Indian Patents. 242560:FILING SYSTEM

Title of Invention	FILING SYSTEM
Abstract	A filling machine, and a filling unit for a filling machine for filling bags, comprising a receiving device having a filling pipe on which the bag to be filled can be placed and a filling pipe support, and a measuring device wherein the receiving device forms a module at least with the measuring device and the filling pipe support.

Full Text	The invention relates to a filling unit for a filling system, and a filling system with a filling device for filling bags, comprising at least one filling box and at least one filling pipe on which the bag to be filled can be placed. As a rule the filling pipe support of such filling systems is linked to the filling box through counterguide links forming a parallel guide. The filling pipe support is typically configured to be a vertical filling pipe plate and the counterguides are configured as leaf springs. A controllable slider is furthermore provided to release and shut off the flow-through channel of the filling pipe. Furthermore a weighing device comprising a measuring box is typically provided. The filling systems or filling machines in question are configured to be so-called series packaging machines or rotary filling machines. The series packaging machines are provided with stationary filling aggregates while rotary filling machines comprise filling aggregates being elements of a rotor driven to rotate about a vertical axis. The filling machines are equipped with multiple filling pipes and filling aggregates in relation to the specified output. Every filling box has a filling pipe, a weighing device and a vertically displaceable filling pipe plate assigned to it. The filling pipe also has the controlled slider assigned to it which before start of filling is brought into an open position and after end of filling, into a closed position. The filling operation itself is guided and controlled through the weighing device. The filling pipe plate position is related to the actual current weight of the bag as it is filling up. Said position is converted into measured values by means of the measuring box. The filling machines known thus far have counterguide links attached in pairs to the upper and lower areas of the filling pipe plate. The measuring box of the weighing device is positioned above the filling pipe plate. The elements mentioned are individual parts being in functional connection with one another. Tolerated variations in the actual weights of the filled bags are relatively slight. The inevitable manufacturing tolerances, however, cause the weight to vary within specified limits. Another disadvantage in the filling machines thus far known is that the individual components must be assembled one by one. Assembly consequently takes a long time. The plurality of elements to be assembled on site causes a considerable amount of adjustments for calibration. 2 It is the object of the present invention to configure a filling unit for a filling system, and a filling system, so as to facilitate assembly of the filling system as a whole, wherein variations of the actual weights are relatively slight. The defined object is fulfilled by a filling unit having the features of claim 1 and by a filling system having the features of claim 19. Preferred specific embodiments of the invention are the subjects of the related subclaims. These objects are fulfilled in that the receiving device forms one module at least with the filling pipe support device. A filling system according to the invention or a filling unit according to the invention for a filling system or a filling machine serves to fill bags and in particular to fill valve bags. A filling unit according to the invention comprises at least one receiving device and at least one filling pipe on which the bag to be filled can be placed, and a filling pipe support against which the filling pipe is supported. Furthermore at least one measuring device is provided. The receiving device forms a module at least with the filling pipe support wherein the measuring device is preferably integrated into said module. The filling system according to the invention comprises a filling machine or is designed as a filling machine and serves to fill bags, in particular valve bags. The filling system according to the invention comprises at least one receiving device and at least one filling pipe on which the bag to be filled can be placed. Furthermore a filling pipe support to support the filling pipe and a measuring device is provided. The receiving device forms a module at least with the filling pipe support wherein the measuring device is preferably integrated into said module. The module and preferably the entire filling unit are particularly small in structure, allowing a compact modular construction of the entire system. The module according to the invention for filling e.g. cement bags is considerably smaller in height than in the prior art. The amount of assembly work in setting up a filling system or a filling machine is reduced in particular since pre-assembled elements and units can be used on site when setting up a system. Adjusting the filling unit to comply with the required accuracy is considerably facilitated and the amount of work is reduced since the module can and will be pre-assembled and pre-adjusted at the manufacturer's before delivery. 3 While present-day production engineering is used to good effect, the structural design of the filling and weighing device is being simplified. The module thus created generates a common weighing geometry which guarantees that variations in the actual weights of filled bags will be slight. Extremely slight variations are achievable. Deviations in the actual weights can be in the range of a few grams. The filling unit according to the invention and the filling system according to the invention are provided in particular for bagging construction materials such as - but not exclusively -cement. The filling unit and the filling system may be suitable for bagging other construction materials or other flowing bulk material e.g. for bagging powdered, coarse and/or fine-grained or flow resistant products. The bagging of mixtures of coarse and fine-grained products, and bagging granules, crystals or similar particle materials is also possible. The receiving device comprises in particular a filling box or is substantially configured as a filling box. The receiving device may be substantially configured as a plate or framework or the like to be attached to a filling box or a material outlet. According to the invention the receiving device is connected with the machine, not being part of the weighed system, while the filling pipe support is part of the weighing system and its weight will be included when the bag weight is determined during filling. A receiving device substantially configured as a plate allows an especially compact modular construction. Such a module with such a receiving device may then be attached to the filling box during assembly. Since the module can be pre-assembled and pre-calibrated, the amount of assembly and adjusting work will be appreciably reduced. The filling system according to the invention may comprise multiple or a plurality of filling pipes or filling spouts. It is preferred to provide e.g. two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven or twelve or more, e.g. sixteen, filling pipes or filling spouts. The filling machine may be configured as a series filling machine and in particular as a rotary filling machine. Specific embodiments of the filling unit and the filling system provide a conveying element assigned to the filling box or to the receiving device. The conveying element may in particular be positioned in the filling box and preferably in the lower area thereof. The conveying element may be configured e.g. as a turbine device or a conveyor screw. An air filling system is also conceivable as the conveying element. A turbine device placed 4 horizontally or vertically will allow a low air flow rate, thus enabling high compactness of the bagged bulk material. The or each filling pipe support is preferably positioned vertically, at least substantially. A configuration deviating from the perpendicular is also possible when the angle is taken into consideration at the weighing system. It is possible and preferred to configure the filling pipe support as a filling pipe plate. The filling pipe support may, however, be configured as a carrier device supporting the filling pipe e.g. only on thin bars. All of the cases described above allow the filling pipe support to be formed integrally with the filling pipe. The measuring device of the filling unit or the filling system is in particular configured as a weighing device or a weighing system, operating in particular electronically. In preferred embodiments the measuring or weighing device comprises or includes at least one measuring box or it is configured to be one. The weighing device comprises in particular an electric measuring cell in the measuring box. Preferably multiple measuring boxes are provided, in particular two, or up to four, eight or twelve or more measuring boxes per filling pipe. It is preferred that the module of the filling unit or the filling system comprises the measuring box. This allows a particularly compact module capable of being pre-assembled and pre-adjusted. The filling unit is advantageously provided with a shut-off unit by which the flow-through channel of the filling pipe can be released and shut off. The filling system preferably provides one shut-off unit per each filling pipe. A slider is in particular suitable for a shut-off unit. Pinch-type shut-off units may also be used. It is preferred that release and shut-off occur over several steps which are advantageously adjustable. Other embodiments of the filling unit and the filling system provide that the shut-off unit or the slider are also integrated into the module. The slider preferably includes a plunger cylinder unit for displacing the element shutting off the flow-through channel in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the filling pipe. The plunger cylinder unit is then also integrated into the module. Another preferred embodiment of the filling unit provides a counterguide or multiple counterguides to form a linkage between the receiving device or the receiving device configured as a filling box, and the filling pipe support. Advantageously said counterguides 5 form a parallel mechanism. Preferably the receiving device or the filling box forms a module, at least with the counterguides, the weighing device and the filling pipe support. The filling system according to the invention may also provide a receiving device or a filling box thus connected with the filling pipe support. This serves to achieve a compact structure of the module and the filling unit as a whole since each counterguide can be configured short and in particular the shortest possible in length. The counterguides are preferably mounted such that they run substantially horizontally. The vertical and horizontal clearance of the individual counterguides is preferably narrow and in particular as narrow as possible. The aim is in particular a vertical clearance of less than 1000 mm and in particular less than 800 mm or even less than or equal to 500 mm, e.g. 300 to 400 mm. This is a considerable advantage over conventional filling machines which require substantial vertical clearances between the lower and upper counterguides. One of the reasons therefor is that the bag chairs in the known systems are components of the weighed system. Thus the entire weighed system will be large in structure and heavy in weight. Assembly will be extensive. The large distances between the individual elements and in particular the counterguides make it difficult to keep the narrow tolerances required for a high accuracy of the system. The filling unit according to the invention may provide measuring boxes at the weighing device in a number related to the number of counterguides. The number of counterguides may e.g. be between one and four while the weighing device may be equipped e.g. with one measuring box or two measuring boxes. The filling system according to the invention may preferably also provide measuring boxes at the weighing device in a number related to the number of counterguides. Preferred embodiments of the filling unit and the filling system furthermore provide that at least one measuring box, several or all of the measuring boxes of the weighing device be positioned at the height level of a conveying element installed in the filling box. In this way the measuring box or measuring boxes are positioned further downward compared to the known constructions such that the module will be more compact in structure. The area of the filling box where the conveying element is placed, might be called a housing since this area is designed for bearing the conveying element. 