Modular bag filling apparatus

• US 8,327,890 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2006
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spiroflow Systems, Incorporated (Spiroflow Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Control and Metering, Limited
• Inventors: Mackrill, Don, Zandi-Hanjari, Bahram
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US11/991,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20090293990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,286 Days
• Field of Search: 141/83, 141314-317, 177/160
• US Class Current: 141/315
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/32 by weighing check-weighing of filled containers or receptacles B65B1/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 15/00 Arrangements for check-weighing of materials dispensed into removable containers packaging aspects B65B; electric measuring arrangements involving comparison with a reference value G01R17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/14 for weighing suspended loads G01G3/00 takes precedence; incorporation of weighing devices in cranes B66C1/40, B66C13/16

Abstract

A bulk bag filling apparatus comprises a first support member having an upper end and a lower end and being oriented in a generally vertical direction; a second support member connected to said generally vertical member and extending at an angle to said generally vertical direction; a filling head for engagement with an opening of the bulk bag, wherein the filling head is connected to and supported by the second support member; a bulk bag support structure for engagement with support elements of the bulk bag, wherein the bulk bag support structure is connected to and supported by the second support member; and a hang-weighing mechanism for weighing the contents of the bulk bag, wherein the bulk bag support structure is connected to said second support member through said hang-weighing mechanism. The hang-weighing apparatus includes one or two load-bearing points at which the bulk bag support structure applies a load to the hang-weighing apparatus. A load cell is preferably provided at each of said load-bearing points, wherein each of said load cells converts said load into an electrical signal representative of the weight of the bulk bag and its contents.

Claims

1. A bulk bag filling apparatus, comprising:

(a) a first support member having an upper end and a lower end and being oriented in a generally vertical direction;

(b) a second support member connected to said generally vertical member and extending at an angle to said generally vertical direction;

(c) a filling head for engagement with an opening of the bulk bag, wherein the filling head is connected to and supported by the second support member;

(d) a bulk bag support structure for engagement with support elements of the bulk bag, wherein the bulk bag support structure is connected to and supported by the second support member; and

(e) a hang-weighing mechanism for weighing the contents of the bulk bag, wherein the bulk bag support structure is connected to said second support member through said hang-weighing mechanism;

wherein the bulk bag support structure comprises a pair of parallel hanger arms extending along either side of the filler head, and wherein the hanger arms are provided with a plurality of hangers for engaging the support elements of the bulk bag, the support elements comprising loops;

wherein the filling head support structure comprises a frame structure connected to an end of the second support member which is distal to said first support member, wherein the filling head is rigidly secured to said frame structure, and wherein said hang-weighing mechanism comprises a pair of hang-weighing devices, each of which is interconnected between the filling head support structure and one of the hanger arms, such that the hanger arms are suspended from the hang-weighing devices; and

wherein each of the hanger arms is suspended from the filling head support structure by a plate having means for adjusting the height of the hanger arms.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hang-weighing apparatus includes one or two load-bearing points at which the bulk bag support structure applies a load to the hang-weighing apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a load cell is provided at each of said load-bearing points, wherein each of said load cells converts said load into an electrical signal representative of the weight of the bulk bag and its contents.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

(f) a filling head support structure to which the filling head is connected, wherein both the filling head and the filling head support structure are connected to and supported by the second support member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the filling head support structure comprises a frame structure connected to an end of the second support member which is distal to said first support member, and wherein the filling head is rigidly secured to said frame structure.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the frame structure comprises a framework of generally horizontal members to which the filling head is secured, wherein the filling head comprises a pair of concentric cylinders separated by an annular space.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hang-weighing devices comprise load cells which are aligned with one another along a horizontal axis passing through a centre of the filling head.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the hanger arms is provided with two of said hangers, the hangers being located proximate to the ends of the hanger arms, wherein the hanger arms are suspended at points located approximately midway between their ends from the hang-weighing devices, and wherein a center point of the filling head is approximately equidistant between the hanger arms.

9. The bulk bag filling apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the angle at which the second support member extends is from about 45-90 degrees to the generally vertical direction.

28. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the angle is about 60 degrees.

29. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the angle is about 90 degrees.

