APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND CLOSING CONTAINERS AND CORRESPONDING METHOD

Description

1 / 14 “APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND CLOSING CONTAINERS AND CORRESPONDING METHOD” TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for filling and closing containers and a corresponding method. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for filling and closing flexible containers, such as bags or sachets, or similar containers. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Apparatuses are known for filling and closing flexible containers into which predefined products are inserted, which may be individual articles or groups of articles, or even liquid or powder products.

[0003] When the containers arrive at the dispensing stations, they are opened at one opening, through which the products are inserted, and closed at the other three edges.

[0004] When products are inserted into each container, it is usually in an upright position, with the insertion opening facing upwards, so that the products can be fed in a falling motion. The filled containers are then transported to a closing station, where closing elements seal the insertion opening, usually by welding. Obviously, the containers must remain oriented with the insertion opening facing upwards to prevent the newly inserted products from falling out, at least until the sealing of the insertion opening, performed at the closing station, is completed.

[0005] This requirement leads to the disadvantage of having devices for filling and closing containers, in particular flexible containers, such as bags, sachets, small bags or Petition 870250092794, dated 10 / 10 / 2025, page 23 / 44 2 / 14 similar, which are bulky, because the operating stations have to be positioned along a path that allows the containers to be kept in the same orientation.

[0006] Some known devices are smaller than others, but their overall dimensions can still be improved, and this size reduction also implies complications in design and operation. Furthermore, the fact that the containers are flexible implies additional complications in reducing the size of the devices.

[0007] There is therefore a need to improve an apparatus for filling and closing containers, and a corresponding method for filling and closing containers, which can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

[0008] To achieve this, it is necessary to solve the technical problem of providing a device for filling and closing containers with overall dimensions smaller than known devices, and whose productivity is not negatively affected by this reduction in overall dimensions.

[0009] In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for filling and closing containers that is small in size and has a simple structure.

[0010] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for filling and closing containers that allows a container to be rotated during the filling and closing method, without causing the products inserted in it to fall out.

[0011] The Applicant conceived, tested and incorporated the present invention to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention is presented and Petition 870250092794, dated 10 / 10 / 2025, p. 24 / 44 3 / 14 characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other features of the present invention or variants of the main inventive idea.

[0013] In accordance with the above purposes and to solve the technical problem described above in a new and original way, also achieving considerable advantages compared with the state of the art, an apparatus for filling and closing flexible containers having two opposite walls and provided with an opening comprises a feeding station configured to feed containers, a filling station configured to fill the containers with a respective product, a closing station configured to close the containers filled with the respective product, a discharge station and a handling unit configured to transport at least one of the containers along a closed forward path that passes successively through the feeding, filling, closing and discharge stations.The handling unit is rotatably mounted around a rotation axis, which is preferably horizontal, and the forward path is circular and centered on the rotation axis.

[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, the handling unit comprises at least one handling device having two handling arms provided with respective gripping elements configured to grip at least one container on opposite walls of the container in order to open and close the opening, respectively.

[0015] This provides, at least, the advantage of having a device for filling and closing flexible containers that is more compact than known devices, thanks to the element Petition 870250092794, dated 10 / 10 / 2025, page 25 / 44 4 / 14 of the rotary handling and the positioning of the operating stations around the axis of rotation of the handling element. This also allows the device structure to remain relatively simple, as well as allowing for the design of a packaging machine with greater flexibility, enabling the other parts of the machine to be arranged around the filling and closing device in a versatile way, depending on the circumstances.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for filling and closing flexible containers with two opposing walls and provided with an opening comprises the following steps: - feeding multiple flexible containers at a feeding station; - Fill each container of the multiple containers with a product at a filling station; - seal the containers filled with the respective product at a sealing station; - Unloading closed containers at a discharge station; - To transport, by means of a handling unit, at least one container from a plurality of containers along a closed forward path that successively passes through the feeding, filling, closing and unloading stations, wherein the handling unit is rotatably mounted around an axis of rotation, which is preferably horizontal, and the forward path is circular and centered on the axis of rotation.

