Apparatus for transporting, testing, filling and sealing a bag

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for transporting, testing, filling and sealing a bag which is comprised of a bag body that can be spread out to form a rectangular cross section, said bag body being made up of two wider first and two narrower second bag walls, a bag bottom sealing the bag body at the bottom, a bag opening bordering the bag body at the top, and an opened bag seal, whereby the bag seal itself comprises first sealing flaps which are connected to the first bag walls respectively and stick out horizontally from the bag opening outwards, and towards the first bag walls at right angles, second sealing flaps which are connected to the second bag walls respectively and which lie—especially when folded inwards onto the bag opening—horizontally so that the first sealing flaps and the second sealing flaps form a frame-shaped sealing collar lying on a horizontal plane, by which during transporting, testing, filling and sealing the outer areas of the first sealing flaps are held by means of propelling conveying means.

1 . A method for transporting, testing, filling and sealing a bag ( 11 ) which 
 is comprised of a bag body ( 10 ) which can be spread out to form a rectangular cross section, said bag body being made up of two wider first and two narrower second bag walls ( 1 ,  2 ),    a bag bottom ( 9 ) sealing the bag body ( 10 ) at the bottom,    a bag opening ( 15 ) bordering the bag body ( 10 ) at the top, and    an opened bag seal ( 8 ), whereby the bag seal itself    comprises first sealing flaps ( 21 ) which are connected to the first bag walls respectively and stick out horizontally from the bag opening ( 15 ) outwards, and towards the first bag walls ( 1 ) at right angles,    second sealing flaps ( 22 ) which are connected to the second bag walls ( 2 ) respectively and which lie horizontally    so that the first sealing flaps ( 21 ) and the second sealing flaps ( 22 ) form a frame-shaped sealing collar ( 16 ) lying on a horizontal plane area for which the external areas ( 23 ) of the first sealing flaps ( 21 ) are held by propelling conveying means ( 33 ,  43 ,  53 ) during transport, testing, filling and sealing.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that at the start of the transport, the bag uppermost strips ( 13 ) of the first bag walls ( 1 ) are incorporated in the horizontal level of the first sealing flaps ( 21 ) and form a slot-shaped opening ( 12 ) when the bag body is flattened and shortened.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , characterized in that at the start of the transport the uppermost strips ( 13 ) of the first bag walls ( 1 ) and the internal areas ( 24 ) of the first sealing flaps ( 21 ) are immediately supported from below at the first bag walls ( 1 ) by stationary guide beads ( 32 ).  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , characterized in that that a bag ( 11 ) with a flattened bag body ( 10 ) is guided between perpendicular parallel support plates ( 42 ).  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , characterized in that that for the first bag walls ( 1 ) being supported sideways by the support plates ( 42 ) compressed air is supplied through the bag opening ( 15 ) for the purpose of testing the seal of a bag ( 11 ).  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , characterized in that that due to negative testing of the seal of a bag ( 11 ) the support plates ( 42 ) and conveying means ( 43 ) are separated from each other in such a way that the bag ( 11 ) is discharged.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that that for the filling of a bag ( 11 ) a filler neck ( 61 ) sealing circumferentially is placed onto the area of the sealing collar ( 16 ) from above whereby the first sealing flaps ( 21 ) and the second sealing flaps ( 22 ) are supported from below.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , characterized in that that during the filling of a bag ( 11 ) the first sealing flaps ( 21 ) are supported by guide beads ( 52 ).  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 7 , characterized in that that during the filling of a bag ( 11 ) the second sealing flaps ( 21 ) are supported from below by the support elements ( 65 ) having been positioned between the second sealing flaps ( 22 ) and the uppermost strips ( 13 ).  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 7 , characterized in that that the filling of a bag ( 11 ) is effected while the essentially flattened bag body ( 10 ) still features a slot-shaped opening ( 12 ), and the uppermost strips ( 13 ) of the first bag walls ( 1 ) included in the plane of the sealing collar ( 16 ) are thus supported from below.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 7 , characterized in that that for the filling of a bag ( 11 ) it is exclusively held fast by the outer strips of the first sealing flaps ( 21 ) and the bag body ( 11 ) is hanging suspended freely during the filling process.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 7 , characterized in that that sealing rails on the second sealing flaps ( 22 ) are folded outwards from the bag opening ( 15 ) before the filler neck ( 61 ) is placed on the sealing collar ( 16 ).  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that that for sealing a bag, a cover sheet ( 19 ) is placed onto the sealing collar ( 16 ) and is connected with it in an area which is located outside the area sealed by the filler neck ( 61 ).  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , characterized in that that after placing the cover sheet ( 19 ) onto the sealing collar ( 16 ) the first sealing flaps ( 21 ) are folded inwards and connected with each other.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for transporting, testing, filling and sealing a bag ( 11 ) which 
 is comprised of a bag body ( 10 ) which can be spread out to form a rectangular cross section, said bag body being made up of two wider first and two narrower second bag walls ( 1 ,  2 ),    a bag bottom ( 9 ) sealing the bag body ( 10 ) at the bottom,    a bag opening ( 15 ) bordering the bag body ( 10 ) at the top, and    an opened bag seal ( 8 ), whereby the bag seal itself    comprises first sealing flaps ( 21 ) which are connected to the first bag walls respectively and stick out horizontally from the bag opening ( 15 ) outwards, and towards the first bag walls ( 1 ) at right angles,    second sealing flaps ( 22 ) which are connected to the second bag walls ( 2 ) respectively and which especially when folded inwards onto the bag opening    lie horizontally so that the first sealing flaps ( 21 ) and the second sealing flaps ( 22 ) form a frame-shaped sealing collar ( 16 ) lying on a horizontal plane whereby the apparatus features stationarily arranged propelling conveying means in the shape of arrangements, running parallel to each other, of pairs of upper and lower conveyor belts respectively ( 33 ,  43 ,  53 ) or conveyor rollers between which outer areas ( 23 ) of the first sealing flaps ( 21 ) are held from above and below.    
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , characterized by a feeder station ( 31 ) with guide beads ( 32 ) which are positioned closely to the bag walls ( 1 ,  2 ) supporting the sealing flaps ( 21 ) of a bag passing through.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , characterized by a testing station ( 41 ) with parallel support plates ( 42 ) supporting the essentially flattened bag body ( 10 ) of a fed bag ( 11 ), especially in the shape of grills as well as a test plate for compressed air which is equipped with circumferential sealing compounds which are to be placed on the area of the sealing collar ( 16 ) of a fed bag ( 11 ).  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , characterized by a filling station ( 51 ) with a vertically movable filler neck ( 61 ) which is equipped with circumferential sealing compounds ( 68 ,  69 ) which are to be placed on the area of the sealing collar ( 16 ) of a fed bag ( 11 ).  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to  claim 18 , characterized by support elements which support the first sealing flaps ( 21 ) and the second sealing flaps ( 22 ) of a fed bag below the sealing compounds ( 68 ,  69 ) of the filler neck ( 61 ).  
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to  claim 18 , characterized by parallel guide beads ( 52 ) which are located inside the conveying means ( 53 ) in order to support the first sealing flaps ( 21 ).  
     
