Vertical tubular bag machine for packing items

Abstract

In order to allow stacks ( 137 ) of groups of items ( 123 ) placed one on top of the other, in particular comprising coffee pods, to be packed in tubular bags ( 16 ) by means of a vertical tubular bag machine ( 1 ), it is proposed either to adapt a filling pipe ( 6 ) to the horizontal dimensions of the groups of items ( 23 ) or to provide it with an insert ( 125 ) in order to stabilize the stack during its falling movement in the filling pipe ( 6 ). The insert ( 125 ) is similarly adapted to the geometry of the items in order to stabilize them during their fall in the filling pipe ( 6 ).

1 . A vertical tubular bag machine ( 1 ) with a web of film ( 3 ) unwound from a supply roll ( 2 ), a shaping shoulder ( 4 ) for shaping the web of film ( 3 ) into a film tube ( 5 ), a vertically aligned filling pipe ( 6 ), which receives the film tube ( 5 ) and through which it is possible to fill the film tube ( 5 ), a filling station ( 7 ), above the filling pipe ( 6 ), a film takeoff ( 8 ), acting against the film tube ( 5 ), and consequently against the filling pipe ( 6 ), for further transportation of the web of film ( 3 ) and the film tube ( 5 ), a longitudinal sealing device ( 9 ) for welding the film tube ( 5 ) by means of a longitudinal seam ( 11 ), aligned in the transporting direction ( 10 ), a transverse sealing device ( 12 ) with two welding jaws ( 13 ), which can be moved toward each other and weld the film tube ( 5 ) transversely, for producing top seams ( 14 ) and bottom seams ( 15 ) of tubular bags ( 16 ) and also a cutting device ( 17 ) for severing the tubular bags ( 16 ) from the film tube ( 5 ), wherein the filling station ( 7 ) is intended for delivering in each case a vertically stacked group of items ( 23 ) formed by horizontally aligned flat, preferably disk-shaped, items ( 18 ), and wherein at the filling pipe ( 6 ) an adaptation is provided with respect to the horizontal dimensions of the group of items ( 23 ).  
     
     
         2 . The tubular bag machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filling pipe ( 6 ) is adapted with respect to its cross section to the horizontal dimensions of the group of items ( 23 ), and wherein guides ( 37 ) which precisely delimit the groups of items ( 23 ) falling in the filling pipe ( 6 ) are provided in the filling pipe ( 6 ) as fall stabilizers.  
     
     
         3 . The tubular bag machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the items ( 23 ) are round and in a corner ( 38 ) of the filling pipe ( 6 ) there is respectively provided a guide ( 37 ) in the form of a bevel ( 39 ) closing off the corner ( 38 ).  
     
     
         4 . The tubular bag machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein in each case two overlapping items ( 23 ) are provided next to one another in a horizontal direction in the stack, and wherein inwardly tapering guiding points ( 40 ) extending between the two items ( 23 ) on opposite sides of the filling pipe ( 6 ) are provided as a guide ( 37 ).  
     
     
         5 . The tubular bag machine as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein one guide ( 37 ) delimits a gas feed ( 41 ) and another guide ( 37 ) delimits a vent ( 42 ) for the lower end of the film tube ( 6 ).  
     
     
         6 . The tubular bag machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the the width ( 19 ) and the depth ( 20 ) of the filling pipe ( 6 ) are made to match the width ( 21 ) and the depth ( 22 ) of a group of items ( 23 ) and the group of items ( 23 ) is placed above the filling pipe ( 6 ) in such a way that a first equal spacing ( 26 ) in the direction of the width ( 19 ) and similarly a second equal spacing ( 27 ) in the direction of the depth ( 20 ) of the filling pipe ( 6 ) is provided on opposite sides of the group of items ( 23 ), in each case between the outer edge ( 24 ) of the group of items ( 23 ) and the inner surface ( 25 ) of the filling pipe ( 6 ), wherein these spacings ( 26 ,  27 ) do not all have the value zero, wherein the filling pipe ( 6 ) has a cross section that is symmetrical to axes of symmetry ( 28 ,  29 ) of the group of items ( 23 ), and wherein two pipe segments ( 30 ,  31 ) of the filling pipe ( 6 ) that are opposite and parallel to each other, extend in the transporting direction ( 10 ) and on which the film takeoffs ( 8 ) act are provided.  
     
     
         7 . The tubular bag machine as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the spacings ( 26 ,  27 ) have a value between zero and 10 mm.  
     
     
         8 . The tubular bag machine as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein walls ( 32 ) of the filling pipe ( 6 ) that lie opposite one another and are not intended for the film takeoffs ( 8 ) to act on have an outwardly facing arc, an outwardly directed bend ( 34 ) or at least two outwardly directed bends ( 34 ,  35 ).  
     
     
         9 . The tubular bag machine as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the pipe segments ( 30 ,  31 ) extend entirely over opposite walls ( 36 ).  
     
     
         10 . The tubular bag machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an insert ( 125 ) which is adapted to the geometry of the items ( 18 ) is provided in the filling pipe ( 6 ) in order to stabilize said items while they are falling in the filling pipe ( 6 ).  
     
     
         11 . The tubular bag machine as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the filling pipe ( 6 ) has only side walls, which are straight ( 145 ) or curved ( 146 ), and which are optionally connected to one another by means of rounded portions ( 147 ).  
     
     
         12 . The tubular bag machine as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein on the filling pipe ( 6 ) there is provided at least one attachment ( 126 ) which, together with a straight portion ( 148 ) of the filling pipe ( 6 ), forms a straight side wall ( 145 ).  
     
     
         13 . The tubular bag machine as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the insert ( 125 ) delimits a channel ( 144 ) which is adjacent a falling line of the items ( 18 ) and open toward the items ( 18 ).  
     
     
         14 . The tubular bag machine as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the items ( 18 ) have a peripheral edge ( 24 ), wherein the insert ( 125 ) is dimensioned in such a way that the items ( 18 ) fit into the insert ( 125 ) only with the edge ( 24 ) bent round, and wherein part of the edge ( 24 ) protrudes into the channel ( 144 ).  
     
     
         15 . The tubular bag machine as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein at least one venting channel ( 139 ) is provided in the filling pipe ( 6 ) for air that is displaced by the falling items ( 18 ) to flow upward.  
     
     
         16 . The tubular bag machine as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the insert ( 125 ) has an adjusting device ( 42 ) for delimiting the items ( 18 ).  
     
     
         17 . The tubular bag machine as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein an additional filling channel is provided in the filling pipe ( 6 ).  
     
     
         18 . The tubular bag machine as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the insert ( 125 ) can optionally be inserted or exchanged.