BAG WEB AND METHOD AND EQUIPMENT FOR PACKING ITEMS

Abstract

A bag web, equipment and method for packing items, liquid or bulk goods in film bags, which are conveyed in a continuous bag web of bag items through a filling station is provided. The mouths of the bags are held open for receiving items, after which the bags are closed and are separated from the web. The bag web includes a zip closure, which is applied parallel to the upper edge of the bag web and is continuous for the entire length of the bag web. The zip closure is coupled to the first guide, which is arranged to retain and guide the bag web in the zip closure along a first section of a conveyor path through the equipment.

Claims

1. A method for packing items, liquid or bulk goods in film bags, which are conveyed in a continuous bag web of bag items through equipment with a filling station, wherein the mouths of the bags are held open for receiving items, after which the bags are closed and are separated from the web, wherein the bag web comprises a zip closure, which is applied parallel to the upper edge of the bag web and is continuous for the entire length of the bag web, the zip closure being coupled to the first guide, which are arranged to retain and guide the zip closure of the bag web along a first section of a transport path through the equipment, the filling station comprising a bag opening, which in connection with the passage force the edges of the bag mouth apart for successive opening of the bags in the filling station, and in that the mouths of the bags are brought back together by the bag web being coupled to second guide, which are arranged to retain and guide the zip closure of the bag web along another section of the transport path through the equipment for subsequent closure and sealing of the mouths of the bags, the bag item, which is present in the filling station, being opened in that the first and second parts of the zip closure on the side walls of the bag item are forced apart in the filling station to open the mouth of the bag.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bag mouth on the bag in the filling station is opened by briefly stopping or reducing the feed speed in the second guide and the bag web in the second part of the transport path, while the bag web and the first guide in the first part of the transport path feed the bag web continuously through the equipment, briefly increasing the feed speed in the first guide and maintaining or reducing the feed speed in the second guide, or briefly stopping or reducing the feed speed in both the first and the second guiding and therefore the bag web in the first and second part of the transport path, the first part of the transport path being mounted movably in the equipment and being displaced in the direction of transport for opening the bag in the filling station.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bag mouth and the uppermost part of the lateral edge on the bag items are sealed, and in that the upper continuous zone of the bag web between two bags is cut for separating the filled and sealed bags from the bag web.

4. Equipment for packing items, liquid or bulk goods in film bags, which are conveyed in a continuous web of bag items through a filling station, wherein the mouths of the bags are held open for receiving items, while the bags are then closed and separated from the web, and where the equipment comprises: a filling station, where the bag openings are held open for receiving items, guide, which are arranged to retain and guide the bag web along a transport path through the equipment, and the guide in connection with this passage force the edges of the bag mouth apart for successive opening of the bags in the filling station and then, after filling the bags, bring the edges of the bag mouths back together for closing the bags, wherein the transport path comprises first and second separately controllable guide, where the guide is placed before the filling station, the second guide is placed after the filling station, and the first and second guide are arranged to grip around a zip closure in the bag web, which is applied parallel to the upper edge of the bag web and is continuous for the entire length of the bag web, and the zip closure may be coupled to the first guide, which are arranged to retain and guide the zip closure of the bag web along a first section of a transport path towards the filling station, and coupled to the second guide, which are arranged to retain and guide the zip closure of the bag web along the second part of the transport path after the filling station.

5. The equipment according to claim 4, wherein the opener for the bag items in the filling station comprises a first finger directed vertically downwards, which is mounted on the first part of the feed web, for separating each part of the zip closure of the bag web during passage of the bag web through the filling station, and another finger directed vertically downwards, which is mounted on the second part of the feed web which, together with the first finger, holds the bag item open in the filling station.

6. The equipment according to claim 4, wherein the guide in at least one of the first and second part of the feed web comprises a clamp, which is arranged to bear against each of the outer sides of the bag web in the region around the zip closure for securing and guiding the bag web in the feed web.

7. The equipment according to claim 4, wherein the first part of the feed web is mounted movably for displacement in the direction of transport.

