GB2342082A

GB2342082A - Machine for obliquely sealing and filling flexible containers

Info

Publication number: GB2342082A
Application number: GB9821154A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Malcolm Shipway
Original assignee: David S Smith Packaging Ltd
Current assignee: David S Smith Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 1998-09-29
Filing date: 1998-09-29
Publication date: 2000-04-05
Also published as: GB9821154D0

Abstract

A machine 1 obliquely seals flexible containers 2 and subsequently fills said containers with liquid. The oblique seals 7 are preferably adjacent an outlet of the container such as the filling and dispensing spout 4, to enhance the flow during dispensing of liquid from said containers. The flexible containers can be the filled bags in bag-in-box applications for the dispensing of a product such as wine, the oblique seals aiding loading of the filled bags into the boxes. The machine preferably comprises a plurality of stations with the sealing station 6 upstream of a filling station 9. If the containers are supplied as a web of containers there is a station 8 between the sealing and filling stations to separate the containers.

Description

2342082 FILLING APPARATUS The invention relates to filling apparatus,

particularly to such apparatus as is used for manufacture of filled bags in what are known as "bag-in-box" applications, in other words bags put up for sale and in use in (usually) cardboard containers.

Such bags are often produced in a strip of bags which are filled sequentially in a filling machine. In order to enhance ultimate dispensing of the product (for example wine) and to improve loading of a filled bag into a box, angular seals are incorporated in the bag, which enhance flow towards a dispensing outlet thereof. These seals are incorporated during a bag manufacturing stage, which has disadvantages associated with slow bag manufacturing cycle times, high cost and complicated non-standard bags i.e. bags which are not simply bags with a dispensing outlet.

It is accordingly an object of the,invention to seek to mitigate these disadvantages.

According to the invention there is shown apparatus for filling a flexible container with liquid, comprising means to provide an enhanced flow of liquid from the container during dispensing of liquid therefrom.

There may be means to provide a seal in the bag which enhances liquid flow. This provides a direction of liquid flow towads a dispense outlet during a dispensing operation.

2 The means may provide two angular seals directed towards a liquid outlet of the container. This provides a channel-like direction of liquid flow.

A plurality of stations may be arranged in sequence, and there may be a station providing said means, and downstream thereof a station for charging the container with liquid.

The container may comprise one of a plurality of containers joined in strip form, and there may be a separation station between the stations providing the means for enhancing flow and the charging station.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of filling a flexible container with a liquid, comprising providing a container, providing means to enhance liquid flow towards an outlet of the container, and providing means to fill the container.

The invention extends to a container filled using apparatus as hereinbefore defined or using a method as hereinbefore defined.

An apparatus and method embodying the invention are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of apparatus embodying the invention; 3 Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 shows a bag according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings there is shown apparatus for filling a flexible container with liquid, comprising means to provide an enhanced flow of liquid from the container during dispensing of liquid therefrom.

The apparatus 1 disclosed in the drawings is a machine for automatic filling of liquid such as wine or soft drink into a flexible container such as a plastic bag 2 which is put up for sale and use in a (usually) cardboard outer container 3 which liquid dispensing system is often called a bag-in-box system. The plastic bag 2 has a filling spout 4 through which it is filled in the machine 1, and from which liquid is dispensed in use, a suitable tap or valve being inserted into the filling spout to provide dispensation means.

Moreover, the series of bags 2 are initially usually fed into the apparatus 1 as a strip of identical bags which are fed through the machine from an inlet station 5.

However, it is often necessary to provide that each bag 2 has means to enhance flow towards the outlet. The apparatus 1 thus includes in sequence the inlet station 5 in the form of an infeed roller table or platen on which a strip of bags 2 is placed, a station 6 for applying to each bag the means to enhance flow, in the embodiment a platen which forms diagonal "shoulder" seals 7 on a plastic bag as by heat 4 or ultrasonic fusion. Downstream of the station 6 there is a station 8 for separating each bag 2 from the strip, each separated bag 2 then being filled at a fill-station 9 where there is a fill-head assembly.

Downstream of the fill head assembly 9 there are guide means 10 in the form of a roller table for passing the filled bag to a bag-in-box chute assembly 11 where the filled bag is dropped into the cardboard containers 3. The completed bag-in-box is transported from the apparatus by a motorised conveyor run 12.

It will be understood that there are two filling strands 13, 14 in the machine 1, which filling is automated so that bags 2 are indexed through the various stations as desired. There is a main frame 15 of the apparatus 1, an operators' platform 16 and a bag platform 17.

Thus the station 6 is positioned in the bag infeed area of the apparatus 1 i.e. upstream of the bag separation station 8, and this provides for use of standard bags 2 which can be fed through the machine from the station 5.

Claims

1 Apparatus for filling a flexible container with liquid, comprising means to provide an enhanced flow of liquid from the container during dispensing of liquid therefrom.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, comprising means to provide a sea[ in the bag which enhances liquid flow.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, the means providing two angular seals directed towards a liquid outlet of the container.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, comprising a plurality of stations arranged in sequence, there being a station providing said means, and downstream thereof a station for charging the container with liquid.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, the container comprising one of a plurality of containers joined in strip form, there being a separation station between the stations providing the means for enhancing flow and the charging station.

6. Apparatus for filling a flexible container with liquid, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A method of filling a flexible container with a liquid, comprising providing means to enhance liquid flow towards an outlet of the 6 container, and providing means to fill the container.

8. A method according to Claim 7, substantially as hereinbefore described.

9. A container whenever filled in apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, or using a method according to Claims 7 or 8.