Abstract:
The invention relates to a device ( 10 ) for forming, filling and closing bags provided with respectively one pouring device, comprising a device ( 23 ) for forming a tube ( 25 ) from at least one material web ( 12 ), a filling device ( 28 ) for filling the tube ( 25 ) and/or the bags ( 5 ) and a cross-seam sealing and separating device ( 33 ) for separating respectively one bag ( 5 ) from the tube ( 5 ). According to the invention, said device ( 23 ) for forming the tube ( 25 ) comprises a forming device ( 24 ) which forms the tube ( 25 ) from one single material web ( 12 ) and the filling device ( 28 ) fills the tube ( 25 ) with the filling material over the entire cross-section of the tube ( 25 ) and one outer part ( 4 ) of the of the pouring device ( 1 ) is joined to the material web ( 12 ) after forming the tube ( 25 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to an apparatus for forming, filling and closing bags, each with a pouring device. 
         [0002]    An apparatus is already known from U.S. Pat. No. 7,469,522 B2. In the case of the known apparatus, two flexible material webs are conveyed independently of one another and formed into bags using a flexible-tube-forming device. In this case, pouring devices are connected to one of the material webs beforehand using an applicator, wherein corresponding holes are formed prior to this in the material web. Once the bags have been fully formed, this also including closure of the bags in the head region thereof, the bags are then filled in a filling device, by the caps being unscrewed from the pouring devices and the bags being filled through the pouring devices. 
         [0003]    The known apparatus, as a result of using two material webs which have to be welded by means of two longitudinal seams, involves the potential risk of the sealing in the region of the longitudinal seams not being tight. It should also be considered disadvantageous that the operation of filling the previously fully formed bags, provided with transverse seams, through the pouring devices means that this operation of filling the bags takes a relatively long period of time, since the filling cross section which is possible for the purpose of filling the bag is defined or limited by the size of the pouring device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Proceeding from the prior art presented, it is an object of the invention to develop an apparatus for forming, filling and closing bags, each with a pouring device, such that the bags produced by means of the apparatus are sealed to particularly good effect and can be filled relatively quickly. This object is achieved in the case of a device for forming, filling and closing bags, each with a pouring device, characterized in that the material web is sterilized by means of a sterilizing device, and in that the sterilizing device encloses the region of the shaping device and terminates above the application device for the pouring devices having the features of claim  1 . The invention is based on the idea of using a shaping device, which forms the flexible tube from a single material web, to reduce the number of longitudinal seams on the bags, which may potentially result in lack of sealing. Furthermore, filling over the entire opening cross section of the flexible tube makes a reduced filling period possible. 
         [0005]    In a particularly advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the shaping device is designed as a forming shoulder, and that a filling tube of the filling device is arranged in the forming shoulder, the flexible tube being filled through this filling tube prior to a head closure being formed on the bag. Such a design is already known in practice, and has proven successful, in the case of so-called tubular-bag machines. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, it is provided that a second application device is provided for fastening an outer part of the pouring device, this second application device being arranged upstream of the transverse-seam-sealing and severing device, in the region of the filling tube, and connecting the second part of the pouring device to the first part of the pouring device from the outside of the flexible tube. This has the advantage that the filling tube can be used as an abutment for the purpose of applying the second part of the pouring device, and therefore the second application device can be of relatively straightforward construction. 
         [0007]    In order to allow straightforward transportation of the material web, in particular also over the forming shoulder, as soon as the first part of the pouring device has been connected to the material web, it is also particularly preferably provided that the inner part of the pouring device comprises a sheet-like element, which fully covers over the hole in the material web, and that the outer part comprises a mouthpiece with a cap element, which is connected to the first part, in particular by ultrasonic friction welding. The sheet-like element, which is relatively thin in the heightwise direction, renders it straightforwardly possible for the material web to be drawn over the forming shoulder, or the device for forming the bags, without there being any need for the latter to be of particularly complex design in order not to conflict with the first parts of the pouring device. 
         [0008]    Arranging the pouring device in the head region of the bags has the advantage that the bags, when tilted, can easily be completely emptied. 
