FILLING UNIT
Disclosed is a unit (1) for filling receptacles (B) with filling materials, especially for filling bag-shaped or tubular cases. Said filling unit (1) comprises a worm conveyor (F) which moves inside a housing (2) and is provided with at least two axially parallel worms (3, 4, 11) that run in the same direction or in opposite directions and encompass screw elements. The screw elements of the worms (3, 4, 11), which are arranged around each shaft (5, 6, 10), radially engage into one another and press the filling material from a feed opening (E) into the receptacles (B) that are removably fastened to an outlet orifice (A). The peripheral edges (7, 8, 12) of the screw elements have a minimum amount of clearance (S) relative to the internal surfaces of the housing (2) and the circumferences of the shafts (5, 6, 10). A duct (9) that receives and conveys coarse components of the filling material is disposed on the top surface of the housing (2).
The invention relates to a filling unit for filling containers with free-flowing filling materials, in particular for filling bag-shaped or hose-shaped shells with sand, grit, gravel, fill dirt or similar, which are used for constructing walls e.g. for protective structures, like e.g. guide rails along highways, levees and noise protection walls.
From the German Patent 349523, a conveyor screw or pump is known, in which plural screws, which run in the same direction, engage one another in a tightly enclosing housing, transporting free-flowing filling materials, wherein a mutually selfcleaning contact of the screw elements occurs.
This device has the disadvantage that coarse components of the filling material, e.g. stones included in the sand, which do not fit between the windings of the screw elements, can lead to blockages.
From EP 0642849 B1, furthermore, an encasement of sediments and silt with hose-shaped shells is known for underwater construction. The filling material with high water content is filled into a piston press and pressed into a cylinder shaped strand, which is inserted or wrapped into hose-shaped shell. The employed piston press, however, is necessary for draining filling material with high water content, but it is unsuitable for filling shells with substantially dry filling materials. The entire system furthermore requires stationary use, thus a respective onsite use is not possible.
It is the object of the invention to provide a filling unit for filling bag- or hose-shaped shells with filling materials, in which the coarse components in the filling material cannot lead to a blockage of the unit, and which is suitable for filling at any location.
The object is accomplished according to the invention through the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined by the features of the dependent claims 2 through 14.
The invention is subsequently described in more detail with reference to two preferred embodiments with reference to
While at least two of the worms, which are disposed with parallel axes and run in the same direction, rotate in the same direction, the radially engaging screw elements perform a counter rotating movement at their peripheral edges, so that coarse components, which have penetrated, are safely removed from the space between two respectively adjacent screw windings again.
When screw elements with different running direction, this means right or left screw elements, are used, also counter rotating worms can engage one another.
The first preferred embodiment of the filling unit 1 illustrated in
The feed of the web material pulled off by the feeding device Z is performed in the illustrated embodiment by the thrust, which is imparted upon the beginning of the sleeve-shaped shell by the filling material pressed in by the filling unit 1. The connection device V comprises a control device (which is not shown), which adapts the velocity of the connection of the longitudinal edges of the web material to the feed velocity of the worm conveyor F.
The feed of the web material can also be controlled by the control device. The connection of the longitudinal edges of the web material can be performed in a butt joint and also overlapping joint.
Various web materials can be used for forming sleeve-shaped shells, e.g. fabrics from natural materials or plastics, plastic foils, felt materials, etc. Depending on the material used, the connection device V is a sewing-, welding-, gluing- or fold connection device. The two longitudinal edges of the web material can also be provided with hook-and-loop fastener elements, and the connection device V is a guide device for joining the two longitudinal edges provided with hook-and-loop fastener elements in this case. Eventually, the connection of the longitudinal edges of the web material can also be performed by buttons, snap fasteners, rivets, magnets, threads, zip fastener elements or by engaging rubber bands with hooks or by other connection elements.
It is also possible to feed hose-shaped material to separate the hose longitudinally in front of the fill-in opening and to put it together again in front of the output opening as described supra.
Advantageously, as illustrated in
The driving of the worm conveyor F of the filling unit 1 is performed by known motors, e.g. electric motors, internal combustion engines, hydraulic motors or pneumatic motors, or by alternative drive systems like fuel cells.
Claims
1. A filling unit for filling containers with filling materials, the filling unit comprising:
- a worm conveyor movable in a housing, the worm conveyor comprising at least two axially parallel worms, movable in the same or in opposite directions and provided with screw elements, wherein each of the screw elements of the worms are disposed about a respective shaft radially engaging one another to press the filling material from a filling opening into the containers that are removably mounted at an output opening, and wherein the peripheral edges of the screw elements only have minimum clearance) with respect to the inner surfaces of the housing and with respect to the circumferences of the shafts, wherein a channel for receiving and transporting coarse components of the filling material is provided at the upper side of the housing.
2. The filling unit of claim 1, wherein the worm conveyor comprises two worms which are disposed in a plane next to one another.
3. The filling unit of claim 1, wherein the worm conveyor comprises three worms and wherein the three worms comprise two upper worms that are disposed in a plane next to one another and a third worm centrally located below the two upper worms.
4. The filling unit of claim 1, further comprising:
- a feeding device for web material; and
- a connection device for connecting the two longitudinal edges of the web material through a butt joint or through an overlapping joint to form a hose-shaped container.
5. The filling unit of claim 4, wherein the connection device) is disposed between the filling opening and the output opening in the feeding direction, and the feeding device is disposed in front of the connection device in the feeding direction.
6. The filling unit of claim 4, wherein the feeding device is a web roll pull off device that is driven or controlled by the feed of the worm conveyor.
7. The filling unit of claim 4, wherein the connection device is controlled as a function of the feed of the worm conveyor.
8. The filling unit of claim 4, wherein the connection device comprises a sewed connection, a welded connection, a glued connection, or a folded connection.
9. The filling unit of claim 4, wherein the two longitudinal edges of the web material are provided with a plurality of hook-and-loop elements and the connection device comprises a guide device for joining the plurality of hook-and-loop elements.
10. The filling unit of claim 4, wherein the connection device is a device which connects the longitudinal edges of the web material, by buttons and button holes, snap connectors, rivets, magnets, threads, zipper elements or engaging rubber bands with hooks.
11. The filling unit of claim 1, further comprising:
- at least one rattling device or vibration device, the at least one rattling device or vibration device disposed externally to the filling unit, internally to the filling unit, or a combination thereof.
12. The filling unit of claim 11, wherein the at least one internal rattling device or vibration device is an axially moving rattling device or vibration device, which is connected to the worms.
13. The filling unit of claim 11, wherein the at least one internal rattling device or vibration device is a rattling device or vibration device which moves in any direction and which is connected to the worms.
14. The filling unit of claim 11, wherein the external rattling device or vibration device comprises one or more plural rattling elements or vibration elements which contact the container.
15. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the feeding device is a web roll pull off device that is driven or controlled by the feed of the worm conveyor.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 18, 2007
Publication Date: Aug 19, 2010
Inventor: Johannes Bernhard Winter Von Adlersfluegel (Leipzig)
Application Number: 12/305,832
International Classification: B65B 1/12 (20060101); B65B 9/06 (20060101); B65B 1/22 (20060101);