cans, ie in dimensionally stable containers, which are passed by a continuously to be operated conveyor at different treatment stations. The containers are correspondingly transported continuously by a feeding device not described in detail to grippers, which put the containers in receiving elements of the conveyor.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a method and a system for handling flexible bags, in which a faster treatment of the bag is made possible, while further the spillage of material from bags should be largely avoided.

This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and a system according to claim 6. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims. An apparatus for producing flexible bags, which can be used in particular in a system according to the invention, is the subject matter of claims 13 and 14.

According to the invention, in a method for treating flexible bags, it is provided that the bags are transported in holding devices from one processing station to the next, whereby, unlike in the prior art, the bags are transported in a continuous movement, so that mass acceleration of the contents of the bag practically does not take place , During the treatment, the respective processing station is carried along from its initial position in synchrony with the movement of the bags and, after the treatment, returned to its starting position in order to start the treatment for the next, newly arrived bags.

Advantageously, the speed of the retraction workstation is greater than or equal to the speed in the treatment period. The bags can be transported while hanging, being held transversely or longitudinally to the transport direction in mechanical holding devices. It can also be provided to transport the bags in nests, which has, for example, simplifications in handling in connection with a storage and storage unit, which will be described below. The bags - usually those with a round base - would then be carried in the suspended nests, rather than being grasped by the mechanical holding device holders themselves.

The suspended transport has the advantage that the volume of the bag is irrelevant to the workflow. Thus, it can be provided according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention that the bags are in at least one of the tracks on the type, size, filling and the like different from bags of other webs. This means that in one and the same system not only different bags driven but also different products can be filled. The number of passes in which the bags are transported through the system determines the maximum number of different bags and products.

The production of the bags is expediently carried out by first forming at least one film web from at least one tube. The tube or tubes are then clocked sealed and cut to produce unilaterally open bags. The bags are then gripped and in turn transported in a transfer position, where they are released and taken over in a timely manner in a continuous movement. The bags are preferably transported hanging and may not change between takeover and handover their relative hanging position.

The flexible bag handling system of the present invention has at least one processing station in which bags are opened, filled or closed, with mechanical holding devices for the bags and with a drive device for the mechanical holding devices, said drive device continuously moving the mechanical holding devices through the system and a further drive means is provided for the processing stations, which leads the processing station during the treatment in synchronism with the movement of the bag to be treated and, after the treatment, returns the processing station to its respective starting position. It is expedient if this further drive device for each processing station has one or more independent has pendulum-working drive units, wherein the interaction of all drive units is ensured by a higher-level control device. So it is possible, for example, not only make the required reciprocating motion in a processing station, but also, if necessary, an up and down movement.

In the system according to the invention is advantageous to provide a plurality of transport elements, wherein a plurality of mechanical holding devices are integrated into a transport element and each corresponding holding devices each define a transport element a treatment path. Such a concatenation of the transport elements, without an additional linking element would be necessary, a self-contained gripper chain, with multiple flexible bags are transported in a row several lanes. The number of fixtures in a transport element is variable and determines the number of passes for the system.

A control device for the mechanical holding devices controls the opening or closing movement of the bags centrally, preferably by a relative movement along or transversely to the direction of movement of the transport elements.

It can be particularly preferably provided that the mechanical holding devices are at least partially by a relative movement transversely to the transport direction to one or more predetermined bag widths automatically or manually adjustable.

In the preparation of the treatment in the system according to the invention an apparatus for producing flexible bags from a film web is provided, which includes means for forming the film webs a hose, and a sealing and scliding device which cuts unilaterally open bags from the hose. The bags are thus made in one lane, in other words in one line, intermittently or continuously. It can also be provided to cut off the bags from the endless bag line in multiple lanes. When the film is cut, individual bags are formed, which are arranged in a row and then transported according to the invention to a transfer device, which arranges the bags in multiple tracks according to the specifications of the system for handling flexible bags and transfers them to the system. The device for producing flexible bags operates in a clocked manner while the transfer device runs continuously. The transfer device now connects the clocked bag singulation to the continuous processing stations for the flexible bags according to the present invention. In this case, the transfer device is designed so that the relative movement of transferring transport elements to be accepted transport elements over a predetermined transfer path is equal to zero, wherein the bags do not change their relative hanging position. Preferably, the bags are held in the conveyor in gripper bars and already spread to the later required track spacing. The transfer device also has a gripper system for the bags, with gripping strips that are guided according to the incoming bags in a continuous movement to the transfer position. The simultaneous opening and closing of the gripper systems in the conveyor and in the transfer device makes the precise transfer possible. The bags are then transported further in a continuous motion.

Often it makes sense to stockpile bags, in order to then enter them into a separation in a multi-lane by means of a transfer device in the system according to the present invention. Therefore, it is particularly preferably provided that at least one memory is filled spatially and temporally independent of the remaining bag treatment. If necessary, the bags are then automatically fed to a storage unit, which ensures separation with a minimum filling quantity of bags. The advantage of this approach is that the process of the subsequent system can continue to run continuously without interruption, without binding an additional operator to the system.

