Closing system for closing tubular films and the like with a cable tie and cutting device for use with the closing system

Abstract

The invention relates to a closure system for sealing foil tubes and the like with a cable tie and a cutting aid (1). A protective element (2) of the cutting aid (1) can be permanently arranged section by section between the foil tube and the cable tie used to close the foil tube, so that after the foil tube is closed with the cable tie, the cutting aid is positioned between the foil tube and the cable tie. The cable tie can be guided over a guide section (3) of the protective element (2). The cutting aid (1) has a contact element (4) arranged at a distance from the protective element (2) and rigidly connected to the protective element (2). A cutting element can be inserted into the cutting aid (1) into a cutting recess (8) of the cutting aid (1) extending from the protective element (2) to the contact element (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a closure system for closing foil tubes and the like with a cable tie and cutting device for use with the closure system.

[0002] For transporting bulk goods, it is common practice to fill the goods into tubular containers made of plastic film, known as film tubes or big bags, or other types of bags. The film tubes are arranged in a suitable filling device and sealed at one end. This is often done using standard cable ties. After the film tube, sealed at one end, is filled, the remaining open end is also sealed with a cable tie. The filled film tube can then be removed from the filling device and transported.

[0003] To remove the bulk material, the filled foil tube is placed in a removal device and at least one of the cable ties is removed by cutting the cable tie open.

[0004] In many applications, it is necessary to carry out both filling and emptying in such a way that the surrounding area is not contaminated by the bulk material. However, when cutting the cable ties, it is possible that the foil tube will be accidentally damaged, making it impossible or only possible with considerable effort to reseal the tube.

[0005] Against this background, the object of the invention is considered to be to provide a closure system that avoids damage to the foil tubes as much as possible when cutting the cable ties.

[0006] This problem is solved according to the invention by a closure system for closing foil tubes and the like with a cable tie and with a cutting aid, wherein a protective element of the cutting aid can be permanently arranged section by section between the foil tube and the cable tie used to close the foil tube, so that after the foil tube has been closed with the cable tie, the cutting aid is arranged between the foil tube and the cable tie, wherein the cable tie can be guided over a guide section of the protective element, wherein the cutting aid has a contact element arranged at a distance from the protective element and rigidly connected to the protective element, and wherein a cutting element can be inserted into the cutting aid in a cutting recess of the cutting aid extending from the protective element to the contact element.The cutting aid, with its guide section, provides a cutting surface against which the cable tie, guided over the section, can be cut by the cutting element located in the cutting recess. The foil sleeve rests against the cutting aid at a distance from the guide section, thus protecting it from damage by the cutting element. The support element serves to brace the cutting element against it in a defined position, enabling the cutting force to be applied to the cable tie via a lever action.

[0007] The closure system according to the invention for closing film tubes and the like can advantageously be used for all containers that can be closed with cable ties, such as film tubes, big bags, or other bags made of a flexible material. Such sealable containers typically have a film tube-like section that can be tightened and thus closed with a cable tie. The flexible material can be film, textiles, or the like.

[0008] To enable particularly cost-effective production of the cutting aid, the invention provides that the protective element and the contact element are formed in one piece. According to the invention, the cutting aid can, for example, be made of plastic using an injection molding process.

[0009] Advantageously, according to the invention, a recess limiting element of the cutting aid is arranged between the protective element and the contact element on opposite sides of the cutting recess, such that the cutting recess is limited on firstly opposite sides of the cutting recess by the protective element and the contact element, and on secondly opposite sides of the cutting recess by the recess limiting elements. In this way, the rigid connection between the protective element and the contact element can be easily established, and at the same time the shape and size of the cutting recess can be predetermined so that the cutting element can be positioned in a defined position relative to the guide section in the cutting recess.

[0010] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the closure system according to the invention, the cutting aid comprises a guide element with two guide sections arranged on opposite sides of the protective element and each extending away from the protective element and the cutting recess. Each guide section has a guide recess adjoining the protective element, and the cable tie can be guided through the guide recesses so that, in an open state, the cable tie rests against the guide section and, at a distance from the guide section, against guide surfaces of the guide sections. The cable tie can be easily guided through the guide recesses and held there in a pre-bent position. When closing the cable tie, this prevents the cable tie from slipping and the foil sleeve from being accidentally pulled between the protective element and the cable tie.This is achieved by pre-bent the cable tie so that, in the area of ​​the protective element, the cable tie largely corresponds to its later shape when closed.

