VALVE BAG FILLING DEVICE

Abstract

A valve bag filling device for filling powdered filling material into a valve bag is provided, and has a filling spout (1), which is provided so as to be introduced into a valve hose of a valve bag to be filled. The device has a conveying device for conveying the filling material to be filled from a supply tank through the filling spout (1) into a valve bag resting on the filling spout (1) with the valve hose, as well as a suction device (3, 4) for aspirating excess filling material via a suction opening (5). The suction opening (5) is arranged spaced a distance (9, 10) from the filling spout (1). A control device is provided, with which the suction opening (5) can be traversed in a direction (6) in relation to the filling spout (1).

Claims

1. A valve bag filling device for filling powdered filling material into a valve bag, the valve bag filling device comprising: a filling spout configured so as to be introduced into a valve hose of a valve bag to be filled; a conveying device for conveying the filling material to be filled from a supply tank through the filling spout into a valve bag resting on the filling spout with a valve hose; a suction device for aspirating excess filling material with a suction opening arranged spaced a distance from the filling spout; and a control device configured to traverse the suction opening in relation to the filling spout.

2. The valve bag filling device according to claim 1, wherein the control device comprises an actuator, with which the suction opening is traversed from a position close to the filling spout to a position remote from the filling spout and vice versa.

3. The valve bag filling device according to claim 2, wherein the suction opening in the position close to the filling spout comprises an annular suction opening that extends annularly around a section of the filling spout.

4. The valve bag filling device according to claim 3, wherein the annular suction opening bordered by an annular housing opens toward the filling spout.

5. The valve bag filling device according to claim 4, wherein the annular housing comprises a movable housing part.

6. The valve bag filling device according to claim 4, wherein the annular housing comprises two movable housing parts.

7. The valve bag filling device according to claim 4, wherein the suction line has an end side suction nozzle, which forms an upper portion of the annular housing open toward the filling spout, wherein a lower portion of the annular housing comprises a movable housing part moveable between an open position with the movable housing part arranged next to the suction nozzle and a closed position with the movable housing part arranged under the suction nozzle.

8. The valve bag filling device according to claim 5, further comprising at least one drive coupled with the movable housing part for moving the movable housing part.

9. The valve bag filling device according to claim 1, wherein a controller is provided, which traverses the at least one movable housing part upon reaching the position close to the filling spout to include the filling spout under the suction nozzles, and traverses back again once aspiration is complete.

10. The valve bag filling device according to claim 2, wherein the actuator has a manipulator.

11. The valve bag filling device according to claim 1, wherein the control device has a controller, which forms part of the machine controller of the valve bag filling device, or is signal-connected with the latter, such that the position close to the spout is only approached after the valve hose has been removed from the filling spout or once the filling process has ended.

12. The valve bag filling device according to claim 2, further comprising a vacuum chamber, wherein the suction opening is arranged outside of the vacuum chamber in the position remote from the spout, and the suction opening is arranged inside of the opened vacuum chamber in the position close to the spout.

13. The valve bag filling device according to claim 1, further comprising blower nozzles of a compressed gas carrying line wherein the suction opening forms an end of a suction line, and that blower nozzles of the compressed gas carrying line are directed toward the filling spout and are arranged before the suction opening inside of the suction line.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In the Drawings:

[0020] FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b are highly simplified schematic views showing the configuration and arrangement of a suction opening of the suction device of a valve bag vacuum filling device in a position remote from the filling spout (FIG. 1a) and in a position close to the filling spout (FIG. 1b);

[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a suction nozzle traversed over the filling spout with opened lower housing sections;

[0022] FIG. 3 is the suction nozzle according to FIG. 2 in a closed position of the housing sections;

[0023] FIG. 4 is the suction nozzle according to FIG. 2 in an opened position from the other side; and

[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an embodiment variant in a partial section of the view according to FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Referring to the drawings, the valve bag filling device not shown in detail based on the figures involves one whose basic structure corresponds to the Greif-Velox VELOVAC machine, i.e., a valve bag vacuum filling device in which the powdered filling material to be filled is conveyed from a supply tank by way of a conveyor line to a filling spout 1, which protrudes at the front side of the machine and is provided to receive a valve hose of a valve bag. The filling process takes place inside of a vacuum chamber 2, which consists of two chamber halves 2a and 2b, which for purposes of the filling process as shown on FIG. 1a have been moved together into a closed vacuum chamber 2, in which is located the filling spout 1 with its free end with a valve hose of a valve bag resting thereupon, which is to be filled with powdered filling material. The structure and function of the machines are basically as known from DE 20 2018 006 418 U1, to which reference is here made in this regard (DE 20 2018 006 418 U1 is hereby incorporated by reference).

[0026] The valve bag filling device described here differs from the previously known one in that a suction device is provided for aspirating excess filling material, of which FIG. 1a shows a suction hose 3 with an end housing 4, which has a suction opening 5. The suction hose 3 adjoins a suction pump, and has an integrated filter. The suction housing 4 comprises a suction opening and can be moved upwardly and downwardly in a vertical direction 6 in relation to the filling spout 1 by means of a linear drive not shown here in detail. The drive is electric or pneumatic. Two end positions are provided in the exemplary embodiment, specifically the position remote from the spout 7 shown on FIG. 1a, in which the suction housing 4 is arranged spaced apart above the vacuum chamber 2, as well as the position close to the spout 8 shown on FIG. 1b, in which the housing 4 is in direct proximity to the filling spout 1, specifically arranged at a slight distance above it. This position close to the spout 8 can only be approached if the halves 2a and 2b of the vacuum chamber 2 are opened, i.e., have been expanded upon conclusion of the filling process, with the suction housing 4 expediently being lowered into the position close to the spout 8 only after the filled valve bag has been removed from the filling spout 1.

