Patent Publication Number: US-2022212823-A1

Title: Machine for packaging products in preformed flexible containers with closing element

Description:
The present invention relates to a machine for packaging products in preformed flexible containers with a closing element. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Different types of packaging are available on the market, each one adapted to a specific use. In particular, on the market there is a packaging commonly known as “Doypack®”, which is usually used as a single-use packaging for granulated or liquid products, and has the feature that it includes a closing element. 
     This closing element is usually of the type known as a “Zipper®”, which is commonly used for powdered, granulated, hygienic, cleaning or food products. This type of closure is a snap closure along a line. 
     In addition, this type of container may, if desired, comprise a nozzle formed in the container itself closed by a cap. 
     In order to achieve maximum packaging productivity, automatic packaging machines are used, comprising a dosing station for dosing a product into the container and a sealing station in which the filled container is sealed. 
     When using “Doypack®” containers, the presence of this closing element makes the packaging operation more difficult, and it is always necessary to supply the containers to the machine with the closing element open, with the consequent problem that this entails, since during production the closing element can remain closed. 
     Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to provide a packaging machine which enables products to be packaged quickly and easily in such containers provided with a closing element. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With the packaging machine of the invention, the above-mentioned disadvantages are solved, presenting other advantages which will be described below. 
     The machine for packaging products in preformed flexible containers with closing element according to the present invention comprises:
         a feeding station that feeds the preformed flexible containers with closing element;   a dosing station, which doses a product into the containers; and   a sealing station, which seals the container with the product inside it,
 
wherein the packaging machine also comprises an opening station, in which said container is opened, said opening station being positioned before said dosing station.
       

     Thanks to this feature, the container can be fed with the closing element open or closed, as the opening station allows to open the closing element in case it is closed, increasing the productivity of the packaging machine. 
     Advantageously, said opening station comprises a pair of suction elements, such as two suction cups, which are fixed to two opposite parts of the container. 
     Furthermore, said opening station also preferably comprises a pair of opening grippers, which open said container before dosing. Said grippers, for example, are a pair of plates which are inserted through a mouth of said container and are moved apart from each other to open the container. 
     In the machine for packaging products in preformed flexible containers with closing element according to the present invention, said container feeding station preferably comprises a conveyor belt. 
     Said container feeding station also preferably comprises a positioning sensor, which detects the position of a container and can determine whether said container is in the correct position. 
     The machine for packaging products in preformed flexible containers with closing element according to the present invention also preferably comprises a positioning arm carrying a bag from the container feeding station to the opening station. Said positioning arm is advantageously tiltable from a container pick-up position at the container feeding station to a container delivery position to the opening station. 
     Furthermore, advantageously said container feeding station comprises suction elements for lifting the front end of the container to be held by said positioning arm. 
     The machine for packaging products in preformed flexible containers with closing element according to the present invention may also comprise a closing element feeding station. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, said closing element feed station comprises a flap hinged between an open position allowing the passage of a closing element and a closed position in which it prevents the passage of at least one closing element, a locking piston for locking at least one closing element, and/or grippers for holding a closing element. 
     Furthermore, said sealing station preferably comprises sealing jaws. 
     Said closing element is a plug and/or a zipper. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of what has been explained above, some drawings are included in which, schematically and only as a non-limiting example, a practical case of embodiment is shown. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the packaging machine according to the present invention during the feeding of a preformed flexible container; 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  are perspective views of the packaging machine according to the present invention during the transfer of a container from the container feeding station to the opening station; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the packaging machine according to the present invention with a container in its initial position in the opening station; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the packaging machine according to the present invention with a container in its open position at the opening station; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the closing element feeding station with the hinged flap in its closed position; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the closing element feeding station with the hinged flap in its open position; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the packaging machine according to the present invention, wherein is shown the sealing station with its sealing jaws in the open position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The figures show the most relevant stations of the packaging machine according to the present invention, although the last stations, which are the dosing and sealing stations (for the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 5 ), are not shown, for reasons of simplicity and because they are conventional dosing and sealing stations. 
     It should be noted that this packaging machine is specially designed for use with containers of the type comprising a closing element, commonly known in the industry as a “Zipper®”. In other words, it is designed for use with containers known as “Doypack®”. 
     The main advantage of the packaging machine according to the present invention is that it allows to feed the containers with their closing element closed or open, since in either case the machine will open said container before its dosing with the desired product. 
     The packaging machine according to the present invention comprises a container feeding station, generally identified by reference numeral  1 , comprising a conveyor belt  11 , which feeds the containers  10 . 
     Said conveyor belt  11  may comprise rollers  12  and a sensor, which detects the position of the container  10  and determines whether its position is correct. 
     When such position is correct, suction elements  13  hold said container  10  for lifting its front end, which is provided with a mouth, so that a positioning arm  2  is coupled to said end of the container  10 . 
     Said positioning arm  2  is preferably tiltable and moves the container  10  from the container feeding station  1  to an opening station  3 . This movement can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     In said opening station  3 , the container  10  is placed in the appropriate position as shown in  FIG. 4 . In this position, suction elements  31 , such as suction cups, are fixed on two opposite portions of the container  10  close to the end provided with said mouth. 
     Furthermore, in order to open the container  10 , the opening station  3  comprises opening grippers  32 , which also open in this way the closing element of the container  10 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Said opening tongs  32  are preferably formed from plates which are inserted into the mouth of the container  10  for opening. 
     Next, although not shown in the figures, the container  10  is taken to a dosing station, where a suitable product is dosed to fill the container  10  and, finally, the container  10  is sealed, with the possibility of fitting a cap, if so desired. 
       FIGS. 6 to 8  show an alternative embodiment of the product packaging machine according to the present invention, which is used in the case where the closing element is a cap, which is placed in a Doypack® type flexible container. 
     It should be noted, however, that the same machine may comprise a part for the packaging of Doypack® type flexible packaging products with Zipper® and a part for the packaging of Doypack® type flexible packaging products with cap. 
     In this embodiment, the machine comprises a station for feeding closing elements  4 , i.e., caps  5 . 
     In the embodiment shown, in said closing element feeding station  4  the caps are placed one above the other vertically, and a hinged flap  41  closes the feeding of the last cap  5  or cap placed in the lowest position of the stack of caps. 
     Furthermore, in order to prevent the feeding of several caps at the same time, said closing element feeding station  4  also comprises a blocking piston  42 , which blocks the advancement of the penultimate cap  5  in the cap stack before the opening of the hinged flap  41 . 
     This closing element feed station  4  also comprises grippers  43  which hold the last cap  5  for placement on the container  10 . 
     The positioning of the cap  5  on the container  10  is preferably carried out by welding, and at the same time as welding the cap  5  is stretched/closes the container  10  at the top in order to be able to obtain a better welding quality. 
       FIG. 6  shows the hinged flap  41  in its closed position, while  FIG. 7  shows it in its open position, allowing the lowering of the last cap  5  from the stack of caps for placement in the container  10 . 
     The packaging machine also comprises a sealing station  6 , which seals the container  10  by means of jaws  61 , which in  FIG. 6  the jaws  61  are shown in their closed position, sealing the container  10 , whereas in  FIG. 8  they are shown in their open position. 
     Once the container  10  has been welded, the grippers  43  are opened, releasing the cap  5 , and they are raised to their former position. 
     In addition, the already formed container  10  is transported, awaiting receipt of the next cap  5  to be placed on the next container  10 . 
     Although reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the packaging machine described is susceptible of numerous variations and modifications, and that all the details mentioned can be replaced by other technically equivalent ones, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.