[0011] A particularly advantageous shape for the cable tie in its open state is achieved by arranging and aligning the guide surfaces and the protective element positioned between them in such a way that a U-shaped hose-receiving area is formed between the guide elements and the protective element. This allows the cable tie to be securely fixed in a U-shape along this hose-receiving area when open. In this way, the cable tie is also pre-bent into a U-shape, so that the shape of the cable tie in the area of ​​the protective element largely corresponds to its final shape when closed.

[0012] Slippage of the cable tie during closure can be effectively prevented by the guide elements, which are designed in such a way that the cable tie, guided over the guide section and resting against the guide surfaces, is held securely against the cutting aid in the open position. This also allows the cable tie to be guided particularly easily through the guide recesses and over the guide section.

[0013] To enable particularly cost-effective production of the cutting aid, the guide element and the protective element are provided for in one piece according to the invention. As already explained, the entire cutting aid can be made of plastic according to the invention.

[0014] The invention also relates to a cutting device for use with the aforementioned locking system, wherein the cutting device has a handle element and a cutting head arranged on the handle element, wherein a cutting edge is arranged on the cutting head, forming the cutting element, and wherein the dimensions of the cutting head are adapted to the cutting recess such that the cutting head can be inserted appropriately into the cutting recess. In this way, a defined positioning of the cutting edge relative to the cable tie in the cutting recess is possible.

[0015] Advantageously, according to the invention, the handle element is designed in two parts and has two handle parts pivotably connected to each other, wherein the cutting head is designed in two parts, the cutting edge being arranged on a first handle part and a contact part of the cutting head being arranged on a second handle part. In this way, the cutting action can be brought about by a spreading movement of the handle parts towards each other, whereby the contact part is supported against the contact element and thus a cutting force is exerted on the cable tie via the cutting edge.

[0016] Advantageously, according to the invention, the cutting device forms a spreading pliers. Operating a spreading pliers is particularly simple and requires little operating force.

[0017] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the cutting aid according to the invention, the dimensions of the cutting edge are adapted to the cutting recess so that the cutting edge can be guided properly through the guide recess. This prevents the cutting edge from tilting relative to the guide section when guided through the cutting recess, thus avoiding the cable tie only being partially cut.

[0018] Further advantageous embodiments of the closure system according to the invention are explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing.

[0019] They show: Figures 1a to 1c schematically illustrated views of a cutting aid according to the invention, Figuren 2a bis 2c Schematic views of a closure system according to the invention with a cutting device according to the invention.

[0020] In the Figur 1a is a perspective view in which Figur 1bis a side view and in Figur 1c is a sectional view along the in Figur 1b The section line AA of a cutting aid 1 is shown schematically. The cutting aid 1 has a protective element 2. The protective element 2 of the cutting aid 1 can be sectioned between a point in the Figur 1 The foil tube (not shown) and the cable tie (also not shown) are permanently arranged. The cable tie can be guided over a guide section 3 of the protective element 2.

[0021] Furthermore, the cutting aid 1 has a support element 4 arranged at a distance from the protective element 2 and rigidly connected to the protective element 2. The protective element 2 and the support element 4 are connected to each other by opposing recess limiting parts 5, 6 of a recess limiting element 7 of the cutting aid 1. The protective element 2, the support element 4 and the recess limiting element 7 define a cutting recess 8 in which a Figur 1 The cutting element, not shown, can be arranged.

[0022] The cutting aid 1 also has a guide element 9 with two guide parts 10, 11 arranged on opposite sides of the protective element 2 and each extending away from the protective element 2 and the cutting recess 8. The guide parts 10, 11 each have a guide recess 12, 13 adjoining the protective element 2. The cable tie (not shown) can be guided through these guide recesses 12, 13, so that in an open state the cable tie rests against the guide section 3 and, at a distance from the guide section 3, against guide surfaces 14, 15 of the guide parts 10, 11.The guide surfaces 14, 15 and the protective element 2 arranged between the guide parts 10, 11 are arranged and aligned such that a U-shaped hose receiving area 16 is formed between the guide parts 10, 11 and the protective element 2, and the cable tie can be positively guided and fixed in a U-shape along the hose receiving area 16 when open. Furthermore, the guide parts 10, 11 and the guide section 3 are designed such that the cable tie, guided over the guide section 3 and bearing against the guide surfaces 14, 15, is held force-fit against the cutting aid 1 when open.