         [0009]    In order to avoid the situation where germs form and/or multiply in certain foods, for example in milk, it is further provided, in a further design development of the invention, that the material web is sterilized by means of a sterilizing device, and that the sterilizing device encloses the region of the shaping device. This makes it possible, in particular, also for the inside of the material web to be protected, provided it has been arranged in a sterile atmosphere immediately prior to the flexible tubes being formed. 
         [0010]    In order for the sterilizing device, nevertheless, to be kept as compact as possible, and also to avoid disruption to the sterilizing operation even when first parts of the pouring devices are being refilled into the first application device, it is, moreover, particularly preferably provided that the sterilizing device is arranged downstream of the first application device. In other words, this means that maintenance work or repair in the region of the first application device is possible at any time without intervention having to be made, for this purpose, in the region of the sterilizing device. 
         [0011]    It is particularly preferred, in addition, to have production machines which comprise at least two apparatuses according to the invention, arranged parallel to one another, for forming, filling and closing bags, each with a pouring device. This allows the capacity of the installation to be increased relatively straightforwardly, and it is, if appropriate, also possible to use, for example, identical devices, e.g. identical conveying devices, in order to reduce the equipment-related outlay for a certain capacity. 
         [0012]    It is particularly preferred here if the apparatuses have a common sterilizing device or a common control device. 
         [0013]    The invention further comprises a method of forming, filling and closing bags, each with a pouring device, and to bags produced by this method. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Further advantages and features of the invention can be gathered from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings, in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a vastly simplified illustration of an apparatus according to the invention for forming, filling and closing bags, each with a pouring device, for the purpose of explaining the basic construction and the basic functioning, 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  shows an illustration of the apparatus according to  FIG. 1  in a somewhat more detailed view, 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a production machine comprising two apparatuses according to the invention from  FIGS. 1 and 2 , 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a device for storing two material webs, 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a first application device, for applying sheet-like parts of the pouring device, 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the material web with the first part of the pouring device in the region of the application device according to  FIG. 5 , 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of part of the application device according to  FIG. 5  for the purpose of explaining the functioning, and 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a second application device, for the purpose of applying mouthpieces of the pouring device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    Identical parts or elements are designated by the same designations in the figures. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  illustrates an apparatus  10  for forming, filling and closing bags  5 , each with a pouring device  1 . The apparatus  10  comprises a storage device  11 , in which a flexible material web  12 , consisting of heat-sealable plastics material, is stored in the form of a roll  13 . Possible materials for the material web here are those which are suitable in the prior art for producing so-called “tubular bags”. As seen in the conveying direction of the material web  12 , indicated by the arrow  14 , the storage device  11  is followed by a first application device  15  for applying the pouring device  1 . The first application device  15  here has, in particular, a punch  16 , which punches a hole  131 , illustrated in  FIG. 6 , into the material web  12 , wherein the severed, in particular round punching waste is collected by means of a collecting container  18 , which is located on that side of the material web  12  which is opposite to the punch  16 . 
         [0025]    The punch  16  is followed by an applicator  19  (not illustrated in detail) which applies first, inner parts  2  of the pouring devices  1  to the side  3  of the material web  12 , this side forming the later inside of the bags  5 , and connects them thereto. The first parts  2  here comprise a rectangular or square blank of a plastics sheet material, which reinstates the necessary sealing and the desired barrier properties in the region of the hole  131 . For example ultrasonic friction welding or heat sealing is used as the method of connecting the first part  2  of the pouring device  1  and the material web  12 . 
