BAG APPLICATOR ASSEMBLY FOR A STATIONARY PACKER ASSEMBLY FOR FILLING VALVE BAGS, STATIONARY PACKER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING THIS BAG APPLICATOR ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THIS BAG APPLICATOR ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A bag applicator assembly for a stationary packer assembly comprising a plurality of filling nozzles for filling valve bags wherein a valve bag comprising a valve selectively movable 10 between a closed and an open configuration; the bag applicator comprising: a bag feeding device comprising a supporting plane configured for receiving a valve bag having the valve in a closed configuration; an valve opening device configured for cyclically moving between a first configuration of keeping the valve bag from the supporting plane and a second configuration of opening the valve and keeping the valve the open configuration; a bag applicator device configured for picking up the valve bag from the valve opening device, for traveling from the valve opening device to a filling nozzle in a traveling configuration for avoiding bag interference with the filling nozzles and for releasing the bag at the filling nozzle.

Claims

1. A bag applicator assembly (1) for a stationary packer assembly (2) comprising a plurality of filling nozzles (12) for filling valve bags (3) wherein a valve bag (3) comprising a valve (4) selectively movable between a closed and an open configuration; the bag applicator (1) comprising: a bag feeding device (21) comprising a supporting plane (5) configured for receiving a valve bag (3) having the valve (4) in a closed configuration; a valve opening device (6) configured for cyclically moving between a first configuration of keeping the valve bag (3) from the supporting plane (5) and a second configuration of opening the valve (4) and keeping the valve (4) the open configuration; a bag applicator device (13) configured for picking up the valve bag (3) from the valve opening device (1), for traveling from the valve opening device (6) to a filling nozzle (12) in a traveling configuration for avoiding bag interference with the filling nozzles (12) and for releasing the bag (3) at the filling nozzle (12); in the second configuration the valve opening device (6) is in a position so that the bag applicator device (13) can pick up the valve bag (3) in the traveling configuration without any additional approaching movement required.

2. Bag applicator assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve opening device (6) comprises a supporting frame (7) pivotally connected with respect to the supporting plane (5) for moving from a lower position to a raised position and vice versa by a tilting movement.

3. Bag applicator assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the valve opening device (6) comprises an actuator (8) configured for cyclically moving the supporting frame (7) from the lower position to the raised position and vice versa.

4. Bag applicator assembly as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the supporting frame (7) supports a first suction device (9) configured for coupling the bag (3) at the valve (4) and a second suction device (10) configured for coupling the opposite end (22) of the bag (3); the first suction device (9) being cyclically movable with respect to the second suction device (10) between a first position wherein the bag (3) is not spread and the valve (4) is closed and a second position wherein the bag (3) is spread and the valve is open (4).

5. Bag applicator assembly as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the bag applicator device (13) comprises a bag applicator arm (14) selectively movable along a linear/straight guide (15) from the valve opening device (6) and the filling nozzles (12) and vice versa; the bag applicator arm (14) is also tiltable with respect to the linear/straight guide (15) between the traveling configuration and a releasing configuration of releasing the bag (3) at a filling nozzle (12).

6. Bag applicator assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the bag applicator arm (14) is provided with a clamping device (16) for picking up the open bag (3) at the valve opening device (6) and for releasing the bag (3) in a filling station (11).

7. Bag applicator assembly as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the bag applicator comprises a control unit configured for controlling the movement of the valve opening device (6) from the lower to the raised position so that once the bag applicator arm (14) reaches the opening valve station (1) the bag (3) can be kept up by the bag applicator arm (14) without any delay.

8. Method for operating a bag applicator assembly, the method comprises the steps of: a) providing a bag applicator assembly as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims; b) controlling the valve opening device (6) for cyclically moving from the first configuration to the second configuration and vice-versa; c) controlling the bag applicator device (13) for cyclically performing the following steps: picking up an open bag (3) at the opening valve station (1); linear traveling from the opening valve station (1) to a filling station (11) in the traveling configuration; approaching to the filling nozzle (12) for releasing the bag (3); moving away from the filling nozzle (12) for reaching the traveling configuration; linear traveling from the filling station (11) to the opening valve station (1) in the traveling configuration; characterized in that the steps b) and c) of controlling the valve opening device (6) and the sack applicator device (13) are performed so that when the bag applicator device (13) reaches the valve opening device (6) the valve opening device (6) is in the second configuration and the bag (3) can be picked up by the bag applicator device (13) in the traveling configuration without any delay and any additional movement required.

9. A stationary packer assembly for filling valve bags (3) wherein a valve bag (3) comprising a valve (4) selectively movable between a closed and an open configuration; the stationary packer assembly comprising: a bag applicator assembly as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims from 1 to 7; a stationary packer comprising a plurality of filling nozzles (12) arranged one beside the other along a liner/straight direction wherein each filling nozzle (12) is configured for entering the valve (4) in the open configuration of a valve bag (3) and for delivery a powdery material inside the bag (3).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0037] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0038] The invention itself, however, may be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, which describes an exemplary embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0039] FIGS. 1a and 1b are schematic views of a kind of valve bag respectively in empty and in filled configuration;

[0040] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an inline packer according to the invention;

[0041] FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic views of the inline packer of FIG. 2 in two different configurations;

[0042] FIGS. 5-7 are schematic views of a valve opening device according to the present invention;

[0043] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the inline packer according to the present invention, and

[0044] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the inline bag applicator according to the present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0045] In cooperation with attached drawings, the technical contents and detailed description of the present invention are described thereinafter according to preferred embodiments, being not used to limit its executing scope. Any equivalent variation and modification made according to appended claims is all covered by the claims claimed by the present invention.

