Device for transferring bags from a bag feed to a circulation system of a bag packaging machine and a corresponding bag packaging machine

Abstract

Device (1) for transferring bags (100) from a bag feed (300) to a circulation system (200) of a bag packaging machine, characterized in that the device (1) has a conveyor (3) for the horizontal transport of individual empty bags (100), wherein the conveyor (3) has a lifting element (4) for erecting a first edge (101) of a bag (100) downstream in its conveying direction (x).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for transferring bags from a bag feed to a circulation system of a bag packaging machine. A corresponding bag packaging machine and a corresponding method are also described.

[0002] DE 20 2014 102 116 U1 describes a bag packaging machine with a circular system for the aligned transport of bags between the packaging stations of the packaging machine. Typically, the bags are transported in a timed manner between the packaging stations by the circular system. Packaging machines in which the bags are transported in a continuous movement between the packaging stations by the circular system are becoming increasingly popular. Continuous systems have the advantage of reduced wear and tear and better energy efficiency compared to timed systems. As a result, the feed of empty bags into the circulation system should be designed for both timed and continuous operation of the packaging machine in order to serve both timed and continuous systems.

[0003] It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a device for transferring bags from a bag feed to a circulation system of a bag packaging machine, which is suitable for both the continuous and the timed transfer of empty bags.

[0004] This object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1. A corresponding bag packaging machine is the subject of claim 11. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0005] Accordingly, the device is provided with a conveyor for the horizontal transport of individual empty bags, wherein the conveyor has a lifting element downstream in its conveying direction for erecting a first edge of the bag.

[0006] The conveyor, in particular its conveying speed in its conveying direction, and the circulation system, in particular its circulation speed, can be operated independently of one another. The circulation speed of the circulation system can depend on the cycle speed of the bag packaging machine. The conveyor speed can be adjusted depending on the cycle speed. The conveyor can be configured to provide the lying empty bags with the upright first edge to the circulation system at a speed adapted to the circulation speed of the circulation system, so that the circulation system can remove the empty bags from the conveyor at the first edge. The circulation system and the conveyor can run synchronously, at least in sections, in a transfer area. The circulation system and the conveyor can have a very low or no relative speed to one another in the transfer area.In the transfer area, the empty bags can have the first raised edge. The lifting element can be arranged in the transfer area. The circulation system can be configured to grip a bag in the transfer area at the first raised edge and remove it from the conveyor.

[0007] The conveyor can have a continuous conveying speed or a clocked conveying speed in the conveying direction.

[0008] The empty bags can in particular be provided as film bags, for example as flat bag bags, side-gusseted bags and / or stand-up bags. The empty bags can in particular be provided in a flat and / or folded state. In particular, for particularly reliable transport with the conveyor and particularly reliable removal from the conveyor with the aid of the circulation system, the bags can have a first edge which is designed as a straight first edge. The lying empty bag can have a thickness perpendicular to the film plane, for example in the vertical direction when the bag is transported by the conveyor, which is much smaller than an edge length, for example smaller than the length of the first edge of the bag.The lying empty bag can thus extend essentially horizontally and have only an insignificant thickness in the vertical direction compared to its horizontal extension.

[0009] The lifting element can be any lifting element which is designed to lift the first edge of the bag out of the horizontal plane of the lying bag so that it is freely accessible to a gripper of the circulation system, in particular lifted off a support of the conveyor on which the bag rests in the conveyor.

[0010] The lifting element can have a ramp or ramp that rises along the conveying direction. In one embodiment, the lifting element can have a stop that tapers the conveying width of the conveyor perpendicular to the conveying direction in the conveying direction for a first edge of a bag to be erected. The stop can preferably be adjustable in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. The stop can in particular be adjustable in a horizontal direction. The stop can be adjustable in the aforementioned direction with the aid of an actuator 6.1. With the aid of the adjustability of the stop, the conveyor can be set to a given bag height. The bag height can be considered the length of a side wall of the bag, which is measured between the bag bottom and the first edge.Preferably, the bag is transported by the conveyor in a lying and folded state, wherein the height of the bag extends horizontally and perpendicular to the conveying direction.

