DISCHARGING DEVICE FOR A VERTICAL FORM FILL AND SEAL MACHINE AND VERTICAL FORM FILL AND SEAL MACHINE WITH SUCH A DISCHARGING DEVICE

Abstract

A discharging device for a vertical form fill and seal machine includes at least one transfer unit (14) to transfer sealed bags (16) from a sealing device (18) of the vertical form fill and seal machine to a transport device (20) located downstream with respect to the vertical form fill and seal machine. The transfer unit (14) comprises at least one transfer element (22) arrangeable between the sealing device (18) and the transport device (20), wherein the transfer element (22) is provided to change an orientation of the sealed bags (16) during a transfer from the sealing device (18) to the transport device (20). The transfer element (22) is embodied as a chute with two opposite arranged sliding wings (24, 26) on which the sealed bags (16) can slide during a transfer from the sealing device (18) to the transport device (20).

Claims

1. A discharging device for a vertical form fill and seal machine, comprising at least one transfer unit (14) to transfer sealed bags (16) from a sealing device (18) of the vertical form fill and seal machine to a transport device (20) located downstream with respect to the vertical form fill and seal machine, wherein the transfer unit (14) comprises at least one transfer element (22) arrangeable between the sealing device (18) and the transport device (20), wherein the transfer element (22) is provided to change an orientation of the sealed bags (16) during a transfer from the sealing device (18) to the transport device (20), wherein the transfer element (22) is embodied as a chute with two opposite arranged sliding wings (24, 26) on which the sealed bags (16) can slide during a transfer from the sealing device (18) to the transport device (20), wherein viewed along a main transportation direction (48) of the transport unit (20), the transfer element (22) has a tapered shape, wherein the sliding wings (24, 26) have an inclination relative to each other.

2. The discharging device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer element (22) comprises at least one middle surface (28) which connects the two sliding wings (24, 26) with each other.

3. The discharging device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer element (22) comprises at least one middle surface (28) which connects the two sliding wings (24, 26) with each other, wherein the middle surface (28) is inclined relative to a cross plane (32) of the transfer element (22), which extends at least substantially perpendicular to sliding surfaces (34, 36) of the sliding wings (24, 28).

4. The discharging device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer element (22), viewed in a cross plane (32) of the transfer element (22), which extends at least substantially perpendicular to sliding surfaces (34, 36) of the sliding wings (24, 26), has a cross section (38) with an angled and/or an arcuate extension.

5. The discharging device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer element (22), viewed in a cross plane (32) of the transfer element (22), which extends at least substantially perpendicular to sliding surfaces (34, 36) of the sliding wings (24, 26), has a cross section (38) with an angled and/or an arcuate extension and, viewed in another cross plane (40) of the transfer element (22), which extends at least substantially perpendicular to the cross plane (32), has another cross section (42) with an angled and/or an arcuate extension.

6. The discharging device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer element (22) has a U-shaped cross section (38), viewed in a cross plane (32) of the transfer element (22), which extends at least substantially perpendicular to sliding surfaces (34, 36) of the sliding wings (24, 26).

7. The discharging device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer unit (14) comprises an extension element (44) arranged on at least one of the sliding wings (24, 26), wherein the extension element (44) lengthens a maximum extension of the at least one sliding wing (24, 26) on which the extension element (44) is arranged compared to a maximum extension of the at least one sliding wing (24, 26) which is free of the extension element (44), viewed along a direction which is at least substantially parallel to a cross plane (32) of the transfer element (22), which extends at least substantially perpendicular to sliding surfaces (34, 36) of the sliding wings (24, 26).

8. The discharging device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer element (22) comprises at least one middle surface (28) which connects the two sliding wings (24, 26) with each other, wherein the transfer element (22) comprises interim passages between the sliding wings (24, 26) and the middle surface (28) which are rounded or which are divided in angled segments to connect the sliding wings (24, 26) with the middle surface (28).

9. A vertical form fill and seal machine comprising at least one sealing device (18) and at least one discharging device according to claim 1 to discharge sealed bags (16) to the transport device (20).

10. The vertical form fill and seal machine according to claim 9, wherein the transfer element (22) comprises at least one middle surface (28) which connects the two sliding wings (24, 26) with each other, wherein the middle surface (28) is inclined relative to a transportation plane (46) of the transport device (20) and/or relative to a main transportation direction (48) of the transport device (20).

