FR2531036A1 - DEVICE AND METHOD FOR LOADING BAGS, PARTICULARLY FOR FOOD - Google Patents

Abstract

IN A VERTICAL PACKAGING MACHINE ENSURING THE SHAPING, FILLING AND SEALING OF BAGS, ESPECIALLY FOR FEED DOSES, THE DOWNWARD FLOW OF PRODUCT DOSES, FROM A DOSAGE DISPENSER AND TO THE TUBE PACKAGING 13 IS EASIER BY USING THE COANDA EFFECT TO ESTABLISH A PULSE GAS CURRENT TO DRIVE THE PRODUCT ON THE PATH FROM THE WEIGHING MACHINE 50 TO THE PACKAGING TUBE 13.

Description

1 -

  The present invention relates to devices for

  transport of product doses in a succession of -

  containers and, more particularly but not exclusive-

  ment, it relates to the bagging of food of the snack type, in particular of potato chips, in machines

  vertical packaging ensuring formal formatting

pleating and sealing.

  We know a bagging device that receives

  weighed doses of crisps, at a rate of 40 to 45 per minute

  te In such a device, a machine for forming and filling sachets produces sachets of the "pillow" type 1, each containing one of the doses, from a continuous tube of packaging material. Each sachet has transverse seals at the top and bottom of the sachet, as well as a vertical seam extending between

both.

  The bulky nature of the dose of product compared to

  wearing at its relatively light weight poses several problems

  as for the distribution, weighing and bagging of

produced in this way.

  In particular, natural differences in the size, density and water content of potatoes

  earth, which are not removed at all during manufacture.

  cation of the crisps, makes it difficult to weigh the crisps which is both rapid and precise before entering the sachets For a typical desired weight of 25 g, it is not unusual, during routine operations, to find

  a dose weight which exceeds by 50% this desired weight.

  In addition, the variable size of the crisps, as well as their ill-defined weight, lead to variations in the time required for a dose to fall by gravity into its associated sachet, thereby limiting the production of

  sachets at a rate not exceeding about 40 to 45 sa-

chets per minute.

  However, there are known weighing machines which can supply doses of chips intended to fill

  bags at higher rates In one of these

  china, several fractional doses, of which the uniform weight

  be less than the desired weight, are made available

  simultaneously the weights of these doses are recorded with precision and a calculator then chooses the

  particular combination of fractional doses available

  which, added together, will approach the

  more than the desired weight For example, the combination for-

  ra be the sum of the contents of three or five trays

  of scale, among a total of ten trays loaded On no-

  tera that the use of such a machine can improve the uniformity of the weight of the doses for sachet compared to a uniformity obtained in a different way, and provide

  doses for sachets at an increased rate.

  Although the use of such a weighing machine

  ge can increase the weighing speeds, it does not in itself solve the problems due to variations in the fall time The inventor of the present application has studied the behavior of the chips during their fall, and has found that the variations in the fall time are influenced by a tendency for the chips to float and bounce along the downward path of the product flow from the

  forming, filling and sealing machine.

  He-considers that this trend could limit the caden-

  this packaging at a maximum of about 60 sachets per minute.

  The weighing machines mentioned above can easily supply doses for sachets at a rate

  more than 60 per minute An object of the present invention

  tion is to take advantage of this possibility, that is to say

  further increase the packaging rate of the chips (and

  very snack-like foods, such as puffed rice and mals or reconstituted and shaped cereals) in

  a vertical packaging machine ensuring the formatting

  me, filling and sealing.

253 1036

  To this end the present invention relates to a dis-

  positive for transporting successive doses of product from a dose dispenser to a succession

  of containers to be loaded, comprising channel surfaces

  ization defining a product circulation path, from the distributor located upstream of an entry end of the path, and to a location where the containers

  are presented to receive the product, downstream of an ex-

  i MP Jîc rue srtie du jour, characterized by the fact that

  * also includes annular means arranged for intro

  draw a stream of pressurized gas in the path, on

  pipeline surfaces, and to induce circulating gas

  follow, as a consequence of the Coanda effect, along the path, towards the exit end of this path, thereby inducing

  a stream of product entrainment gas in the

  path entry mite, means defining an inters-

  tice between said exit end of the path and a receptacle

  pient intended to receive the product from the path, interstice through which the gas can exit the path, and means for cyclically modulating said current

  compressed gas so that a relative flow rate

  tively high is expected at times when a dose

  must be accelerated along the route, with a flow of-

  relatively low flow (which may be zero) to others

moments.