[0011] The bag feeder can comprise a bag magazine and / or a bag production system and is not limited to any specific embodiments. The bag feeder can, for example, be or comprise a device for the pre-production of film bags. The bag feeder can be configured to hold and separate pre-produced bags for feeding into the device.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the minimum conveying width can be one dimension smaller than a bag height between the bag bottom and the opening of a bag to be transported, by which the first edge of the bag to be transported is to be raised.

[0013] The conveyor may comprise a holding means configured to hold a bag at a second edge opposite the first edge. The holding means may comprise a fixed height stop and a first belt conveyor, which enclose a holding gap extending in the conveying direction for receiving and guiding the second edge.

[0014] The conveyor may comprise a first belt conveyor that is frictionally engaged with a second edge opposite the first edge. Alternatively or additionally, the first belt conveyor may be a cleated belt that transports the empty bags lying flat in the conveying direction.

[0015] The conveyor can be configured to clamp the bag, but excluding the first edge, in its plane, preferably in a horizontal plane, so that the first edge remains freely movable. This makes it possible, for example, for the bag to be transported on the conveyor with particularly high process reliability, while also allowing the first edge to be lifted by the lifting element with equally high process reliability, in particular into a position raised above the horizontal plane.

[0016] The conveyor may comprise a first belt conveyor engaging a second edge opposite the first edge. The conveyor may comprise a second belt conveyor engaging the bag at a distance from the first edge by a dimension. The dimension may correspond to that portion of the height of the bag extending from the first edge that is intended to be lifted by the lifting element, preferably from a horizontal orientation to a relatively raised position.

[0017] The first belt conveyor and / or the second belt conveyor can have a revolving cleated belt. If the conveyor has a first belt conveyor and a second belt conveyor, these preferably have the same rotational speed. If the first belt conveyor and the second belt conveyor each have a revolving cleated belt, the cleats of the two cleated belts can be synchronized so that they are arranged opposite one another at the same height in the conveying plane perpendicular to the conveying direction.

[0018] The second belt conveyor can have an upper belt conveyor and a lower belt conveyor. Between the upper belt conveyor and the lower belt conveyor, the first bag edge can be in frictional engagement with the upper and / or lower belt conveyor. The upper and lower belt conveyors preferably have the same feed speed; in particular, they can run concurrently. Accordingly, the conveyor belts of the upper and lower belt conveyors can have no relative speed to one another. A contact pressure can be provided between the upper belt conveyor and the lower belt conveyor, which holds the first bag edge, preferably in frictional engagement.

[0019] A bag packaging machine can have a circulation system with a plurality of bag grippers spaced apart from one another in the transport direction of the circulation system. The bag packaging machine can further have a bag feed and a device of the type described above. The conveyor can open downstream in its conveying direction into an access area of ​​the circulation system. In the access area, a bag gripper of the circulation system can engage with an upright first edge of a bag transported lying down by the conveyor. Preferably, but not necessarily, the bag gripper can be guided in a vertical plane along the circulation system. In this case, it can be provided that the bag gripper is guided along a vertical circular path section in the access area.This ensures that the bag gripper is pivoted along a circular path toward the raised first edge of the bag, so that the edge is positioned, for example, between gripper jaws of the gripper, which are spaced apart in an open position of the bag gripper. The bag gripper can preferably be controlled in a lowermost position of the vertical circular path section, in which the bag gripper is arranged substantially horizontally and with its gripper jaws parallel to the first edge, to be transferred from the open position of the gripper jaws to a closed position in which the gripper jaws are brought closer together and hold the first edge between them.

[0020] A method for transferring bags from a bag feed to a circulation system of a bag packaging machine may include the following steps: a) providing a plurality of horizontally arranged bags with a bag feed; b) sequentially transferring the lying bags to a device of the type described above; c) transporting the bags horizontally with a conveyor of the device in a conveying direction; and d) sequentially erecting a first edge of each of the bags.

[0021] For erection, the first edge of the bag can run onto a ramp of the conveyor that rises along the conveying direction or onto a ramp on the conveyor.

[0022] For erection with the conveyor, the first edge can be guided along a stop that tapers the conveyor width of the conveyor perpendicular to the conveying direction in the conveying direction.