11. The vertical form fill and seal machine according to claim 9, wherein the transfer unit (14) comprises at least one ramp element (50) arranged between the transfer unit (14) and the transport device (20), wherein the ramp element (50) is inclined relative to a transportation plane (46) of the transport device (20) and/or relative to a main transportation direction (48) of the transport device (20).

12. The vertical form fill and seal machine according to claim 9, further comprising an adjusting unit (52) by which the transfer unit (14) is moveably supported to adjust a position of the transfer unit (14) relative to the transport device (20).

13. A production system comprising at least one vertical form fill and seal machine according to claim 9 and at least one transport device (20) located downstream with respect to the vertical form fill and seal machine.

14. The vertical form fill and seal machine according to claim 9, further comprising an adjusting unit (52) by which the transfer unit (14) is moveably supported to adjust at least a transfer angle (54) of a middle surface (28) of the transfer element (22) relative to a transportation plane (46) of the transport device (20) and/or an angle of a ramp element (50) of the transfer unit (14) relative to the transportation plane (46) of the transport device (20).

15. The vertical form fill and seal machine according to claim 10, wherein the transfer unit (14) comprises at least one ramp element (50) arranged between the transfer unit (14) and the transport device (20), wherein the ramp element (50) is inclined relative to a transportation plane (46) of the transport device (20) and/or relative to a main transportation direction (48) of the transport device (20).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawing. In the drawing one exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The drawing, the description and the claims contain a plurality of features in combination. Someone skilled in the art will purposefully also consider the features individually and will find further expedient combinations.

[0021] It is shown in:

[0022] FIG. 1 A production system according to the invention having a vertical form fill and seal machine according to the invention with a discharging device according to the invention, in a schematic representation,

[0023] FIG. 2 a side view of the discharging device according to the invention, in schematic representation,

[0024] FIG. 3 a front view of the discharging device according to the invention, in schematic representation,

[0025] FIG. 4 a projection view of the discharging device according to the invention, in schematic representation and

[0026] FIG. 5 another projection view of the discharging device according to the invention, in schematic representation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In FIG. 1 a production system having a vertical form fill and seal machine 12 is shown. The vertical form fill and seal machine 12 comprises at least one sealing device 18, at least one transport device 20 and at least one discharging device 10. In particular, the vertical form fill and seal machine 12 is configured to form a bag, in particular a tubular pouch, out of a film material 56, to longitudinal seal and to cross sealed bags 16 and to fill the bags 16 with a product in a manner that is well known for someone skilled in the art. Preferably, the film material 56 is stored on a reel that is suspended at or within the vertical form fill and seal machine 12 until processed by the vertical form fill and seal machine 12. Preferentially, the vertical form fill and seal machine 12 comprises a forming device 58 to form the bags 16, especially doy bags or the like, out of the film material 56, wherein the bags 16 can comprise a zipper or not. Preferentially, the vertical form fill and seal machine 12 comprises a filling device 60 to fill the bags 16 formed out of the film material 56, in particular by means of a filling pipe 62. Preferentially, the vertical form fill and seal machine 12 comprises the sealing device 18 to seal the bags 16 formed out of the film material 56. The sealing device 18 preferably comprises at least one longitudinal sealing unit 64 to generate at least one longitudinal sealing seam at the bags 16 and at one cross sealing unit 66 to generate at least one cross sealing seam at the bags 16, in particular in a manner which is well known to a person skilled in the art.

[0028] The discharging device 10 for the vertical form fill and seal machine 12 comprises at least one transfer unit 14 (see FIGS. 2 to 5) to transfer sealed bags 16 from the sealing device 18, in particular from the cross sealing unit 66, of the vertical form fill and seal machine 12 to a transport device 20 of the vertical form fill and seal machine 12, wherein the transfer unit 14 comprises at least one transfer element 22 arrangeable, in particular arranged, between the sealing device 18 and the transport device 20, wherein the transfer element 22 is provided to change an orientation of the sealed bags 16 during a transfer from the sealing device 18 to the transport device 20. The transfer element 22 is embodied as a chute with two opposite arranged sliding wings 24, 26 on which the sealed bags 16 can slide during a transfer from the sealing device 18 to the transport device 20 (see FIGS. 2 to 5). The transfer element 22 has a U-shaped cross section 38, viewed in a cross plane 32 of the transfer element 22, which extends at least substantially perpendicular to sliding surfaces 34, 36 of the sliding wings 24, 26.

