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 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; a 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 in the open configuration; a bag applicator device configured for picking up the valve bag from the valve opening device, for travelling from the valve opening device to a filling nozzle in a travelling configuration for avoiding bag interference with the filling nozzles and for releasing the bag at the filling nozzle.

Claims

1. A bag applicator assembly for a stationary packer assembly (2) comprising a plurality of filling nozzles (12), arranged linearly, for filling valve bags (3), wherein each of the valve bags (3) comprises a valve (4) selectively movable between a closed and an open configuration; the bag applicator comprising: a bag feeding device (21) comprising a supporting plane (5) configured for receiving the valve bag (3) having the valve (4) in the closed configuration; a valve opening device (6) configured for cyclically moving between a first configuration of picking the valve bag (3) from the supporting plane (5) and a second configuration of opening the valve (4) and keeping the valve (4) in the open configuration, wherein the valve opening device (6) comprises: a supporting frame (7) pivotably connected to the supporting plane (5), wherein: in a lower position, the supporting frame (7) is parallel to the supporting plane (5); and in a raised position, the supporting frame (7) is tilted with respect to the supporting plane (5); and a bag applicator device (13) comprising a tilting arm (14) configured to pivot to switch between a travelling position and a releasing position, the bag applicator device (13) configured to: pick up the valve bag (3) from the valve opening device (6), wherein the valve bag (3) is picked up from the valve opening device (6) when the supporting frame (7) is in the raised position, wherein the supporting frame (7) is tilted with respect to the supporting plane (5); move the valve bag (3), linearly, towards a selected one of the filling nozzles (12) in a travelling configuration while avoiding valve bag (3) interference with the filling nozzles (12) wherein, in the travelling configuration, the tilting arm (14) is in the travelling position, thereby avoiding the valve bag (3) interference during liner movement past the filling nozzles (12); and release the valve bag (3) at the selected filling nozzle (12), by pivoting the tilting arm (14) to the releasing position; wherein in the second configuration of the valve opening device (6), the bag applicator device (13) is configured to pick up the valve bag (3) in the travelling configuration without requiring the tilting arm (14) to change from the travelling position by virtue of the supporting frame (7) handing over the valve bag (3) in the raised position.

2. The bag applicator assembly as claimed in claim 1, 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.

3. The bag applicator assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting frame (7) supports: a first suction device (9) configured to couple with the valve bag (3) at a first end (19) comprising the valve (4); a second suction device (10) configured to couple with a second end (22) of the valve bag (3) that is disposed opposite to the first end (19) of the valve bag (3); and a fixed constraint (20) disposed between the first suction device (9) and the second suction device (10); the first suction device (9) being cyclically movable with respect to the second suction device (10) between a first position wherein the valve bag (3) is not spread and the valve (4) is closed, and a second position wherein the valve bag (3) is spread and the valve is open (4), wherein the spread of the valve bag (3) is facilitated by the interaction of the fixed constraint (20) with the valve bag (3), causing the valve bag (3) to bend at the fixed constraint (20).

4. The bag applicator assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tilting arm (14) is configured to: selectively move along a linear/straight guide (15) from the valve opening device (6) to the filling nozzles (12), and vice versa; and tilt with respect to the linear/straight guide (15) between the travelling position and the releasing position at the filling nozzle (12).

5. The bag applicator assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tilting arm (14) is provided with a clamping device (16) for picking up the open valve bag (3) at the valve opening device (6) and for releasing the valve bag (3) in a filling station (11).

6. The bag applicator assembly as claimed in claim 1, 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 tilting arm (14) reaches the valve opening device (6), the valve bag (3) can be picked up by the tilting arm (14) without any delay.

7. The bag applicator assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each of the plurality of filling nozzles (12) is arranged one beside the other linearly, and each of the filling nozzles (12) is configured for entering the valve (4) in the open configuration of the valve bag (3) to deliver a powdery material inside the valve bag (3).

8. A method for operating the bag applicator assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) controlling the valve opening device (6) for cyclically moving from the first configuration to the second configuration and vice-versa; b) controlling the bag applicator device (13) for cyclically performing the following steps: picking up the open valve bag (3) at the valve opening device (6); travelling linearly from the valve opening device (6) to one of the filling nozzles (12) in the travelling configuration; changing from the travelling position to the releasing position for releasing the valve bag (3) at the filling nozzle (12); changing from the releasing position to the travelling position by moving away from the filling nozzle (12) for reaching the travelling configuration; and travelling linearly from the filling nozzle (12) to the valve opening device (6) in the travelling configuration; wherein, the steps a) and b) of controlling the valve opening device (6) and the bag 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 valve bag (3) can be picked up by the bag applicator device (13) in the travelling configuration without requiring the tilting arm (14) to change from the travelling position by virtue of the supporting frame (7) handing over the valve bag (3) in the raised position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) 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.

