DEVICE FOR FILLING OPEN BAGS WITH BULK MATERIAL

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for filling open bags (2) with powdery food, comprising a support structure (3) and a filling support (4) accommodated on the support structure (3), on which a bag (2) to be filling is suspended. The bag (2) is maintained on the filling support (4) by means of a bag holder (5, 6). The support structure (3) comprises a hollow profile (10, 11) with a control component (20) accommodated therein in order to protect against soiling. The hollow profile (10) comprises an air outlet (8) for controlling, in the hollow profile (10) when in operation an air pressure higher than the environment.

Claims

1. Apparatus (1) for filling bulk goods into bags (2) and in particular for filling powdery foodstuffs into open-mouth bags with a support structure (3) and at least one filling spout (4) accommodated on the support structure (3) to which a bag (2) is appended for filling and retained on the filling spout (4) by means of at least one bag holder (5, 6), characterised in that the support structure (3) comprises at least one hollow profile (10, 11) with a control component (20) at least partially accommodated and protected from contamination therein, and that an air outlet (8) is provided in the hollow profile (10) to apply on the hollow profile (10) in operation an air pressure that is higher than in the ambience.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the hollow profile (10) is sealed outwardly.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one control valve (21) is disposed in the hollow profile (10) as a control component (20).

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one valve island (26) having multiple control valves (21) as control components is disposed in the hollow profile (10).

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a control device (25) as a control component and/or a sensor device (27) as a control component is disposed in the hollow profile (10).

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one connecting line (23, 24) is accommodated in the hollow profile (10) as a control component.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein at least one connecting line (23) is configured electric, pneumatic or hydraulic.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein at least one sensor cable (28) is accommodated in the hollow profile (10).

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the bag holder (5, 6) is fastened to the hollow profile (10).

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the bag holder (5, 6) can be selected through a pneumatic cylinder (7) and/or electrically.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein an air outlet pipe (29) of the pneumatic cylinder (7) opens into the hollow profile (10).

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by a rotating device (15) with a plurality of filling spouts (4) disposed thereat.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support structure (3) comprises a plurality of hollow profiles (11, 12).

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the rotating device (15) comprises a central hollow profile (11) configured as a supporting unit (11) and multiple hollow profiles (12) rotatable relative to the central hollow profile (11).

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein a bearing and/or a drive motor (22) is disposed in the central hollow profile (11).

16. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a slip ring (30) and/or a compressed air manifold (31) and/or a rotary bushing for a pneumatic or hydraulic fluid is accommodated in the central hollow profile (11).

17. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the central hollow profile (11) is connected with a supply station (40) through at least one duct (13) configured as a hollow profile.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one hollow profile (12, 13) comprises inclined roof faces (17, 18) on its top face (16).

19. The apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a bag feed (50) and at least one product feed (42, 43) and at least one bag closing station (44) and a bag discharge (45).

20. Apparatus (1) for filling bulk goods into bags (2) including a frame structure (3) and at least one filling spout (4) to which a bag (2) is appended for filling and retained on the filling spout (4) by means of at least one bag holder (5, 6), characterised in that the frame structure (3) comprises at least one hollow profile (10, 11) and that at least one air outlet (8) of at least one pneumatic component (7) is provided in the hollow profile (10) to bleed off outlet air of at least one pneumatic component into the hollow profile (10).

Description

[0042] Further advantages and features of the present invention can be taken from the exemplary embodiment which will be described below with reference to the enclosed figures.

[0043] The figures show in:

[0044] FIG. 1 a schematic perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention;

[0045] FIG. 2 a schematic perspective view of the support structure of the apparatus in FIG. 1;

[0046] FIG. 3 a side view of FIG. 2;

[0047] FIG. 4 a section of the illustration in FIG. 2; and

[0048] FIG. 5 a cross-sectional bottom view of FIG. 2.

[0049] With reference to the accompanying Figures an apparatus 1 according to the invention will now be discussed which may be configured as a complete FFS system and may comprise a bag feed 50 on which individual open-mouth bags 2 are formed from a film roll 51. It is also possible to feed individual, prefabricated bags. The apparatus 1 may be set up in a separate room. In the cable and hose ducts 41 the connecting lines are protected and guided outwardly toward control cabinets in a room above the apparatus 1. In this place the hygienic and optionally explosion protection conditions required for the apparatus 1 need not be met.

[0050] The apparatus 1 is configured as a rotary system and comprises a support structure 3 and provided thereat, a rotary rotating device 15 on which presently four filling spouts 4 are formed, each of which serves to accommodate a bag or open-mouth bag. In a filling station for high speed flow 42 the majority of the intended filled foodstuff is filled through the bag holders 4 into the open-mouth bag 2. Presently the filling process is performed by differential weighing. It is also possible to perform the bagging process according to the gross method or the net method, wherein the gross method provides for weighing the bag during the filling process and the net method provides for first measuring the intended filled bulk goods and thereafter filling it into the bag.