[0029] Preferably, the sealed bags 16 are discharged from the sealing device 18, in particular the cross sealing unit 66 of the sealing device 18, into the transfer element 22 for a transfer to the transport device 20, in particular after a cross sealing process of the cross sealing unit 66 is finished, wherein the cross sealing process is well known to a person skilled in the art. In particular, the sealed bags 16 are directly discharged from the sealing device 18 into the transfer element 22, especially after a second cross seal seam is generated and the sealed bags 16 are cut away from the tube-like film material 56 the sealed bags 16 are made of. Preferably, the sealed bags 16 are discharged on one side of the transfer element 22. In particular, after the sealed bags 16 are cut away from the tube-like film material 56 the sealed bags 16 are made of and are discharged from the sealing device 18 into the transfer element 22, the sealed bags 16 slide from one side 68 of the transfer element 22 to an opposite side 70 of the transfer element 22 a few (normally one or two) times, in particular the sealed bags 16 slide from one of the sliding wings 24, 26 to the other of the sliding wings 24, 26, especially along sliding surfaces 34, 36 of the sliding wings 24, 26. The sliding wings 24, 26 can be coated to minimize a friction between the sealed bags 16 and the sliding wings 24, 26 during a transfer from the sealing device 18 to the transport device 20. The sliding wings 24, 26 are preferably arranged on different sides 68, 70 of the transfer element 22. In particular, one of the sliding wings 24, 26 is arranged on a left side 68 of the transfer element 22 and the other of the sliding wings 24, 26 is arranged on a right side 70 of the transfer element 22, especially viewed along a main transportation direction 48 of the transport device 20.

[0030] Preferably, the sealed bags 16 are discharged from the sealing device 18 into the transfer element 22 in such an orientation that cross seal seams 72 of the sealed bags 16 are oriented at least substantially parallel to the sliding surfaces 34, 36 of the sliding wings 24 26 and/or to the main transportation direction 48 of the transport device 20. In particular, after the sealed bags 16 are transferred to the transport device 20, in particular to a transport belt 74 or the like of the transport device 20, by the transfer unit 14, the cross seal seams 72 of the sealed bags 16 are oriented at least substantially perpendicular to the main transportation direction 48 of the transport device 20. The sliding wings 24, 26, in particular the sliding surfaces 34, 36 of the sliding wings 24, 26, can have an inclination relative to each other or the sliding wings 24, 26 are oriented at least substantially parallel to each other. The sliding wings 24, 26, in particular the sliding surfaces 34, 36 of the sliding wings 24, 26, can have an inclination relative to the main transportation direction 48 and/or relative to a transportation plane 46 of the transport device 20. When the sliding wings 24, 26, in particular the sliding surfaces 34, 36 of the sliding wings 24, 26, have an inclination relative to each other than the sliding wings 24, 26, in particular the sliding surfaces 34, 36 of the sliding wings 24, 26, form an angle of less than 160°, advantageously of less than 120°, and especially advantageously of less than 90°, viewed in a vertical plane, in particular in a cross plane 32 of the transfer element 22, with each other (see FIGS. 2 to 5). Preferably, the sliding wings 24, 26, in particular the sliding surfaces 34, 36 of the sliding wings 24, 26, form an angle of less than 45°, advantageously of less than 40°, and especially advantageously of less than 35°, viewed in a vertical plane, in particular in a cross plane 32 of the transfer element 22, with each other (see FIGS. 2 to 5).

[0031] The transfer element 22 comprises at least one, in particular planar, middle surface 28 which connects the two sliding wings 24, 26 with each other (see FIGS. 3 to 5). Preferably, the middle surface 28 is implemented integrally with the two sliding wings 24, 26. In particular, the two sliding wings 24, 26 directly extend into the middle surface 28. The sliding wings 24, 26 can have rounded passages to run into the middle surface 28 or the sliding wings 24, 26 can have angled segments to run into the middle surface 28.

[0032] The middle surface 28, in particular viewed on a side of the transfer element 22 facing towards the vertical form fill and seal machine 12, is inclined, in particular with an angle 30 between 0° and 90°, relative to the cross plane 32 of the transfer element 22, which extends at least substantially perpendicular to the sliding surfaces 34, 36 of the sliding wings 24, 28 (see FIG. 2). Preferably, the middle surface 28, in particular viewed on a side of the transfer element 22 facing towards the vertical form fill and seal machine, is inclined with an angle 30 between 10° and 80°, advantageously with an angle 30 between 30° and 80° and especially advantageously with an angle 30 between 60° and 75° relative to the cross plane 32 of the transfer element 22. Preferably, the middle surface 28, in particular viewed on a side of the transfer element 22 facing away from the vertical form fill and seal machine 12, is inclined with an angle between 90° and 180°, advantageously with an angle between 100° and 160° and especially advantageously with an angle between 105° and 135° relative to the cross plane of the transfer element. The cross plane 32 of the transfer element 22 runs preferably at least substantially perpendicular to the main transportation direction 48 of the transport device 20, in particular of the transport belt 74. In particular, the cross plane 32 of the transfer element 22 runs preferably at least substantially perpendicular to the transportation plane 46 of the transport device 20, in particular of the transport belt 74.

