Package making – Methods – Group forming of contents into a unit
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-07
2004-02-24
Rada, Rinaldi I. (Department: 3721)
Package making
Methods
Group forming of contents into a unit
C053S534000, C053S495000, C053S201000, C053S235000, C053S244000, C053S247000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06694706
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an installation for filling, respectively feeding product receptacles with a predetermined number of products, particularly of flexible packaging bags, which are supplied individually or at regular or irregular intervals and are brought together to form scale-shaped batches of overlapping products, and which subsequently are fed to a prepared receptacle. The invention further relates to an installation for implementing the method with a feeding conveyor, by means of which the products can be individually fed to the installation, with a scaling station wherein the products can be arranged in batches overlapping in a scale-like manner, and with a filling conveyor by means of which the products can be delivered to a product receptacle positioned in a filling station, as well as with a product receptacles conveyor, by means of which the product receptacles can be fed to and discharged from the filling station.
Such an installation and such a method are known from the German Utility Model G 9410970. With this installation packaging bags filled with unstable goods are introduced vertically standing next to each other into packaging cartons. Although the method of the invention, respectively the installation of the invention is preferably used with flat packaging bags, it is also possible to be used with other stackable products, for instance boxes or cartons.
In G 9410970 the bags are fed individually to the installation via a horizontally running feeding conveyor. Then they are transferred to a second conveyor belt, which is driven at a lower speed than the belt of the feeding conveyor. As a result the bags are first arranged scale-like to overlap forming a batch, so that each bag partially overlaps the preceding bag. After a defined number of bags have been scaled to form a batch, the transport speed of the second conveyor belt is temporarily increased, whereby a spacing between the first batch of bags and the next batch of bags is created.
Subsequently the bag batches are transported over an arc-shaped filling projection with a lower strap which moves the bags from the horizontal into the vertical position and introduces them into the packaging cartons. However hereby an additional shielding upper strap is required, which holds the bags against the lower strap. Particularly at its free ends the upper strap, which extends lower downward than the lower strap, prevents the individual bags in the packaging from tipping over from the vertical position into the carton part which is still free. The upper strap rests thereby on the lower strap guided by the filling projection, so that the transported bags become clamped between the upper strap and the lower strap.
This type of upper strap causes not only considerable additional expenses, but it can also damage the pressure-sensitive goods contained in the bags, because of the pressure it exerts on the lower strap. Besides with this known installation it is not possible to introduce the bags horizontally into a carton.
There are known installations by means of which bags can be introduced horizontally into a carton, but with these installations it is not possible to introduce the bags vertically into the cartons.
It is therefore the object of the invention to devise a simple and quick process, as well as a constructively simple, cost-effective and easy to handle installation of the kind mentioned in the introduction, which with flexible use possibilities and reduced space requirements makes it possible to fill the products into the cartons in horizontal as well as vertical position, and which facilitates a careful filling of the products into the product receptacles at a very high output.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by means of an installation as defined in claim 1, respectively through a process as claimed in claim 42. It is thereby essential that the products arranged in a scale-like fashion in a product group can be selectively placed on or under the preceding product. It is also essential in the installation of the invention that the filling conveyor comprises means by which the product groups can be fed to the product receptacles either vertically or horizontally.
This way a high degree of flexibility is achieved in filling the product receptacles. A vertical as well as a horizontal feeding is possible. The space requirement of an installation according to the invention is reduced, because the conveying means and the conveying paths, as well as the filling position are at least substantially the same for both filling types. It is possible to reach very high outputs of up to 600 products per minute filled carefully and safely into the products receptacles.
An essential advantage of the invention consists in that the upper strap used to secure the product batches can be eliminated also during vertical feeding, when the products are fed into receptacles in an overlapping scale-like manner, so that each product lies under the preceding product. Thereby the filling operation can be started with the inside of the product receptacle facing the upper side of the first product of a product batch. During the filling process the filling conveyor is moved up to the opposite side of the product receptacle. This way each individual product is held on one side by the already introduced products (respectively the first product by the inner side of the frontal wall of the packaging receptacle) and on the other side by the filling conveyor, so that there is no danger of toppling over. Also in this scaling arrangement the filling conveyor does not require an additional upper strap for securing the products, so that damage to the products, especially to the goods contained in the packaging bags due to high pressure forces is avoided.
Although the method of the invention, respectively the installation of the invention, is preferably used for flat packaging bags, it is also possible to use it in other stackable products, for instance boxes or cartons.
In an installation whose filling conveyor for vertical feeding comprising a filling projection with a perforated filling belt, by means of which the product groups can be switched from a horizontal into a vertical conveying direction, it is particularly advantageous to guide the feeding belt over a negative pressure chamber extending over the entire length of the filling projection. Thereby a particularly secure hold of the products on the filling projection can be insured even at very high speeds.
In a preferred embodiment the filling projection together with the negative pressure chamber can be swung about, out of the product receptacle, around a horizontal axis, so that after a product receptacle is completely filled, a further product receptacle can be positioned under the filling projection, particularly by means of a conveyor belt.
For a horizontal feeding of the product receptacle it is advantageous when the filling conveyor has a conveyor belt swingable about a horizontal axis, by means of which the product batches can be fed horizontally to the product receptacles. Advantageously this conveyor belt can be arranged before a filling projection of the previously described kind. Thereby for the vertical feeding of the product receptacles in a horizontal position, the filling projection can connect with the scaling station, respectively for the horizontal feeding of the product receptacles in an inclined position it can lead directly into or to a product receptacle.
It is particularly advantageous when the scaling station comprises an incoming conveyor belt and an outgoing conveyor belt, whereby in the transfer area between the two conveyor belts delaying means are provided for reducing the product speed and means for lifting and/or shifting the products into the position required for scaling. This way a controlled, quick and safe scaling in the desired direction is possible.
From the European patent EP 0 331 210 a process and a device are known for forming a product strand of several products, particularly of flat flexible bag
Odenthal Heinz
Schulte Herbert
Desai Hemant M.
Nor-Reg A/S
Rada Rinaldi I.
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