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(11) | EP 1 785 353 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Method for handling and packaging bags into containers |
| (57) A method for handling and packaging bags into containers, wherein one or more piles
of bags (14,14',14", etc.), comprising a step of picking up the at least one or more
piles of bags (14,14',14", etc.) through a trolley (15) provided with a first array
of grippers (16) and a step of carrying and releasing said one or more piles (14)
up to into one or more respective containers (22), the two steps being repeated up
to filling the containers (22) through superimposed piles, wherein each pick up step
is followed by a step of folding the piles into an end for determining a folded portion
(21,21',21"), which is arranged at the top or at the bottom of the remaining portion
of the pile and which is equal to at least one fifth of the entire length of the pile
of bags.
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[0001] The present invention relates to a method for handling and packaging bags into containers, in particular boxes.
[0002] In the field of manufacturing and packaging bags of plastic material film in general, it is desired by the users of welding machines, or "bagging machines", to carry out packaging in increasingly smaller spaces and with the maximum space usage.
[0003] At present, bags are generated one after the other at a high speed and are piled immediately downstream of the cross welding unit into piles or "packs". Once the pile or sided piles of bags has been completed in the preselected number, such piles of bags are collected by handling units to be placed into boxes or similar containers.
[0004] For a larger use of the box, the single pile or pack is folded into two equal portions during this pick up step from the piling bar associated to the welding unit.
[0005] It should be immediately noted that the opposite ends of the pile of superimposed bags exhibit a larger thickness arising from the closing weld of bottom and handles. Such larger thickness causes the superimposition of multiple packs or piles doubled up has a non-linear profile upwards, but irregular towards the side where such welds are located.
[0006] The handling unit for picking up the packs, moreover, due to the high welding and piling speed, grips, doubles up and releases one pack after the other from the piling bar to the packaging box.
[0007] In addition, it must be also considered that the need has arisen of arranging such packs or piles of bags into boxes of particular dimensions differing from the extended length of the bags or from a size equal to half their length.
[0008] A solution to such problem has been found in the manual packaging of the packs. The packs are picked up by the piling unit and simply carried and released on a conveyor that directs them towards a packaging zone. In such zone there are operators working to this end that manually introduce the packs into the boxes or containers of various types.
[0009] This causes the presence of special staff that is not always capable of following the speed of welding machines and that in any case increases the product sales costs.
[0010] The object of the present invention therefore is to find a different solution to the technical problem mentioned above.
[0011] Another object is to set up a method for handling and packaging bags into containers adapted for carrying out the task mentioned above which should be particularly simple to be carried out, irrespective of the type of welding machine.
[0012] Yet another object is to device a method for handling and packaging bags into containers which should allow saving on the spaces occupied with full usage of the same, without operators in charge.
[0013] These objects according to the present invention are achieved by carrying out a method for handling and packaging bags into containers as described in the annexed claim 1.
[0014] Further important and particular features of the present invention are the object of the dependent claims.
[0015] The features and advantages of a method for handling and packaging bags into containers according to the present invention will appear more clearly from the following description, made by way of an indicative non-limiting example with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:
figure 1 shows a schematic side elevation view of a first example of arrangement of actuating elements adapted for carrying out a method for handling and packaging bags into containers according to the present invention;
figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 show partial views of what shown in figure 1 which show some steps of the method carried out in the arrangement of actuating elements shown;
figure 6 shows a schematic side elevation view of a second example of arrangement of actuating elements adapted for carrying out a method for handling and packaging bags into containers according to the present invention.
[0016] With general reference to the various figures, it must be considered that upstream of one of the various possible arrangements of actuating elements adapted for carrying out a method for handling and packaging bags into containers according to the present invention there are provided the units of a usual known welding machine or bagging machine. In this machine there are provided (not shown) a stacker unit for the bags formed in output from the welding unit, arranged into one or more piles, and die cutting unit of one or more piles or packs of bags, hereinafter indicated with reference numerals 14, 14', 14", etc., provided with a predetermined thickness s based on the number of component bags. The piles or packs are arranged side by side and treated concurrently, very generically into an automatic welding machine (not shown as known by those skilled in the art) wherein such piles are obtained by welding into subsequent repeated steps.