[0033] Furthermore, the middle surface 28 is inclined relative to the transportation plane 46 of the transport device 20 and/or relative to the main transportation direction 48 of the transport device 20 (see FIG. 2). Preferably, the middle surface 28 is inclined with a transfer angle 54 less than 45°, advantageously with a transfer angle 54 less than 35° and especially advantageously with a transfer angle 54 between 5° and 30° relative to the transportation plane 46 of the transport device 20, in particular of the transport belt 74, and/or relative to the main transportation direction 48 of the transport device 20.

[0034] The transfer element 22, viewed in the cross plane 32 of the transfer element 22, which extends at least substantially perpendicular to the sliding surfaces 34, 36 of the sliding wings 24, 26, has a cross section 38 with an angled and/or an arcuate extension and, viewed in another cross plane 40 of the transfer element 22, which extends at least substantially perpendicular to the cross plane 32, has another cross section 42 with an angled and/or an arcuate extension (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0035] Moreover, the transfer unit 14 comprises an extension element 44 arranged or can optionally be arranged on at least one of the sliding wings 24, 26, wherein the extension element 44 lengthens a maximum extension of the at least one sliding wing 24, 26 on which the extension element 44 is arranged compared to a maximum extension of the at least one sliding wing 24, 26 which is free of the extension element 44, viewed along a direction which is at least substantially parallel to the cross plane 32 of the transfer element 22, which extends at least substantially perpendicular to the sliding surfaces 34, 36 of the sliding wings 24, 26 (see FIGS. 2 to 5).

[0036] The transfer unit 14 comprises at least one ramp element 50 arranged between the transfer unit 14 and the transport device 20, wherein the ramp element 50 is inclined relative to the transportation plane 46 of the transport device 20 and/or relative to the main transportation direction 48 of the transport device 20. The ramp element 50 can be implemented integrally with the transfer element 22, in particular with the middle surface 28, or the ramp element 50 can be embodied separate to the transfer element 22, wherein the ramp element 50 is arranged next to the transfer element 22 or fixed to the transfer element 22. Preferably, the ramp element 50 is inclined with an angle 76 less than 45°, advantageously with an angle 76 less than 35° and especially advantageously with an angle 76 between 5° and 30° relative to the transportation plane 46 of the transport device 20, in particular of the transport belt 74, and/or relative to the main transportation direction 48 of the transport device 20. The angle 76 with which the ramp element 50 is inclined relative to the transportation plane 46 of the transport device 20, in particular of the transport belt 74, and/or relative to the main transportation direction 48 of the transport device 20 can have the same value as the angle 74 with which the middle surface 28 is inclined relative to the transportation plane 46 of the transport device 20, in particular of the transport belt 74, and/or relative to the main transportation direction 48 of the transport device 20. Preferably, a value of the angle 76 with which the ramp element 50 is inclined relative to the transportation plane 46 of the transport device 20, in particular of the transport belt 74, and/or relative to the main transportation direction 48 of the transport device 20 differs from a value of the transfer angle 54 with which the middle surface 28 is inclined relative to the transportation plane 46 of the transport device 20, in particular of the transport belt 74, and/or relative to the main transportation direction 48 of the transport device 20 (see FIG. 2).

[0037] The vertical form fill and seal machine 12 or the discharging device 10 comprises an adjusting unit 52 by which the transfer unit 14 is moveably supported to adjust a position of the transfer unit 14 relative to the transport device 20, in particular at least the transfer angle 54 of the middle surface 28 of the transfer element 22 relative to the transportation plane 46 of the transport device 20 (see FIGS. 2 to 5). The adjusting unit 52 can be configured to adjust a position of the transfer unit 14 relative to the transport device 20 stepless or in steps. Moreover, the adjusting unit 52 can be configured to adjust a position of the ramp element 50 relative to the transport device 20 and/or the transfer element 22 stepless or in steps.