METHOD AND DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTING PACKAGING BAGS FOR LIQUID OR PASTY PRODUCTS HAVING A WELD-IN CLOSURE
For transporting packaging bags (1), e.g. from a production facility to further processing, e.g. for being filled, the packaging bags (1) are connected to at least one flexible strip (13, 14). To this end, the packaging bags (1) are delivered one after another to a loading device where they are supported by their weld-in closures (4) on supporting and guiding means (9) and moved along these supporting and guiding means (9; 10). On the latter, the weld-in closures are connected to the strip (13, 14), e.g. by welding.
The present invention relates to a method and a device according to the preambles of independent claims 1 and 10.
Transport units for packaging bags are known in the art, e.g. from WO2012/028980, where a track with flat bags lined up thereon is provided for the transport from the production site of the bags to the filling site of the bags. Such bags are suitable particularly for liquids and among these particularly for highly viscous liquids such as creams, yogurts, honey, fruit juices, etc. According to this publication, today's packaging technology is based on the assumption that the relevant bags are manufactured at a production site and are then transported to a filling site. It is therefore essential with regard to this technology that the logistics costs incurred may be kept as low as possible. By providing tracks, the bags can be delivered to the filling station in such an order and orientation as to be directly utilizable, and in a separated state.
In WO2012/028980 it has been recognized that such a logistics container filled with transport units entails a considerable space consumption. The space required on the tracks is not primarily determined by the bag material but by the weld-in closures. Therefore it is suggested in this reference to place tracks opposite each other in a logistics container so that the bags of one track and those of the opposite track alternately interlock. In this manner, almost twice the number of tracks and bags can be transported in a given logistics container.
Using tracks is associated with considerable complexity, and their operation can only partly be automated. Thus, after having been loaded onto the tracks, the bags have to be secured by means of clips or the like so that they will not fall out while the tracks are being manipulated. The logistics containers are loaded manually, especially in the case of the aforementioned interlocked placement. Likewise, removing the tracks from the logistics containers at the filling site and loading the tracks into the filling installation is largely achieved manually. Afterwards, the empty tracks have to be returned to the production site, which is not only associated to considerable logistical requirements but also to hygienic problems.
In order to increase the automation level when tracks are being used, cages that are loaded and unloaded by robots have recently been introduced as logistics containers.
This method is not only complicated and expensive but also involves the problem that not only the tracks but also the empty cages have to be returned to the production site.
The reference EP 0 171 550 A1 discloses a system for handling pharmaceutical containers where groups of containers are retained by a flexible strip engaging the container closures by means of corresponding depressions.
On the background of this prior art, it is the object of the invention to suggest a method for transporting packaging bags for liquid or pasty products having weld-in closures with pouring openings where both the logistical efforts for the transport between the production site and the filling site and the space requirements are significantly reduced.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features defined in the characterizing parts of the independent claims.
This inventive solution offers the advantage that the connection to the strip can be automated thanks to the supporting and guiding means. The application of a strip allows joining a very large number of packaging bags to form one transport unit.
Particular embodiments are indicated in the dependent claims.
Examples of preferred embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings which merely serve for illustrative purposes and shall not be construed as limiting. The figures in the drawings show:
The flexible strips may consist of usual synthetic foils as they are used in the field of flexible packages, but other materials such as textiles, metals, paper and so on may be contemplated as well. As synthetic materials, particularly those from the polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PETP), polypropylene (PP), and polyamide (PA) groups may be used. If strips 13, 14 are connected to guiding flanges 7 by welding, they preferably consist of two layers so that one layer can be welded to guiding flange 7 and the second, heat-resistant layer will withstand the separating operation described below without being damaged and thus prevents that the strip is torn while being detached. In the example according to
In this example, guiding rails 10 are designed as relatively thin rails which engage in guiding grooves 8 formed in weld-in closures 4. Instead of two opposite guiding grooves 8, a circumferential guiding groove may be provided, which offers the advantage that packaging bag 1 can be rotated while being retained between guiding rails 10. In the top view according to
The measures described with reference to
After connecting packaging bags 1 to strip 12 or to strips 13, 14, respectively, the thus formed transport unit is further transported out of the loading device and either laid down in a logistics container for storage and further transport or directly transferred to a filling installation. The placement in a logistics container is preferably carried out automatically by a corresponding placement device, more particularly such that packaging bags 1 are laid down in a scale-like manner and thus take up a minimum volume inside the logistics container. To this end, the placement device may be provided with conveyor and/or guiding means for strip 12 or strips 13, 14, respectively, these means and the logistics container being movable relative to each other. Tests have shown that in this manner about twice as many packaging bags 1 fit into a logistics container as in the method mentioned in the introduction where the packaging bags are received in tracks. In tests conducted by the applicant, transport units of up to several tens of thousands of packaging bags were formed. Due to the placement in layers, the end of strip 12 or of strips 13, 14 will ultimately be located at the top of the full logistics container. When the described placement method is used, the logistics container can have nearly any desired shape. Thus, not only cubic containers can be used as until now, but also e.g. round containers or even bags.
