Device for packaging bags filled with a product in containers

Abstract: Device for packaging bags filled with products, such as detergent, potatoes or the like, in containers, such as boxes or crates. The bags have a tip. The device is provided with a conveyor device for conveying the bags in the direction of the containers. A discharge device is provided for placing the bags from the conveyor device into the containers. Means are present for operating the discharge device such that it fluently places the bags in the containers, that means without damaging forces being exerted on the bags.

Description: The present invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a device is known from DE 43 44 744 A1. The known device is provided with a single conveyor which transports bags to a container, such as a box or a crate. The known device also is provided with two holding elements 5 and 10 which press the bags which are already placed in the container down to a side of the container. The holding element 10 is also moveable into the container to guide a bag when it is discharged into the container by the conveyor belt. European patent application EP-A-0 461 513 discloses a discharge device which has a rotary valve, on which a bag having a tip, or in other words having a triangular shape or the shape of a drop, can be placed. After turning the valve open the bag falls down in the container placed underneath it. A drawback of such a device is that the bags or even the products that are stored in them, may get damaged when they are dropped into the container. The intended position of the bag in the container may unwantedly change due to the fall. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for packaging bags filled with a product in containers, such as boxes or crates, in which damage of the bags or the products, respectively, is considerably reduced, and in which the bags can be placed in a reproducible position in the containers. To that end the invention provides the device as defined in claim 1. With this device the bags can be placed on the bottom of the container or on bags previously placed in the container, without forces being active on them that damage the bags or the products stored in them, respectively. So the bags are in fact laid down gently in the container by the discharge device. Due to the fact that the retracting belt can be moved into the container, an extremely accurate positioning of the bags in the containers is obtained. Further, a positioning of the bags in the containers having a high production speed is obtained. It is noted here that a retracting belt is known per se in the state of the art. Because the end of the retracting belt can be placed up to various levels in the container, it is possible to simply lay down a bag fluently on the bottom of the container, or on a bag previously placed in the container. Because the fixed belt and the retracting belt have been arranged on a frame, which near the upper end of the fixed belt has been hingingly attached for swinging in the vertical plane, both belts can be pivoted, for vertical movement of the discharge end, without the connection between the belts being broken off. A preferred embodiment of a device according to the invention has a carrier platform for the containers, which carrier platform is placed at a distance from and below the conveyor device, and the retracting belt extending downward from the conveyor device in the direction of the carrier platform. Preferably the platform for carrying the containers can be rotated. Due to the platform being rotatable, a bag can first be placed in the container when the bags have a smaller surface in cross-section than the container, after which the container is rotated and subsequently the next bag is being placed, to cover the surface of the container with bags. This manner of filling a container takes relatively little time. A fluent placement of the bags in the container is promoted when the means for operating the discharge device, i.e. the rod assembly and the motors, give a sinusoidal movement to the end of the retracting belt, substantially according to a plane parallel to the main plane of the retracting belt. Preferably the retracting belt is connected to a fixed belt, underneath which the retracting belt is arranged in a movable manner. Preferably the retracting belt as a whole is moveable along the fixed belt, so that no provision needs to be made for bufferlength belt. A constructively simple discharge device to be used in a device according to the present invention is obtained in that the means for operating the discharge device are provided with a first coupling rod and a second coupling rod, in which an end of the first coupling rod is connected to the discharge device by means of a first pivot shaft, in which the other end of the first coupling rod is connected to an end of the second coupling rod by means of a second pivot shaft, and the other end of the second coupling rod is fixedly connected to a first motor for swinging the one end of the second coupling rod, and with a third coupling rod and a fourth coupling rod, in which an end of the third coupling rod is connected at a point approximately halfway of the first coupling rod by means of a third pivot shaft, in which the other end of the third coupling rod is connected to an end of the fourth coupling rod by means of a fourth pivot shaft, and the other end of the fourth coupling rod is fixedly connected to a second motor for swinging the one end of the fourth coupling rod. Preferably the action of the first and the second motor, the drive of the discharge device and possibly the rotation of the platform can be adapted