GB2104034A

GB2104034A - Machine for collecting and packing filled bags into containers

Info

Publication number: GB2104034A
Application number: GB08219995A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Erhard Arlt; Gerhard Heinrich; Richard Schwind
Original assignee: Nagema VEB
Current assignee: Nagema VEB
Priority date: 1981-08-17
Filing date: 1982-07-09
Publication date: 1983-03-02
Also published as: DD201427A1; DE3223674C2; GB2104034B; DE3223674A1

Abstract

A machine for loading filled bags (18) into containers comprises a conveyor belt (2) and a laterally pivotal chute (3) for delivering the bags into a selected one of a pair of laterally adjacent collecting chambers (4.1, 4.2) which are compartmented and indexable below the chute (3) to receive successive bags in respective compartments. Each collecting chamber (4.1, 4.2) includes a floor flap which is opened when the chamber is full to drop the bags into a respective compression box (5.1, 5.2) for compaction of the collection of bags before delivery into a container therebelow by retracting flaps or a slide forming the floor of the compression box. Each compression box includes a plurality of movable walls (6) connected to a scissors grid. The machine permits packaging of an uninterrupted supply of filled bags and full utilisation of the space in the containers. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Collecting and packaging machine Collecting and packing machine for the insertion of filled tubular or flat bags into a transport container with a feed device constructed as a laterally pivotable chute or as a conveyor belt and with a collecting chamber situated underneath the chute, provided with compartments and a floor flap and movable forwards in steps.

Collecting and packing machine for the introduction of bags in vertical position into a transport container, the filled bags first of all being positioned in a collecting chamber provided with compartments, have mainly become known in the case of milk bags.

In a known collecting and packing machine of this kind the filled bags are placed, in a horizontal position, on a collecting surface provided with flaps. When the collecting surface has been completely covered the flaps are opened and the bags are tipped over the resulting edge into drop shafts, causing them to assume a vertical position.

The bags slide through the drop shafts into the collecting contaiers without being held up at any further intermediate stage. (Ger. Dem. Rep. Pat.

111 863).

This machine is only suitable for the packing of bags which can be pushed with comparative ease, i.e. tightly filled bags. Bags filled with sensitive material in the form of small pieces suffer deformation. Bags of this kind, moreover, could not be tipped satisfactorily over the edge into the drop shafts.

In a further known type of machine the filled bags are introduced via guide elements into the chambers of a storage box. When all the chambers have been filled a floor flap is opened and the bags slide into a collecting container. (Ger. Unexamd.

Specn. 20 46 094) The performance of this machine is very limited, as a storage operation can never take place until the floor flaps have been re-closed after the evacuation. The system thus always involves a certain idle period.

Both types of machine suffer from the additional drawback that the transport containers employed are not fully utilized. Empty spaces are always produced in the transport container as a result of air occlusions in the bags and owing to bags not completely filled. In addition the compartments of the storage box must always be larger than the packing volume.

The purpose of the invention is to develop a high-performance machine capable of making full use of the space in transport containers.

There is a need for a system ensuring uninterrupted operation and enabling the bags stored in the storage box to be introduced into the transport container while resting close together.

The invention enables this object to be achieved as a result of the fact that underneath a laternally pivotable chute or a conveyor belt two collecting chambers are situated in the pivoting range of the chute and close together, while underneath the collecting chambers compression boxes are provided which cover their respective floor surfaces. The compression boxes consist of a number of movable compression walls-situated at even distances apart and of a floor constructed as a retractable slide or pivotable flaps.

The compression walls are evenly displaceable in relation to one another from both sides by means of scissors grids articulated thereto.

This solution enables one collecting chamber to be filled while the other is being emptied. The compression boxes make it possible for a certain number of bags forming a row in the storage container to be aligned in close contact before being introduced into the said container and then to be introduced into the latter while so aligned.

The invention will be explained in greater details by reference to the following example.

The diagrams in the relevant drawings are as follows: Fig. 1: a schematic lateral diagram of the collecting and packing machine.

Fig. 2: the plan view corresponding to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3: the filled compression box in the compressed state.

Fig. 4: the mechanism for the movement of the compression walls.

A collecting and packing machine consists of a frame 1 containing a feed belt 2 and a laterally pivotable chute 3 connected to the latter.