8. The equipment according to claim 4, wherein it comprises a control, which is arranged for briefly stopping the second guide and the bag web in the second part of the transport path, while the first guide in the first part of the transport path continuously feed the bag web forwards towards the filling station, briefly increasing the feed speed in the first guide and maintaining or reducing the feed speed in the second guide, or briefly stopping both the first and the second guide and therefore the bag web in the first and second part of the transport path, the first part of the transport path being mounted movably in the equipment and being displaced in the direction of transport for opening the bag in the filling station.

9. The equipment according to claim 4, wherein the equipment after the filling station comprises one or more welding stations for sealing the mouth of the bag and/or the lateral edge in the uppermost continuous region of the lateral edges of the bag items and a cutting station for separating the filled and sealed bag items from the bag web.

10. A bag web for use in carrying out a method according to claim 1, the bag web comprising a continuous row of bag items, which are separated by a number of slits, extending from a bottom edge of the web up to just below a top edge of the bag web, the lateral edges of the bag items being closed with welds at the slits, and where the bag web comprises an upper peripheral zone above a zip closure, wherein the zip closure is continuous over the entire length of the bag web, and in that the zip closure is applied parallel to the upper edge of the bag web and at a distance from the upper end of the slits, so that the lateral edges of the bag items are not sealed in the section that extends from the upper edge above the upper peripheral zone and up to the upper end of the slits.

11. The bag web according to claim 10, wherein the bag items are flat bags or gusset bags.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0057] Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with references to the following Figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a bag web according to embodiments of the invention;

[0059] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the equipment according to embodiments of the invention;

[0060] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the equipment according to embodiments of the invention;

[0061] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the equipment according to embodiments of the invention;

[0062] FIG. 5 shows cross-sectional and perspective views of a variant of guiding means or guides in the first part of the feed web in the filling station;

[0063] FIG. 6 shows cross-sectional and perspective views of a variant of guiding means or guides in the first part of the feed web in the filling station;

[0064] FIG. 7 shows an opened bag item in the filling station;

[0065] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a variant of the equipment according to embodiments of the invention;

[0066] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a variant of the equipment according to embodiments of the invention;

[0067] FIG. 10 shows a top view of an opened bag item in a filling station as shown in FIG. 8-9;

[0068] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of an opened bag item in a filling station as shown in FIG. 8-9;

[0069] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of an opened bag item in a filling station as shown in FIG. 8-9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0070] FIG. 1 shows a bag web 1 according to embodiments of the invention, which comprises a row of bag items 2. A zip closure 4 is applied between the upper peripheral zone 3 and the bag items. The bag items 2 are connected in the region of the lateral edges 5 of the bag items 2 in the upper peripheral zone 3 and thus form a bag web 1.

[0071] Below the zip closure 4, in the region by the sealed lateral edges 5 of the bag items 2, there is a zone 6 that is not sealed. The sides of the bag web are made of film, also including laminates, and laminates that comprise layers of paper or metal, the layer or layers of film that face one another in the bag items 2 being weldable to form the lateral edges 5 of the bag items 2.

[0072] The bag items 2 of the bag web 1 are separated by a number of slits, extending from a bottom edge of the web up to just below a top edge of the bag web. The lateral edges of the bag items 5 are closed with welds at the slits 5a. The bag web comprises an upper peripheral zone above a zip closure, the zip closure being continuous for the entire length of the bag web. The zip closure is applied parallel to the upper edge of the bag web and at a distance from the upper end of the slits 5a. This means that the lateral edges of the bag items 5 are not sealed in the section that extends from the upper edge above the upper peripheral zone 3 and up to the upper end of the slits 5a.

[0073] The shape of the bag items 2 is shown in FIG. 1 and other figures as flat bags, but may also have other configurations, as already described above.

[0074] FIGS. 2-4 show a first possible embodiment of equipment for packing bulk goods or liquid items in the bag items 2, in perspective view, side view and top view, respectively.

[0075] The bag web 1 is conveyed through the filling equipment 7 along a transport path. The equipment 7 comprises a filling station 9, where the bag mouth 10 is held open during filling for receiving bulk goods, liquids or items. After filling of the bags 2, the bag mouth 10 is closed by sealing the bag mouth in the upper peripheral zone 3 of the bag 2. This takes place in a sealing unit 12, which is installed after the filling station 9 in the direction of the transport path. A cooling unit 13 is preferably installed after the sealing unit 12.