[0017] The method is described in the steps thereof wityh reference to the single pack or pile 14, 14', 14", etc., but it is clear that multiple packs may be treated at the same time.
[0018] Figure 1 shows a first arrangement of actuating elements adapted for carrying out the method for handling and packaging bags into containers according to the present invention.
[0019] In fact, once at least a first pile 14 (or group of first piles side by side and spaced) has been formed in the selected number of bags with a certain thickness s, the at least one pile 14 is picked up through a trolley 15 provided with a first array of grippers 16 (a single trolley and a single gripper are schematised in the example, for example in output from a die cutting unit, not shown).
[0020] In the mentioned case, in fact, after having been made on a stacking bar, pile 14 may have been pulled underneath a hollow punch (not shown) for forming the handles, after which pile 14 of bags, always gripped by the first array of grippers 16, is moved at a folding unit 17 for pile 14 for proceeding to the packaging thereof.
[0021] Figure 2 shows how in the folding unit 17 there is a pressing element 18 which, actuated by cylinder 13, moves down for blocking an intermediate zone of pile 14 close to an end of pile 14 to be folded on top of a folding element 19. The gripper 16 of trolley 15 releases the end gripping of the pile, retracts and grips pile 14 again, folding it (figure 2), with the collaboration of a support element 20 on board of trolley 15. In this way, a folded portion 21 is created in an end in pile 14, arranged on top of the remaining portion of the pile, which is equal to about one fourth of the entire length of the pile of bags and which rested on the remaining portion of the pile generates a thickness 2s. Trolley 15 then pulls pile 14 folded as just described towards a container 22 or in any case an element for collecting the packs on top of each other, where pile 14 thus folded is released (figure 3).
[0022] The welding machine (not shown) then generates at least one subsequent pile or pack 14' that must also be treated in the arrangement of actuating elements adapted for carrying out the method for handling and packaging bags into containers according to the present invention.
[0023] In fact, the subsequent pack 14', once formed, is pickedup by the first array of grippers 16 of trolley 15 (in the meantime retracted to their initial position) and pulled at a further folding unit 17' for pile 14' (figure 4).
[0024] A pressing element 18' moves down and blocks an intermediate zone of pile 14' close to the other end of the pile to be folded, opposite the portion folded before, on top of a folding element 19' (figure 4).
[0025] Trolley 15 releases pile 14', and retracts to move to the opposite side of the folding element 19'. Once it gets there, a second array of grippers 16' grips pile 14' again, folding it with the collaboration of a support element 20' on board of trolley 15. This second array of grippers 16', opposite the first array of grippers 16, on board of trolley 15, with the gripping thereof causes the pile to be folded to the other side relative to the first gripping, thus forming a folded portion 21' of pile 14', arranged at the bottom of the remaining portion of the pile and opposite the folded portion 21 of pile 14. It is important to note that also in this case, the folded portion 21' is equal to about one fourth of the entire length of the pile of bags, but it is possible to think of an acceptable arrangement also for folded portions 21 and 21' equal to at least one fifth of the entire length of the pile of bags.
[0026] Then, this second array of grippers 16' on board of trolley 15 pulls the folded pile 14' towards container 22 or in any case over the above element for collecting the packs on top of each other, where it releases it (figure 5).
[0027] The second pile 14' in this way arranges, with the folded portion 21' opposite the first folded portion 21 of the first pile 14, on top of the first pile 14 also provided with folded portion 21, but at an opposite end thereof.
[0028] The superimposition of the at least two subsequent piles into container 22 makes a total thickness that is only equal to a dimension 3s of thickness s of the single piles of bags being processed, thanks to the fact that a thickness s is determined by combining at the same level the two folded portions 21 and 21' of different piles that adds to the usual thicknesses s of the remaining portion of the two piles 14 and 14'. On the other hand in the case of usual packaging with folding at half pile, such thicknesses generated four thicknesses s in superimposition of two piles folded in a half.
[0029] The next pile or pack 14" comes up again like the first pile 14 and is folded and handled in the same way as the first pile 14. And so on, with piles folded at opposite ends to make an alternating superimposed arrangement into container 22, for carrying out the inventive method.
[0030] This method has been described when carried out with the first arrangement of actuating elements shown in figure 1 and in figures 2 to 5.
[0031] However, such method may also be carried out through different arrangements, like that shown in figure 6.