To unload the transport unit at the destination, all that is required is to seize the end of strip 12 or of strips 13, 14, respectively, that was laid down last, and to feed it e.g. to an unloading device from where it will be further transported, e.g. to a filling installation. The unloading device may also be equipped with conveyor and/or guiding means, these means and the logistics container possibly being movable relative to each other here also.
If the packaging bags 1 connected to strip 12 or to strips 13, 14, respectively, are directly forwarded to further processing steps, e.g. in a filling installation, it is an advantage that packaging bags 1 will arrive there in a defined orientation and at constant intervals so that no intervention by personnel is required. The mentioned further processing steps may be carried out in a different room while the transport may e.g. take place in a tube or tunnel in order to meet the hygienic requirements.
Furthermore, the connection of packaging bags 1 to strip 12 or to strips 13, 14, respectively, can be used for the logistics of the filled packaging bags down to the end user. Thus, for example, correspondingly equipped automatic units can separate a particular packaging bag on demand. Furthermore, multipacks may e.g. be prepared which comprise multiple packaging bags 1 having the same or different contents. In this case, strip 12 or strips 13, 14, respectively, may be used for marking the multipacks by a colored design and/or printing.
The exemplary embodiments show possible realizations of the invention, but it should be noted at this point that the invention is not limited to the depicted particular embodiments thereof. Instead, individual components described with reference to a particular embodiment may e.g. be used in another embodiment and may possibly replace a corresponding component described with reference to that embodiment. Therefore, all conceivable embodiment variants resulting from combinations of individual details of the depicted and described embodiment variants are also encompassed in the scope of protection.
Ultimately, as a matter of form, it should be pointed out that for a better understanding of the construction of the described components, the latter are illustrated schematically and not true to scale.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERALS1 packaging bag
2 film layers
3 weld seam
4 weld-in closure
5 pouring spout
6 pouring opening
7 guiding flange
8 guiding groove
9 guiding rail
10 guiding rail
11 gap
12 strip
13 strip
14 strip
15 knob
16 holes
17 collar
18 reinforcing rib
19 opening
20 edge
21 opening
22 chamber
23 reinforcing strip
24 welding device
25 heat transfer element
26 double arrow
27 heat protection skirt
28 supporting rails
29 arrows
30 slot
31 edge
32 arrow
33 punching tool
34 double arrow
35 guide bush
36 slot
37 arrow
38 remainder
39 gripper
40 transport element
41 recess
42 logistics container
43 feed roller pair
44 filling device
45 reel
46 deflection rollers
Claims
1. Method for transporting packaging bags for liquid or pasty products having a weld-in closure with a pouring opening where a number of packaging bags are connected by their weld-in closures to at least one flexible strip to form a transport unit, wherein the packaging bags are delivered to a loading device where they are supported by their weld-in closures on supporting and guiding means and moved along these supporting and guiding means, and in that at least one strip is guided along these supporting and guiding means and connected there to the weld-in closures.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the weld-in closures are connected to the at least one strip in such a manner that the pouring opening is freely accessible, and the pouring opening and the portions of the packaging bag opposite the latter are located on opposite sides relative to the plane of the at least one strip.
3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the weld-in closures are connected to the at least one strip; in a frictional or positive manner in that a portion of the weld-in closure adjacent to its pouring opening is pushed through the at least one strip.
4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the weld-in closures are materially connected to the at least one strip in that a portion of the weld-in closure adjacent to its pouring opening is welded or bonded to the at least one strip.
5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one strip comprises at least one layer of a plastic film, preferably of polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, or polyamide.
6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one strip has reinforcing means arranged therein, preferably in the form of longitudinal ridges, edge reinforcements, or chambers capable of being pressurized by a fluid.
7. Method according to claim 1, wherein the weld-in closures are connected to two parallelly guided strips.
8. Method according to claim 7, wherein weld-in closures are supported on the supporting and guiding means by guiding flanges or guiding grooves arranged on the former.
9. Method according to claim 1, wherein transport units each comprising at least a hundred packaging bags are laid down in logistics containers in layers, for which purpose guiding means of the placement device and of the logistics containers are preferably moved relative to each other.
10. Device for transporting packaging bags for liquid or pasty products having a weld-in closure with a pouring opening, comprising a loading device for connecting at least one flexible strip to the weld-in closures of a number of packaging bags to form a transport unit, wherein the loading device comprises supporting and guiding means for the weld-in closures.
11. Device according to claim 10, wherein the supporting and guiding means consist of two parallel rails between which a gap for the passage of a portion of the weld-in closures is provided.
12. Device according to claim 10, wherein the loading device includes welding means for welding the at least one flexible strip to the weld-in closures.
13. Device according to claim 10, further comprising a placement device for placing transport units in logistics containers, which is preferably provided with guiding means for the transport units and with means for moving the guiding means and the logistics containers relative to each other.
14. Device according to claim 13, further comprising a pickup device for picking up transport units laid down in logistics containers, which is preferably provided with guiding means for the transport units and with means for moving the guiding means and the logistics containers relative to each other.
15. Device according to claim 10, further comprising a separating device for separating the weld-in closures from the at least one flexible strip.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 7, 2015
Publication Date: Jun 8, 2017
Inventor: Martin KROPF (Münchenbuchsee)
Application Number: 15/324,217