[0023] The method may further comprise gripping the upright first edge of the bag with a bag gripper of the circulation system. Preferably, but not necessarily, the bag gripper is guided in a vertical plane along the circulation system. Particularly preferably, but not necessarily, the bag gripper is pivoted onto the upright first edge of the bag along a vertical circular path section.

[0024] While the edge is preferably arranged in a horizontal plane of the lying bag before erection, it can be pivoted upwards by at least 45° in its erected position, preferably by at least 60°, and particularly preferably by at least 80°. In one embodiment, the first edge is pivoted out of the horizontal by 90° in the erected position, thus being oriented essentially vertically.

[0025] Further details of the invention are explained with reference to the following figures. Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device for transferring bags from a bag feed to a circulation system; Fig. 2 shows a section of a bag packaging machine according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of the erection of the first edge and the transfer of the bag to a circulation system according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 shows a section of another embodiment of a bag packaging machine with a vertically guided circulation system and an additional circular system; and Fig. 5 a section of another embodiment of a bag packaging machine with a horizontally guided circulation system.

[0026] In Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention. The invention is not limited to the embodiment according to Fig. 1, nor limited to one of the embodiments shown in the other figures.

[0027] In the embodiment of the device 1 according to Fig. 1, film bags 100 are transported as empty, folded, and therefore flat bags 100 lying in the conveying direction x.

[0028] The bags can, for example, be provided as stand-up bags with a folded stand-up bottom. The horizontal bags can thus have a thickness in the vertical direction that is significantly smaller than each of the edge lengths of the bag 100. The thickness can be a few millimeters, for example, 2 mm. The bag 100 has a first edge 101, at which the opening of the bag is provided. The first edge 101 thus forms an upper edge of the bag 100, so that the opening is a filling opening of the bag 100 for filling the bag 100. The opening can be provided in that two side walls forming the side walls of the bag 100 are not sealed to one another in the region of the opening, while the side walls have a sealed seam on their two outer edges and on the bottom, for example on the stand-up bottom.

[0029] During the transport of the bags 100 in the conveying direction x, the bags 100 run onto a lifting element 4 for raising the first edge 101 of the bag 100. The lifting means 4 is designed here as a rising ramp or as a run-on slope. In addition, the lifting element 4 has a stop 6 that tapers the conveying width b of the conveyor perpendicular to the conveying direction x in the conveying direction x. The stop has a vertical flange against which the first edge 101 rests. The stop 6, in particular the vertical flange, is adjustable in the conveying direction x by means of an actuator 6.1 in order to set the lifting element 4, in particular the stop 6, to a given bag height, measured between the bag bottom and the first edge 101 or the opening of the bag.

[0030] It can be seen that the circulation system 200 comprises bag grippers 201, each having a pair of gripper jaws configured to grip the bag 100 at the upright first edge 101. Since the bag 100 is preferably a flexible part, the gripper jaws preferably have a length that extends substantially over the entire length of the first edge 101, so that the bag 100 is stabilized by gripping the first edge 101.

[0031] The height of the bag 100 between the bag bottom and the bag opening thus extends in the direction of the conveying width b of the conveyor 3. Consequently, the bags 100 are transported horizontally and perpendicular to their height in the conveying direction x.

[0032] The conveyor 3 has a holding means 7 which is designed to hold the bag 100 at its second edge 104 opposite the first edge 101 (cf. Fig. 3). The holding means 7 has a fixed height stop 8 and a first belt conveyor 9. The height stop 8 and the belt conveyor 9 enclose a holding gap 10 extending in the conveying direction x for receiving the second edge 104 of the bag 100. To propel the bag 100 in the conveying direction x, the belt conveyor 9 has a cleated belt 12. The second edge 104 is received freely in the gap 10 so that the film bag can be driven by the cleated belt 12 without being compressed. The conveyor can in particular be designed to stretch the bag 100, excluding the first edge 101, in its bag plane so that it is provided as a flat bag. Furthermore, it is ensured that the first edge 101 remains freely movable.

[0033] The clamping can be limited to the bag 100 being held by the conveyor 3 at the second edge 104 opposite the first edge 101, for example being held freely in the gap 10 but with its freedom of movement restricted in the vertical direction.