[0046] Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the present invention in detail.

[0047] Reference is made to FIGS. 1a and 1b, which are schematic views of a kind of valve bag for the present invention, respectively in empty and in filled configuration. As known, this valve bag 3 is a bag in form of a rectangular shaped tube having a front face 17 and a rear face and wherein each face is defined by two opposite long sides 18, two opposite short sides 19 defining two opposite ends closed by glue or a sewing. A valve 4 is provided at a corner between a long side 18 and a short side 19 in form of folded edge portions of the bag itself. By spreading the bag, the valve 4 is movable between a closed and an open configuration wherein in the open configuration the edge portions of the opposite face are separated for forming an opening connecting the interior space of the bag itself.

[0048] Reference is made to FIG. 2 which is a schematic view of an inline packer assembly 2 according to the present invention for filling a bag 3 of FIG. 1a. This inline packer assembly 2 is provided with a stationary packer and comprises:

[0049] an opening valve station 1 provided with a valve opening device 6;

[0050] a bag applicator device 13;

[0051] a plurality of filling stations 11 arranged one beside the other along a liner/straight direction wherein each filling station 11 is provided with a filling nozzle 12.

[0052] The disclosed opening valve station 1 is defined by a supporting plane 5 of a feeding device configured for receiving a valve bag 3 or a stack of bags having the valve 4 in a closed configuration as represented. The supporting plane 5 may be movable/adjustable in vertical direction so that the base to the picked up is always in flush with the valve opening device. The valve opening device 6 is configured for cyclically moving between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration the valve opening device 6 is able for picking up the valve bag 3 from the supporting plane 5 whereas in the second configuration the valve opening device 6 is able for opening the valve 4 and keeping the valve 4 the open configuration.

[0053] Once open, the bag is picked up by a bag applicator device 13 in the form of a tilting arm 14. This tilting arm 14 is at one side connected to a linear guide 15 running along the filling stations 11 and at the opposite side is provided with a camping device 16 configured for picking up the valve bag 3 from the valve opening device 1 with the valve 4 in the open configuration. As known, this clamping device is suitable for bringing the open bag, for keeping the valve open during the movement along the guide 15 and for releasing the bag at a filling station. During the traveling movement along the guide 15 between the opening valve station 1 and the filling stations 11 the tilting arm 14 (the tilting axis is parallel to the guide 15) is in traveling configuration (i.e. having a certain tilting angle) suitable for avoiding bag interference with the filling nozzles 12. As known, at a filling station 11 the tilting arm 14 stops the traveling movement and starts an approaching movement (i.e. a tilting movement) towards the filling station 11 for releasing the bag 3 at a filling nozzle 12. In FIG. 2 the arrows TR and TI represent respectively the traveling movement along the guide 15 and the approaching/tilting movement toward and away from the filling nozzles 12.

[0054] FIGS. 3 and 4 show the packer assembly of FIG. 2 in two different configurations due to the present of a bag applicator assembly according to the present invention. FIG. 3 discloses the valve opening device in a first or lower position with respect to the supporting plane 5. In this first or lower position, the valve opening device 6 is suitable for picking up a bag from the plane 5. FIG. 4 discloses the valve opening device in a second of raised position with respect to the receiving plane 5. In particular, in this second or raised position the valve opening device 6 is in position so that the clamping device 16 of the tilting arm 14 can pick up an open bag without any tilting movement starting from the traveling configuration. In particular, the valve opening device 6 reaches this raised position before the arriving of the tilting arm 14 at the opening station 1. In this example the raised position is reached by a rotation of the valve opening device 6 about an axis (by a hinge connection) parallel to the guide 15 at an inner edge of the plane 15. This rotation is driven by an actuator represented in FIGS. 3 and 4 by the reference 8.

[0055] FIGS. 5-7 disclose an embodiment of a valve opening device 6 according to the invention. In particular this valve opening device 6 comprises a supporting frame 7 pivotally connected with respect to the supporting plane 5. The supporting frame 7 supports a first suction device 9 configured for coupling the bag 3 at the valve 4 and a second suction device 10 configured for coupling the opposite end of the bag 3. FIG. 5 schematically represents the valve opening device 6 in the lower position with the second suction devices 9 and 10 acting on a closed bag 3. As represented in FIG. 6, the first suction device 9 is cyclically movable (i.e. tiltable around an axis orthogonal to the guide 15) with respect to the second suction device 10 for reaching a position wherein the bag 3 is spread and the valve is open 4. The spread of the bag is moreover obtained by the presence of a fixed constrain 20 acting in between the two suction devices 9 10. According to the invention when the valve opening device 6 reaches the configuration of FIG. 6 the tilting movement of the frame 7 is activated so that the open valve 4 reaches a raised position. As foregoing mentioned (and as represented in FIG. 7) in this raised position the bag can be picked up by the clamp 16 without requiring any approaching movement to the tilting arm from the traveling condition.

[0056] FIGS. 8 and 9 clarify what is the inline packer and the inline bag applicator within FIG. 2 (FIG. 2 includes both the inline packer and the inline bag applicator).

[0057] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the inline packer according to the present invention.

[0058] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the inline bag applicator according to the present invention.

[0059] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0060] Even if the main field of application of the present invention is the cement industry, a valve bag as foregoing described and the valve opening device of the present invention may be used in other technical field, for instance for filling the bags with building materials, fertilizers and chemicals products or also food.

[0061] It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.