EP3127824B1 - Device and method for feeding film bags to a filling machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for feeding foil bags to a filling machine according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a corresponding method according to claim 11.

State of the art

It is known to let foil bags, which are provided in magazine shafts of a magazine, fall into the magazine shafts so that they are pulled down by gravity. As a result, the foil bags reach into foil bag receptacles arranged beneath the magazine shafts for picking up and further transporting the foil bags. The use of gravity to move the film bags down does not always ensure proper alignment of the film bags relative to the film bag receivers since film bags can rotate or tilt in a magazine slot. The machine speed is limited.

US 3,955,334 discloses methods and apparatus for feeding bag-like containers to a filling device. A staple cartridge is removed by means of a nipple, which is arranged at the end of a pivotable about a pivot lever arm bags. From the removal position, the lever arm pivots into a transfer position below which a folding device is arranged, by means of which a central longitudinal fold running parallel to the longitudinal edges of the bag is impressed. Under the folding device, a conveyor with a Trumlage and with upwardly open receiving pockets is arranged. The folding device feeds the bags to the receiving pockets.

WO 2014/121430 A1 discloses a bag receiving and conveying apparatus of a packaging machine having a bag storing mechanism, a bag sucking mechanism and a tilting table arranged on a rack. The bag storage mechanism includes a plurality of vertical bag storage frames disposed side by side and having a bag outlet at the lower end. The bag suction mechanism includes a rotating shaft, a swinging rod and a telescopic cylinder, the swinging rod comprising a suction disc holder having a suction disc disposed thereon. The swinging rod drives the suction disc holder to rotate around the rotating shaft under the driving force of the telescopic cylinder, thereby repeatedly reciprocating a suction surface of the suction disc between the plane of the bag outlet and the plane of the tilting table. The bags slip along the plane of the tilting table to a conveyor belt.

task

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for feeding foil bags to a filling machine, which enable a trouble-free, defined transfer of foil bags provided in magazine shafts to foil bag receptacles, even at a high machine speed.

solution

The object is achieved by the device according to claim 1 and the method according to claim 11. Preferred embodiments and further developments are disclosed in the subclaims.

The device for feeding foil bags to a filling machine comprises a magazine having a plurality of magazine shafts arranged in parallel for providing the foil bags and foil bag receivers positionable below the magazine shafts for receiving and transporting the accommodated foil bags. Further, each magazine shaft is assigned a transfer arm for gripping a film bag in the magazine shaft and for transferring the gripped film bag to the film bag receptacle arranged below the magazine shaft.

By using the transfer arms, a targeted transfer of the foil bag to the foil bag receptacles is possible, whereby a twisting or tilting of foil bags can be avoided in the magazine shafts. Thus, the device can also be operated at a high machine speed, whereby a targeted transfer of the foil bag always takes place on the foil bag receptacles. The gripping and transfer of the foil bag with the transfer arms can be regarded as a forced operation, as this random, unwanted movements of the foil bags are prevented.

The transfer arms may each comprise at least one suction device for sucking the film bag. The suction devices enable a gentle gripping of the foil bags as well as a safe transport from the magazine shafts to the foil bag holders. The suction devices may be equipped with one or more negative pressure generating devices. For example, a transfer arm comprises two suction devices with a circular or at least approximately circular cross-section which engage symmetrically on a foil bag.

Each of the suction devices can be designed to suck a film bag at least partially flat. For gripping and transferring the film bag to the film bag receptacles, it is sufficient if the suction devices do not completely suck the film bag, but only a partial surface of the respective film bag is sucked. By only partially flat suction and a subsequent release of the suction device from the foil bag is easier.

The transfer arms can be designed to be rotatable about a common horizontal axis and to be vertically movable by means of a common linkage. Due to the rotatability of the transfer arms, it is possible for the film bags to be grasped in the magazine shafts and then brought into alignment in the magazine shaft, from which they are at least partially removed from the magazine shaft by a vertical movement of the linkage and at least partially introduced into the film bag receptacles can. As a drive for the linkage to the vertical, i. up and down, method may be provided in the upper region of the linkage a rack with drive wheels.