         [0026]    The material web  12  provided with the uniformly spaced-apart first parts  2  of the pouring devices  1  then passes into the region of a sterilizing device  20 . The sterilizing device  20  will be explained in more detail hereinbelow with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . A forming device  23  is provided for forming the bags  5  from the material web  12 , this forming device having a forming shoulder  24 , over which the material web  12  is drawn, and formed, in a known manner in order to give a flexible tube  25 . The forming shoulder  24  here, likewise in a known manner, has a filling tube  27  of a filling device  28  passing through it, it being possible for one or more, in particular liquid contents to be discharged through this filling tube into the flexible tube  25  over the entire opening cross section or the entire cross-sectional surface area of the flexible tube  25 . The filling device  28  here comprises a filling or metering means, which is designated by  29  in  FIG. 1 . A second application device  30 , for applying a second, outer part  4  of the pouring device  1 , is arranged beneath the forming shoulder  24 , but still level with, or in the region of the filling tube  27 . The second part  4  of the pouring device  1  here is designed as a mouthpiece, which is preferably provided with a screw-on cap, wherein the second part  4  is connected to the first part  2  of the pouring device  1  from the outside  6  of the flexible tube  25 . The operation of connecting the two parts  2  and  4  of the pouring device  1  here preferably takes place by ultrasonic friction welding. The second part  2  contains cutting edges or the like (not illustrated) which, when the second part  4  is opened, slit or perforate the first part  2  in order to form a through-passage for the contents. 
         [0027]    The second device  30  is followed underneath by a transverse-seam-sealing device  33 , which has two transverse-seam-sealing jaws  34 ,  35  which can be moved in relation to one another and have in particular integral severing devices and folding devices in order, on the one hand, to form in each case the base regions  7  and/or the head regions  8  of the bag  5  and, on the other hand, to sever in each case one bag  5  from the flexible tube  25 . As is further evident with reference to  FIG. 1 , the pouring devices  1  are arranged on the bags  5  in in each case a sloping head wall  9  of the bag  5 . It is also possible to see a longitudinal-seam-sealing device  36  in the region of the filling tube  27 , this device having at least one longitudinal-seam-sealing jaw  37  in order for the two peripheral regions of the material web  12  positioned one above the other to be welded to one another to give the flexible tube  25 . 
         [0028]    As is evident only with reference to  FIG. 3 , the longitudinal-seam-sealing jaw  37  is followed underneath by further longitudinal-seam-sealing jaws  58 , in order for four longitudinal seams to be formed in the flexible tube  25 , these longitudinal seams being arranged in the respective corner regions of the bag  5  in order for the latter to be rectangular or cuboidal overall in cross section. The longitudinal seams, which do not connect the two lateral end regions of the material web  12 , are formed here as so-called “blind seams”. 
         [0029]    It is further evident with reference to  FIG. 1  that the sterilizing device  20  follows the first application device  15  for the pouring devices  1  and has a housing  38  which encloses the region of the forming device  23 , in particular of the forming shoulder  24 , and terminates just above the second application device  30  for the pouring devices  1 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  illustrates parts of the apparatus  10  somewhat more specifically, and further details which are not evident with reference to  FIG. 1  will now be described. It is thus possible to see between the storage device  11  and the first application device  15 , on the one hand, and the first application device  15  and the sterilizing device  20 , on the other hand, compensating rollers  40  and  41 , respectively, which allow for compensation between the material web  12  conveyed continuously within the sterilizing device  20  and the material web  12  conveyed in stepwise fashion in the region of the first application device  15 . The sterilizing device  20 , which is necessary depending on the relevant application case, is also illustrated in more detail. This device contains a peroxide bath  42 , through which the material web  12  is guided over a plurality of deflecting rollers  43  in order for the material web  12  to be sterilized on its two sides  3  and  6 . The peroxide bath  42  is followed, within the housing  38 , by a drying device  44 , which removes the peroxide film from the material web  12  in a known manner, e.g. by means of blade nozzles  39  arranged on the opposite sides  3  and  6  of the material web  12 . The blade nozzles  39  are followed by heating or drying devices  45 ,  46 , which are likewise located on both sides  3  and  6  of the material web  12 , and dry the material web  12 . The sterilizing device  20  further comprises, as is customary, ventilation devices  47  and catalytic converters  48 . 
