Apparatus for Transporting Bags for Bag Forming and Filling Machines

Abstract

Transportation apparatus for machines for filling bags ( 1 ) with bulk material ( 2 ), comprising at least one station (F) for forming the bag ( 1 ), at least one station (R) for filling the bag with the material ( 2 ), provided with fixed bag gripping means ( 112,112 a ), at least one station (S) for sealing the mouth ( 1 a ) of the bag and at least one apparatus for transporting the bags from one station to the other station (F,R,S) in a feeding direction (X-X), said apparatus comprising two pairs of the arms ( 510,1510 ) which are symmetrically arranged with respect to the direction (X-X) of feeding of the bag and each carry respective pairs of means ( 514 ) for gripping the sides ( 1 c ) of the bag ( 1 ), said pairs of arms ( 510,1510 ) being formed by levers ( 511,1511 ) which are kinematically connected together in a pantograph arrangement, said first pair of levers ( 511 ) being able to travel along a curved trajectory (T) from a point (T 1 ) where the gripping means ( 514 ) are situated at a maximum relative distance to a point (T 2 ) where the same gripping means ( 514 ) are situated at a minimum relative distance, along the outward and return path from one station (F) to the other station (R), said second pair of arms ( 1550 ) being able to travel along a curved trajectory (T) from a point (T 2 ) where the grippers ( 514 ) are situated at a minimum relative distance to a point (T 3 ) where the same grippers ( 514 ) are situated at a maximum relative distance and vice versa along the outward and return path from one station (R) to the other station (S).

1 . Transportation apparatus for machines for filling bags ( 1 ) with bulk material ( 2 ), comprising at least one station (F) for forming the bag ( 1 ), at least one station (R) for filling the bag with the material ( 2 ), provided with fixed bag gripping means ( 112 , 112   a ), at least one station (S) for sealing the mouth ( 1   a ) of the bag and at least one apparatus for transporting the bags from one station to the other station (F,R,S) in a feeding direction (X-X), characterized in that it comprises two pairs of the arms ( 510 , 1510 ) which are symmetrically arranged with respect to the direction (X-X) of feeding of the bag and each carry respective pairs of means ( 514 ) for gripping the sides ( 1   c ) of the bag ( 1 ), said pairs of arms ( 510 , 1510 ) being formed by levers ( 511 , 1511 ) which are kinematically connected together in a pantograph arrangement, the first pair of levers ( 511 ) being able to travel along a curved trajectory (T) from a point (T 1 ) where the gripping means ( 514 ) are situated at a maximum relative distance to a point (T 2 ) where the same gripping means ( 514 ) are situated at a minimum relative distance, along the outward and return path from one station (F) to the other station (R), the second pair of arms ( 1510 ) being able to travel along a curved trajectory (T) from a point (T 2 ) where the grippers ( 514 ) are situated at a minimum relative distance to a point (T 3 ) where the same grippers ( 514 ) are situated at a maximum relative distance and vice versa along the outward and return path from one station (R) to the other station (S).  
   
   
       2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the first pair of arms ( 510 ) which perform transportation of the bag from the forming station (F) to the filling station (R) is provided with respective levers ( 602 ) supporting means ( 601 ) for gripping the opposite walls ( 1   d ) of the bag ( 1 ), said support levers ( 602 ) being able to pass from a condition where they are at a minimum relative distance (V 1 ) with respect to the bag ( 1 ) into a condition where they are at a maximum relative distance (V 2 ), during the travel from the forming station (F) to the filling station (R).  
   
   
       3 . Apparatus according to  claim 2 , characterized in that said levers ( 602 ) supporting the means ( 601 ) for gripping the walls ( 1   d ) of the bag are able to be arranged in a position substantially aligned with the direction (X-X) of feeding of the bag at the end of the outward travel from the forming station (F) to the filling station (R) so as to allow the return of the first pair of arms ( 510 ) of the transportation apparatus.  
   
   
       4 . Apparatus according to  claim 2 , characterized in that said levers ( 602 ) supporting the means ( 601 ) for gripping the walls (Id) have a pantograph structure.  
   
   
       5 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a first end ( 511   a ,  1511   a ) of said pairs of arms ( 510 , 1510 ) is hinged with the fixed structure ( 10 ) of the machine.  
   
   
       6 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the second end ( 511   b , 1511   b ) of said pair of arms ( 510 , 1510 ) carry said means ( 514 ) for gripping the sides.  
   
   
       7 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said gripping means ( 514 ) consist of gripping members.  
   
   
       8 . Apparatus according to  claim 7 , characterized in that said grippers ( 514 ) are attached to a flange ( 513 , 1513 ) hinged with the said free ends ( 511   b , 1511   b ) of the levers ( 511 , 1511 ).  
   
   
       9 . Apparatus according to  claim 2 , characterized in that said means for gripping the walls ( 1   d ) of the bag ( 1 ) consist of suckers ( 601 ).  
   
   
       10 . Apparatus according to  claim 9 , characterized in that said suckers ( 601 ) are associated with devices for forming a vacuum inside them.  
   