Between two adjacent magazine shafts, a sliding device may be arranged, which comprises at least one slide, which is preferably movable vertically. By means of the slider, foil pouches within the foil pouches can be held in place to some extent without undesirable upward movement, e.g. when a transfer arm is released from a foil bag or then moved upwards.

The sliding device can be arranged between two adjacent magazine shafts such that the first of the two slides each on foil bag of a magazine shaft and the second of the two slides can each act on foil bags of the other magazine shaft. In general, an action of the slider on a film bag therefore takes place in the right and left upper edge regions of the film bag.

A transfer gap can be formed between the at least one slide and a main body of the magazine. The transfer gap is formed when the at least one slide is moved down, whereby the targeted transfer of the foil bag can be supported on the foil bag receptacles, since unwanted movement of the foil bag is prevented. The width of the transfer gap is preferably less than 1 mm, but this width can be adapted to the type of film bag.

The at least one slider may include a labyrinth guide for inhibiting upward movement of a foil bag. The labyrinth guide is intended to prevent upward movement of a foil bag, for example when a transfer arm is moved after release from the foil bag. For example, the labyrinth guide may be formed as a projection. Since the labyrinth guide is at least partially in the transport path of grasped by the transfer arm and moving foil pouch when moving down slide the bag is bent when moving the plastic bag in accordance with this in contact with the labyrinth in its right and left margins.

The pusher may include a housing that can receive the at least one slider.

The device may further comprise at least one counter-holder, which is designed to be horizontally movable to prevent upward movement of a film bag. While a foil bag is gripped by a transfer arm and at least partially inserted into a foil bag receptacle, the at least one counterholder is preferably in a first position outside the path of movement of the transfer arm and / or foil bag. After the film bag has been at least partially introduced into the film bag receptacle, the at least one counter holder can be moved horizontally from the first position to a second position, so that the at least one counter holder is positioned above the film bag such that it undesirably moves upward the film bag can prevent, for example when a transfer arm is released from a foil bag or then moved upwards.

The foil bag receptacles can be designed as staple / lock boxes.

The method of feeding foil bags to a filling machine with a device as described above or below comprises the steps of providing foil bags in magazine shafts of a magazine, positioning of foil bag receptacles for receiving and transporting the foil bag below the magazine shafts, then gripping the foil bag in the magazine shafts by means of transfer arms and transferring the seized foil bag to the foil bag receptacles by means of the transfer arms.

In each of the magazine shafts, a certain number of foil bags can be provided and before this number of foil bags is used, more foil bags can be refilled. Since the film bags are to be moved from the magazine to a filling machine, foil bag receptacles are provided below the magazine. In this case, n foil bag receptacles are provided with a number n of magazine shafts arranged in parallel, wherein in each case a foil bag receptacle is positioned below a magazine shaft. Thus, a foil bag of a magazine shaft can be transferred to a foil bag receptacle and then transported through it. By gripping a foil bag in a magazine shaft, a guided movement of the foil bag can take place, so that it can be transferred to the foil bag receptacle in a defined manner.

The step of grasping may include suction of the foil pouches by means of suction devices, wherein a foil pouch is sucked, for example, at least partially flat. By only partially flat suction and a subsequent release of the suction device from the foil bag is easier. The suction devices can enable a gentle gripping of the foil bags as well as a safe transport from the magazine shafts to the foil bag receptacles. The suction can be done by forming a negative pressure.

The handover step may further comprise the step of rotating the transfer arms about a common horizontal axis and thereby moving the foil bags into an at least approximately vertical orientation. From this orientation, the foil bags can be passed to the foil bag receptacles. By rotating about the horizontal axis, the transfer arms can be moved to at least partially move the foil pouches out of the magazine slot from the location of their capture in a magazine slot.

After the step of grasping and before the step of turning, the slides can be extended. Furthermore, the extended slides ensure that foil bags introduced into the foil bag holders do not make any undesired upward movement when releasing the transfer arms from the foil bags and during the upward movement of the dissolved transfer arms.