to each other, in particular are synchronized for achieving an extremely accurate working of the device. In order to prevent bags from falling off the discharge device during being conveyed on it and are being guided well, it is preferred that the discharge device is provided with means for laterally guiding the bags. The invention will be described below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached figures, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of the device according to the invention for packaging bags filled with products in containers, such as boxes or crates; and Figures 2A and 2B show two subsequent situations in the use of a device according to the invention comparable to the device of figure 1. The figure schematically shows a side view of a device for packaging bags 3, 3', 3" filled with products, such as detergent, potatoes and the like in containers 2, such as boxes or crates. The bags 3, 3', 3" have a tip, and as a result are triangular or drop-shaped. A conveyor device 4 conveys the bags 3 in the direction of the containers 2. Such a conveyor device 4 may be a conveyor belt or a roller conveyor, and is driven by motor 23. By means of the discharge device 5 the bags 3', 3" are placed from the conveyor device 4 into the containers 2. According to the invention the device 1 is provided with means for operating the discharge device 5 such that it fluently places the bags 3', 3" in the containers 2. That means that no damaging forces, such as for instance a force occurring during the fall of the bags on the bottom of the containers, are exerted on the bags 3, 3', 3". The discharge device 5 comprises two conveyor belts, namely a relatively fixed belt 22 and a retracting belt 6 situated underneath it. Both belts have been arranged in frame 30 for joint swinging in the directions G about an upstream hinge point near the connection to supply belt 4. The belt 22 is driven by motor 21, and is shielded to both sides by side plates 31, which merge into side plates 20 at the discharge end. The retracting belt 6 revolves around rollers 26, 27 in which between both tracks of the belt 6 a light motor 28 has been placed for driving the belt 6. The belt 6, with the rollers 26, 27 and the motor 28 is slidably arranged in frame 30, in order to move as a whole past belt 22. The rollers 26, 27 move along with it here. The operation lines for the motor 28 are flexible. Alternatively a retracting belt may be provided having a stock loop of variable length, so that only the end 7 is moved. Such retracting belts are known per se, and therefore will not be described in further detail here. The retracting belt 6 has an end 7 which protrudes from the end of the belt 22. Said end is suspended from a rod assembly by means of raised side plates 24, which rod assembly is driven by motors 12 and 17. By its lower end, a first coupling rod 8 is rotatably connected to side plates 24 and therewith to the retracting belt 6, by means of a first pivot shaft 9. The other end of the first coupling rod 8 is rotatably connected to the end of a second coupling rod 10 by means of pivot shaft 11, which coupling rod is fixedly connected to the output shaft of a first motor. With its one end a third coupling rod 13 is rotatably connected at a point approximately halfway of the first coupling rod 8 (or lower, see figures 2A and 2B), by means of a third pivot shaft 14. The other end of the third coupling rod 13 is rotatably connected to an end of the fourth coupling rod 15 by means of a fourth pivot shaft 16. The other end of the fourth coupling rod 15 is fixedly connected to the output shaft of a second motor 17 that can make the one end of the fourth coupling rod 15 swing. By keeping the motor 12 still the pivot shaft 11 will take up a fixed position, and will form a fixed point of rotation for the rod 8. When the motor 17 is operated the rod 15 will revolve in the direction E. The shaft 14 will as a result be reciprocally moved in the directions F, and the same goes for the pivot shaft 9, which will move according to path D. As a result the side plates 24 will move along, and thus the end 7 of belt 6, and the entire belt 6 for that matter, will reciprocally move in the directions H, substantially according to a sinusoidal movement. By operating the motor 12 the point of rotation 11 will also start to rotate, as a result of which the rod 8 is moved up and down and therewith, via point of rotation 9 and side plates 24, the end 7, which thus (also) moves in the directions V. The motor 12 will mostly only be rotated a little to adjust the height of end 7, after which the motor 17 is operated again for discharging a next bag 3. Preferably the action of the first 12 and the second motor 17, the motor 28 for the retracting belt 6, the motor 21 for the belt 22, and the motor 23 for the supply belt 4, as well as the motor 19 for the rotation of the platform 18 are synchronized or adjustable one to the other for obtaining an extremely accurate performance of the device. Thus the end 7 can be accurately placed into the container 2 for extremely accurate positioning of the bags 3, 3" in the container 2, in which a high production speed is also attainable. The end 7 of the retracting belt 6 can be placed in the container 2 at various levels. As a result it is easily possible to fluently lay down a bag 3', 3" on the bottom of the container 2, or on a bag already previously placed in the container 2. A carrier platform 18 carries the containers 2 to be filled with the bags 3. This carrier platform 18 is placed at a distance from and below the supply belt 4. The retracting belt 6 therefore extends downward from the conveyor device 4 in the