The transport system and the transfer device are both characterized by the fact that facilities for the relative movement of the holding devices which hold the bags are provided, which are controlled by the continuous transport movement of the bag, so have no own drive.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flexible bag handling system operated by the method of the present invention; Figure 2 is a view illustrating details of the transport system;

Figure 3 is a detail view of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the system of Figure 1 from the front;

Figure 5 is an illustration of the device which engages the flexible bag, with this also a central format change is possible;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the entire system of apparatus for producing the bag and the system of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the transfer device connecting the apparatus for making the bags to the transport system of Figure 3;

FIG. 8 shows a storage unit with devices for storing and separating bags which are kept ready for the system according to the invention; and

FIG. 9 shows the device of FIG. 5 placed before the system of FIG.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flexible bag handling system according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a processing station 10 which receives and opens the bags and optionally checks to see if an opened bag is properly attached to each holder 14; a filling station 20 and a closing station 30 are provided. As shown more clearly in the view of FIG. 2, bags in a plurality of webs, here held in eight webs by a transport element 12, run into the processing station 10 into the processing station 10. In this case, a transport element 12 opposing holding device 14, which can be adjusted by a relative movement transversely to the transport direction A to different bag widths, the adjustment is done centrally. The relative movement can be initiated manually or automatically or controlled. The hanging bags, held by the holding device 14, continuously, so not clocked as in the prior art, guided by the system 100 of Figure 1 and treated there, wherein the respective processing stations 10, 20, 30 during the treatment continuously with the bags are carried on the respective transport element and return to the treatment after the treatment in its original position. Corresponding drive units, for example 105, 110, 115, 120, which provide for a reciprocating movement of the processing stations and, if necessary, for an up and down movement of an entire station or parts thereof, are arranged on the frame portals, eg 130, 140 which also carries the other components of the processing stations, eg here 10. A stoppage of the transport elements 12 and the bag hanging thereon is avoided with the arrangement described, so that when filled with liquid, the risk of overspinning is largely eliminated. In the capping station 30, the filled bags are thermally or ultrasonically sealed or otherwise sealed and optionally cooled to obtain improved sealing of the sealed seam.

Figure 2 shows details of the transport system which guides the bags through the respective processing stations 10, 20, 30 (Figure 1). Gripper rails 330 to which the retainers 14 are attached are moved through the system by powered chains 310, 312. The relative movement of the holding devices 14, which are shown more clearly in FIG. 3 with bags 300 suspended therein, takes place during the continuous transport without separate drive by means of a superimposed movement which is derived from the transport movement. The same applies to the opening and closing of the holding device 14 at the processing station 10 and at the closing station 30. For this purpose, mechanically acting devices 320, 322, 324, 326 are provided in pairs on each side of the transport system, which ensure that attached to gripper bars 330 Holding devices 14 perform the required relative to the respective treatment relative movement.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view from FIG. 1, in which the transfer point of the processing station 10 can be seen more clearly. Each holding device 14 consists of relatively movable holding elements (bag gripper pairs), which can be moved by means of a drive 200 perpendicular to the transport direction A. The transport elements 12, attached to a carrier 16, drive the held bags to transfer grippers 18, from where they are forwarded for further processing, that is, initially for opening the bags.

FIG. 5 shows more clearly how the relative movement of the holding devices 14a, 14b in the direction of the double arrow B, that is to say perpendicular to the transport direction A, can be adjusted to different bag sizes by means of a central format adjustment 30. ever after the mutual distance of the elements 14a and 14b different bag widths can be served. Shown in phantom is a bag nest 22, which is provided as an alternative to the holding device 14 or the holding elements 14a and 14b. The relative movement of the holding devices 14a, 14b also causes, controlled by the transport movement, as already mentioned in connection with Figure 2 and Figure 3, the opening or closing of the bag.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view in which the system 100 for treating flexible bags from FIG. 1 is centrally arranged. On both sides of the system 100, mirror-symmetrical to the plane C are devices which are to provide the bags to be treated in the system. Initially, web-shaped sheet material is provided, which is processed into a tube in a station 40 or 40 ', then guided to a sealing machine 50 or 50'. Behind the sealing machine is a cooling station 60 or 60 '. The web-shaped material is then fed to a printer 70 or 70 'for the coding and then punched into punches 80 and 80', respectively, before cutting into individual bags arranged in a row in a knife station 90 or 90 '. The separated bags are input by means of a transfer device in multiple lanes according to the specifications of the system 100 and the transport elements 12 in the system. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the two bag-making devices are arranged symmetrically so that they each serve half of the webs.