[0027] In the position remote from the spout 7, the suction housing 4 has a distance 9 that is clearly larger than the distance 10 in the position close to the spout 8. The position close to the spout 8 is shown on FIGS. 2, 3 and 5. This position close to the spout 8 is used to aspirate excess filling material located on the filling spout 1 after the filling process.

[0028] The suction housing 4 has a suction nozzle 11, which has an upper cylindrical section 12 to be hooked up to the suction hose 3. The cylindrical section 12 downwardly transitions into a widening section 13, which at its lower end on one side of its shell surface has a semicircular recess 14, which in the position close to the spout 8 has an end section 15 of the filling spout 1 to form a semi-annular gap 16 as part of the suction opening 5. The lower part 17 of the annular gap is formed by the edges of two housing sections 18 and 19, which on FIG. 2 are shown in a folded down position, in which these housing sections 18 and 19 are arranged next to the suction nozzle 11. A mechanism 20 arranged on the rear of the suction nozzle 11, which can be electromagnetically or pneumatically driven, can be used to swivel these housing sections 18 and 19 into the closed position shown on FIG. 3, in which the housing sections 18 and 19 downwardly continue the widening section 13 on its straight sides, and close the housing with the formation of an annular section gap consisting of the semi-annular upper gap 16 and the semi-annular lower gap 17. In this closed position (FIG. 3), the air is aspirated through the annular gap 16, 17 and into the housing 4, which in the widening section 13 tapers upwardly, and in the cylindrical section 12 adjoins the suction hose 3. Since the cross section of the annular gap 16, 17 is distinctly smaller than the remaining cross section of the housing 4, in particular that of the suction hose 3, the air aspirated in this area is accelerated, so that powdered filling material from the filling process that adheres to the filling spout 1 is effectively taken away.

[0029] This cleaning effect can be supported by an array of blower nozzles 21 provided internally in the area of the widening section 13, which are hooked up to a compressed air line, and generate a targeted, strong airflow that is directed at the filling spout section 15 and even further enhances the removal of particles adhering to the filling spout section 15. It is here advantageous for one or several pulse-like pressure surges to initially take place through the blower nozzles 21 before or at the same time as the aspiration through the housing 4.

[0030] The suction device as described above has a control device, which on the one hand provides the drive (actuator) for moving (traversing) the housing 4 out of the position remote from the spout 7 into the position close to the spout 8 and vice versa, and also the drive for the mechanism 20 that moves (traverses) the housing sections 18 and 19 from the folded down position shown on FIGS. 2 and 4 into the folded in position shown on FIG. 3 and vice versa, in which the housing 4 is essentially closed, and only has an annular suction gap 16, 17 formed around the filling spout 1. Further provided is a controller that coordinates the movement of the drives with that of the remaining machine. This controller can be part of the machine controller, or even an external controller, but which is expediently signal-connected with the machine controller or at least recognizes the states relevant for the controller. The controller ensures that the suction housing 4 is only moved from the position remote from the spout 7 into the position close to the spout 8 once the vacuum chamber 2 has been opened, i.e., the left half 2a and the right half 2b of the vacuum chamber 2 have been moved apart, and the filled valve bag has been removed from the filling spout 1, and hence from the vacuum chamber 2. If the controller has then controlled the drive for moving the suction housing 4 into the position 8 close to the spout 8, the control for actuating the mechanism 20 must then be activated, so that the housing sections 18 and 19 close downwardly to close the suction housing 4, i.e., are arranged under the suction nozzle 11, so that the annular gap 16, 17 is formed to aspirate the filling spout section 15.

[0031] At the latest once this position has been reached, the aspiration is activated, and if necessary the compressed air application by the blower nozzles 21, until the cleaning process has ended. A particle sensor can be provided in the exhaust air path for this purpose, which detects the latter. After aspiration is complete, the drive for the mechanism 20 for opening the housing sections 18 and 19 into the position shown on FIGS. 2 and 4 is activated, after which the drive for moving the suction housing 4 up into the position remote from the spout 7 is activated. The machine is thereafter again ready for loading with an empty valve bag and the ensuring filling process.

[0032] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

REFERENCE LIST

[0033] 1 Filling spout [0034] 2 Vacuum chamber [0035] 2a Left half of the vacuum chamber [0036] 2b Right half of the vacuum chamber [0037] 3 Suction hose [0038] 4 Suction housing [0039] 5 Suction opening [0040] 6 Traversing direction and actuator (drive) [0041] 7 Position remote from the spout [0042] 8 Position close to the spout [0043] 9 Distance to the filling spout in position 7 [0044] 10 Distance to the filling spout in position 8 [0045] 11 Suction nozzle [0046] 12 Cylindrical section [0047] 13 Conical section [0048] 14 Semicircular recess [0049] 15 End section [0050] 16 Semicircular gap, above [0051] 17 Semicircular gap, below [0052] 18 Housing section [0053] 19 Housing section [0054] 20 Mechanism [0055] 21 Blower nozzles