System and method for treating flexible bags

Abstract

A method for treating flexible bags, comprising transporting, opening, filling and closing the bags in subsequent treatment stations in which the bags are transported in holding devices on several tracks from one treatment station to the next. In one embodiment of the present invention, the bags are transported in a continuous motion; during treatment, the respective treatment station is moved from its initial position synchronously with the motion of the bags; and after treatment, the respective treatment station is returned to its initial position.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A method for treating flexible bags at a series of treatment stations, comprising:
 opening the flexible bags at a first treatment station;   filling the flexible bags at a second treatment station; and   closing the flexible bags at a third treatment station;
 wherein the bags are transported in holding devices located on multiple lines from one treatment station to the next, 
 wherein the bags are transported in a continuous motion, and
 wherein the bags are picked up on several lines from a transfer position by a continuously operating transfer structure and delivered on several lines to a bag transportation system that passes the treatment stations. 
 
   
   
   
       22 . The method in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the bags are produced and transported to the transfer position in a clocked manner. 
   
   
       23 . The method in accordance with claim  1 , wherein during treatment of the flexible bags, the corresponding treatment station is moved continuously from its initial position synchronously with the motion of the bags and subsequent to treatment the corresponding treatment station is returned to its initial position. 
   
   
       24 . The method in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the bags are suspended while being transported. 
   
   
       25 . The method in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the bags are transported standing in nests. 
   
   
       26 . The method in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the bags in at least one line differ in at least one of type, size, type of filling and other such parameters from bags in other lines. 
   
   
       27 . The method in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein during the return of the treatment station, the speed is greater than or equal to the speed in the moving step. 
   
   
       28 . A method for treating flexible bags at a series of treatment stations, comprising:
 changing a web of film into a roll;   sealing the roll in a clocked manner;   cutting the roll to create flexible bags with one open end;   gripping the bags and transporting the flexible bags in a clocked manner to a transfer position;   when in the transfer position, releasing the flexible bags;   opening the flexible bags at a first treatment station;   filling the flexible bags at a second treatment station; and   closing the flexible bags at a third treatment station;
 wherein the bags are transported in holding devices located on multiple lines from one treatment station to the next, 
 wherein the bags are transported in a continuous motion, and
 wherein the bags are picked up on several lines from a transfer position by a continuously operating transfer structure and delivered on several lines to a bag transportation system that passes the treatment stations. 
 
   
   
   
       29 . The method in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein during treatment of the flexible bags, the corresponding treatment station is moved continuously from its initial position synchronously with the motion of the bags and subsequent to treatment the corresponding treatment station is returned to its initial position. 
   
   
       30 . The method in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein the bags are one of suspended while being transported and transported while standing in nests. 
   
   
       31 . The method in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein the bags in at least one line differ in type, size, type of filling and other such parameters from bags in other lines. 
   
   
       32 . The method in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein during the return of the treatment station, the speed is greater than or equal to the speed in the moving step. 
   
   
       33 . A system for treating flexible bags, comprising:
 at least one treatment station for opening the flexible bags;   at least one treatment station for filling the flexible bags;   at least one treatment station for closing the flexible bags;   at least one bag transportation system that is configured to move the flexible bags past the treatment stations; and   a transfer structure that is configured to operate continuously and pick up the flexible bags from a transfer position and deliver them to at least one bag transportation system.   
   
   
       34 . The System in accordance with  claim 33 , wherein the bag transportation system comprises:
 a plurality of mechanical holding devices configured to hold the flexible bags;   a first driving structure configured to continuously move the plurality of mechanical holding devices through the system,   wherein the system farther comprises an additional driving structure that includes one or more driving assemblies for the treatment stations, the additional driving structure configured to move a respective treatment station synchronously with motion of flexible bags to be treated during treatment and configured to return the respective treatment station to its initial position after treatment.   
   
   
       35 . The system in accordance with  claim 33 , wherein the additional driving structure comprises at least one independent driving assembly for each treatment station. 
   
   
       36 . The system in accordance with  claim 33 , further comprising a plurality of transport elements, wherein each transport element is defined by a plurality of mechanical holding devices, wherein the transport elements are linked without the use of additional linking elements. 
   
   
       37 . The system in accordance with  claim 36 , further comprising a control structure for the mechanical holding devices, the control structure configured to centrally control an opening and a closing of the flexible bags. 
   
   
       38 . The system in accordance with  claim 37 , wherein the opening and the closing occur by means of a relative motion longitudinally or laterally to a direction of movement of a transport element. 
   
   
       39 . The system in accordance with  claim 37 , wherein, using a relative motion that is lateral to a transport direction, the mechanical holding device is adjustable by manual, semi-automatic, or automatic means to one of a plurality of predetermined bag widths. 
   
   
       40 . A system for treating flexible bags, comprising:
 a device for producing flexible bags that includes:
 a structure for changing the shape of a web of film into a roll; 
 a sealing and cutting structure that is configured to cut flexible bags that are open at one end from the roll; and 
 a conveying structure that is configured to transport sorted flexible bags arranged in a row to a transfer structure; 
   a treatment station for opening the flexible bags;   a treatment station for filling the flexible bags;   a treatment station for closing the flexible bags;   a bag transportation system that is configured to move the flexible bags past the treatment stations; and   a transfer structure that is configured to operate continuously and pick up the flexible bags from a transfer position and deliver them to the at least one bag transportation system,   wherein the transfer structure is configured to arrange the flexible bags on several lines and to transfer the flexible bags to the bag transportation system, and   wherein the device for producing flexible bags is configured to operate in a clocked manner, and   wherein and the transfer device is configured to operate continuously.   
   
   
       41 . The system in accordance with  claim 40 , further comprising a transport element that includes a set of gripper strips and includes a set of holding devices for holding the flexible bags and, the holding devices being movable relative to each other. 
   
   
       42 . The system in accordance with  claim 41 , wherein the gripper strips hold the flexible bags in a stretched out fashion to fit a predetermined line spacing. 
   
   
       43 . The system in accordance with  claim 41 , wherein the transfer structure comprises gripper strips for the flexible bags. 
   
   
       44 . The system in accordance with  claim 43 , wherein at a time of transfer and in a transfer position, the gripper strips of the transfer structure open while the gripper strips of the transport system close simultaneously. 
   
   
       45 . The system in accordance with  claim 41 , further comprising mechanical structures to facilitate a relative motion of the holding devices, which is controlled by continuous transport motion of the flexible bags, wherein the system is configured to fill spatially and temporally independently at least one storage unit, and to transfer the storage unit to an inventory unit that sorts the flexible bags according to minimum filling capacity.