After turning, the following steps may further be carried out: downwards movement of the transfer arms and at least partial introduction of the film bags into the film bag receptacles and after insertion release of the suction devices from the film bags. In the down process of the transfer arms, the foil bags are also moved past the extended slides and their labyrinth guide. In this case, the foil bags each come in contact with the labyrinth guides, so that a foil bag is bent in its right and left edge areas. When a foil bag is inserted into a foil bag receptacle, for example, stands up on its box base in a stapling / closing box, the slides and the labyrinth guides prevent the foil bag from moving upwards. Therefore, the suction device can then be released from the foil bag and the suction arm can be moved upwards.

After the disengagement step, an upward process of the transfer arms may be performed. Preferably, a rotation of the transfer arms, so that the transfer arms then in a position in which they can again take foil bag.

After the upward procedure of the transfer arms, an upward procedure of the slide can be done. According to the upward method of the slide, a method of film bag receptacles can be made from their position below the magazine shafts. The foil bag holders can then feed the foil bags to a filling machine.

• Figur 1 eine erste schematische Ansicht einer Vorrichtung zum Zuführen von Folienbeuteln zu einer Füllmaschine beim Ergreifen von Folienbeuteln in den Magazinschächten durch Übergabearme,
• Figur 2 eine zweite schematische Ansicht der Vorrichtung nachdem die Folienbeutel mit den Übergabearmen in eine vertikale Ausrichtung verbracht wurden,
• Figur 3 eine dritte schematische Ansicht der Vorrichtung mit nach unten verfahrenen Übergabearmen und auf dem Kastengrund aufstehenden Folienbeuteln,
• Figur 4 eine erste vergrößerte schematische Ansicht der Vorrichtung mit der Labyrinthführung und ausgefahrenen Schiebern,
• Figur 5 eine zweite vergrößerte schematische Ansicht der Vorrichtung mit ausgefahrenen Schiebern,
• Figur 6 eine dritte vergrößerte schematische Ansicht der Vorrichtung mit eingefahrenen Schiebern,
• Figur 7 eine erste vereinfachte Ansicht eines seitlichen Gegenhalters und eines Magazinschachts im Querschnitt beim Ergreifen eines Folienbeutels in dem Magazinschacht durch einen Übergabearm mit drei Saugvorrichtungen,
• Figur 8 eine zweite vereinfachte Ansicht des seitlichen Gegenhalters und des Magazinschachts im Querschnitt nachdem der Folienbeutel mit dem Übergabearm in eine vertikale Ausrichtung verbracht wurde,
• Figur 9 eine dritte vereinfachte Ansicht des horizontal verfahrenen Gegenhalters, des Magazinschachts mit nach unten verfahrenem Übergabearm und auf dem Kastengrund aufstehenden Folienbeutel und
• Figur 10 ein Flussdiagramm eines Verfahrens zum Zuführen von Folienbeuteln zu einer Füllmaschine.

The attached figures represent by way of example for better understanding and illustration aspects of the invention. It shows:

• FIG. 1 a first schematic view of an apparatus for feeding foil bags to a filling machine when gripping foil bags in the magazine shafts by transfer arms,
• FIG. 2 a second schematic view of the device after the foil bags have been brought with the transfer arms in a vertical orientation,
• FIG. 3 a third schematic view of the device with downwardly moved transfer arms and on the box base upstanding foil bags,
• FIG. 4 a first enlarged schematic view of the device with the labyrinth guide and extended slides,
• FIG. 5 a second enlarged schematic view of the device with extended sliders,
• FIG. 6 a third enlarged schematic view of the device with retracted slides,
• FIG. 7 a first simplified view of a lateral counter-holder and a magazine shaft in cross section when gripping a foil bag in the magazine shaft by a transfer arm with three suction devices,
• FIG. 8 a second simplified view of the lateral counter-holder and the magazine shaft in cross-section after the foil bag has been brought with the transfer arm in a vertical orientation,
• FIG. 9 a third simplified view of the horizontally moved counter-holder, the magazine shaft with downwardly moved transfer arm and on the box base upstanding film bag and
• FIG. 10 a flow chart of a method for feeding foil bags to a filling machine.

The sequence of FIGS. 1 to 6 shows schematically how a foil bag is transferred from a magazine by means of a transfer arm to a staple / lock box.