[0017] According to one aspect of the present invention, the handling unit comprises at least one device Petition 870250092794, dated 10 / 10 / 2025, p. 26 / 44 5 / 14 handling having two handling arms provided with respective gripping elements configured to grip at least one container on opposite walls and move the opposite walls of the container away from and towards each other to open and close the opening, respectively, wherein the opening of the container is held open by the gripping elements at the filling station and is closed after at least one container has been filled with the product.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, the filling step comprises inserting the product into the container by pushing the product along a horizontal plane within at least one container through the opening which is held open by the gripping elements.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, the filling step is performed by a pushing element that pushes at least one product from an advanced conveyor provided with a channel traversed by the pushing element. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be evident from the following description of one embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 is a side view of a part of a packaging machine comprising the device for filling and closing containers, according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the filling and closing apparatus according to the present invention; Petition 870250092794, dated 10 / 10 / 2025, p. 27 / 44 6 / 14 Figure 3 is a schematic front view of the filling and closing apparatus of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a partial and schematic three-dimensional view of a handling unit of the filling and closing apparatus, according to the present invention.

[0021] It should be clarified that the phraseology and terminology used in this description, as well as the figures in the attached drawings, including the way they are described, serve only to illustrate and better explain the present invention, their purpose being to exemplify, in a non-limiting way, the invention itself, since the scope of protection is defined by the claims.

[0022] To facilitate understanding, the same reference numbers have been used, whenever possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one modality may be conveniently combined or incorporated into other modalities without further explanation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] With reference to Figure 1, a packaging machine M comprises an apparatus 10 for filling and closing flexible containers 11.

[0024] In the embodiment shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, the P products are tubular products, and it is foreseen that up to five of them are inserted into each flexible container 11. Naturally, the present invention may also be suitable for packaging other types of products, not only in solid form, but also in powder or liquid form, as will be explained below.

[0025] Flexible containers 11 are of the bag or sachet type, or similar, most generally of the type made with two Petition 870250092794, dated 10 / 10 / 2025, page 28 / 44 7 / 14 sheets joined together, for example by heat sealing, so as to form two opposite walls 12. In the example shown, where the containers 11 are rectangular in shape, the walls 12 comprise three closed edges 13 and an opening 14 to allow the insertion of products P.

[0026] The filling and closing apparatus 10, shown in more detail in figures 2 and 3, comprises a handling unit 20 configured to transport the containers 11 along a closed forward path F, passing successively through a feeding station S1 configured to feed the containers 11 (figures 1 and 2), a filling station S2 configured to fill the containers 11 (figure 1), a closing station S3 configured to close the containers 11 (figure 2) after filling with product P, and a discharge station S4 to discharge the containers 11 (figure 3). These feeding station S1, filling station S2, closing station S3 and discharge station S4 are comprised in the filling and closing apparatus 10 according to the present invention.

[0027] The handling unit 20 comprises at least one handling device 23 configured to handle the containers 11 and move them from one operating station to another.

[0028] In the example given here, the handling unit 20 comprises four handling devices 23.

[0029] The handling unit 20 comprises a substantially cylindrical support shaft 21, oriented horizontally, to which the handling devices 23 are connected. Petition 870250092794, dated 10 / 10 / 2025, page 29 / 44 8 / 14

[0030] Each handling device 23 comprises two handling arms 24, articulated by means of respective fulcrums 22 to the support shaft 21.

[0031] Each handling arm 24 comprises gripping elements 27 configured to grip the containers 11 on the opposite walls 12.

[0032] In the embodiment described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, the gripping elements 27 are suction means configured to adhere to the external surfaces of the opposite walls 12 and connected to an air suction unit 29 (Figure 4).

[0033] Each handling arm 24 comprises a transverse portion 25 from which a plurality of teeth 26, six in the example shown here, extend longitudinally in relation to the arm 24, each of the teeth 26 being provided with a respective gripping element 27.

[0034] Preferably, the configuration of the two handling arms 24 is identical, so that the teeth 26, and therefore the gripping elements 27 supported by them, are facing each other in pairs.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment, the size of the gripping elements 27, which for example have a circular shape, is such that they obstruct the opening 14, keeping the opposite walls 12 in contact to prevent the escape of the products P inserted in each container 11. If the products to be inserted into the containers are in the form of powder or liquid, cream or similar, it is advisable to provide that the size of the gripping elements 27 is such that it completely closes the opening 14, so as to temporarily close the containers 11 to prevent the leakage of the product P. Petition 870250092794, dated 10 / 10 / 2025, pp. 30 / 44 9 / 14

[0036] Each handling arm 24 comprises a respective gripping element 28, spaced apart from the gripping elements 27, configured to grip the container 11 in a different position, in particular more internal, than that in which the container 11 is gripped by the gripping elements 27. Preferably, the gripping elements 28 extend on the inner side of each cross-section 25 across the entire width of the cross-section 25.