  It will be noted that the invention highlights the effect

  Coanda to establish a gas stream that performs the function

  useful to accelerate the passage of product doses from the dispenser, which can be a weighing unit

  fast, to the containers to be loaded.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the

  following description, given by way of example and made in

  reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the single figure

  is an elevation partially in section of certain parts

  main parts of a vertical packaging machine

  for shaping, filling and sealing

lon the invention.

  With reference to the drawing, the skilled person recognizes

  tra certain basic parts of the machine, as well as the mode of operation thereof resulting therefrom.

  Thus, a sheet 10 of synthetic plastic material

  that for sachets is fed from a reel (not

  shown) to pass on a cylinder there and -on the over-

  outer face of a hollow template, 12 which transforms the

  tablecloth, 2 l 7 inside the template 12, in a tube 13 A ga-

  longitudinal sealing bar 14 is associated with the template 12 A pair of sealing jaws comprising a

  first jaw 15 actuated by a jack 16 and a se-

  jaw block 17 actuated by a jack 18, can effect

  a back and forth movement in a horizontal plane of ma-

  to pinch both the material of the bag together and form a transverse seal in it,

  as well as to cut the material at the level of the sealing.

  The cutting means comprise, in the jaw 15, a knife 151 cutting in a gap 171 provided in the jaw 17 The knife 151 is actuated by

means not shown.

  The jaws can also move

  back and forth in a vertical plane They move

  hundred cyclically, moving when they are or

  green towards a high position G represented by mixed lines-

  tes, then closing to pinch the material of the sachet in said high position for then, while remaining closed and maintaining the material of the sachet, move down towards a low position R, so as to draw a new length of sachet on the template 12 In the low position R, the knife 151 is actuated to cut the material of the bag. The jaws then open to

  release a sectioned bag downwards.

  A dose of product intended to fill the sachet is distributed in the internal flow chute 19 of the template 12, in synchronism with each movement of the

  jaws down It then falls freely by gra-

  come down into tube 13, far enough to come

  Stand between the high G and low R positions of the mt-

  choirs 15 and 17, so as to be imprisoned in

  a "pillow" type bag produced by cy-

clicks on the jaws 15 and 17.

  According to a more specific description of the pre-

  sente invention, the doses of product are delivered to

  the chute 19 from a weighing machine 50 at large

  speed, as mentioned above, down along a path defined by a feed funnel and a cylindrical tube 21, then through a funnel with a particular conformation Between the funnel and the tube 21 is provided a pneumatic displacement device, in this case a Brauer AM 75-3 device available from H Mo C Brauer, Dawson Road, Mount Farm Estate, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, M Kl l JP, Great Britain, or a pneumatic device travel equivalent at Oo N Beck & Co Ltdo 104 Fox Lane, London, N 13 4 YAX, Great Britain, the system

  fitting tightly between the funnel 20 and the tube 21.

  Air pulses, delivered to the tire device-

  movement under pressure while driving at-

  dyeing 5.5 Atm, coming from an annular chamber 25,

  pass through a nozzle 26 of annular shape to enter.

  the central passage 27 of the pneumatic displacement device

  cement 23 and, thanks to the shape of the nozzle 26 and the effect

  Coanda, run along the walls of passage 27 to drain

  down into tube 21 entraining quantities

  relatively large air volumes over the entire cross-section

  versale du passage 27 Thanks to the close fitting of the funnel 20, a downward air flow is induced in the funnel 20, the air penetrating by suction in the inlet end of the funnel 20 , at the upper edge of this funnel This downward flow accelerates the doses of product entering the funnel 20 to deliver them to the chute 19 in a more lively and better controlled manner.