(2) The invention itself, however, may be best understood with 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:

(3) FIGS. 1a and 1b are schematic views of a kind of valve bag in an empty configuration and in a filled configuration, respectively;

(4) FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an inline packer according to the invention;

(5) FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic views of the inline packer of FIG. 2 in two different configurations;

(6) FIGS. 5-7 are schematic views of a valve opening device according to the present invention.

(7) FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the inline packer according to the present invention; and

(8) FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the inline bag applicator according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(9) 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 of the present invention.

(10) Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the present invention in detail.

(11) Reference is made to FIGS. 1a and 1b, which are schematic views of a kind of valve bag 3 for the present invention, in an empty configuration and in a filled configuration respectively. As known, this valve bag 3 is a bag in the 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, and two opposite short sides 19 defining two opposite ends closed by glue or a sewing. A valve 4 is provided at a corner between the long side 18 and the short side 19 in form of folded edge portions of the valve bag 3. By spreading the valve bag 3, 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 to form an opening connecting the interior space of the valve bag 3.

(12) Reference is made to FIG. 2 which is a schematic view of an inline packer assembly 2 according to the present invention for filling the valve bag 3 of FIG. 1a. This inline packer assembly 2 is provided with a stationary packer comprising: an opening valve station 1 provided with a valve opening device 6; a bag applicator device 13; a plurality of filling stations 11 arranged one beside the other along a linear/straight direction wherein each filling station 11 is provided with a filling nozzle 12.

(13) The disclosed opening valve station 1 is defined by a supporting plane 5 of a feeding device 21. The supporting plane 5 is 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 valve bag 3 can be picked up and is always flush with the valve opening device 6. 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 configured for picking up the valve bag 3 from the supporting plane 5 whereas in the second configuration the valve opening device 6 is configured for opening the valve 4 and keeping the valve 4 the open configuration.

(14) Once open, the valve bag 3 is picked up by the bag applicator device 13 comprising 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 clamping device 16. The clamping device 16 is configured for picking up the valve bag 3 from the valve opening device 6 with the valve 4 in the open configuration. As known, this clamping device 16 is suitable for bringing the open valve bag 3, for keeping the valve 4 open during the movement along the guide 15 and for releasing the valve bag 3 at the filling station 11. During the travelling movement along the guide 15 between the opening valve station 1 and the filling stations 11, the tilting arm 14 (wherein the tilting axis of the tilting arm 14 is parallel to the guide 15) is in a travelling configuration (i.e., having a certain tilting angle) that is suitable for avoiding bag interference with the filling nozzles 12. At the filling station 11, the tilting arm 14 stops the travelling movement and starts an approaching movement by tilting towards the filling station 11 for releasing the valve bag 3 at the filling nozzle 12. In FIG. 2, the arrows TR and TI represent the travelling movement along the guide 15 and the approaching/tilting movement towards or away from the filling nozzles 12, respectively.

(15) FIGS. 3 and 4 show the packer of FIG. 2 in two different configurations according to the present invention. FIG. 3 discloses the valve opening device 6 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 supporting plane 5. FIG. 4 discloses the valve opening device in a second or raised position with respect to the supporting 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 the open valve bag 3 without any tilting movement starting from the travelling configuration. In particular, the valve opening device 6 reaches this raised position before the arrival 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. This rotation is driven by an actuator 8 as represented in FIGS. 3 and 4.

(16) FIGS. 5-7 disclose an embodiment of the valve opening device 6 according to the invention. In particular, the 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 with the valve bag 3 at the valve 4 and a second suction device 10 configured for coupling with the opposite end of the bag 3. FIG. 5 schematically represents the valve opening device 6 in the lower position with the first and second suction devices 9 and 10 acting on the closed valve 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 valve bag 3 is spread and the valve 4 is open. The spread of the valve bag 3 is obtained by the presence of a fixed constraint 20 interacting with the valve bag 3 and positioned in between the two suction devices 9 and 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 bag 3 reaches a raised position. Referring to FIG. 7, in this raised position the valve bag 3 can be picked up by the clamp 16 without requiring any approaching movement to the tilting arm 14 from the travelling condition.

(17) FIGS. 8 and 9 clarify the inline packer and the inline bag applicator depicted within FIG. 2 (FIG. 2 includes both the inline packer and the inline bag applicator).

(18) FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the inline packer according to the present invention.

(19) FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the inline bag applicator according to the present invention.

(20) 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.

(21) 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.

(22) 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.