6 An advantageous embodiment of the filling unit and the filling system preferably provides at least one drive unit. The filling system comprises in particular one drive for the entire, e.g. rotary, filling machine. Preferably separate drives are provided for each conveying element. The drive unit of the conveying element is preferably a component of the module and is preferably attached to the filling box. A specific embodiment of the filling unit comprises a filling pipe having a mounting flange on which the bags or valve bags to be filled can be placed. The filling pipe is releasably attached to a stationary filling pipe support. There is furthermore provided a slider displaceable transverse to the longitudinal axis of the filling pipe and mounted to a slider attachment wherein an elastic compensator is positioned at the filling pipe support. Preferably the filling pipe with its mounting flange, the filling pipe support configured as a filling pipe plate, the elastic compensator, the slider attachment and the slider are releasably joined to one another through connection elements. Optionally at least two of the modules can be assembled and disassembled as assembly units. This will render the turbine readily accessible for maintenance etc. Preferably the modules are screw-connected to one another such that the screws are arranged in a hole circle where the individual screws of the hole circle are arranged angularly offset relative to one another. The screw heads are advantageously positioned on the side of the filling pipe facing the discharge outlet. Preferably the screws of the elements placed on the sides of the joints facing toward the discharge outlet of the filling pipe, are provided with tool through-holes. A specific embodiment of the filling system according to the invention preferably comprises one or more filling units as described above. Multiple similar or multiple different filling units may be used. A preferred embodiment of the filling system comprises at least one bag discharge device that is preferably controllable. Preferably the bag discharge device is suitable and designed for discharging one by one the bags filled through at least two different filling pipes. For example, a bag can be discharged 7 from a first spout and then another bag can be discharged from a second spout. A rotary filling machine with multiple filling pipes can thus have only one bag discharge or bag push-off device to push off or discharge one by one the bags from multiple or all filling pipes. The bag discharge device is in particular controllable through a control means. A signal from the control means automatically actuates discharge. If required, a series packaging machine with multiple filling pipes may operate with only one bag discharge device if said bag discharge device is equipped to travel along the different filling pipes. The bag discharge device of the filling system is preferably not movable as a whole but is provided to be stationary or fixed in place. It is preferred that the bag discharge device is placed separately adjacent to the filling machine. The bag discharge device can thus be a separate element while being functionally connected with the filling machine. The bag discharge device is preferably adjustable in height to accommodate different bag lengths or sizes. The height can be adjusted manually, or else by push-button. An automatic height adjustment control may also be provided. A drive may be provided by electric motor or by a pneumatic or hydraulic system. Advantageously the bag discharge device or at least part of the bag discharge device is displaceable from at least one first position to at least one second position. The first position may be a rest position while the second position may be the discharge position. A drive system may be provided to displace the bag discharge device from the first position to the second position and reversely. The bag discharge device may comprise a discharge unit which includes in particular a lift unit and a push unit. It is preferred that in the rest position the lift unit is configured substantially horizontally and the push unit, substantially vertically. The discharge unit may be configured to be tiltable for discharging the bags. The pivoting or tilting motion preferably occurs such that the bag is first lifted by the lift unit and then pushed off by the push unit. The tilting axis preferably extends in the front area of the lift unit on the side facing away from the push unit, and with the height being adjustable it is displaced 8 along with the bag chair device or the bag discharge unit. This results in equal discharge conditions for different bag lengths. Preferred specific embodiments may provide at least two bag discharge devices. A second bag discharge device may serve to separate out defective bags e.g. broken bags etc. Further features, characteristics and advantages of the present invention can be taken from the following description of the embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. These show in: Fig. 1 a side view of an embodiment of a filling system according to the invention, Fig. 2 a top view of the filling system according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a side view of a bag discharge device according to the invention according to Fig. 1 in the rest position, Fig. 4 a side view of the bag discharge device according to Fig. 3 in the discharge position, Fig. 5 a simplistic schematic diagram of the area assigned to the filling box, and Fig. 6 a vertical section of a filling device of a filling machine according to the invention with the filling unit indicated schematically. Referring to the Figures, an embodiment of a filling system 1 according to the invention will now be described. Fig. 1 illustrates the filling system 1 in a side view and Fig. 2 in a top view. The filling system 1 according to the invention comprises a rotary filling machine 2 and a separate bag push-off or bag discharge device 3 positioned at a narrow lateral distance from the central filling machine housing 9 whose cross-section herein is a polygon of sixteen angles. The cross-section may also be round or have a different number of angles. The filling machine 2 in this embodiment may be equipped with up to eight filling modules 4, each of which filling modules 4 comprising a filling pipe 12. The illustration in Figure 2 is a 9 schematic representation of two filling pipes 12. The other six filling pipes 12 are spaced at a 45° angular distance each. Each filling module includes its own filling box 10 (see Fig. 5), its own filling pipe 12 and related weighing system, etc. While the illustrated filling machine 2 can receive up to eight filling modules 4, a smaller number of filling modules may be installed so as to allow retrofitting with filling modules as needed. The flexible configuration of the filling system allows cost-efficient and uncomplicated adding of extensions to the filling machine up to the maximum configuration provided. Other embodiments may be configured to provide a different number of filling pipes. The number of filling pipes or filling spouts is related to the specified performance such that the rotor, which is driven to rotate about a vertical axis, can itself be provided with any number of filling pipes desired. The filling machine may for example comprise two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, fourteen or more, e.g. sixteen, filling pipes and associated filling aggregates. An automatic placing system - not shown - can provide the filling machine 2 with the required bags, placing the bags on the filling pipes 12 unassisted. Before the filling operation starts a sensor (not shown) checks whether a bag is properly placed on the filling pipe, before the control unit 24 starts the filling operation. The sensor may be designed as a contact sensor or a contactless sensor. The rotary machine advantageously comprises a soft-start drive system 31 using a V-belt 33, or possibly a toothed belt. For an accurately defined filling, a ring gap aeration may be provided to reduce wall friction between the filling pipe and the product. During filling, the control means 24 checks continually or quasi-continually the weight of the weighed system for each bag, where the bag weight is dynamically determined by deducting the system weight from the measured weight. One control unit 24 is provided for two filling pipes 12 each. The supply unit 8 serves to supply energy to the control units 24 and the other electric modules. 10 Control of the filling operation is guided by the momentary filled weight such that as the target weight is approached the filling speed is reduced at least above a predetermined threshold value. For controlling the filling speed the slider 18 may be equipped with a pneumatic drive. Displacing the slider e.g. through a plunger cylinder unit will bring the slider into the position for coarse dosage and into the position for fine dosage and into the closed position. A three-position cylinder may be provided for this purpose. A hydraulic, electric, or magnetic drive of the slider or a pinch valve device is also possible. To prevent emission of dust, a spillage return or a spillage rejecting flap may be provided. Preferred embodiments include control units 24 provided with a bag breakage detection function. It may operate in such a way that the actual bag weight progression is checked against known, e.g. previous, weight progressions. Too large downward deviations may be indicative of a defective bag or a clogged filling pipe. Analyses of other data may serve to determine the source of interference. As a bag 13 (see Fig. 5) is filled and the filling pipe 12 with the attached bag 13 rotates past the bag discharge device 3, the pulse generator 32 emits a signal thus activating the bag discharge device 3. Determining the time of bag discharge may be correlated with the speed of rotation. The discharge operation is illustrated schematically in the Figures 3 and 4. At the moment as the bag 13 reaches the angle of the bag discharge device 3, the discharge unit which is pivotable about the rotation or tilt axis 7, is activated, traveling from the first position illustrated in Figure 3, the rest position, to the second position illustrated in Figure 4, the discharge position. This travel of the bag discharge device 3 is initiated by a drive 38 which may be configured as a piston cylinder unit or e.g. as an electric motor. The fact that the tilt axis 7 is positioned on the side of the discharge unit 3a facing away from the push-off unit 5, causes the lift unit 6 to be tilted and the filling pipe 12 to lift the bag at its radially inward end. This allows the bag 13 to be pushed radially outwardly off the filling pipe 12 through the subsequent pushing motion of the push unit 5. This motion can thus overcome with small forces the friction torque between the filling pipe 12 and the bag opening or bag valve. 11 After the bag discharge, the discharge unit 3a returns to the start position which is the rest position. There the discharge unit 3a remains until the next filled bag 13 is to be discharged. After the bag discharge, checking scales may be installed to take the final weight of the filled bags and to emit a signal in the case of off-weight bags which may be pulled out if necessary. The bag discharge device 3 is configured to be adjustable at different heights to accommodate different bag shapes and sizes. For adjusting the height, the discharge unit is shifted. This means that as a higher level is set, both the lift unit 6 and the tilt axis 7 are shifted upwardly. This causes the tilt motion to remain the same, notwithstanding the level of the discharge unit. To facilitate operation, a sort memory may be provided for storing the optimum settings for different materials. For example direct selection may allow to select a material, thus adapting the entire system to it. The entire system may be network-compatible for online transmission of recorded data. Fig. 5 schematically shows an area assigned to the filling box which may be collectively designated as filling module 4. The filling module 4 forms a compact module 30 such that the entire filling machine can be made compact in structure. While the components in the embodiment forming the module 30 are illustrated in solid lines, the bag 13 and the silo 11 are illustrated in broken lines since they are no component parts of the module 30. The filling box 10 may be configured to be a separate component for example if the receiving device is configured as a thin plate or a mounting part which is then a component of the module instead of the filling box. In assembling, the receiving device will in this case be attached to the filling box of the system. The module 30 as a whole, in this embodiment comprising the filling box 10, the counterguides 15 and 16, the measuring device in the shape of measuring box 17, the filling pipe support in the shape of filling pipe plate 14 and the filling pipe 12, is comparatively small in structure. One of the reasons therefor is that no bag chair is integrated such that the module is considerably less in height than the modules known from the prior art which include the filling pipe and the associated bag chair. The module height in the embodiment according to the invention is as a rule less than half the height of comparable modules of conventional machines, and it may take only one third 12 or one fourth of the height. In particular the height 36 between the upper and lower counterguides is considerably smaller than in a conventional filling machine where each filling pipe is provided with a bag chair. The weight of the weighed system is