[0034] In the illustrated embodiment, the conveyor 3 further comprises, in addition to the first belt conveyor 9, a second belt conveyor 11.1, 11.2, which engages a bag 100 at a distance of one dimension from the first edge 101. This ensures that the first edge 101 remains freely movable so that it can be lifted from the horizontal when the lifting element 4 starts to move.

[0035] A skid 2 supports the bag 100, which is a flexible part, in an area between the first belt conveyor 9 and the second belt conveyor 11.1, 11.2.

[0036] The second belt conveyor 11.1, 11.2 comprises an upper belt conveyor 11.1 and a lower belt conveyor 11.2. Between the upper belt conveyor 11.1 and the lower belt conveyor 11.2, the bag edge 101 is in frictional engagement with the belt conveyors 11.1, 11.2. The two belt conveyors 11.1, 11.2 preferably have the same feed speed; in particular, they can be synchronized. Accordingly, the conveyor belts of the belt conveyors 11.1, 11.2 can have no relative speed to one another. A contact pressure can be provided between the upper belt conveyor 11.1 and the lower belt conveyor 11.2, which holds the bag edge 101, preferably in frictional engagement.

[0037] The Fig. Figure 2 shows an arrangement comprising a device 1, a circulation system 200, and a bag feed 300. The bag feed 300 can comprise a bag magazine and / or a bag production system and, like the circulation system 200, is not limited to any specific embodiments. The bag feed 300 can, for example, be or comprise a device for the pre-production of film bags.

[0038] The bag feed 300 can also be configured to hold and separate pre-produced bags in order to feed them into the device 1.

[0039] In the present embodiment, the circulation system 200 is designed with a vertical circulation plane, within which grippers 201 are guided in a circular or elliptical path. In a variant of the embodiment according to Fig. 2, the device 1 is corresponding to the device 1 according to Fig. 1 trained.

[0040] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary transfer process of bags 100, which are transported in a device according to the invention in the conveying direction x. The Fig. 3 The leftmost bag 100 is arranged in a completely horizontal orientation. All outer edges, including the bottom 102 and the opening 103, are arranged in the same plane, in this case the horizontal plane. In contrast, the first edge 101 of the middle bag 100 is in a position partially folded out of the horizontal. While the remaining parts of the bag 100 remain horizontal, the edge 101 is pivoted upwards by an angle of less than 90° from the horizontal. Synchronously with the advance of the bags 100 in the conveying direction x, grippers 201 of the circulation system 200 are transported along a vertical circular arc and brought closer to the bags 100.

[0041] The Fig. 3 The bag 100 arranged on the far right has a first edge 101 pivoted out of the horizontal by 90°, thus the edge 101 is vertically aligned and extends accordingly perpendicular to the remaining parts of the bag 100. Immediately, both the gripper 201 and the edge 101 were brought closer, so that in the relative arrangement of edge 101 and gripper 201 in the rightmost pairing of gripper 201 and bag 100 according to Fig. 3 the edge 101 is pivoted into the gripper 201, in particular between the gripper jaws of the gripper and the gripper 201 can reliably grip the edge 101 and lift the bag 100 from the conveyor 3 (not shown) for further conveyance.

[0042] In Fig. 4 shows that after the bag 100 has been transferred to the circulation system 200, the bags can be transferred once again to a circular system 400 with a plurality of rotating grippers 401. The circular system can, for example, be an embodiment as known from DE 20 2014 102 116 U1. While the grippers 201 of the circulation system 200 are transported in a vertical plane, the grippers 401 of the circular system 400 are conveyed in a horizontal plane.

[0043] The Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment in which, deviating from the embodiment according to Fig. 4 the circulation system 200 is guided horizontally and not vertically. Accordingly, the circulation system 200 can be Fig. 5 as a tour system 400 (compare Fig. 4) with which the bag 100 is fed to processing stations of a bag packaging machine, for example a filling station, a sealing station or the like.