[0076] After sealing of the bag mouth 10 in the filled bag 2, optionally crushing of the zip closure 4 is performed in a crushing unit 14. Crushing of the zip closure 4 takes place in the region above the lateral edges of the bag items 5, see the dashed lines in FIG. 1, to ensure that the subsequent sealing of the uppermost part of the lateral edges 5 of the bags, i.e. in the region marked with dashed lines in FIG. 1, is tight and effective. Crushing of the zip closure takes place, in the variant of the equipment 7 shown, with jaws 14a, which clamp at a predetermined distance against the zip closure 4 in the region above the lateral edge 5, where the subsequent sealing of the upper part of the lateral edge 5 of the bag will take place. The jaws 14a may be formed as vertical projections on a rotating unit, which clamps the upper peripheral zone of the bag item above the seal of the lateral edge 5. Alternatively, in a variant of the equipment that is not shown, jaws 14a may be installed on each side of the bag item, which clamp onto the zip closure with a linear movement perpendicular to the bag items.

[0077] This crushing of the zip closure 4 may be performed in an independent unit, as shown in FIGS. 2-4. Alternatively, crushing of the zip closure 4 may take place in or in direct contact with the sealing unit 12, e.g. constituting an integral part of the sealing unit 12 or a subsequent (not shown) unit for sealing the upper, non-sealed part of the lateral edges of the bag items 5.

[0078] After sealing of the uppermost part of the lateral edges 5 of the bag items 2, the filled bag is separated from the bag web in a cutting unit (not shown).

[0079] It is not necessary to cut material from the edge zone 3 of the bag item 2, because with embodiments of the invention it has become superfluous to design the bag webs 1 with wide edge zones 3 with gripping means or grip that interact with guiding means or guide for guiding the bag web 1 through the equipment 7 for filling the bags 2.

[0080] The welding station 13 or the subsequent cutting unit may optionally also contain a unit that stamps a break line in the peripheral zone 3 of the bag item. This break line runs between the sealing line for sealing the bag mouth and above the zip closure 4.

[0081] Feed of the bag web 1 through the equipment 7 takes place by means of the zip closure 4. The zip closure 4 is coupled to the first guiding means or first guide 8, which is arranged to retain and guide the zip closure 4 of the bag web 1 along a first section of a transport path through the equipment 7 and towards the filling station 9.

[0082] The first part of the transport path with the first guiding means or first guide 8 is mounted movably in the equipment 7 and is displaced to and fro in the direction of transport, as shown by arrow b for adjustment to the bag size and/or the width of the opening of the bag. This takes place automatically, e.g. by entering the bag size and/or bag width in the control system of the equipment, or alternatively the position of the first part of the transport path, which is a movable carriage mounted in the equipment, can be set manually beforehand for each filling. Manual setting means or setting may comprise e.g. fastening means or fastening, such as one or more bolts with the associated nuts, e.g. wing nuts, which are fitted through a slit (parallel to the direction of transport) in the carriage and a hole drilled in the frame of the equipment 7.

[0083] During transport through the first guiding means or guide 8 and the second guiding means or guide 11 it is preferable for the zip closure 4 to be closed during feed, as this reduces the risk of the zip closure being destroyed when it is clamped between the gripping means or grip of the guiding means or guide 8, 11. This will often mean that the zip closure is already closed when the bag web 1 is fed into the equipment 7 or at least when a bag item 2 arrives at the filling station 9 after contact with the first guiding means or guide 8. The halves of the zip closure 4 will therefore be separated at the inlet of the filling station 9. This takes place by feeding each of the sides of the bag web 1 past bag opening means or opening 15, which in connection with the passage of the bag web force the edges of the bag mouth apart, as shown by arrow c in FIG. 7 for successive opening of the bags in the filling station 9.

[0084] The mouths of the bags are brought back together by coupling the bag web 1 to the other guiding means or guide 11, which are arranged to retain and guide the zip closure of the bag web 4 along another section of the transport path through the equipment 7.

[0085] The bag item that is located in the filling station 9 is opened in that the first and second parts of the zip closure 4 on the side walls of the bag item are forced apart in the filling station 9 to open the mouth of the bag 10.