also considerably lower wherein 30% or 50% or more weight may be saved. The module 30 is mounted to the housing or silo 11 by suitable mounting means (not shown). The module 30 may for example be attached to the silo with four screws only. Assembly and disassembly will thus be considerably facilitated since the module 30 can be pre-assembled at the manufacturer's. Beneath the silo 11, illustrated in broken lines, the filling box 10 is positioned in which in the embodiment a conveying element 34 is mounted. Said conveying element 34 may be for example an impeller or a conveyor screw. A filling pipe 12 is attached to the filling box 10 which is commonly known in different designs. The free end of the filling pipe 12 receives a valve bag 13 (shown in broken lines) to be filled. The bag hangs freely from the filling pipe without any support. The filling pipe carries the whole bag weight. A bag chair for each filling pipe included in weighing, the weight of which must be deducted, is not required in this case. This will save considerable costs. The module 30 can be manufactured at improved tolerances and pre-assembled so as to achieve the required accuracy while considerably reducing the manufacturing operations. The filling pipe 12 has a vertically displaceable filling pipe plate 14 assigned to it which plate is always displaceable in parallel in the illustrated embodiment due to two counterguides 15, 16. The filling pipe plate 14 is functionally connected with a measuring box 17 at the weighing device. The weighing device controls the filling operation, i.e. a valve bag is placed on the filling pipe 12 and then filling is initiated by actuating a slider 18 opposite to the illustration in Figure 5 so as to release the filling pipe 12. As the valve bag 13 reaches its target weight, the slider 18 returns to the closed position illustrated in Figure 5. In the embodiment of Figure 5, the filling box 10, the filling pipe 12, the filling pipe plate 14, the two counterguides 15, 16, the measuring box 17 and the slider 18 form one compact module or a modular construction. This not only results in a highly compact construction of the entire filling machine but also in a high weighing accuracy since due to present-day 13 manufacturing technology the tolerances in manufacturing the modules are slight and can be complied with. In preferred embodiments the filling box is furthermore provided with a motor 35 to drive the filling turbine 34 for example by means of a not illustrated V-belt. The configuration of the module is not limited to what is illustrated in Fig. 5. It is advantageous for the filling box 10 to form one module at least with the counterguides 15, 16, the filling pipe plate 14 and the weighing device. Figure 6 illustrates the filling device 21 of the filling machine according to the invention comprising a filling pipe 12 that includes a mounting flange 22 on the side facing away from the discharge outlet. Multiple screws 23 arranged in a hole circle fasten the mounting flange 22 to the filling pipe plate 14 which is a fixed element of the filling device 21. Said filling pipe plate 14 is followed by the elastic compensator 25. The elastic compensator 25 is clamped at its ends by means of two pressing rings 26, 27 which are fastened by screws 28, 29. The compensator 25 is followed by the ring aeration 20, which is also fastened by screws, with the air connection 37. Furthermore a slider 18 is provided which is displaceable transverse to the longitudinal axis of the filling pipe 12. The slider 18 is provided with an opening to allow the material to flow toward the filling pipe 12. As the filling operation stops, the slider 18 immediately shuts off the flow-through opening to prevent that any more material is conveyed from the filling unit into the filling pipe 12. The filling unit may comprise a filling turbine supported in a housing so that it can be driven to rotate. Material inlet to the filling box may occur through a vertical double cell lock or a cone valve. It is also conceivable to configure the filling unit 10 as a filling box provided with a screen bottom plate through which a gaseous medium such as air can be forced to loosen the feed material. For explosion-proof requirements the gaseous medium may be an inert gas such as nitrogen or helium or the like. In the illustrated embodiment an intermediate member 19 is provided between the filling unit 10 and the slider 18. As shown in Figure 6, all of the screws 23, 28, 29 have their heads facing toward the discharge outlet of the filling pipe 12. All of the screws 23, 28, 29 are placed on hole circles and, unless they are accessible from the side, at an angular offset relative to one another 14 such that tool through-holes allow access to the heads of the screws 23, 28, 29. To this purpose the elements interconnected on the side facing the discharge outlet of the filling pipe 12 are provided with aligned openings. It is advantageous that the filling pipe 12 with its mounting flange 22 can be separately disassembled and assembled. It is furthermore advantageous that if required the filling pipe 12 including the mounting flange 22 can be disassembled and assembled as a unit together with the filling pipe plate 14 and possibly also with the elastic compensator 25. 15 Reference numerals: 1 filling system 2 filling machine 3 bag discharge device 3a discharge unit 4 filling module 5 push unit 6 lift unit 7 tilt axis 8 supply unit 9 filling machine housing 10 filling box 11 silo 12 filling pipe 13 valve bag 14 filling pipe plate 15, 16counterguide 17 measuring box 18 slider 19 intermediate member 20 ring aeration 21 filling device 22 mounting flange 23 screw 24 control unit 25 elastic compensator 26 pressing ring 27 pressing ring 28 screw 29 screw 30 module 31 motor 32 pulse generator 33 V-belt 34 filling turbine 35 motor 36 height 37 air connection 38 drive 16 WE CLAIM: 1. A filling unit (4) for a filling machine (2) for filling bags (13), comprising at least one receiving device (10) having a filling pipe (12) on which the bag (13) to be filled can be placed and a filling pipe support (14) and a measuring device (17), characterized in that the receiving device (10) forms a module (30) at least with the measuring device (17) and the filling pipe support (14). 2. The filling unit (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving device (10) comprises a filling box (10). 3. The filling unit (4) according to claim 2, characterized in that the filling box (10) has a conveying element (34) assigned to it which is in particular positioned in the filling box (10). 4. The filling unit (4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling pipe support (14) is at least substantially positioned in the vertical. 5. The filling unit (4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring device (17) is configured as a weighing device (17) and preferably comprises at least one measuring box (17). 6. The filling unit (4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a shut-off device (18) is provided by means of which the flow-through channel of the filling pipe (12) can be released and shut off. 7. The filling unit (4) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the shut-off device (18) is also integrated into the module (30). 8. The filling unit (4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the module (30) comprises the measuring device (17). 9. The filling unit (4) according to any of the claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the number of measuring boxes (17) of the weighing device is between one box and four or eight boxes. 17 10. The filling unit (4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection between the receiving device (10) and the filling pipe support (14) occurs through at least one counterguide (15,16) or multiple counterguides (15,16). 11. The filling unit (4) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the counterguides (15, 16) form a parallel guide and that the receiving device (10) forms the module (30) at least with the counterguides (15, 16) and the filling pipe support (14). 12. The filling unit (4) according to any of the claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the number of the measuring boxes (17) of the measuring device is related to the number of counterguides (15, 16) and/or that the number of the counterguides (15, 16) is between one and four, and that the measuring device is equipped with one measuring box (17) or with two measuring boxes (17). 13. The filling unit (4) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring box (17) is positioned in the height area of a conveying element (34) installed in the filling box (10). 14. The filling unit (4) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the module (4) comprises a drive unit (35) for the conveying element (34). 15. The filling unit (4) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling pipe (12) with its mounting flange (22), the filling pipe support (14), the elastic compensator (25), the ring aeration (20) and the slider (18) are releasably joined to one another through connection elements, and that optionally at least two of the modules can be assembled and disassembled as assembly units. 16. The filling unit (4) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the components (12, 14, 22, 25) are connected by screws (23, 28, 29), and that the screws (23, 28, 29) lie on a hole circle and the individual screws (23, 28, 29) of the hole circles are arranged at an angular offset relative to one another. 17. The filling unit (4) according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the heads of the screws (23, 28, 29) are positioned on the side of the filling pipe (12) facing the discharge outlet. 18 18. The filling unit (4) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the screws (23, 28, 29) of the elements placed on the sides of the joints facing toward the discharge outlet of the filling pipe (12) are provided with tool through-holes. 19. A filling system (1) with a filling machine (2) for filling bags (13), comprising at least one receiving device (10) having at least one filling pipe (12) on which the bag (13) to be filled can be placed and with a filling pipe support (14) and with a measuring device (17), characterized in that the receiving device (10) forms a module (30) at least with the measuring device (17) and the filling pipe support (14). 20. The filling system (1) according to claim 19, characterized in that the receiving device comprises a filling box (10) which preferably has a conveying element (34) assigned to it which is in particular positioned in the filling box (10). 21. The filling system (1) according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the filling pipe support (14) is at least substantially positioned in the vertical. 22. The filling system (1) according to any of the claims 19 to 21, characterized in that the measuring device (17) comprises at least one measuring box (17). 23. The filling system (1) according to any of the claims 19 to 22, characterized in that a shut-off device (18) is provided by means of which the flow-through channel of the filling pipe (12) can be released and shut off. 24. The filling system (1) according to any of the claims 19 to 23, characterized in that the module (30) comprises the measuring box (17). 25. The filling system (1) according to any of the claims 19 to 24, characterized in that the shut-off device (18) is also integrated into the module (30). 26. The filling unit (1) according to any of the claims 19 to 25, characterized by a controllable bag discharge device (3). 27. The filling system (1) according to any of the claims 19 to 26, characterized in that the bag discharge device (3) is stationary and/or placed separately and/or adjustable in height. 19 20 28. The filling system (1) according to any of the claims 19 to 27, characterized in that the bag discharge device (3) is suitable for discharging bags (13) filled by at least two different filling pipes (12). 29. The filling system (1) according to any of the claims 19 to 28, characterized in that the bag discharge device (3) is operable automatically. 30. The filling system (1) according to any of the claims 19 to 29, characterized in that the bag discharge device (3) is displaceable from at least a first position to at least a second position. 31. The filling system (1) according to any of the claims 19 to 30, characterized in that at least one drive unit (31, 35) is provided. 32. The filling system (1) according to at least one of the claims 19 to 31, characterized in that the bag discharge device (3) comprises a discharge unit (3a) which comprises in particular a lift unit (6) and a push unit (5). 33. The filling system (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the bag discharge unit (3a) is tiltable. 34. The filling system (1) according to at least one of the claims 19 to 33, characterized in that at least two bag discharge devices (3) are provided. A filling machine, and a filling unit for a filling machine for filling bags, comprising a receiving device having a filling pipe on which the bag to be filled can be placed and a filling pipe support, and a measuring device wherein the receiving device forms a module at least with the measuring device and the filling pipe support.