[0037] In one embodiment, the distance between the gripping elements 28 and the gripping elements 27 is adjustable depending on the length of the containers 11 and / or the product P to be inserted into them.

[0038] The handling unit 20 rotates around a horizontally oriented axis of rotation A. Each handling device 23 is radially oriented with respect to the axis of rotation A.

[0039] The advance path F of containers 11 is a circular path centered on the axis of rotation A (Figure 3).

[0040] The S1, S2, S3 and S4 stations mentioned above are also angularly distributed along the forward path F and are angularly spaced from each other by an angle of approximately 90°. If the apparatus comprises a different number of operational stations, this angle may vary depending on the number of operational stations, for example, to ensure that the stations are equally spaced angularly from each other by the same angle.

[0041] Filling station S2 and discharge station S4 are arranged along a common horizontal plane P1. Petition 870250092794, dated 10 / 10 / 2025, p. 31 / 44 10 / 14

[0042] The closing station S3 and the feeding station S1 are arranged along a common vertical plane P2, substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane P1, with the closing station S3 arranged below.

[0043] The axis of rotation A is in the horizontal plane P1. More precisely, the axis of rotation A is at the intersection between the horizontal plane P1 and the vertical plane P2.

[0044] In the embodiment described, the S1 station for feeding containers 11 is placed in a higher zone of the advance path F, above the axis of rotation A.

[0045] The feeding station S1 comprises a first conveyor 40 placed above the handling unit 20 and provided with suspension elements 41, which are configured to grip the containers 11 and transport them towards the handling device (Figures 1, 2 and 3).

[0046] At this station S1, the flexible containers 11 are fed vertically, with the opening 14 facing upwards, by the first conveyor 40.

[0047] Containers 11 leaving feeding station S1 arrive at filling station S2, after a 90° rotation of handling unit 20.

[0048] The filling station S2 comprises at least one pusher member 105 configured to insert product P into container 11 by pushing it along a horizontal plane P1. Product P enters container 11 through opening 14, which is held open by gripping elements 27. Petition 870250092794, dated 10 / 10 / 2025, pp. 32 / 44 11 / 14

[0049] The filling station S2 further comprises a second conveyor 100 with a plurality of advanced conveyors 101 transporting the products P.

[0050] Each conveyor 101 is provided with a channel 102 configured and shaped to accommodate one or more products P, in particular four products P in the example shown here.

[0051] Channel 102 is also configured to be traversed by the push member 105, so that the latter can push products P out of channel 102, towards container 11 to be filled.

[0052] The next closing station S3 is located below handling unit 20, again in the vertical plane P2, and comprises a welding device 30 configured and positioned to seal at least one container 11 in an upside-down orientation, with the opening 14 facing downwards.

[0053] Finally, the discharge station S4 comprises a collection and placement device 50 configured to remove the container 11 from the handling device 23 that has arrived at the discharge station S4 and place it onto a third conveyor 60.

[0054] Apparatus 10 comprises a control unit 35 (Figure 3) connected to the handling unit 20 and programmed to control the movement of the two handling arms 24, appropriately commanding their opening and closing according to the operating station where the handling device 23 is located.

[0055] The operation of the filling and closing apparatus 10 described above, which corresponds to the method according to the present invention, comprises the following steps. Petition 870250092794, dated 10 / 10 / 2025, pp. 33 / 44 12 / 14

[0056] A plurality of containers 11, in ordered succession, is fed into the feeding station S1, by means of the first conveyor 40. The containers 11 are oriented vertically, with the opening 14 facing upwards, and are in the vertical plane P2 (fig. 3). This opening 14 will always remain radially oriented and outwards in relation to the axis of rotation A.