[0044] The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the drawings and in the claims may be essential for the realization of the invention both individually and in any combination. List of reference symbols: 1 device 2 runners 3 sponsors 4 lifting element 5 Ramp or ramp 6 stop 6.1 Actuator 7 Holding devices 8 Height stop 9 first belt conveyor 10 Holding gap 11 second belt conveyor 11.1 Upper belt conveyor 11.2 Lower belt conveyor 12 stud band 100 bags 101 first edge 102 bag bottom 103 Bag opening 104 second edge 200 circulation system 201 Gripper of the circulation system 300 bag feed 400 tour system 401 Gripper of the tour system b Conveyor width x Conveying direction QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 20 2014 102 116 U1 [0002, 0042]

Claims

[1] Device (1) for transferring bags (100) from a bag feed (300) to a circulation system (200) of a bag packaging machine, characterized by that the device (1) has a conveyor (3) for the horizontal transport of individual empty bags (100), wherein the conveyor (3) has a lifting element (4) for erecting a first edge (101) of a bag (100) on the downstream side in its conveying direction (x). [2] Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the lifting element (4) has a ramp (5) or run-on slope rising along the conveying direction. [3] Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lifting element (4) has a stop (6) for a first edge (101) of a bag (100) to be erected, which stop (6) tapers the conveying width (b) of the conveyor (3) perpendicular to the conveying direction (x) in the conveying direction (x), wherein the stop (6) is preferably adjustable in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction (x). [4] Device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the minimum conveying width (b) is smaller by one dimension than a bag height between the bag bottom (102) and the opening (103) of a bag (100) to be transported, around which the first edge (101) of the bag (100) to be transported is to be erected. [5] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the conveyor (3) has a holding means (7) which is arranged to hold a bag (100) on a second edge (104) opposite the first edge (101). [6] Device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the holding means (7) comprises a fixed height stop (8) and a first belt conveyor (9) which enclose between them a holding gap (10) extending in the conveying direction (x) for receiving the second edge (104). [7] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the conveyor (3) has a first belt conveyor (9) which is in frictional engagement with a second edge (104) opposite the first edge (101). [8] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the conveyor (3) is arranged to stretch the bag (100), excluding the first edge (101), in its bag plane, so that the first edge (101) is freely movable. [9] Device (1) according to claim 8, wherein the conveyor (3) comprises a first belt conveyor (9) which engages a second edge (104) opposite the first edge (101), and wherein the conveyor (3) comprises a second belt conveyor (11) which engages the bag (100) at a distance of one dimension from the first edge (101). [10] Device (1) according to one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the first belt conveyor (9) and / or the second belt conveyor (11) has a circulating cleated belt (12). [11] Bag packaging machine with a circulation system (200) with a plurality of bag grippers (201) spaced apart from one another in the transport direction of the circulation system (200), a bag feed (300) and a device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveyor (3) opens downstream in its conveying direction (x) into an access area (202) of the circulation system (200), in which access area a bag gripper (201) of the circulation system (200) comes into engagement with an upright first edge (101) of a bag (100) transported lying down by the conveyor (3), wherein preferably the bag grippers (201) are guided in a vertical plane along the circulation system (200), and wherein particularly preferably the bag grippers (201) are guided in the access area (202) along a vertical circular path section. [12] Bag packaging machine according to claim 11, which is arranged to carry out a method for transferring bags (100) from a bag feed (300) to a circulation system (200) of a bag packaging machine, comprising the steps of: a) providing a plurality of horizontally arranged bags (100) with a bag feed (300); b) sequentially transferring the lying bags (100) to a device (1) according to one of claims 1-10; c) transporting the bags (100) horizontally with a conveyor (3) of the device (1) in a conveying direction (x); and d) sequentially erecting a first edge (101) of the bags (100). [13] Bag packaging machine according to claim 12, wherein the first edge (101) runs onto a ramp (5) or run-on slope rising along the conveying direction (x) for erecting. [14] Bag packaging machine according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the first edge (101) for erecting with the conveyor (3) is guided along a stop (6) tapering the conveying width (b) of the conveyor (3) perpendicular to the conveying direction (x) in the conveying direction (x). [15] Bag packaging machine according to one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the method carried out by it further comprises gripping the erected first edge (101) of the bag (100) with a bag gripper (201) of the circulation system (200), wherein preferably the bag grippers (201) are guided in a vertical plane along the circulation system (200), and wherein particularly preferably the bag grippers (201) are pivoted along a vertical circular path section onto the erected first edge (101).

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