Full Text

The invention relates to a filling unit for a filling system, and a filling system with a filling device for filling bags, comprising at least one filling box and at least one filling pipe on which the bag to be filled can be placed.
As a rule the filling pipe support of such filling systems is linked to the filling box through counterguide links forming a parallel guide. The filling pipe support is typically configured to be a vertical filling pipe plate and the counterguides are configured as leaf springs. A controllable slider is furthermore provided to release and shut off the flow-through channel of the filling pipe. Furthermore a weighing device comprising a measuring box is typically provided.
The filling systems or filling machines in question are configured to be so-called series packaging machines or rotary filling machines. The series packaging machines are provided with stationary filling aggregates while rotary filling machines comprise filling aggregates being elements of a rotor driven to rotate about a vertical axis. The filling machines are equipped with multiple filling pipes and filling aggregates in relation to the specified output.
Every filling box has a filling pipe, a weighing device and a vertically displaceable filling pipe plate assigned to it. The filling pipe also has the controlled slider assigned to it which before start of filling is brought into an open position and after end of filling, into a closed position.
The filling operation itself is guided and controlled through the weighing device. The filling pipe plate position is related to the actual current weight of the bag as it is filling up. Said position is converted into measured values by means of the measuring box.
The filling machines known thus far have counterguide links attached in pairs to the upper and lower areas of the filling pipe plate. The measuring box of the weighing device is positioned above the filling pipe plate. The elements mentioned are individual parts being in functional connection with one another.
Tolerated variations in the actual weights of the filled bags are relatively slight. The inevitable manufacturing tolerances, however, cause the weight to vary within specified limits. Another disadvantage in the filling machines thus far known is that the individual components must be assembled one by one. Assembly consequently takes a long time. The plurality of elements to be assembled on site causes a considerable amount of
adjustments for calibration.
2