direction of the carrier platform 18. Preferably the platform 18 for carrying the containers 2 is rotatable, by means of motor 19. When in operation the bags 3 are supplied (A) on supply belt 4, and they end up on belt 22, in order to be conveyed in the direction B (the belt 22 returns in direction C). At the lower end of the belt 22 the bags are transferred to the end 7 of the belt 6 in a controlled manner. The end 7 of the retracting belt 6 -including a bag 3'- is now moved to the bottom of the container. Because the retracting belt 6 keeps being driven (in the same direction as belt 22) the bag 3' is moved forward, whereas the retracting belt 6 as a whole makes a retracting movement, so that the bag 3' is gradually and fluently laid down on the bottom of the container 2. After that motor 19 rotates the platform 18 including container 2 for instance over 180 DEG . Subsequently the next bag 3" is placed to cover the surface of the container 2 with bags. Here the retracting belt as a whole first moves forward again and then retracts again, but remains being driven. After that a next bag may be placed on top of the bag 3", after which the container is rotated again etcetera. This way of filling a container takes up relatively little time, as rotation takes place during the time needed by a next bag to be conveyed to the end of the retracting belt. Because the means for operating the discharge device give a sinusoidal movement to the end 7 of the retracting belt 6 an extremely fluent placement of the bags 3', 3" in the container 2, is achieved. In order to prevent bags from falling off the retracting belt during being conveyed on it and are being guided well, raised partitions 20 are provided, for laterally guiding the bags 3, 3', 3".

Claims: Device for packaging bags filled with a product in containers, such as boxes or crates, in which the bags have a tip, which device is provided with: a conveyor device (4) for conveying the bags (3, 3', 3") in the direction of the containers (2), characterized by a discharge device (5) for placing the bags (3, 3', 3") from the conveyor device (4) into the containers (2), the device being provided with means for operating the discharge device such that it fluently places the bags (3, 3', 3") in the containers (2), i.e. without damaging forces being exerted on the bags, the means of the discharge device comprising a frame (30) on which a fixed belt (22) and a retracting belt (6) are arranged, the frame (30), near an upper end of the fixed belt (22) being hingingly attached for rotation in the vertical plane, at least a discharge end (7) of the retracting belt (6) being arranged moveable relative to the fixed belt (22), the end (7) of the retracting belt (6) being suspended from a rod assembly which is driven by motors (12, 17), so that the end (7) can be placed up to various levels in the container (2). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a carrier platform (18) for the containers (2) is provided, which carrier platform (18) is placed at a distance from and below the conveyor device (4), and in that the retracting belt (6) extends downward from the conveyor device (4) in the direction of the carrier platform (18). Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the means for operating the discharge device, i.e. the rod assembly (8, 10, 13, 15) and the motors (12, 17), give a sinusoidal movement to the end (7) of the retracting belt (6), substantially according to a plane parallel to the main plane of the retracting belt (6). Device according to any one of the claim 1-3, characterized in that the retracting belt (6) is connected to the fixed belt (22), underneath which the retracting belt (6) is arranged in a movable manner. Device according to any one of the previous claims, the retracting belt (6) as a whole being movable along the fixed belt (22). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for operating the discharge device (5) are provided with a first coupling rod (8) and a second coupling rod (10), in which an end of the first coupling rod (8) is connected to the discharge device by means of a first pivot shaft (9), in which the other end of the first coupling rod (8) is connected to an end of the second coupling rod (10) by means of a second pivot shaft (11), and the other end of the second coupling rod (10) is fixedly connected to a first motor (12) for swinging the one end of the second coupling rod (10), and with a third coupling rod (13) and a fourth coupling rod (15), in which an end of the third coupling rod (13) is connected at a point approximately halfway of the first coupling rod (8) by means of a third pivot shaft (16), in which the other end of the third coupling rod (13) is connected to an end of the fourth coupling rod (15) by means of a fourth pivot shaft (16), and the other end of the fourth coupling rod (15) is fixedly connected to a second motor (17) for swinging the one end of the fourth coupling rod (15). Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the platform (18) for carrying the containers can be rotated. Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the action of the first and the second motor (12, respectively, 17), the drive (21, 23, 28) of the discharge device (5) and possibly the rotation of the platform (18) can be adapted to each other, in particular are synchronized. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the discharge device (5) is provided with means (20, 31) for laterally guiding the bags.

Inventors: AQUARIUS PIETER THEODORUS JOSE, AQUARIUS, PIETER THEODORUS JOSEPH
Applicants: PI WI BEHEER B V, PI-WI BEHEER B.V.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B65B5
IPC codes: B65B35, B65B5