Underneath the chute 3 are two collecting chambers 4.1 and 4.2, subdivided into compartments, situated adjacent to one another in the direction of transport and capable of being moved forward step-by-step. Has the known type of follow-up control. Underneath these two collecting chambers 4.1 and 4.2 are two compression boxes 5.1 and 5.2. The compression boxes 5.1 and 5.2 in each case consist of a number of compression walls 6 evenly movable at equal distances from one another and of a floor constructed as floor flaps 8 pivotable downwards.

In the example the compression walls 6 are situated at such a distance from one another that in each case room is provided for two filled bags in a vertical position. The distances can also be selected to ensure that some other number of bags can be inserted.

The compression walls 6 are in each case affixed in an overhung position to the articulation points of a scissors grid 9. By means of a pneumatic operating cylinder not shown in the drawing these scissors grids are moved in such a way that the distances between the compression walls are either reduced or increased. Underneath the compression boxes 5.1 and 5.2 is a transport container conveying device 7. In the zone of the compression boxes 5.1 and 5.2 is a lifting table 10 by means of which the empty transport container can be raised and pushed over the compression boxes 5.1, 5.2. It is also possible to guide two transport containers side-by-side, so that either one container can be filled in two rows or two containers in one row.

The filled bags B are moved into position by means of the feed belt 2 and then reach the chute 3.

At this moment the chute 3 assumes, for example, the position in which it is pivoted towards the left. The front end of the collection chamber 4.1 is situated under the outlet of the chute. The first bag thus slides in the vertical position into the foremost compartment of the collecting chamber 4.1. By a sensor operated by the bag a suitable step-by-step device is set in operation, as a result of which the collecting chamber is moved forwards by a distance corresponding to one compartment.

This process is repeated until all the compartments in the collecting chamber 4.1 are filled. By means of a contact situated in the last compartment, e.g. by means of a counting device, two operations are set up. In the first place the chute 3 is guided to the position in which it is pivoted to the right, while in the second place the left-hand collecting chamber 4.1, which is now filled, is returned in a stroke to the initial position.

By the pivoting movement of the chute 3 the right hand collecting chamber 4.1 can now be filled.

The operation of feeding the bags into position can thus proceed without interruption.

While in the right-hand collecting chamber 4.2 bags are once again being introduced, the floor of the left-hand collecting chamber 4.1 is opened and the bags slide in a vertical position into the compression box 5.1 situated underneath the said collecting chamber 4.1. After the right-hand collecting chamber 4.2 has been filled the chute is steered back again and the bags introduced in the manner already described into the collecting chamber 4.1. At the same time the collecting chamber 4.2 is returned to the initial position and its contents discharged in the same manner as 4.1 into 5.2, so that a series of bags are introduced into each of the compression chambers 5.1 and 5.2. The compression walls 6 are then brought together by means of the scissors grid 9.The prepared transport container is then raised by means of the lifting table 10 to the extent required to enable it to extend partly into and over the external contour of the compression boxes 5.1 and 5.2. The compression walls 6 are now moved slightly apart, after which the floors of the compression boxes are opened by a pivoting movement, enabling the filled bags to slide into the compression chamber. The lifting table is then re-lowered and the filled transport container conveyed, for example, to a sealing machine. After the discharge process the floors of the compression boxes are once again closed and the compression walls moved completely apart.

During the compression and discharge operations into and out of the compression boxes 5.1 and 5.2 further filled bags are introduced into the collecting chambers, ensuring a continuous sequence of operation.

The control of the sequences of movements and also that of the necessary driving mechanisms are effected pneumatically or electropneumatically in the known manner.

Claims

1. Collecting and packing machine for the insertion of filled tubular or flat bags into a transport container with a feed device constructed as a laterally pivotable chute or as a conveyor belt and with a collecting chamber situated underneath the chute, provided with compartments and a floor flap and movable forwards in steps, characterized by the fact that underneath the chute 3 two collecting chambers 4.1 and 4.2 are situated in the pivoting range of the chute and close together, while underneath the collecting chambers 4.1 and 4.2 compression boxes 5.1 and 5.2 are provided which cover their respective floor surfaces.

2. Collecting and packing machine in accordance with Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the compression boxes 5.1 and 5.2 consist of a number of movable compression walls 6 situated at even distances apart and of a floor constructed as a retractable slide or pivotable flaps 8.

3. Collecting and packing machine in accordance with Claims 1 and 2, characterized by the fact that the compression walls 6 are displaceable in relation to one another from both sides by means of scissors grids 9 articulated to the said wall.

4. A collecting and packing machine substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.