[0057] When there are six containers 11 in the feeding station S1, the handling device 23 located in the feeding station S1 is activated, so that the gripping elements 27 grip the six containers 11 on both opposite walls 12 (Figures 2 and 3). Preferably, the gripping elements 27 grip the containers 11 in a position slightly more inward relative to the outer edge to be sealed by the welding device 30, to avoid any interference between the gripping elements and the welding device 30 in the closing station S3. The containers 11 are thus detached from the suspension elements 41.

[0058] Subsequently, the handling unit 20 is rotated at an angle equal to 90°, to bring the handling device 23 which transports the six containers 11 from the feeding station S1 to the filling station S2.

[0059] During this rotation, or as soon as it reaches the supply station S2, the handling device 23 is activated by the control unit 35 to move the gripping elements 27, arranged on the two handling arms 24, away from each other. This results in an enlargement of the opening 14 of each of the containers 11.

[0060] Next, a filling step is carried out on the containers 11 with the products P, by means of members of Petition 870250092794, dated 10 / 10 / 2025, pages 34 / 44 13 / 14 push 105 arranged in the filling station S2 and movable in two directions in the horizontal plane P1 (Figure 3).

[0061] Once the products P have been inserted into the containers 11, a second actuation of the handling device 23 via the control unit 35 is provided to lightly press the products P, so as to press the opposite walls 12 against them, preventing the products P from falling while the containers 11 continue their movement along the forward path F. It is evident that the pressure exerted by the gripping elements 27 is appropriately calibrated to avoid damage to the products P.

[0062] Subsequently, it is planned to rotate the handling unit 20 again, and therefore the handling device 23, to transport the containers 11 and the corresponding products P to the closing station S3, where the welding device 30 closes the opening 14 by sealing the two opposite walls 12 in said opening.

[0063] Subsequently, the handling unit 20 and therefore the handling device 23 are rotated a further 90°, so as to transport the newly closed containers 11 to the unloading station S4, where the pick-and-place device 50 collects them and deposits them onto the third conveyor 60.

[0064] Since the handling unit 20 comprises four handling devices 23 spaced 90° apart from each other during the path described above, for every 90° rotation of the handling unit 20, one handling device 23 reaches each operating station.

[0065] It is then possible to cyclically repeat the steps described above, from the feeding station S1 to the discharge station S4. Petition 870250092794, dated 10 / 10 / 2025, pp. 35 / 44 14 / 14

[0066] It is clear that modifications and / or additions of parts or steps may be made to the filling and closing apparatus 10 and to the corresponding method as described above, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

[0067] It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person skilled in the art will be able to obtain other equivalent forms of apparatus for filling and closing containers and corresponding methods, having the characteristics as set out in the claims and therefore all within the field of protection defined by them.

[0068] For example, the technician in the field may modify the sizes of the handling arms 24 according to the number of containers 11 that need to be handled simultaneously. Based on this, it will be possible to change the number of teeth 26 and gripping elements 27 provided in each handling arm, as well as the sizes of the gripping element 28 and the welding device 30, which are configured, respectively, to hold and weld simultaneously all containers 11 handled simultaneously by the same handling device.

[0069] In the following claims, the sole purpose of the parenthetical references is to facilitate reading and they should not be considered as restrictive factors regarding the scope of protection defined by the claims. Petition 870250092794, dated 10 / 10 / 2025, pp. 36 / 44

Claims

1 / 5 CLAIMS 1. Apparatus (10) for filling and closing flexible containers (11) with two opposing walls (12) and provided with an opening (14), said apparatus (10) comprising a feeding station (S1) configured for feeding containers (11), a filling station (S2) configured for filling said containers (11) with a respective product (P), a closing station (S3) configured for closing said containers (11) filled with the respective product (P), a discharge station (S4) and a handling unit (20) configured for transporting at least one container (11) of said containers (11) along a closed forward path (F) passing successively through said feeding (S1), filling (S2), closing (S3) and discharge (S4) stations, wherein said handling unit (20) is rotatably mounted around a rotation axis (A), which is preferably horizontal,and said advance path (F) is circular and centered on said axis of rotation (A), characterized in that said handling unit (20) comprises at least one handling device (23) having two handling arms (24) provided with respective gripping elements (27) configured to grip said at least one container (11) on opposite walls (12) of the container (11), in order to open and close said opening (14), respectively.

2. Apparatus (10), according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one handling device (23) is radially oriented with respect to the axis of rotation (A).