   
       11 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises means for  15  synchronising the movements of the two pairs of arms ( 510 , 1510 ) and the levers ( 602 ) supporting the gripping means ( 601 ).  
   
   
       12 . Machine for filling bags ( 1 ) with bulk material ( 2 ), comprising at least one station (F) for forming the bag ( 1 ), at least one station (R) for filling the bag with the material ( 2 ) and provided with fixed means ( 112 , 112   a ) for gripping the bag, at least one station (S) for sealing the mouth ( 1   a ) of the bag and at least one apparatus for transporting the bags from one station to the other station (F,R,S) in a feeding direction (X-X), characterized in that said transportation apparatus comprises two pairs of arms ( 510 , 1510 ) symmetrically arranged with respect to the direction of feeding (X-X) of the bag and carrying respective pairs of means ( 514 ) for gripping the sides ( 1   c ) of the bag ( 1 ), said pairs of arms ( 510 , 1510 ) being formed by levers ( 511 , 1511 ) kinematically connected together in a pantograph arrangement, said first pair of levers ( 511 ) being able to follow a curved trajectory (T) from a point (T 1 ) where the gripping means ( 514 ) are situated at a maximum relative distance to a point (T 2 ) where the said gripping means ( 514 ) are situated at a minimum relative distance, along the outward and return path from one station (F) to the other station (R), said second pair of arms ( 1550 ) being able to follow a curved trajectory (T) from a point (T 2 ) where the grippers ( 514 ) are situated at a minimum relative distance to a point (T 3 ) where the same grippers ( 514 ) are situated at a maximum relative distance along the outward and return path from one station (R) to the other station (S).  
   
   
       13 . Machine according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the first pair of arms ( 510 ) which performs the transportation of the bag from the forming station (F) to the filling station (R) is provided with respective levers ( 602 ) supporting means ( 601 ) for gripping the opposite walls ( 1   d ) of the bag ( 1 ), said support levers ( 602 ) being able to pass from a condition where they are situated at a minimum relative distance (V 1 ) with respect to the bag ( 1 ) to a condition where they are situated at a maximum relative distance (V 2 ), during travel from the forming station (F) to the filling station (R).  
   
   
       14 . Machine according to  claim 13 , characterized in that said levers ( 602 ) supporting the means ( 601 ) for gripping the walls ( 1   d ) of the bag are able to be arranged in a position substantially aligned in the direction of feeding (X-X) of the bag at the end of the outward travel from the forming station (F) to the filling station (R) so as to allow the return of the first pair of arms ( 510 ) of the transportation apparatus.  
   
   
       15 . Machine according to  claim 13 , characterized in that said levers ( 602 ) supporting the means ( 601 ) for gripping the walls ( 1   d ) have a pantograph structure.  
   
   
       16 . Machine according to  claim 12 , characterized in that a first end ( 511   a , 1511   a ) of said pair of arms ( 510 , 1510 ) is hinged with the fixed structure ( 10 ) of the machine.  
   
   
       17 . Machine according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the second end ( 511   b , 1511   b ) of the said pair of arms ( 510 , 1510 ) carry said gripping means ( 514 ).  
   
   
       18 . Machine according to  claim 12 , characterized in the said gripping means ( 514 ) consist of gripping members.  
   
   
       19 . Machine according to  claim 18 , characterized in that said grippers ( 514 ) are attached to a flange ( 513 , 1513 ) hinged with said free ends ( 511   b , 1511   b ) of the levers ( 511 , 1511 ).  
   
   
       20 . Machine according to  claim 13 , characterized in that said means for gripping the walls ( 1   d ) of the bag ( 1 ) consist of suckers ( 601 ).  
   
   
       21 . Machine according to  claim 20 , characterized in that said suckers ( 601 ) are associated with devices for forming a vacuum inside them.  
   
   
       22 . Machine according to  claim 12 , characterized in that it comprises means for synchronising the movements of the two pairs of arms ( 510 , 1510 ) and the levers ( 602 ) supporting the gripping means ( 601 ).  
   
   
       23 . An apparatus for filling bags with bulk material comprising 
 at least one forming station for forming a bag,    at least one filling station for filling the bag with the material through an opening in the bag, said filling station including at least one fixed bag gripping element,    at least one sealing station for sealing an opening of the bag and at least one transporting apparatus for transporting the bags from one station to another station in a feeding direction,    a first pair of arms and a second pair of arms symmetrically arranged with respect to the feeding direction of the bag, the first pair of arms including a first pair of gripping elements adapted for gripping the bag and the second pair of arms including a second pair of gripping elements adapted for gripping the bag, each of said first and second pairs of arms being formed by levers which are kinematically connected together in a pantograph arrangement,    the first pair of levers being adapted to travel along a curved trajectory from a first point where the first pair of gripping elements are situated at a maximum relative distance to a second point where the first pair of gripping elements are situated at a minimum relative distance, along the feeding direction on a path from the forming station to the filling station,    the second pair of arms being adapted to travel along a curved trajectory from the second point where the second pair of gripping elements are situated at a minimum relative distance to a third point where the second pair of gripping elements are situated at a maximum relative distance, along the feeding direction on a path from the filling station to the sealing station.