FIG. 1 shows a first schematic view of an apparatus 1 for feeding film bags 2 to a filling machine (not shown), a magazine 3 with a plurality of parallel arranged magazine shafts 4 for providing the foil bag 2 and below the magazine shafts 4 positionable foil bag receptacles 5 for receiving and transporting the foil bag 2 comprises. The number of foil bag receptacles 5 preferably corresponds to the number of magazine slots 4. Further, a transfer arm 6 for gripping the foil bag 2 in the magazine shaft 4 and for transferring the gripped foil bag 2 to the film bag receptacles 5 positioned below the magazine shaft 4 is assigned to each of the magazine wells 4.

In the illustration, each of the transfer arms 6 has two suction devices 7 for sucking a film bag 2 and thereby for holding the film bag 2, by means of which the film bag 2 is at least partially sucked flat. The plurality of transfer arms 6 are rotatable about a common horizontal axis 8 and designed to be vertically movable by means of a common linkage 9, so that the movement of the transfer arms 6 takes place synchronously in all magazine chutes 4.

In FIG. 1 is the visible transfer arm 6, as the other non-visible transfer arms, in a tilted position, ie it is by a certain angle around the rotated horizontal axis 8, so that he can suck one of the provided in the magazine shaft 4 foil bag 2 by means of the suction devices 7 and so hold or can take. In the embodiment shown, the holding or gripping of the film bag 2 takes place, for example, by forming a negative pressure.

In addition, sliding devices are provided in the device 1, with a sliding device each comprising a housing 11 and two slides 10. The slider 10 are formed in the vertical direction movable up and down. A sliding device is arranged between two adjacent magazine shafts 4 such that the first of the two slides 10 can act on a foil bag 2 of one magazine shaft 4 and the second of the two slides 10 on another foil bag 2 of the other, adjacent magazine shaft. In general, an action of the slide 10 on a film bag 2 therefore takes place in the right and left upper edge regions of the film bag 2.

This arrangement of the sliding device between adjacent magazine shafts 4 allows free movement of the transfer arms 6 when rotating about the common horizontal axis eighth

The two outer magazine shafts 4 of the magazine 3, each having only one adjacent magazine shaft 4, preferably comprise on the side without adjacent magazine shaft a differently shaped sliding device with a housing and only one slider.

The slides 10 are moved out of the housing 11 down after a transfer arm 6 has taken a foil bag 2 and before the transfer arm 6 has brought the foil bag 2 in a vertical or approximately vertical orientation. Between the extended slide 10 and a base body 14 of the magazine 3, a transfer gap 13 is thereby formed, which preferably has a width of about 1 mm or less.

The slides 10 also include a labyrinth guide 12 which is formed here in the form of a projection. The labyrinth guide 12 prevents a foil bag 2 passed to the bottom of a staple / closure box from moving upward, e.g. When the transfer arm 6 is released from the film bag 2 and then moved upward.

Since the labyrinth guide 12 is at least partially in the transport path of grabbed by the transfer arm 6 and moving foil bag 2 is down slider 10 when moving down the film bag 2 this is bent accordingly in its right and left margins. However, this interferes with the operation of the device 1 not because the material of the film bag 2 has a certain flexibility and goes back to the original shape after passing the labyrinth guide.

FIG. 2 shows a second schematic view of the device 1, in which the visible transfer arm 6, like the other invisible transfer arms, in such, ie by a certain angle value, was rotated about the horizontal axis 8, so that the film bag 2 gripped by the transfer arm 6 vertically or is oriented approximately vertically. In this orientation, the transfer arms 6 can be moved downward by means of the common linkage 9, ie to the film bag receptacles 5 positioned below the magazine shaft 4, so that the film bags 2 are at least partially inserted into the film bag receptacles 5, eg clip / lock boxes 5 can be.

FIG. 3 shows a third schematic view of the device 1, in which the film bag 2 has been partially introduced by the vertical down process of the transfer arm 6 in the staple / lock case 5, which is positioned below the magazine shaft 4. The transfer arm 6 is moved so far down that the foil bag 2 reaches the box bottom of the staple / lock box 5. The foil bag 2 is still held in this view by the transfer arm 6 with the suction devices 7. With its upper portion of the foil bag 2 can then still protrude into the magazine shaft 2. The right and left upper edge region of the film bag 2 are adjacent to the extended slides 10, which belong to this magazine shaft 4.