3. Apparatus (10), according to claim 1 or Petition 870250092794, of 10 / 10 / 2025, p. 37 / 44 2 / 5 2, characterized in that said feeding station (S1) is placed in a higher zone of said forward path (F) with said filling station (S2) placed at 90° rotation along said forward path (F) of said handling unit (20) of said feeding station (S1).

4. Apparatus (10), according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said filling station (S2) comprises at least one pushing member (105) configured to insert said product (P) into the container (11) by pushing said product (P) along a horizontal plane (P1) within at least one container (11) through said opening (14) which is held open by said gripping elements (27).

5. Apparatus (10), according to claim 4, characterized in that said axis of rotation (A) is situated in said horizontal plane (P1).

6. Apparatus, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said filling station (S2) further comprises a second conveyor (100) having a plurality of forward conveyors (101) transporting said products (P).

7. Apparatus, according to claim 6, characterized in that each conveyor (101) is provided with a channel (102) configured and shaped to accommodate said product (P), and is traversed by said pusher member (105), so that the product (P) can be moved by the pusher member (105) of the conveyor (101) to at least one container (11). Petition 870250092794, dated 10 / 10 / 2025, p. 38 / 44 3 / 5 8. Apparatus, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said closing station (S3) and said power station (S1) are arranged along a common vertical plane (P2) with the closing station (S3) below.

9. Apparatus, according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said feeding station (S1) comprises a first conveyor (40) placed above the handling unit (20) and provided with suspension elements (41), said suspension elements (41) being configured to grip the containers (11) and carry them to at least one handling device (23) of the handling unit (20).

10. Apparatus, according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said closing station (S3) comprises a welding device (30) configured and positioned to weld at least one container (11) in an inverted orientation with the opening (14) facing downwards.

11. Apparatus, according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said gripping elements (27) are suction means connected to an air suction unit (29) and configured to adhere to external surfaces of opposite walls (12) of said containers (11).

12. Apparatus, according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by further comprising a control unit (35) connected to said handling unit (20) and programmed to control the movement of the two handling arms (24) of said at least one handling device (23).

13. Apparatus, according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the two handling arms (24) comprise a respective gripping element (28) spaced from the gripping elements (27) and configured to grip at least one container (11) in a position different from that in which the gripping elements (27) grip the container (11), wherein the distance between the gripping element (28) and the gripping elements (27) is adjustable.

14. Apparatus, according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by further comprising a collection and placement device (50) configured to remove at least one container (11) from the handling device (23) at the discharge station (S4) and place it on a third conveyor (60).

15. Method for filling and closing flexible containers (11) with two opposite walls (12) and provided with an opening (14), comprising the following steps: - feeding a plurality of flexible containers (11) into a feeding station (S1); - filling each container (11) of said plurality of containers (11) with a product (P) in a filling station (S2); - closing said containers (11) filled with the respective product (P) in a closing station (S3); - unloading closed containers (C) into a unloading station (S4); - transporting, by means of a handling unit (20), at least one container (11) of said plurality of containers (11) along an advance path. Petition 870250092794, dated 10 / 10 / 2025, p. 40 / 44 5 / 5 closed (F) that passes successively through the aforementioned feeding (S1), filling (S2), closing (S3) and discharge (S4) stations,wherein said handling unit (20) is rotatably mounted around an axis of rotation (A), which is preferably horizontal, and said advance path (F) is circular and centered on said axis of rotation (A), characterized in that said handling unit (20) comprises at least one handling device (23) with two handling arms (24) provided with respective gripping elements (27) that grip said at least one container (11) on opposite walls (12) and move the opposite walls (12) of the container (11) away from and towards each other in order to open and close said opening (14), respectively, wherein said opening (14) of the container (11) is held open by said gripping elements (27) in said filling station (S2), and is closed after filling at least one container (C) with the product (P).

16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that said filling step comprises inserting said product (P) into the container (11) by pushing said product (P) along a horizontal plane (P1) within at least one container (11) through said opening (14) which is held open by said gripping elements (27).

17. Method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the filling step is performed by a push member (105) that pushes at least one product (P) from a feed conveyor (101) provided with a channel (102) traversed by the push member (105). Petition 870250092794, dated 10 / 10 / 2025, pp. 41 / 44

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