Method and device for handling bag chains

Abstract

A method and device for handling a bag chain, wherein the bag chain is folded into layers to form a stack, and wherein the layers each include one or multiple bags of the bag chain. The bag chain is folded by at least one folding member which engages between the bags of the bag chain to fold the bag chain.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for handling a bag chain ( 11 ), comprising folding the bag chain ( 11 ) into layers ( 23 ) to form a stack ( 13 ), wherein the layers ( 23 ) each include one or multiple bags ( 17 ) of the bag chain ( 11 ), and wherein the bag chain ( 11 ) is folded by at least one folding member which engages between the bags ( 17 ) of the bag chain ( 11 ) to fold the bag chain ( 11 ). 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising connecting adjacent bags ( 17 ) of the bag chain ( 11 ) together in a connection region ( 18 ), wherein the folding member engages in the bag chain ( 11 ) in the connection region ( 18 ) between adjacent bags ( 17 ) in order to fold the bag chain ( 11 ) there. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the bag chain ( 11 ) is folded about the folding member as a result of relative movement between folding member and bag chain ( 11 ). 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the bag chain ( 11 ) is folded into zig-zag layers, wherein the bag chain ( 11 ) is folded by two folding members in such a manner that, to form the zig-zag layers, the bag chain ( 11 ) is folded first of all by a first folding member in one direction and then by another second folding member in another direction which deviates from the first direction. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one folding member is formed at least in part by arms ( 26 ) of one or of multiple rotationally driven star wheels ( 24 ,  25 ), wherein the arms ( 26 ) engage between adjacent bags ( 17 ) and as a result fold the bag chain ( 11 ). 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein at least two star wheels ( 24 ,  25 ) are arranged on different, oppositely situated sides of the bag chain ( 11 ), wherein the arms ( 26 ) of the star wheels ( 24 ,  25 ), which are arranged on different, oppositely situated sides of the bag chain ( 11 ), engage in the bag chain ( 11 ) one after the other in an alternating manner in order to fold the bag chain ( 11 ) into zig-zag layers. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the bags ( 17 ) of the bag chain ( 11 ), which are folded into layers ( 23 ), coming from the folding member or members, are fed to a removal conveyor ( 16 ), by way of which the folded bags ( 17 ) of the bag chain ( 11 ) are held in their formation during transport and are conveyed in the direction of a filling station for containers ( 12 ), wherein it is provided that the bags ( 17 ) of the bag chain ( 11 ) are transported with the removal conveyor ( 16 ) with the layers ( 23 ) standing upright and wherein it is further provided that the layers ( 23 ) are transported on the removal conveyor ( 16 ) at an angle to an imaginary vertical plane. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the bags ( 17 ) of the bag chain ( 11 ), which are arranged in layers ( 23 ), are pushed into a container ( 12 ) by a slide ( 37 ), wherein the bags ( 17 ) of the bag chain ( 11 ), which are arranged in layers ( 23 ), coming from the removal conveyor ( 16 ), are transported to a pivotable platform ( 35 ) which is arranged at an angle for receiving the bags ( 17 ) of the bag chain ( 11 ) and which, for removing the bags ( 17 ) of the bag chain ( 11 ), is pivoted into a horizontal arrangement, or parallel to walls of the container ( 12 ) which is arranged adjacent to the platform ( 35 ). 
     
     
         9 . A device for handling a bag chain ( 11 ), wherein the bag chain ( 11 ) is folded into layers ( 23 ) to form a stack ( 13 ), and wherein the layers ( 23 ) each include one or multiple bags ( 17 ) of the bag chain ( 11 ), the device comprising at least one folding member which is set up for the purpose of folding the bag chain ( 11 ) by the folding member engaging between the bags ( 17 ) of the bag chain ( 11 ). 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein two folding members are provided which are arranged on different, oppositely situated sides of the bag chain ( 11 ), wherein the folding members are set up for the purpose of the bag chain ( 11 ), for forming zig-zag layers, being foldable first of all by a first folding member in one direction and then by another second folding member in a different direction which deviates from the first direction. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one folding member is formed at least in part by arms ( 26 ) of one or of multiple rotationally driven star wheels ( 24 ,  25 ), wherein the arms ( 26 ) are realized so as to engage between adjacent bags ( 17 ) and as a result fold the bag chain ( 11 ). 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the star wheels ( 24 ,  25 ) are drivable in a continuously rotatable manner about parallel and horizontal axes ( 27 ) which are arranged at such a distance apart that an arm ( 26 ) of one star wheel ( 24 ,  25 ) engages in each case in a space ( 28 ) between two arms ( 26 ) of the other star wheel ( 25 ,  24 ), and wherein the bag chain ( 11 ) is guided through between the adjacent arms ( 26 ) of the oppositely situated star wheels ( 24 ,  25 ) and, in this case, is foldable as a result of the movement of the arms ( 26 ). 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 9 , further comprising a removal conveyor ( 16 ) to which the bags ( 17 ) of the bag chain ( 11 ), which are folded into layers ( 23 ), coming from the folding members, are feedable, wherein the removal conveyor ( 16 ) comprises compartments ( 29 ) in each of which a folded bag chain ( 11 ) is received and which is set up for the purpose of holding the folded bags ( 17 ) of the bag chain ( 11 ) in their formation during transport with the removal conveyor ( 16 ). 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the removal conveyor ( 16 ) is formed by two (endless) conveyors ( 32 ,  33 ) which each comprise entrainment means ( 34 ) which protrude in relation to a conveyor run ( 30 ,  31 ) of the respective conveyor ( 32 ,  33 ) such that the compartments ( 29 ) are defined by the conveyor runs ( 30 ,  31 ), facing one another, of the conveyors ( 32 ,  33 ) and the respective entrainment means ( 34 ), and wherein the entrainment means ( 34 ) are arranged on the conveyor runs ( 30 ,  31 ) at an angle in relation to an imaginary vertical plane, and wherein the bags ( 17 ) of the bag chain ( 11 ) abut against the entrainment means ( 34 ) by way of a side surface such that the layers ( 23 ) are transportable correspondingly standing in the compartments ( 29 ) at an angle in the transport direction. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 9 , further comprising a pivotable platform ( 35 ) for transferring the folded bag chains ( 11 ) to a container ( 12 ), wherein the platform ( 35 ) is arranged at an angle for taking over the folded bag chains ( 11 ), and for transferring the folded bag chains ( 11 ) is pivotable into a horizontal plane, or parallel to walls of the container ( 12 ) which is arranged adjacent to the platform ( 35 ).