FIG. 4 shows a first enlarged schematic view of the device 1; in comparison to the FIGS. 1 to 3 is now reversed right and left. The film bag 2 was partially introduced by means of the transfer arm 6 in the position under the magazine shaft 4 staple / lock case 5, so that it rests on the bottom of the box. The slider 10 with the labyrinth guide 12 serves to form a transfer gap 13 between the slider 10 and the main body 14 of the magazine 3. With its upper portion of the film bag 2 still protrudes into the magazine shaft 2. The labyrinth guide 12 of the slider 10, which is designed here in the form of a projection, prevents an upward movement of the film bag 2, for example, when the transfer arm 6 is released from the film bag 2 and then moved upwards.

FIG. 5 shows a second enlarged schematic view of the device 1, in which the two slides 10 of the sliding device shown are extended. As already mentioned, a sliding device is in each case arranged between two adjacent magazine shafts 4 such that the first of the two slides acts in each case on foil bags 2 of one magazine shaft 4 and the second of the two slides on foil bags 2 of the other magazine shaft. In the illustration, an effect of the two takes place Slider 10 on the one foil bag 2 in the right and on the other foil bag 2 in the left upper edge region. Only shortly before the staple / lock case 5 is moved away from its position below the magazine shaft 4, the slider 10 is moved upwards (previously, the transfer arm 6 is still released from the film bag 2).

In FIG. 6 3, a third enlarged schematic view of the device 1 is shown, in which the slides 10 are retracted, ie moved upwards, and are received by the housing 11 of the sliding device. After the slides 10 are retracted, the foil bag holders 5 together with the foil bags 2 located therein can be removed from their position below the magazine wells 4.

FIG. 7 shows a first simplified view of a lateral counter-holder 24 and a magazine shaft 15 in cross section when gripping a foil bag 18 in the magazine shaft 15 by a transfer arm 19 with three suction devices 20. In the magazine shaft 15 a plurality of foil bags 16, 18 are provided, which by means of a holder 17th be positioned in the magazine shaft 15. The three suction devices 20 serve for sucking a film bag 18 and thereby for holding the film bag 18, wherein the suction devices 20 suck the film bag 18 at least partially flat, for example by forming a negative pressure. Below the magazine shaft 15, a film bag receptacle 23 is arranged to receive and transport a film bag 16, 18.

The illustrated transfer arm 19 is designed to be rotatable about a horizontal axis 21 and designed to be vertically movable by means of a linkage 22. In addition, the device comprises at least one counter-holder 24, which is designed to be horizontally movable.

In FIG. 7 is the transfer arm 19 in a tilted position, that is, it is rotated by a certain angular value about the horizontal axis 21 so that it can suck one of the provided in the magazine shaft 15 film bag 18 by means of suction devices 20 and hold or take.

FIG. 8 shows a second simplified view of the lateral counter-holder 24 and the magazine shaft 15 in cross-section after the foil bag 18 has been brought to the transfer arm 19 in an at least approximately vertical orientation.

From the in the FIG. 7 In the position shown, the transfer arm 19 has been rotated around the horizontal axis 21 in such a way, ie by a certain angle value, so that the foil bag 18 grasped by the transfer arm 19 is aligned at least approximately vertically. In this orientation, the transfer arm 19 can be moved downwards by means of the linkage 22, ie to the foil bag receptacle positioned below the magazine shaft 15 23, so that the film bag 18 at least partially in the film bag holder 23, such as a staple / lock box, can be introduced. The counter-holder 24 has been displaced horizontally, so in a downward process of the transfer arm 19 of these does not come into contact with the anvil 24.

FIG. 9 shows a third simplified view of the horizontally moved counter-holder 24, the magazine shaft 15 with downwardly moved transfer arm 19 and on the box bottom of a staple / lock box 23 upstanding film bag 18. After the transfer arm 19 is moved together with the film bag 18 down, the Counter holder 24 horizontally moved to a position above the film bag 18 so that the counter-holder 24 can prevent the dissolution of the transfer arm 19 of the film bag 18 and the upward process of the transfer arm 19 that the film bag moves undesirably upward.

FIG. 10 FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of a method for feeding foil bags to a filling machine using a device for feeding foil bags as described above or below.