[0023] The Figur 2a shows a perspective view of a locking system 17 with a cutting device 18. The Figure 2b and 2c show different views of the in Figur 2aThe illustrated closure system 17, wherein a foil tube 19 arranged in the hose receiving area 16 is shown in section to allow a view of the cutting aid 1 and a cable tie 20 arranged on the cutting aid 1 and closing the foil tube 19. The design of the cutting aid 1 corresponds to that shown in the Figures 1a to 1c depicted design.

[0024] The cable tie 20 is guided over the guide section 3 and through the guide recesses 12, 13, and encloses the foil tube 19. A cutting head 21 of the cutting device 18, designed as a spreading pliers, is arranged in the cutting recess 8 of the cutting aid 1. The cutting device 18 has a two-part handle element 22, which comprises two handle parts 23, 24 pivotably connected to each other. The cutting head 21 is also designed in two parts, with a cutting edge 25 arranged on a first handle part 23 and a contact part 26 of the cutting head 21 arranged on a second handle part 24. When the handle parts 23, 24 are actuated, the cutting edge 25 and the contact part 26 are moved away from each other, so that the contact part 26 is pressed against the contact element 4 of the cutting aid 1 and the cutting edge 25 against the cable tie 20 and the cable tie 20 is cut open in this way.

Claims

1. Closure system (17) for closing film tubes (19) and the like with a cable tie (20) and with a cutting aid (1), wherein a protective element (2) of the cutting aid (1) can be permanently arranged in sections between the film tube (19) and the cable tie (20) used to close the film tube (19), so that after the film tube (19) has been closed with the cable tie (20), the cutting aid (1) is arranged between the film tube (19) and the cable tie (20), wherein the cable tie (20) can be guided over a guide section (3) of the protective element (2), wherein the cutting aid (1) has a contact element (4) arranged at a distance from the protective element (2) and rigidly connected to the protective element (2), and wherein a cutting element (25) can be inserted into the cutting aid (1).

2. Closure system (17) according to claim 1, characterized in that the protective element (2) and the contact element (4) are formed in one piece.

3. Closure system (17) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that a recess-delimiting part (5, 6) of a recess-delimiting element (7) of the cutting aid (1) is arranged between the protective element (2) and the contact element (4) on opposite sides of the cutting recess (8), so that the cutting recess (8) is delimited on first opposite sides of the cutting recess (8) by the protective element (2) and the contact element (4) and is delimited on second opposite sides of the cutting recess (8) by the recess-delimiting parts (5, 6).

4. Closure system (17) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe cutting aid (1) has a guide element (9) with two guide parts (10, 11) arranged on opposite sides of the protective element (2) and each extending away from the protective element (2) and the cutting recess (8), wherein the guide parts (10, 11) each have a guide recess (12, 13) adjoining the protective element (2), wherein the cable tie (20) can be guided through the guide recesses (12, 13) so that the cable tie (20) in an open state rests on the guide section (3) and, at a distance from the guide section (3), on guide surfaces (14, 15) of the guide parts (10, 11).

5. Closure system (17) according to claim 4, characterized in thatthe guide surfaces (14, 15) and the protective element (2) arranged between the guide parts (10, 11) are arranged and aligned such that a U-shaped hose receiving area (16) is formed between the guide parts (10, 11) and the protective element (2) and the cable tie (20) can be fixed in a U-shaped manner along the hose receiving area (16) in the open state.

6. Closure system (17) according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that the guide parts (10, 11) and the guide section (3) are designed such that the cable tie (20) guided over the guide section (3) and resting on the guide surfaces (14, 15) is held force-fittingly on the cutting aid (1) in the open state.

7. Closure system (17) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the guide element (9) and the protective element (2) are formed in one piece.

8. Cutting device (18) for use with the closure system (17) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting device (18) has a handle element (22) and a cutting head (21) arranged on the handle element (22), wherein a cutting edge (25) is arranged on the cutting head (21), which forms the cutting element (25) and wherein dimensions of the cutting head (21) are adapted to the cutting recess (8) in such a way that the cutting head (21) can be inserted into the cutting recess (8) in a fitting manner.

9. Cutting device (18) according to claim 8, characterized in that the handle element (22) is designed in two parts and has two pivotally connected handle parts (23, 24), wherein the cutting head (21) is designed in two parts, wherein the cutting edge (25) is arranged on a first handle part (23) and a contact part (26) of the cutting head (21) is arranged on a second handle part (24).

10. Cutting device (18) according to claim 9, characterized in thatthe cutting device (18) forms a spreading pliers.

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