It is the object of the present invention to configure a filling unit for a filling system, and a filling system, so as to facilitate assembly of the filling system as a whole, wherein variations of the actual weights are relatively slight.
The defined object is fulfilled by a filling unit having the features of claim 1 and by a filling system having the features of claim 19. Preferred specific embodiments of the invention are the subjects of the related subclaims.
These objects are fulfilled in that the receiving device forms one module at least with the filling pipe support device.
A filling system according to the invention or a filling unit according to the invention for a filling system or a filling machine serves to fill bags and in particular to fill valve bags.
A filling unit according to the invention comprises at least one receiving device and at least one filling pipe on which the bag to be filled can be placed, and a filling pipe support against which the filling pipe is supported. Furthermore at least one measuring device is provided. The receiving device forms a module at least with the filling pipe support wherein the measuring device is preferably integrated into said module.
The filling system according to the invention comprises a filling machine or is designed as a filling machine and serves to fill bags, in particular valve bags. The filling system according to the invention comprises at least one receiving device and at least one filling pipe on which the bag to be filled can be placed. Furthermore a filling pipe support to support the filling pipe and a measuring device is provided. The receiving device forms a module at least with the filling pipe support wherein the measuring device is preferably integrated into said module.
The module and preferably the entire filling unit are particularly small in structure, allowing a compact modular construction of the entire system. The module according to the invention for filling e.g. cement bags is considerably smaller in height than in the prior art. The amount of assembly work in setting up a filling system or a filling machine is reduced in particular since pre-assembled elements and units can be used on site when setting up a system. Adjusting the filling unit to comply with the required accuracy is considerably facilitated and the amount of work is reduced since the module can and will be pre-assembled and pre-adjusted at the manufacturer's before delivery.
3

While present-day production engineering is used to good effect, the structural design of the filling and weighing device is being simplified.
The module thus created generates a common weighing geometry which guarantees that variations in the actual weights of filled bags will be slight. Extremely slight variations are achievable. Deviations in the actual weights can be in the range of a few grams.
The filling unit according to the invention and the filling system according to the invention are provided in particular for bagging construction materials such as - but not exclusively -cement. The filling unit and the filling system may be suitable for bagging other construction materials or other flowing bulk material e.g. for bagging powdered, coarse and/or fine-grained or flow resistant products. The bagging of mixtures of coarse and fine-grained products, and bagging granules, crystals or similar particle materials is also possible.
The receiving device comprises in particular a filling box or is substantially configured as a filling box. The receiving device may be substantially configured as a plate or framework or the like to be attached to a filling box or a material outlet. According to the invention the receiving device is connected with the machine, not being part of the weighed system, while the filling pipe support is part of the weighing system and its weight will be included when the bag weight is determined during filling. A receiving device substantially configured as a plate allows an especially compact modular construction. Such a module with such a receiving device may then be attached to the filling box during assembly. Since the module can be pre-assembled and pre-calibrated, the amount of assembly and adjusting work will be appreciably reduced.
The filling system according to the invention may comprise multiple or a plurality of filling pipes or filling spouts. It is preferred to provide e.g. two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven or twelve or more, e.g. sixteen, filling pipes or filling spouts. The filling machine may be configured as a series filling machine and in particular as a rotary filling machine.
Specific embodiments of the filling unit and the filling system provide a conveying element assigned to the filling box or to the receiving device. The conveying element may in particular be positioned in the filling box and preferably in the lower area thereof. The conveying element may be configured e.g. as a turbine device or a conveyor screw. An air filling system is also conceivable as the conveying element. A turbine device placed
4

horizontally or vertically will allow a low air flow rate, thus enabling high compactness of the bagged bulk material.
The or each filling pipe support is preferably positioned vertically, at least substantially. A configuration deviating from the perpendicular is also possible when the angle is taken into consideration at the weighing system. It is possible and preferred to configure the filling pipe support as a filling pipe plate. The filling pipe support may, however, be configured as a carrier device supporting the filling pipe e.g. only on thin bars. All of the cases described above allow the filling pipe support to be formed integrally with the filling pipe.
The measuring device of the filling unit or the filling system is in particular configured as a weighing device or a weighing system, operating in particular electronically. In preferred embodiments the measuring or weighing device comprises or includes at least one measuring box or it is configured to be one. The weighing device comprises in particular an electric measuring cell in the measuring box. Preferably multiple measuring boxes are provided, in particular two, or up to four, eight or twelve or more measuring boxes per filling pipe.
It is preferred that the module of the filling unit or the filling system comprises the measuring box. This allows a particularly compact module capable of being pre-assembled and pre-adjusted.
The filling unit is advantageously provided with a shut-off unit by which the flow-through channel of the filling pipe can be released and shut off. The filling system preferably provides one shut-off unit per each filling pipe. A slider is in particular suitable for a shut-off unit. Pinch-type shut-off units may also be used. It is preferred that release and shut-off occur over several steps which are advantageously adjustable.
Other embodiments of the filling unit and the filling system provide that the shut-off unit or the slider are also integrated into the module. The slider preferably includes a plunger cylinder unit for displacing the element shutting off the flow-through channel in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the filling pipe. The plunger cylinder unit is then also integrated into the module.
Another preferred embodiment of the filling unit provides a counterguide or multiple counterguides to form a linkage between the receiving device or the receiving device
configured as a filling box, and the filling pipe support. Advantageously said counterguides
5

form a parallel mechanism. Preferably the receiving device or the filling box forms a module, at least with the counterguides, the weighing device and the filling pipe support. The filling system according to the invention may also provide a receiving device or a filling box thus connected with the filling pipe support.
This serves to achieve a compact structure of the module and the filling unit as a whole since each counterguide can be configured short and in particular the shortest possible in length. The counterguides are preferably mounted such that they run substantially horizontally. The vertical and horizontal clearance of the individual counterguides is preferably narrow and in particular as narrow as possible. The aim is in particular a vertical clearance of less than 1000 mm and in particular less than 800 mm or even less than or equal to 500 mm, e.g. 300 to 400 mm.
This is a considerable advantage over conventional filling machines which require substantial vertical clearances between the lower and upper counterguides. One of the reasons therefor is that the bag chairs in the known systems are components of the weighed system. Thus the entire weighed system will be large in structure and heavy in weight. Assembly will be extensive. The large distances between the individual elements and in particular the counterguides make it difficult to keep the narrow tolerances required for a high accuracy of the system.
The filling unit according to the invention may provide measuring boxes at the weighing device in a number related to the number of counterguides. The number of counterguides may e.g. be between one and four while the weighing device may be equipped e.g. with one measuring box or two measuring boxes. The filling system according to the invention may preferably also provide measuring boxes at the weighing device in a number related to the number of counterguides.
Preferred embodiments of the filling unit and the filling system furthermore provide that at least one measuring box, several or all of the measuring boxes of the weighing device be positioned at the height level of a conveying element installed in the filling box. In this way the measuring box or measuring boxes are positioned further downward compared to the known constructions such that the module will be more compact in structure. The area of the filling box where the conveying element is placed, might be called a housing since this area is designed for bearing the conveying element.
6