         [0031]    The drying device  44  is followed by a transporting device  50 , which convey the material web  12  continuously, by a friction fit, by means of rollers. The transporting device  50  is followed by further compensating rollers  51 , for the interim storage of a portion of the material web  12 . Also evident in  FIG. 2  are two vacuum-assisted drawing-off belts  53 ,  54 , which are arranged on opposite sides of the filling tube  27  in order to draw off the material web  12 , or the formed flexible tube  25 , cyclically over the forming shoulder  24 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  illustrates a production machine  100  which comprises two apparatuses  10  according to the invention arranged parallel to one another. This means that the production machine  100  contains a double set of essentially all those constituent parts of the apparatus  10  which have been explained in the context of the description above. For the sake of simplicity and of better clarity, however,  FIG. 3  does not illustrate all the elements already described within the context of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . It is advantageously provided that the apparatuses  10  can also share certain devices. It is thus conceivable, in particular, for the apparatuses  10  to have a common sterilizing device  25  and, if appropriate, a common control device. This makes it possible to reduce the equipment-related outlay while having double the yield or capacity in comparison with a single apparatus  10 . Also evident in  FIG. 3  is a conveying device  55 , on which the finished bags  5  are transported further, for example in order to be provided with further, external packaging. It is also possible to see that the transverse-seam-sealing device  33  has movable plate elements  56 ,  57 , with the aid of which the base regions  7  and head regions  8  of the bags  5  are formed. Additional longitudinal-seam-sealing jaws  58  are also illustrated above the drawing-off belts  53 ,  54 , these jaws forming the longitudinal seams arranged in the corner regions of the bags  5 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  illustrates the storage device  11  as used in the production machine  100 , that is to say it serves for storing two rolls  13  arranged one beside the other. The storage device  11  has a framework  110  with two spaced-apart, vertically arranged carrying uprights  112 ,  113 . Each carrying upright  112 ,  113  has fastened on it a pivoting mechanism  114 ,  115 , which interacts with a roll  13 , the roll  13  being mounted on a horizontal axial element, which in turn is connected to the pivoting mechanism  114 ,  115 . This allows each of the rolls  13 , for exchange purposes or for other reasons, to be pivoted separately, by means of its pivoting mechanism  114 ,  115 , in the horizontal direction out of its operating position, which is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The rolls  13  here are centered automatically by the storage device  111  during changeover and during operation. 
         [0034]    Parts of the first application device  15  are illustrated in more detail in  FIG. 5 . This device has a framework  120  on which, for each material web  12 , a storage roll  121 ,  122  with first parts  2  is mounted in a rotatable manner in axial elements  123 ,  124 . The storage rolls  121 ,  122  here are arranged on separate carriages  125 ,  126 , which can be moved horizontally in each case in accordance with the double arrows  127 ,  128 . This makes it possible to gauge the position of the parts  2  on the material web  12 . The first parts  2  are heated in order to be applied to the material web  12 , this allowing them to be connected to the material web  12  to good effect by heat sealing. 
         [0035]      FIG. 6  illustrates a material web  12  in which a hole  131  has been formed by means of the punch  16 , which is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Also evident is a first part  2 , which has been connected to the material web  12  from the inner side  3  of the material web  12  by means of the first application device  15 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  shows a severing device  132  as part of the first application device  15 , this severing device severing a respective first part  2  from the storage roll  121 . It is also possible to see the punch  16  with its abutment  133 , further a heat-sealing jaw  134 , for fastening the first part of the material web  12 , and additionally a counterpart  135 , for applying the necessary sealing pressure in conjunction with the heat-sealing jaw  134 . The conveying direction of the material web  12  is indicated by the arrow  136  in  FIG. 7 , this conveying direction running at right angles to the conveying direction of the material web  12 . 
         [0037]    Parts of the second application device  30  are illustrated in more detail in  FIG. 8 . It is possible to see the filling tube  27 , which serves simultaneously as forming tube, and a first part  2  fastened on the flexible tube  25 . The second application device  30  has an ultrasonic sealing device  141 , which connects a second part  4  to the first part  2  in each case. It is also possible to see a feed shaft  142 , as part of a magazine for storing the second parts  4 , and a conveying arm  143 , which is arranged such that it can be pivoted between a receiving position, for receiving a second part  4 , and a sealing position, for operative connection with the ultrasonic sealing device  141 .