[0051] The filling station for high speed flow 42 is followed during the next index by the filling station for low speed flow 43. The filling stations 42 and 43 may be provided with compacting devices which compact the bulk goods in the open-mouth bag 2 prior to, during, or after the pertaining filling process. After the filling station for low speed flow 43 the following bag closing station 44 closes the still open top of the open-mouth bag, followed by the bag discharge 45.

[0052] The support structure 3 comprises multiple hollow profiles 10, 11, 12 and 13, in which control components 20 are disposed. At least one of the hollow profiles 10 is equipped with an air outlet 8 in its interior so that the interior of the profile 10 can be exposed to excess pressure relative to the ambience.

[0053] Excess pressure in a hollow profile 10 reliably prevents the entry of particles or dirt into the interior of the hollow profile since an air flow exits through any gaps or exit apertures of the hollow profile 10, which is actually sealed, which prohibits the entry of dust or dirt into the interior of the hollow profile 10.

[0054] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged schematic perspective view of the support structure 3 in FIG. 1. The support structure 3 overall may be used as an autonomous apparatus 1. The support structure 3 is as a rule mounted stationary on the floor and may be provided with one or more ducts 13 configured as hollow profiles. In the ducts 13 disposed at floor level, connecting lines for compressed air or electric connecting lines may be fed under protection.

[0055] The support structure furthermore comprises a central and presently vertically oriented hollow profile 11 as a supporting unit. The supporting unit 11 supports the rotating device 15 which presently shows four filling spouts 4 rotating around a central axis.

[0056] The rotating device 15 again comprises multiple hollow profiles 12 connecting the central rotation axis with each of the filling spouts 4. The hollow profiles 12 of the rotating device 15 also serve to accommodate connecting lines to supply compressed air to the pneumatic cylinders 7 of the bag holders 5, 6 of the filling spouts 4.

[0057] It is also possible to provide electric drives for the bag holders 5, 6. In this case electric connecting lines for driving the bag holders 5, 6 are mounted in the hollow profiles 12 of the rotating device 15. Moreover further conduits may be mounted in the hollow profiles 12. The pneumatic or electric lines in the hollow profiles 12 are control components 20 and are safely protected against contamination in the pertaining hollow profiles 12.

[0058] The central and presently vertically oriented hollow profile 11 as a supporting unit supports the rotating device 15 and thus also the filling open-mouth bags 2 during the filling process. However, the supporting unit 11 or the central hollow profile 11 shows outer dimensions which are larger than required just for the stability of the support structure 3. The reason is, among other things, that control components 20 are accommodated in the interior of the profile 11 which will be described in detail when discussing FIG. 4.

[0059] As can be clearly seen in FIG. 2, the top faces of each of the hollow profiles 10 through 13 are formed slanted or roof-like. The top faces 16 of the hollow profiles 13 are each provided with inclined roof faces 17, 18 so that any dirt particles falling down from above tend to be forwarded downwardly. The top faces of the hollow profiles 12 of the rotating device 15 also show inclined roof faces so as to reduce any dust and dirt deposits.

[0060] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the support structure 3 in FIG. 2 with a service door 14 recognizable at the vertical hollow profile 11 as a supporting unit which may be opened during mounting or later during servicing to service or exchange control components 20 in the interior of the profile 11. FIG. 3 schematically shows an open-mouth bag 2 appended on a filling spout 4. One of the control components 20 is recognizable in the interior of the profile 11 through the interior of the hollow profile 13 as a duct at the bottom end of the hollow profile 11 as a supporting unit.

[0061] FIG. 4 shows a sectional side view of the support structure 3, wherein each of the hollow profiles 10 through 13 is shown in section.

[0062] Pneumatic connecting lines 23 and also electric connecting and control lines 24 can be routed through the hollow profiles 13 into the support structure 3. The protected accommodation in the duct or the hollow profile 13 allows to reliably prevent contamination of the individual lines 23, 24, so as to eliminate cleaning each of the lines 23, 24 in normal operation.

[0063] The interior of the vertical hollow profile 11, which serves as a supporting unit for the rotating device 15, accommodates several control components 20. Thus the electric motor is accommodated in the interior of the hollow profile 11 as a drive 22 of the rotating device 15. In this case the electric motor 22 is controlled by the control device 25 which is also disposed in the interior of the hollow profile 11. It is possible to dispose in the interior of the profile 11 for example a sensor device 27 such as a pressure sensor to capture the internal pressure prevailing in the interior of the hollow profile 11. The pressure sensor or other sensors may be connected with the control device 25 through sensor cables 28.