  An annular gap 28 is provided between the end

  outlet of the tube 21 and the shaped funnel 22, in-

  terstice whose dimensions are such that the air leaving the pneumatic device 23 and the tube 21 can escape upwards at a speed lower than that of the air when the latter descends into the pneumatic device

  As a result, the air that escapes does not

  te with him no product item from the current

  of product, or even particles of light product,

me the potato chips.

  The supply of forced air is triggered when each dose of product falls into the inlet mouth of the pneumatic device 23, and is interrupted when the

  dose has passed through it It turns out that this system

  regulates the speed of fall of the dose of crisps, and maintains them in a compact mass throughout the descent into the template tube 12 of the sachet, thereby allowing the increase in packaging speeds up to at least sachets per minute and, in most cases, up to

more than 100 sachets per minute.

  A source 44 of compressed air drives the jacks 16

  and 18 by means of pneumatic control means.

  ques 46, which also control the air circulation

  to the moving device 23 The means of

  manlde 46 operate in synchronism with the weighing machine, to which they are connected by a control link

  51 Moving the jaws and the associated carriage

  the positions G and R is triggered by a meteor link

  canique 47 driven by a crank.

  Note that it will generally not be desirable for the air flow to be maintained continuously, as this would cause the product to risk being blown out

  from the gap 28 of the feed funnel.

  The downward pulsating air stream presents lta-

  additional benefit of helping to ensure that, when necessary, the cross section of the packaging tube into which the product falls is

maintained at its maximum value.

  The jaws 15 and 17 do not require

  r; emer; i,: '1 S to cut bag lengths.

  In some applications, such sectioning is not necessary and, in others, the sectioning means

  can be seen 6 downstream of the jaws.

  The present invention and another, which is the subject of the French patent application filed today

  on behalf of the Applicant for "Packaging process, no-

  so many doses of food and device for its implementation

  work ", generally allow, being used together

  ble, - greater speed and efficiency when

  the packaging of food of the type in case they do not

put individually.

Claims (6)

R E V E N D I C A T I O N S   1 Device for transporting successive doses   ves of product from a dose dispenser to   a succession of containers to be loaded, including over-   pipe faces (20, 21) defining a product circulation path, from the distributor located in   upstream of an entry end of the path, and towards a   placement o the containers are presented to receive the product, downstream from an end of the path outlet, characterized in that it also comprises annular means (23) arranged to introduce a stream of gas   under pressure in the path, on the canal surfaces -   sation, and to induce the gas to flow, as a result of the Coanda effect, along the path, towards the outlet end of this path, thereby inducing a stream of product feed gas in the path entry end, means (21, 22) defining a gap (28) between said path exit end and a container   intended to receive the product from the route, inters-   tice through which gas can exit the path, and means (46) for cyclically modulating said current   compressed gas so that a relative flow rate   tively high is expected at times when a dose   must be accelerated along the route, with a debit   relatively low flow (which may be zero) at other times very moments.   2 Device according to claim 1, character-   se by the fact that the current introduction means are located between an upstream pipe surface (20) defining an upstream part of the path, and a surface of   downstream pipe (21), defining a downstream part of the tra jet.   3 Device according to claim 2, character-   se by the fact that the cross section of the surface   of upstream pipe is flared, so as to shrink cir gradually downstream.   4 Device according to one of the pre- claims   cédentes, characterized by the fact that the trans- S versal of the path is circular.   Device according to one of the pre-   cédentes, characterized in that it is intended to be inserted between a weighing machine (50) and a   shaping of a packaging tube in a packaging machine   vertical bale ensuring the formatting, filling age and sealing.   6 Vertical packaging machine ensuring shaping, filling and sealing, characterized in that it comprises the device according to one of previous claims.   7 packaging machine according to claim 6, characterized in that it is capable of packaging   doses of product at a rate of at least 70 per half   nute. 8 ^ -Procedure for transporting successive doses of product along a route, between a   doses and the packaging tube of a green packaging machine   ticale ensuring the shaping, filling and sealing, characterized in that it comprises the step of exploiting the Coanda effect to establish, in the path, a stream of gas which, by entraining the product located in this route, facilitates the flow of doses the along the way.