[0086] The bag mouth on the bag item 2 in the filling station 9 with the zip closure 4 is thus opened in that the lateral edges 5 of the bag items 2, i.e. the lateral edges 5 and slits 5a, are brought against one another in the direction of transport in the filling station 9. As the zip closure 4 is both flexible and has a certain stiffness relative to the film layer, which constitutes the actual bag item 2, the two halves of the zip closure 4 will bend outwards and away from one another.

[0087] The zip closure 4 is opened in the filling station 9 during advance of the bag web 1 into the filling station 9. This takes place in that a first vertical finger 15a is introduced from above and downwards in the bag opening 10, i.e. in the front part of the filling station 9. The first vertical finger 15a is mounted on the first part of the transport path, which comprises the first guiding means or guide 8.

[0088] As mentioned, the lateral edges 5 of the bag items 2 are not sealed in the uppermost part 6 between two successive bag items 2 in the bag web 1. Therefore, the first vertical finger 15a can open the zip closure 4 of the bag items in the bag webs 1 continuously, when they arrive at the filling station 9. This can take place without moving parts.

[0089] After the filling station 9, other guiding means or guide 11 are installed, which again grip the continuous zip closure 4 of the bag web in the same way as the first guiding means or guide 8.

[0090] To help to hold the bag mouth 10 open in the filling station 9 and to ensure that the two halves of the zip closure 4 are brought back together correctly after the filling station 9 another vertical finger 15b is provided on the second part of the transport path, which comprises the second guiding means or guide 11.

[0091] The bag mouth 10 on the bag 2 in the filling station 9 is opened by briefly stopping or reducing the feed speed in the second guiding means or guide and the bag web in the second part of the transport path in the opposite direction, while the bag web and the first guiding means or first guide in the first part of the transport path feeds the bag web continuously through the filling station.

[0092] Alternatively, the bag mouth on the bag in the filling station is opened by briefly stopping or reducing the feed speed in both the first 8 and the second 9 guiding means or guide and therefore the bag web 1 in the first and second part of the transport path, and the first part of the transport path is mounted movably in the equipment 7 and is displaced in the direction of transport, as shown by arrow a for opening the bag in the filling station 9.

[0093] Furthermore, this also makes it possible for the bag items to be opened in the filling station 9 by using this movable unit 8 during filling, and displacing the first part of the transport path in the direction of transport during filling of the bag, or at least during introduction of a filling nozzle through the bag opening 10.

[0094] Cutting-off of the filled bag item 2 from the bag web is carried out in a cutting station (not shown), which is an independent unit or alternatively an integrated part of the sealing station 12. If the bag item is to contain a hole (not shown) for hanging up the bag item, this can be punched out in the edge zone, above the seal of the bag mouth, e.g. either in the cutting and/or the sealing station 12. Moreover, an optional break line, which is provided in the region between the seal of the bag mouth and the zip closure, is stamped in the film material, e.g. in the cutting and/or sealing station 12.

[0095] If the bag web 1 comprises stand-up pouches with a folded bottom, it is possible to fold out the bottom of the stand-up pouches 2 by providing at least one of the vertical fingers 15a, 15b with a telescopic extension, which can go down into the bag and press against the bottom of the stand-up pouch so that it is unfolded. Alternatively, one or both of the vertical fingers 15a, 15b may contain a downward-directed air nozzle, which is optionally fitted telescopically in at least one of the vertical fingers 15a, 15b. The air nozzle can thus blow compressed air against the bottom for unfolding the standing bottom, before the actual filling of the bag begins.

[0096] The first guiding means or guide 8 are shown in FIGS. 5-6. The guiding means or guide 8 in the first and/or second part of the feed web comprise clamping means or clamp, which are arranged to bear against each of the outer sides of the bag web in the region around the zip closure for securing and guiding the bag web in the feed web.

[0097] The guiding means of guide 8 comprise at least one belt 16, two belts 16, with a gripping surface 17, which bears against at least one or both sides of the zip closure 4 of the bag web 1 and a region above and below the zip closure 4.