[0064] The compressed air is supplied by the conduit 32 through the hollow profile of the duct 13. The compressed air supply is guided at the rotary bushing with the slip ring 30 by the conduit 46 through the hollow shaft 9 to the co-rotating valve island 26, supplying compressed air to the valve island 26. Each of the pneumatic cylinders 7 is controlled by two control valves 21 and may be shifted to one or the other end position by compressed air.

[0065] Each of the pneumatic cylinders 7 is connected through two conduits 23 and 24. Each of the conduits 23 and 24 serves as a supply air line and air outlet pipe, depending on the switched state of the pertaining control valve. The compressed air supplied through a conduit is fed back after switching through the same conduit after switching and may then be discharged through a control valve, which is then open, as outlet air through an air outlet into the interior of the hollow profile.

[0066] Power is supplied through the conduit 47. Although further conduits for controlling are provided they are not further illustrated or denoted in detail.

[0067] The internal pressure is preferably controlled such that the internal pressure in operation is as a rule higher than the atmospheric ambient pressure. A pressure gradient from the interior of the hollow profile outwardly reliably prevents entry of dirt and dust into the interior of the hollow profile 11.

[0068] Furthermore bearings 19 for the hollow shaft 9 of the rotating device 15 are fastened in the interior of the supporting unit configured as a hollow profile 11. Moreover at least one valve island 26 with multiple pneumatic control valves 21 is accommodated therein which select the different bag holders 5, 6 of the pertaining filling spouts 4. Pneumatic compressed air lines 23 and 24 leading to each of the bag holders are provided. The compressed air is fed back through these air lines 23, 24 and discharged as outlet air 8 at the co-rotating valve island 26 in the interior of the hollow profile 10 when the bag holder 5, 6 is switched to and from retaining and opening. Alternatively a central compressed air supply is provided and the hollow profiles 12 of the rotating device 15 accommodate control valves which select the pneumatic cylinders 7 of the bag holders 5, 6.

[0069] The outlet air of the pneumatic cylinders 7 is presently fed back and delivered in one or more of the hollow profiles 10 through one or more air outlets 8. This reduces noise pollution in the ambience of the apparatus 1. Moreover, excess pressure thus builds up in the profiles 10 to 13 so that no further additional air needs to be delivered in the profiles 10 to 13 to maintain the required or desired excess pressure in the interior of the hollow profile 10 to 13 during operation.

[0070] An air outlet 8 is schematically shown in FIG. 4 at the vertical hollow profile 11 as a supporting unit for the rotating device 15. The air outlet 8 releases the air of one or more grippers 5, 6 after they had been activated.

[0071] A partition wall is configured in the filling spout. Air lines are guided through the interior of the partition wall through which compressed air is supplied to the pneumatic cylinders of the bag holders 6. Moreover, compressed air is fed through the conduit 29 to the filling spout where it can exit outwardly toward the bag holder 6 through a bore 48 provided therein as a bag recognition.

[0072] When a bag is correctly placed on the filling spout, the opening is closed and the generated excess pressure is sensed. Only then is the filling process enabled. Preferably the bag wall is recognized by the bag recognition 48 in two opposite walls.

[0073] FIG. 5 finally shows a sectional bottom view of the rotating device 15 wherein the pivotable grippers 5, 6, each of which is selected by a pneumatic cylinder 7, and the presently hexagonal bag holder 4 from below are recognizable. The connecting lines are supplied through the hollow profile 10. Air and current are supplied through the hollow shaft 9 around which the rotating device 15 is rotatably mounted.

[0074] The invention provides an advantageous apparatus 1 wherein control components 20 such as connecting lines and pneumatic control valves are accommodated in the interior of the hollow profile 10. This allows to jointly mount multiple conduits in the interior of the hollow profile. Moreover, cost-effective standard components may be used as an electric drive or a pneumatic valve which do not need to comply with the raised hygiene requirements for bagging foodstuffs.

[0075] According to this basic configuration, other assemblies such as a lifting device for a vibrating table which is lifted during filling from below beneath the bag, can in analogy be configured with interior drive and control components.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0076]

TABLE-US-00001 1 apparatus 2 bag 3 support structure 4 filling spout 5 bag holder 6 bag holder 7 pneumatic cylinder 8 air outlet 9 hollow shaft 10 hollow profile 11 hollow profile, supporting unit 12 hollow profile 13 hollow profile, duct 14 door 15 rotary device 16 top face 17 roof face 18 roof face 19 bearing 20 control component 21 control valve 22 drive 23 line, conduit 24 line, conduit 25 control device 26 valve island 27 sensor device 28 line, conduit 29 line, conduit 30 slip ring 31 compressed air manifold 32 line, conduit 40 supply station 41 cable and hose duct 42 product feed 43 product feed 44 bag closing station 45 bag discharge 46 line, conduit 47 line, conduit 48 bag recognition 50 bag feed 51 film roll