Apparatus And Method For Sealing Bags

Abstract

An apparatus and method are described for sealing flexible bags, the apparatus comprising a gathering assembly for a neck of the bag including at least a transport means and at least one tape dispenser, wherein the gathering assembly comprises a star wheel and the tape dispenser comprises a guide for guiding tape from the tape dispenser over part of the star wheel, the transport means extending into or along at least a cell of the star wheel, wherein the star wheel is coupled to the transport means, such that when the transport means is driven, to feed the neck of the bag into a cell of the star wheel, the star wheel is driven intermittently.

1 . An apparatus for sealing flexible bags, comprising:
 a gathering assembly for a neck of the bag including a transport means and a tape dispenser,   wherein the gathering assembly comprises a star wheel, and the tape dispenser comprises a guide for guiding tape from the tape dispenser over part of the star wheel, the transport means extending into or along at least a cell of the star wheel,   wherein the star wheel is coupled to the transport means such that when the transport means is driven, to feed the neck of the bag into a cell of the star wheel, the star wheel is driven intermittently.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the transport means comprise two sets of transport elements such as wheels and/or transport bands, substantially parallel to each other at a distance from each other, the star wheel extending at least partly between said two sets. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the transport means comprise or are coupled to a rotating element comprising at least one extending element, said element during use moving in a path extending through or along a side of the star wheel, such that when the rotating element is rotated over a first angle, the star wheel is engaged by the extending element for rotating the star wheel over an second angle. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the star wheel includes at least one coupling element engaging said rotating element, said rotating element including at least one profile, such as an opening or notch into or onto which said coupling element can move during rotation of said rotating element, such that the star wheel is rotated over said second angle, before releasing said coupling element. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the star wheel has a number of cells, wherein the transport means are designed such that if said first angle is 360 degrees, the second angle is such that the star wheel is rotated over a second angle defined by a discreet number of cells, preferably two or three cells. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a proximity sensor is provided near the transport means and/or the gathering means. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein means are provided for guiding a foil strip along part of the star wheel and/or a guide surface extending along the star wheel, for engagement with tape led over the star wheel. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a communication device is provided for communication between the apparatus and a control device, preferably wireless communication. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a positioning device is provided for sensing and communicating location and/or location changes of the apparatus. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a control device is provided, the control device being connected to at least one sensor for detecting presence of the tape and/or the foil. 
   
   
       11 . A method for sealing flexible containers, comprising the steps of:
 leading a strip of adhesive tape along part of a star wheel, such that the tape extends over an opening of at least one cell of said star wheel;   gathering neck material of a container by feeding the neck material into the cell of the star wheel in a first direction, keeping the star wheel substantially stationary during said gathering, such that the tape is forced against an inside wall of said cell and around the gathered neck material;   rotating the star wheel over an angle such that the gathered neck material, tied into a closed state by at least the tape, comes out of the cell in a second direction;   adhering a foil strip to part of the tape; and   during or following said rotation of the star wheel feeding and/or holding tape over an opening of a next cell of the star wheel.   
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said gathering is done using at least one gathering wheel or band, driven by a drive mechanism, wherein a rotating element is provided, coupled to the drive mechanism and/or the gathering means, the rotating element being rotated and brought into and out of engagement of the star wheel or an element associated therewith, for intermittently rotating the star wheel over an angle. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the star wheel is kept in the stationary position by the rotating element during part of a rotation of the rotating element. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein container necks are fed into the gathering means in a substantially flat position. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein a container neck approaching the gathering means is detected, on the bases of which the gathering of the container neck is started and a rotating element for rotating the star wheel over said angle is made to be driven in a rotating direction.