[0098] The belts 16 are endless belts with driving means or drive that are not shown, which are driven synchronously by one or more motors (not shown), stepping motors or servomotors. By using stepping motors or servomotors the movement of the bag web is precise and can be controlled, so that it is accurately known where the bag items of the bag web are located relative to the individual stations, e.g. the filling, welding, crushing and/or cutting station in the equipment 7.

[0099] The gripping surface 17 on the belt 16 or the belts 16 may be provided with a profiled surface with a track 18, which extends in the direction of transport for placement of the zip closure 4 itself during feed.

[0100] Alternatively, the guiding means or guide 8 may comprise a belt, spring or chain drive 19, on which clamping means or clamp 20 are mounted, e.g. in the form of blocks, which function as jaws 20, which are pressed in against one another around the bag web 2 in the region around the zip closure of the bag web 4 for retaining the bag web in the guiding means or guide 8, 11 in the equipment 7.

[0101] A spear (not shown) may optionally be provided, which grips into the continuous open channel 6 that is formed in the bag web under the zip closure 4 and above the upper end of the seal in the lateral edges of the bag items 5. This spear is provided under the first guiding means or guide and guides the bag web in the direction of transport and correctly into the first guiding means.

[0102] The second guiding means 11 in the second part of the feed web after the filling station corresponds to the first guiding means or guide 8. The second guiding means or guide 11 is not movable in the direction of transport. The second guiding means or second guide 11 comprises the same clamping means or clamp, which are arranged to bear against each of the outer sides of the bag web in the region around the zip closure for securing and guiding the bag web in the feed web, as described for the first guiding means 8. Moreover, the driving means for the second guiding means or guide 11 is also identical to that described above for the first guiding means or guide 8.

[0103] To obtain fully automatic, quick and effective opening of the bags in the filling station and to increase the filling speed, the equipment according to embodiments of the invention comprises control means or control (not shown in the figures), which are arranged for [0104] briefly stopping the second guiding means or guide 11 and the bag web 1 in the second part of the transport path, while the first guiding means or guide 8 in the first part of the transport path continuously feeds the bag web forwards towards the filling station 9, or [0105] briefly stopping or lowering the feed speed for both the first 8 and the second guiding means or second guide 11 and therefore the bag web 1 in the first and second parts of the transport path and displace the first movable part 8 of the transport path in the direction of transport, for opening the bag item that is located in the filling station.

[0106] FIGS. 8-12 show a variant of the equipment 7 according to embodiments of the invention. The elements in this variant are essentially as described above, this variant differing in that it comprises one or two sets of retaining jaws 21, which clamp round the peripheral zone 3 of the bag web and the zip closure 4, as illustrated by the arrows d in FIGS. 10-12, on leaving the filling station 9 and optionally also at the inlet of the filling station 9 in connection with opening of the bag mouth 10.

[0107] The retaining jaws 21b at the outlet of the filling station 9 may optionally completely replace the second vertical finger 15b.

[0108] The retaining jaws 21a at the inlet of the filling station may be omitted. A conveyor 22 may be mounted under the transport path in the whole or parts of the length of the equipment 7, including in particular under and after the filling station 9. This is illustrated in FIGS. 2-3, where a conveyor 22 is provided under the transport path over the whole length of the equipment. The conveyor 22 may of course also be added to one of the other equipments 7 mentioned above and/or the variants that are shown in the other figures.

[0109] Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0110] For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of a or an throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and comprising does not exclude other steps or elements. The mention of a unit or a module does not preclude the use of more than one unit or module.

REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0111] 1. bag web [0112] 2. bag item [0113] 3. upper peripheral zone [0114] 4. zip closure [0115] 5. lateral edges of the bag item [0116] a. slits [0117] 6. non-sealed region under the zip closure [0118] 7. equipment for filling bag items [0119] 8. first guiding means [0120] 9. filling station [0121] 10. bag opening [0122] 11. second guiding means [0123] 12. welding station [0124] 13. cooling unit [0125] 14. crushing unit [0126] a. Jaws [0127] 15. bag opening means; vertical bag openers [0128] a. First vertical finger [0129] b. Second vertical finger [0130] 16. belt [0131] 17. gripping surface [0132] 18. track in gripping surface [0133] 19. belt, spring or chain drive [0134] 20. clamping means/jaws on guiding means [0135] 21. retaining jaws [0136] 22. conveyor belt