     
         21 . An apparatus according to  claim 18 , characterized by support plates ( 65 ) which are located inside the filler neck ( 61 ) being height adjustable, rotatable, pivoting or traversely movable, and which can be inserted from above the sack opening ( 15 ) of a fed bag ( 11 ) to below the level of the sealing collar and moved underneath the second sealing flaps ( 22 ) supporting these.  
     
     
         22 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , characterized by a pair of deflectors ( 81 ) which are rotatable in a damped and flexible way around parallel hinges ( 82 ) which run in the direction of the second sealing flaps ( 22 ), from an approximately horizontal position being backswept down and inwards, and which support, in their approximately horizontal position, from below the strips ( 13 ), being included in the level of the sealing collar ( 16 ), of the first walls ( 1 ) and release the full bag cross section when they are pivoted downwards.  
     
     
         23 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , characterized by a first sealing station ( 71 ) equipped with gluing means for gluing a single cover sheet ( 19 ) and with depositing means for depositing a cover sheet ( 19 ) onto the sealing collar ( 16 ) of a bag ( 11 ) inside the sealing station.  
     
     
         24 . An apparatus according to  claim 23 , characterized by a first sealing station with at least one pad-roller which is located above the sealing collar ( 16 ) and with counterpressure rollers which are located under the sealing collar below at least the one pad-roller and which together push the first sealing flaps ( 21 ) and a cover sheet ( 19 ) together while rolling against each other.  
     
     
         25 . An apparatus according to  claim 23 , characterized by a first sealing station with support wedges ( 91 ) which are moved under outwardly folded sealing rails ( 26 ) particularly of the second sealing flaps ( 22 ) and are adapted by means of pad wedges ( 92 ) which complement the support wedges ( 91 ), and can be lowered—to press a cover sheet ( 19 ) onto the outwardly folded sealing rails ( 26 )—to the outer edges of the cover sheet ( 19 ).  
     
     
         26 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , characterized by a second sealing station in which the sealing flaps ( 21 ,  22 ) are bent up from the level of the sealing collar ( 16 ) and are connected to each other.  
     
     
         27 . A bag for the purpose of being filled with bulk material, said bag being comprised of a bag body ( 10 ) which can be spread out to form a rectangular cross section, said bag body being made up of two wider first and two narrower second bag walls ( 1  or  2 ), a bag bottom ( 9 ) sealing the bag body ( 10 ) at the bottom and a bag opening ( 15 ) bordering the bag body ( 10 ) at the top, denoted by first sealing flaps ( 21 ,  21 ′) which stick out from the bag opening ( 15 ) outwards and towards the first bag walls ( 1 ) at right angles, and second sealing flaps ( 22 ,  22 ′) which are connected to the second bag walls ( 2 ) respectively and are folded inwards onto the bag opening so that the first and the second sealing flaps ( 21 ,  21 ′;  22 ,  22 ′) form a frame-shaped sealing collar.