FIG. 7 shows the transfer device connecting the bag singulation to the bag transport system shown in FIG. In a practical embodiment, the transfer device is seated on the arrangement described in connection with FIG. 2 such that transfer grippers 710, which are shown more clearly at position 720, pick up the bags at the correct location from the bag separation. A transfer gripper 720 in this case has retaining strips 722 which press on the bag and fix it. If the simple measure by retaining strips 722 is not sufficient, a suction pressure can be generated via a vacuum port 714, 724, which holds the bag in addition. The bags are transferred by means of a transfer gripper system in multiple lanes at the transfer position of the bag separation and held in the transfer grippers 710, 710. In the process, they are already braced for the path distance of the transport system. The acquisition takes place analogously to the procedure described in connection with FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 during the continuous transport movement of the transfer gripper systems. The opening And closing the transfer gripper takes place here without separate drive, but the superimposed closing and opening movement is derived from the transport movement. As a result, the exact acquisition and transfer is possible. After acceptance, the bags are transferred in a continuous motion to the transport system of FIG. The bags do not change their relative hanging position between takeover and handover. Important for a precise transfer is also the simultaneous opening and closing of the gripper systems. For this purpose, the transfer gripper systems are guided in circumferential parallel guides.

It is also possible to first produce the bags for storage and to temporarily store them in a storage unit 500, as shown in FIG. The storage unit 500 is configured according to the number of webs of the system, here again with eight webs, and is preferably movable, so that it can be easily decoupled from the storage 510 and replaced by a further storage unit. In the storage 510, protected by a hood 512, bags are housed, which are led to the separation 520. This has a sensor for a minimum amount of bags, so that, for example, can be communicated that even for a certain operating time material is present, but then no transfer can take place. The stocker 510 ensures that the singulation 520 contains sufficient bag material. If the stocking 510 is empty, it will be replenished accordingly by a storage unit 500. The bags can thus be automatically forwarded to the transfer device without an additional operator would be necessary.

Finally, FIG. 9 shows how the device according to FIG. 8 is placed in front of the system of FIG. 1, so that the separated bags can be transferred to the system of FIG.

The features of the invention disclosed in the foregoing description, in the drawing and in the claims may be essential for the realization of the invention both individually and in any desired combination.

Claims

claims

Anspruch [en] A process for handling flexible bags, in particular for transporting, opening, filling and closing, in successive processing stations, in which

a) the bags are transported in holding devices in multiple lanes from one processing station to the next;

characterized in that

b) the bags are transported in a continuous motion;

c) the respective processing station is carried during treatment from its home position in synchronism with the movement of the bags; and

d) after the treatment, the respective processing station is moved back to its original position.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the speed of the processing station in step d) is the amount equal to or greater than the speed in step c).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bags are transported hanging.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the bags are transported standing in nests.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bags in at least one of the webs on the type, size, filling and the like are different from bags of the other webs.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that before step a)

aa) initially at least one film web is formed into at least one tube;

ab) the tubing (s) are clocked sealed and cut to produce unidirectional open pouches;

ac) the bags are gripped and timed transported in a transfer position;

ad) in the transfer position, the bags are released and taken over in a timely manner in a continuous movement.

7. System for handling flexible bags, in particular for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 6, with at least one processing station in which bags are opened, filled or closed, with mechanical holding devices for the bags and with a drive device for the mechanical holding devices .

characterized in that

- The drive device moves the mechanical holding devices continuously through the system and

- A further drive means, optionally with a plurality of drive units, is provided for the processing stations, which leads the processing station during the treatment in synchronism with the movement of the bag to be treated and returns after treatment, the processing station in their respective starting position.

8. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the further drive means for each processing station has at least one drive unit.

9. System according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a plurality of transport elements is provided, wherein a plurality of mechanical holding devices are integrated into a transport element and each corresponding holding devices each define a transport element a treatment path.

10. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the transport elements are linked together without additional linking element.

11. System according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that a control device is provided for the mechanical holding devices, which controls the opening or closing movement for the bag centrally.

12. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the opening and closing takes place by a relative movement along or transversely to the direction of movement of the transport elements.

13. System according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the mechanical holding devices are at least partially automatically or manually adjustable by a relative movement transversely to the transport direction to one or more predetermined bag widths.

14. System according to any one of claims 7 to 11, further comprising an apparatus for producing flexible bags from at least one film web, which

a device for forming the at least one film web into at least one tube;

- A sealing and cutting device which cuts from the hose or from the hoses unilaterally open bags; and

a conveyor which transports the singulated bags arranged in a row to a transfer device, the transfer device arranging the bags in multiple tracks according to the specifications of the system for handling flexible bags and transferring them to the system; wherein the flexible bag making device is clocked and the transfer line operates continuously.

15. System according to claim 14, characterized in that the conveyor gripper strips (330), in which the hanging bag (300) by means of relatively to each other to be moved holding devices (14a, 14b) are held.

16. System according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the gripper strips (330) hold the bag spreads to a predetermined path distance.

17. System according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the transfer device comprises gripper strips for the bag.

18. System according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that open at the transfer time and in the transfer position, the gripper bars of the conveyor, while closing the gripper bars of the transfer device.

19. System according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized by at least one memory, which is temporally and spatially independently affected and is transferred into a storage unit, which ensures a separation with minimum filling quantity of bags.

20. System according to any one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that means (320, 322, 324, 326) for the relative movement of the holding devices (14a, 14b, 710, 720) are provided, which by the continuous transport movement of the bag ( 300).