[0032] In this figure 6 there are elements totally similar to some of those shown in figure 1 which are indicated with the same reference numerals.
[0033] Moreover, the box or container 22 is arranged on top of a revolving table 23 that allows moving the position of box 22 relative to the handling units by 180° forward and backward.
[0034] In this second arrangement a first step is therefore carried out, equal to that described above up to inserting a first pile 14 into container 22, with folded portion 21 arranged on top of the remaining portion of the pile. Then, there is a second step wherein container 22 is turned by 180° so that the next pile 14' even if gripped and folded in the same way is inserted into position with end folding 21', also with folded portion 21 arranged on top of the remaining portion of the pile, but opposite folding 21 of the previous pile 14.
[0035] Piles 14, 14', 14" etc. thus arrange with alternating folding 21, 21', on top of the remaining portion of the pile, occupying the minimum space into container 22 in a thickness 3s, solving the problems of space and proper piling found so far in the packaging of piles of bags.
1. Method for handling and packaging bags into containers, wherein one or more piles
or packs of bags (14, 14', 14", etc.) are made by welding and arranged side by side
and spaced into subsequent repeated steps, each pile (14, 14', 14", etc.) being comprised
of a selected number of bags, comprising a step of picking up said at least one or
more piles or packs of bags (14, 14', 14", etc.) through a trolley (15) provided with
a first array of grippers (16) and a step of carrying and releasing said at least
one or more piles (14) up to into at least one or more respective containers (22)
for said piles arranged one on top of the other, said two steps being repeated up
to filling the at least one or more containers (22) through superimposed piles, characterised in that each pick up step is followed by a step of folding said at least one or more piles
into an end for determining a folded portion (21, 21', 21"), which is arranged at
the top or at the bottom of the remaining portion of the pile and which is equal to
at least one fifth of the entire length of the pile of bags, after which said step
of carrying and releasing said at least one or more piles into at least one or more
respective containers (22) is carried out.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that it is envisaged that each of said at least one or more piles in subsequent steps
is alternately made with a folded portion (21) arranged on top of the remaining portion
of the pile and with a folded portion (21') arranged at the bottom of the remaining
portion of the pile, so as to arrange said folded portions (21, 21') in a same piling
level opposite to one another into said at last one or more respective containers
(22).
3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that said folded portion (21) arranged on top of the remaining portion of the pile is
made at a first folding unit (17) and in that said folded portion (21') arranged at the bottom of the remaining portion of the
pile is made at a second folding unit (17').
4. Method according to claim 3, characterised in arranging said first and second folding unit (17, 17') at opposite sides relative
to said at least one or more respective containers (22).
5. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that it envisages subsequent steps of folding said at least one or more piles in one end
for determining only one folded portion (21, 21"), arranged on top of the remaining
portion of the pile and envisages a rotation of 180° of said at least one or more
respective containers (22) between subsequent transport and release steps.
6. Method according to any previous claim, characterised in that said folding step forms a folded portion (21, 21', 21") which is equal to one fourth
of the entire length of the pile of bags.
7. Equipment for handling and packaging bags into containers, wherein one or more piles
or packs of bags (14, 14', 14", etc.) are made by welding and arranged side by side
and spaced into subsequent repeated steps, each pile (14, 14', 14", etc.) being comprised
of a selected number of bags, comprising a trolley (15) provided with at least one
array of grippers (16, 16') movable to at least a first folding unit (17, 17') and
at least one or more respective containers (22) of said one or more piles or packs
of bags (14, 14', 14", etc.) provided with a folded portion (21, 21', 21"), which
is arranged at the top or at the bottom of the remaining portion of the pile and which
is equal to at least one fifth of the entire length of the pile of bags.
8. Equipment according to claim 7, characterised in that it is provided with a first folding unit (17) and a second folding unit (17') arranged
at opposite sides relative to said at least one or more respective containers (22).
9. Equipment according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that said first folding unit (17) and said second folding unit (17') comprise each a pressing
element (18, 18') actuated by an actuator (13, 13') in engagement for blocking one
pile (14, 14', 14") on top of a folding element (19, 19').
10. Equipment according to claim 7, characterised in that said trolley (15) is provided with a pair of arrays of grippers (16, 16').