An advantageous embodiment of the filling unit and the filling system preferably provides at least one drive unit. The filling system comprises in particular one drive for the entire, e.g. rotary, filling machine. Preferably separate drives are provided for each conveying element. The drive unit of the conveying element is preferably a component of the module and is preferably attached to the filling box.
A specific embodiment of the filling unit comprises a filling pipe having a mounting flange on which the bags or valve bags to be filled can be placed. The filling pipe is releasably attached to a stationary filling pipe support. There is furthermore provided a slider displaceable transverse to the longitudinal axis of the filling pipe and mounted to a slider attachment wherein an elastic compensator is positioned at the filling pipe support.
Preferably the filling pipe with its mounting flange, the filling pipe support configured as a filling pipe plate, the elastic compensator, the slider attachment and the slider are releasably joined to one another through connection elements. Optionally at least two of the modules can be assembled and disassembled as assembly units. This will render the turbine readily accessible for maintenance etc.
Preferably the modules are screw-connected to one another such that the screws are arranged in a hole circle where the individual screws of the hole circle are arranged angularly offset relative to one another.
The screw heads are advantageously positioned on the side of the filling pipe facing the discharge outlet.
Preferably the screws of the elements placed on the sides of the joints facing toward the discharge outlet of the filling pipe, are provided with tool through-holes.
A specific embodiment of the filling system according to the invention preferably comprises one or more filling units as described above. Multiple similar or multiple different filling units may be used.
A preferred embodiment of the filling system comprises at least one bag discharge device that is preferably controllable.
Preferably the bag discharge device is suitable and designed for discharging one by one the bags filled through at least two different filling pipes. For example, a bag can be discharged
7

from a first spout and then another bag can be discharged from a second spout. A rotary filling machine with multiple filling pipes can thus have only one bag discharge or bag push-off device to push off or discharge one by one the bags from multiple or all filling pipes.
The bag discharge device is in particular controllable through a control means. A signal from the control means automatically actuates discharge.
If required, a series packaging machine with multiple filling pipes may operate with only one bag discharge device if said bag discharge device is equipped to travel along the different filling pipes.
The bag discharge device of the filling system is preferably not movable as a whole but is provided to be stationary or fixed in place.
It is preferred that the bag discharge device is placed separately adjacent to the filling machine. The bag discharge device can thus be a separate element while being functionally connected with the filling machine.
The bag discharge device is preferably adjustable in height to accommodate different bag lengths or sizes. The height can be adjusted manually, or else by push-button. An automatic height adjustment control may also be provided. A drive may be provided by electric motor or by a pneumatic or hydraulic system.
Advantageously the bag discharge device or at least part of the bag discharge device is displaceable from at least one first position to at least one second position. The first position may be a rest position while the second position may be the discharge position. A drive system may be provided to displace the bag discharge device from the first position to the second position and reversely.
The bag discharge device may comprise a discharge unit which includes in particular a lift unit and a push unit. It is preferred that in the rest position the lift unit is configured substantially horizontally and the push unit, substantially vertically.
The discharge unit may be configured to be tiltable for discharging the bags. The pivoting or tilting motion preferably occurs such that the bag is first lifted by the lift unit and then pushed off by the push unit. The tilting axis preferably extends in the front area of the lift unit on the side facing away from the push unit, and with the height being adjustable it is displaced
8

along with the bag chair device or the bag discharge unit. This results in equal discharge conditions for different bag lengths.
Preferred specific embodiments may provide at least two bag discharge devices. A second bag discharge device may serve to separate out defective bags e.g. broken bags etc.
Further features, characteristics and advantages of the present invention can be taken from the following description of the embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
These show in:
Fig. 1 a side view of an embodiment of a filling system according to the invention,
Fig. 2 a top view of the filling system according to Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 a side view of a bag discharge device according to the invention according to Fig. 1 in the rest position,
Fig. 4 a side view of the bag discharge device according to Fig. 3 in the discharge position,
Fig. 5 a simplistic schematic diagram of the area assigned to the filling box, and
Fig. 6 a vertical section of a filling device of a filling machine according to the invention with the filling unit indicated schematically.
Referring to the Figures, an embodiment of a filling system 1 according to the invention will now be described. Fig. 1 illustrates the filling system 1 in a side view and Fig. 2 in a top view.
The filling system 1 according to the invention comprises a rotary filling machine 2 and a separate bag push-off or bag discharge device 3 positioned at a narrow lateral distance from the central filling machine housing 9 whose cross-section herein is a polygon of sixteen angles. The cross-section may also be round or have a different number of angles.
The filling machine 2 in this embodiment may be equipped with up to eight filling modules 4, each of which filling modules 4 comprising a filling pipe 12. The illustration in Figure 2 is a
9

schematic representation of two filling pipes 12. The other six filling pipes 12 are spaced at a 45° angular distance each.
Each filling module includes its own filling box 10 (see Fig. 5), its own filling pipe 12 and related weighing system, etc. While the illustrated filling machine 2 can receive up to eight filling modules 4, a smaller number of filling modules may be installed so as to allow retrofitting with filling modules as needed. The flexible configuration of the filling system allows cost-efficient and uncomplicated adding of extensions to the filling machine up to the maximum configuration provided.
Other embodiments may be configured to provide a different number of filling pipes. The number of filling pipes or filling spouts is related to the specified performance such that the rotor, which is driven to rotate about a vertical axis, can itself be provided with any number of filling pipes desired. The filling machine may for example comprise two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, fourteen or more, e.g. sixteen, filling pipes and associated filling aggregates.
An automatic placing system - not shown - can provide the filling machine 2 with the required bags, placing the bags on the filling pipes 12 unassisted. Before the filling operation starts a sensor (not shown) checks whether a bag is properly placed on the filling pipe, before the control unit 24 starts the filling operation. The sensor may be designed as a contact sensor or a contactless sensor.
The rotary machine advantageously comprises a soft-start drive system 31 using a V-belt 33, or possibly a toothed belt.
For an accurately defined filling, a ring gap aeration may be provided to reduce wall friction between the filling pipe and the product.
During filling, the control means 24 checks continually or quasi-continually the weight of the weighed system for each bag, where the bag weight is dynamically determined by deducting the system weight from the measured weight. One control unit 24 is provided for two filling pipes 12 each. The supply unit 8 serves to supply energy to the control units 24 and the other electric modules.
10

Control of the filling operation is guided by the momentary filled weight such that as the target weight is approached the filling speed is reduced at least above a predetermined threshold value.
For controlling the filling speed the slider 18 may be equipped with a pneumatic drive. Displacing the slider e.g. through a plunger cylinder unit will bring the slider into the position for coarse dosage and into the position for fine dosage and into the closed position. A three-position cylinder may be provided for this purpose. A hydraulic, electric, or magnetic drive of the slider or a pinch valve device is also possible. To prevent emission of dust, a spillage return or a spillage rejecting flap may be provided.
Preferred embodiments include control units 24 provided with a bag breakage detection function. It may operate in such a way that the actual bag weight progression is checked against known, e.g. previous, weight progressions. Too large downward deviations may be indicative of a defective bag or a clogged filling pipe. Analyses of other data may serve to determine the source of interference.
As a bag 13 (see Fig. 5) is filled and the filling pipe 12 with the attached bag 13 rotates past the bag discharge device 3, the pulse generator 32 emits a signal thus activating the bag discharge device 3. Determining the time of bag discharge may be correlated with the speed of rotation.
The discharge operation is illustrated schematically in the Figures 3 and 4. At the moment as the bag 13 reaches the angle of the bag discharge device 3, the discharge unit which is pivotable about the rotation or tilt axis 7, is activated, traveling from the first position illustrated in Figure 3, the rest position, to the second position illustrated in Figure 4, the discharge position. This travel of the bag discharge device 3 is initiated by a drive 38 which may be configured as a piston cylinder unit or e.g. as an electric motor.
The fact that the tilt axis 7 is positioned on the side of the discharge unit 3a facing away from the push-off unit 5, causes the lift unit 6 to be tilted and the filling pipe 12 to lift the bag at its radially inward end. This allows the bag 13 to be pushed radially outwardly off the filling pipe 12 through the subsequent pushing motion of the push unit 5. This motion can thus overcome with small forces the friction torque between the filling pipe 12 and the bag opening or bag valve.
11