In step 100, provision is made of foil bags in the magazine shafts of a magazine, wherein a plurality of magazine shafts are arranged in parallel. The foil bag receptacles for receiving and transporting the film bags are positioned below the magazine slots in step 101 so that the foil bags provided can be transferred to them. In step 102, the foil bags are grasped in the magazine shafts by means of transfer arms. For example, the gripping can take place by means of a suction device, which is encompassed by the transfer arms, and at least partially sucks the foil bags flat. In step 103, a downwards movement of the slides takes place. In step 104, the transfer arms are rotated about a common horizontal axis, thereby moving the foil bags into an at least approximately vertical orientation.

After the step 104 of rotation, in step 105, a further downward movement of the transfer arms and at least partial introduction of the foil bags into the foil bag receptacles can take place. After step 105 of the introduction, in step 106, the transfer arms can be released from the foil bags.

In step 107, an upward process of the transfer arms then takes place. Thereafter, in step 108, the slides are retracted. In step 109, the film bag receivers with the film bags therein can then be moved away from their position below the magazine slots by a method.

Claims (18)

1. Apparatus (1) for feeding film bags (2) to a filling machine including a magazine (3) having a plurality of parallel arranged magazine shafts (4) for providing the film bags (2), where a transfer arm (6) for grasping a film bag (2) in the magazine shaft (4) is assigned to each magazine shaft (4),
   characterised in that
   film bag holders (5) for receiving and transporting the received film bags (2) are positionable below the magazine shafts (4) and
   each transfer arm (6) being configured for transferring the grasped film bag (2) to the film bag holder (5) positioned below the magazine shaft.
2. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the transfer arms (6) comprises at least one suction device (7) for sucking the film bag (2).
3. Apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the suction devices (7) is configured to at least partially two-dimensionally suck a film bag (2).
4. Apparatus of one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the transfer arms (6) are configured to be rotatable around a common horizontal axis (8) and to be vertically movable by means of a common support (9).
5. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a spool device (10, 11) is arranged between two neighbouring magazine shafts (4), wherein the spool device comprises at least one spool (10) that is preferably vertically movable.
6. Apparatus of claim 5, wherein a transfer gap (13) is formable between the at least one spool (10) and a base body (14) of the magazine (3), wherein a width of the transfer gap (13) is preferably less than 1 mm.
7. Apparatus of claim 5 or 6, wherein the at least one spool (10) comprises a labyrinth guide (12) for eliminating an upward movement of a film bag (2).
8. Apparatus of any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the spool device (10, 11) further comprises a housing (11).
9. Apparatus of one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising at least one counter-holder configured to be horizontally movable for eliminating an upward movement of a film bag (2).
10. Apparatus of one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the film bag holders (5) are configured as bracket/lock casings (5).
11. Method for feeding film bags to a filling machine with an apparatus according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, comprising the steps:

    - providing (100) film bags in magazine shafts of a magazine,

    - positioning (101), below the magazine shafts, film bag holders for receiving and transporting the film bags,

    - subsequently grasping (102) the film bags in the magazine shafts by transfer arms and

    - transferring the grasped film bags to the film bag holders by the transfer arms.
12. Method of claim 10, wherein the step of grasping (102) comprises sucking the film bags by suction devices.
13. Method of claims 10 or 11, wherein the step of transferring further comprises the following step: rotating (104) the transfer arms around a common horizontal axis and thereby positioning the film bags in an at least approximately vertical orientation.
14. Method of claim 13, wherein after the step of grasping the film bags and prior to the step of rotating (104) the transfer arms, the spools are extended (103).
15. Method of claims 13 or 14, further comprising the following steps after rotating (104):

    - moving downwardly (105) the transfer arms and at least partially inserting (105) the film bags into the film bag holders and

    - after the inserting (105), detaching (106) the transfer arms from the film bags.
16. Method of claim 15, further comprising after the step of detaching (106) moving upwardly (107) the transfer arms, and preferably also rotating the transfer arms.
17. Method of claim 16, wherein the spools are retracted (108) after moving (107) the transfer arms upwardly.
18. Method of claim 17, further comprising moving (109) the film bag holders away from their positions below the magazine shafts after retracting (108) the spools.

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