After the bag discharge, the discharge unit 3a returns to the start position which is the rest position. There the discharge unit 3a remains until the next filled bag 13 is to be discharged.
After the bag discharge, checking scales may be installed to take the final weight of the filled bags and to emit a signal in the case of off-weight bags which may be pulled out if necessary.
The bag discharge device 3 is configured to be adjustable at different heights to accommodate different bag shapes and sizes. For adjusting the height, the discharge unit is shifted. This means that as a higher level is set, both the lift unit 6 and the tilt axis 7 are shifted upwardly. This causes the tilt motion to remain the same, notwithstanding the level of the discharge unit.
To facilitate operation, a sort memory may be provided for storing the optimum settings for different materials. For example direct selection may allow to select a material, thus adapting the entire system to it. The entire system may be network-compatible for online transmission of recorded data.
Fig. 5 schematically shows an area assigned to the filling box which may be collectively designated as filling module 4. The filling module 4 forms a compact module 30 such that the entire filling machine can be made compact in structure. While the components in the embodiment forming the module 30 are illustrated in solid lines, the bag 13 and the silo 11 are illustrated in broken lines since they are no component parts of the module 30. The filling box 10 may be configured to be a separate component for example if the receiving device is configured as a thin plate or a mounting part which is then a component of the module instead of the filling box. In assembling, the receiving device will in this case be attached to the filling box of the system.
The module 30 as a whole, in this embodiment comprising the filling box 10, the counterguides 15 and 16, the measuring device in the shape of measuring box 17, the filling pipe support in the shape of filling pipe plate 14 and the filling pipe 12, is comparatively small in structure. One of the reasons therefor is that no bag chair is integrated such that the module is considerably less in height than the modules known from the prior art which include the filling pipe and the associated bag chair.
The module height in the embodiment according to the invention is as a rule less than half
the height of comparable modules of conventional machines, and it may take only one third
12

or one fourth of the height. In particular the height 36 between the upper and lower counterguides is considerably smaller than in a conventional filling machine where each filling pipe is provided with a bag chair. The weight of the weighed system is also considerably lower wherein 30% or 50% or more weight may be saved.
The module 30 is mounted to the housing or silo 11 by suitable mounting means (not shown). The module 30 may for example be attached to the silo with four screws only. Assembly and disassembly will thus be considerably facilitated since the module 30 can be pre-assembled at the manufacturer's.
Beneath the silo 11, illustrated in broken lines, the filling box 10 is positioned in which in the embodiment a conveying element 34 is mounted. Said conveying element 34 may be for example an impeller or a conveyor screw. A filling pipe 12 is attached to the filling box 10 which is commonly known in different designs.
The free end of the filling pipe 12 receives a valve bag 13 (shown in broken lines) to be filled. The bag hangs freely from the filling pipe without any support. The filling pipe carries the whole bag weight. A bag chair for each filling pipe included in weighing, the weight of which must be deducted, is not required in this case. This will save considerable costs.
The module 30 can be manufactured at improved tolerances and pre-assembled so as to achieve the required accuracy while considerably reducing the manufacturing operations.
The filling pipe 12 has a vertically displaceable filling pipe plate 14 assigned to it which plate is always displaceable in parallel in the illustrated embodiment due to two counterguides 15, 16. The filling pipe plate 14 is functionally connected with a measuring box 17 at the weighing device.
The weighing device controls the filling operation, i.e. a valve bag is placed on the filling pipe 12 and then filling is initiated by actuating a slider 18 opposite to the illustration in Figure 5 so as to release the filling pipe 12. As the valve bag 13 reaches its target weight, the slider 18 returns to the closed position illustrated in Figure 5.
In the embodiment of Figure 5, the filling box 10, the filling pipe 12, the filling pipe plate 14, the two counterguides 15, 16, the measuring box 17 and the slider 18 form one compact module or a modular construction. This not only results in a highly compact construction of
the entire filling machine but also in a high weighing accuracy since due to present-day
13

manufacturing technology the tolerances in manufacturing the modules are slight and can be complied with.
In preferred embodiments the filling box is furthermore provided with a motor 35 to drive the filling turbine 34 for example by means of a not illustrated V-belt.
The configuration of the module is not limited to what is illustrated in Fig. 5. It is advantageous for the filling box 10 to form one module at least with the counterguides 15, 16, the filling pipe plate 14 and the weighing device.
Figure 6 illustrates the filling device 21 of the filling machine according to the invention comprising a filling pipe 12 that includes a mounting flange 22 on the side facing away from the discharge outlet. Multiple screws 23 arranged in a hole circle fasten the mounting flange 22 to the filling pipe plate 14 which is a fixed element of the filling device 21.
Said filling pipe plate 14 is followed by the elastic compensator 25. The elastic compensator 25 is clamped at its ends by means of two pressing rings 26, 27 which are fastened by screws 28, 29.
The compensator 25 is followed by the ring aeration 20, which is also fastened by screws, with the air connection 37. Furthermore a slider 18 is provided which is displaceable transverse to the longitudinal axis of the filling pipe 12. The slider 18 is provided with an opening to allow the material to flow toward the filling pipe 12. As the filling operation stops, the slider 18 immediately shuts off the flow-through opening to prevent that any more material is conveyed from the filling unit into the filling pipe 12.
The filling unit may comprise a filling turbine supported in a housing so that it can be driven to rotate. Material inlet to the filling box may occur through a vertical double cell lock or a cone valve. It is also conceivable to configure the filling unit 10 as a filling box provided with a screen bottom plate through which a gaseous medium such as air can be forced to loosen the feed material. For explosion-proof requirements the gaseous medium may be an inert gas such as nitrogen or helium or the like. In the illustrated embodiment an intermediate member 19 is provided between the filling unit 10 and the slider 18.
As shown in Figure 6, all of the screws 23, 28, 29 have their heads facing toward the discharge outlet of the filling pipe 12. All of the screws 23, 28, 29 are placed on hole circles
and, unless they are accessible from the side, at an angular offset relative to one another
14

such that tool through-holes allow access to the heads of the screws 23, 28, 29. To this purpose the elements interconnected on the side facing the discharge outlet of the filling pipe 12 are provided with aligned openings.
It is advantageous that the filling pipe 12 with its mounting flange 22 can be separately disassembled and assembled. It is furthermore advantageous that if required the filling pipe 12 including the mounting flange 22 can be disassembled and assembled as a unit together with the filling pipe plate 14 and possibly also with the elastic compensator 25.
15

Reference numerals:
1 filling system
2 filling machine
3 bag discharge device
3a discharge unit
4 filling module
5 push unit
6 lift unit
7 tilt axis
8 supply unit
9 filling machine housing
10 filling box
11 silo
12 filling pipe
13 valve bag
14 filling pipe plate
15, 16counterguide
17 measuring box
18 slider
19 intermediate member
20 ring aeration
21 filling device
22 mounting flange
23 screw
24 control unit
25 elastic compensator
26 pressing ring
27 pressing ring
28 screw
29 screw
30 module
31 motor
32 pulse generator
33 V-belt
34 filling turbine
35 motor
36 height
37 air connection
38 drive

16

WE CLAIM:
1. A filling unit (4) for a filling machine (2) for filling bags (13), comprising at least one
receiving device (10) having a filling pipe (12) on which the bag (13) to be filled can be
placed and a filling pipe support (14) and a measuring device (17), characterized in
that the receiving device (10) forms a module (30) at least with the measuring device
(17) and the filling pipe support (14).
2. The filling unit (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving device (10)
comprises a filling box (10).
3. The filling unit (4) according to claim 2, characterized in that the filling box (10) has a
conveying element (34) assigned to it which is in particular positioned in the filling box
(10).
4. The filling unit (4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the
filling pipe support (14) is at least substantially positioned in the vertical.
5. The filling unit (4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the
measuring device (17) is configured as a weighing device (17) and preferably
comprises at least one measuring box (17).
6. The filling unit (4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a
shut-off device (18) is provided by means of which the flow-through channel of the
filling pipe (12) can be released and shut off.
7. The filling unit (4) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the shut-off
device (18) is also integrated into the module (30).
8. The filling unit (4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the
module (30) comprises the measuring device (17).
9. The filling unit (4) according to any of the claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the
number of measuring boxes (17) of the weighing device is between one box and four
or eight boxes.
17

10. The filling unit (4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the
connection between the receiving device (10) and the filling pipe support (14) occurs
through at least one counterguide (15,16) or multiple counterguides (15,16).
11. The filling unit (4) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the
counterguides (15, 16) form a parallel guide and that the receiving device (10) forms
the module (30) at least with the counterguides (15, 16) and the filling pipe support
(14).
12. The filling unit (4) according to any of the claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the
number of the measuring boxes (17) of the measuring device is related to the number
of counterguides (15, 16) and/or that the number of the counterguides (15, 16) is
between one and four, and that the measuring device is equipped with one measuring
box (17) or with two measuring boxes (17).
13. The filling unit (4) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in
that the measuring box (17) is positioned in the height area of a conveying element
(34) installed in the filling box (10).
14. The filling unit (4) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in
that the module (4) comprises a drive unit (35) for the conveying element (34).
15. The filling unit (4) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in
that the filling pipe (12) with its mounting flange (22), the filling pipe support (14), the
elastic compensator (25), the ring aeration (20) and the slider (18) are releasably
joined to one another through connection elements, and that optionally at least two of
the modules can be assembled and disassembled as assembly units.
16. The filling unit (4) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the
components (12, 14, 22, 25) are connected by screws (23, 28, 29), and that the
screws (23, 28, 29) lie on a hole circle and the individual screws (23, 28, 29) of the
hole circles are arranged at an angular offset relative to one another.
17. The filling unit (4) according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the heads of the
screws (23, 28, 29) are positioned on the side of the filling pipe (12) facing the
discharge outlet.
18

18. The filling unit (4) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the screws
(23, 28, 29) of the elements placed on the sides of the joints facing toward the
discharge outlet of the filling pipe (12) are provided with tool through-holes.
19. A filling system (1) with a filling machine (2) for filling bags (13), comprising at least
one receiving device (10) having at least one filling pipe (12) on which the bag (13) to
be filled can be placed and with a filling pipe support (14) and with a measuring device
(17), characterized in that the receiving device (10) forms a module (30) at least with
the measuring device (17) and the filling pipe support (14).
20. The filling system (1) according to claim 19, characterized in that the receiving device
comprises a filling box (10) which preferably has a conveying element (34) assigned to
it which is in particular positioned in the filling box (10).
21. The filling system (1) according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the filling pipe
support (14) is at least substantially positioned in the vertical.
22. The filling system (1) according to any of the claims 19 to 21, characterized in that the
measuring device (17) comprises at least one measuring box (17).
23. The filling system (1) according to any of the claims 19 to 22, characterized in that a
shut-off device (18) is provided by means of which the flow-through channel of the
filling pipe (12) can be released and shut off.
24. The filling system (1) according to any of the claims 19 to 23, characterized in that the
module (30) comprises the measuring box (17).
25. The filling system (1) according to any of the claims 19 to 24, characterized in that the
shut-off device (18) is also integrated into the module (30).
26. The filling unit (1) according to any of the claims 19 to 25, characterized by a
controllable bag discharge device (3).
27. The filling system (1) according to any of the claims 19 to 26, characterized in that the
bag discharge device (3) is stationary and/or placed separately and/or adjustable in
height.
19

20
28. The filling system (1) according to any of the claims 19 to 27, characterized in that the
bag discharge device (3) is suitable for discharging bags (13) filled by at least two
different filling pipes (12).
29. The filling system (1) according to any of the claims 19 to 28, characterized in that the
bag discharge device (3) is operable automatically.
30. The filling system (1) according to any of the claims 19 to 29, characterized in that the
bag discharge device (3) is displaceable from at least a first position to at least a
second position.
31. The filling system (1) according to any of the claims 19 to 30, characterized in that at
least one drive unit (31, 35) is provided.
32. The filling system (1) according to at least one of the claims 19 to 31, characterized in
that the bag discharge device (3) comprises a discharge unit (3a) which comprises in
particular a lift unit (6) and a push unit (5).
33. The filling system (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the bag
discharge unit (3a) is tiltable.
34. The filling system (1) according to at least one of the claims 19 to 33, characterized in
that at least two bag discharge devices (3) are provided.

A filling machine, and a filling unit for a filling machine for filling bags, comprising a receiving device having a filling pipe on which the bag to be filled can be placed and a filling pipe support, and a measuring device wherein the receiving device forms a module at least with the measuring device and the filling pipe support.

Documents:

00297-kolnp-2007-correspondence-1.1.pdf

00297-kolnp-2007-correspondence-1.2.pdf

00297-kolnp-2007-form-18.pdf

00297-kolnp-2007-priority document-1.1.pdf

0297-kolnp-2007-abstract.pdf

0297-kolnp-2007-assignment.pdf

0297-kolnp-2007-claims.pdf

0297-kolnp-2007-correspondence others.pdf

0297-kolnp-2007-description (complete).pdf

0297-kolnp-2007-drawings.pdf

0297-kolnp-2007-form1.pdf

0297-kolnp-2007-form2.pdf

0297-kolnp-2007-form3.pdf

0297-kolnp-2007-form5.pdf

0297-kolnp-2007-international publication.pdf

0297-kolnp-2007-international search authority report.pdf

0297-kolnp-2007-others.pdf

0297-kolnp-2007-priority document.pdf

297-KOLNP-2007-(03-02-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

297-KOLNP-2007-(03-02-2012)-FORM 27.pdf

297-KOLNP-2007-CORRESPONDENCE 1.1.pdf

297-KOLNP-2007-CORRESPONDENCE 1.2.pdf

297-KOLNP-2007-CORRESPONDENCE 1.3.pdf

297-KOLNP-2007-CORRESPONDENCE 1.4.pdf

297-KOLNP-2007-CORRESPONDENCE 1.5.pdf

297-KOLNP-2007-DESCRIPTION(COMPLETE)1.1.pdf

297-KOLNP-2007-EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECIEVED.pdf

297-KOLNP-2007-FORM 1.1.pdf

297-KOLNP-2007-FORM 27.pdf

297-KOLNP-2007-FORM 3.1.1.pdf

297-KOLNP-2007-FORM-27.pdf

297-KOLNP-2007-OTHERS 1.1.pdf

297-KOLNP-2007-OTHERS 1.2.pdf

297-KOLNP-2007-OTHERS 1.3.pdf

297-KOLNP-2007-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf

abstract-00297-kolnp-2007.jpg

« Previous Patent

Next Patent »

Patent Number

242560

Indian Patent Application Number

297/KOLNP/2007

PG Journal Number

36/2010

Publication Date

03-Sep-2010

Grant Date

01-Sep-2010

Date of Filing

25-Jan-2007

Name of Patentee

HAVER & BOECKER OHG

Applicant Address

CARL-HAVER-PLATZ, D-59302 OELDE

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	WESTHUES, RAINER	DÜLLO 3, 59329 WADERSLOH-DIESTEDDE

PCT International Classification Number

B65B 1/18

PCT International Application Number

PCT/EP2005/006959

PCT International Filing date

2005-06-29

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	20 2004 015 995.3	2004-10-15	Germany
2	20 2004 010 176.9	2004-06-30	Germany