10. A bulk bag filling apparatus comprising;

(a) a first support member having an upper end and a lower end and being oriented in a generally vertical direction;

(b) a second support member connected to said generally vertical member and extending at an angle to said generally vertical direction;

(c) a filling head for engagement with an opening of the bulk bag, wherein the filling head is connected to and supported by the second support member;

(d) a bulk bag support structure for engagement with support elements of the bulk bag, wherein the bulk bag support structure is connected to and supported by the second support member; and

(e) a hang-weighing mechanism for weighing the contents of the bulk bag, wherein the bulk bag support structure is connected to said second support member through said hang-weighing mechanism;

wherein the first support member comprises a vertical beam and the second support member comprises a projecting beam having a first end and a second, end, wherein the hang-weighing mechanism comprises a single hang-weighing device through which the first end of the projecting beam is connected to the vertical beam, and wherein the second end of the projecting beam is spaced in a forward direction from the vertical beam and is connected to the filling head and the bulk bag support structure.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the projecting beam comprises a first portion which is secured to the vertical beam and a second portion which is pivotably connected to said first portion about a pivot axis located between the first and second ends of the projecting beam.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the hang weighing device comprises a load cell which is interconnected between the first and second portions of the projecting beam, wherein the load cell is located between the pivot axis and the first end of the projecting beam.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the load cell is connected between a downwardly-facing surface of the first portion of the projecting beam and an upwardly-facing surface of the second portion of the projecting beam, such that application of a downward load at the second end of the projecting beam causes pivoting of the second portion of the projecting beam and results in a corresponding load being applied to the load cell.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

(f) a filling head support structure to which the filling head is connected, wherein both the filling head and the filling head support structure are connected to and supported by the second support member.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the filling head support structure comprises a frame structure connected to an end of the second support member which is distal to said first support member, and wherein the filling head is rigidly secured to said frame structure.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the frame structure comprises a framework of generally horizontal members to which the filling head is secured, wherein the filling head comprises a pair of concentric cylinders separated by an annular space.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the bulk bag support structure comprises a pair of parallel hanger arms extending along either side of the filling head, and wherein the hanger arms are provided with a plurality of hangers for engaging the support elements of the bulk bag, the support elements comprising loops.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second portion of the projecting beam has a first end connected to said hang-weighing device and a second end which is attached to said filling head.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second end of the second portion of the projecting beam is branched and is pivotably connected along a pivot axis to opposite sides of said filling head, wherein said pivot axis extends through a center of said filling head.

20. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the bulk bag support structure comprises four hanger arms projecting radially outwardly from said filling head in a X-shaped pattern, each of the hanger arms having a first end attached to the filling head and a second end carrying a hanger for engaging a support element of the bulk bag, wherein the support elements comprise loops.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the filling head is provided with a pair of spaced, annular flanges between which the first ends of the hanger arms are received.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein two of said hanger arms are pivotably attached to said filling head for rotation about their first ends.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said two pivotable hanger arms are rotatable about their first ends from a first position in which they are each angled relative to an adjacent hanger arm to a second position in which they are each approximately parallel to an adjacent hanger arm.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a pair of fluid-actuated cylinders for pivoting said two pivotable hanger arms, wherein each of the fluid-actuated cylinders is attached at one end to the filling head and at another end to one of the hanger arms.

25. A bulk bag filling apparatus, comprising:

(a) a first support member having an upper end and a lower end and being oriented in a generally vertical direction;

(b) a second support member connected to said generally vertical member and extending at an angle to said generally vertical direction;

(c) a filling head for engagement with an opening of the bulk bag, wherein the filling head is connected to and supported by the second support member;

(d) a bulk bag support structure for engagement with support elements of the bulk bag, wherein the bulk bag support structure is connected to and supported by the second support member; and

(e) a hang-weighing mechanism for weighing the contents of the bulk bag, wherein the bulk bag support structure is connected to said second support member through said hang-weighing mechanism;

wherein the second support member is connected to the first support member so as to be movable along the first support member in said generally vertical direction;

and wherein the apparatus further comprises a drive mechanism for moving said second support member in said generally vertical direction.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first support member comprises a vertical beam and the second support member comprises a projecting beam having a first end which is movably connected to the vertical beam and having a second end spaced in a forward direction from the vertical beam.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the projecting beam is movably connected to the vertical beam by a vertically movable sleeve surrounding the vertical beam, the sleeve having a forward-facing surface on which the first end of the projecting beam is mounted.

30. A bulk bag filling apparatus comprising:

(a) a first support member having an upper end and a lower end and being oriented in a generally vertical direction;

(b) a second support member connected to said generally vertical member and extending at an angle to said generally vertical direction;

(c) a filling head for engagement with an opening of the bulk bag, wherein the filling head is connected to and supported by the second support member;

(d) a bulk bag support structure for engagement with support elements of the bulk bag, wherein the bulk bag support structure is connected to and supported by the second support member; and

(e) a hang-weighing mechanism for weighing the contents of the bulk bag, wherein the bulk bag support structure is connected to said second support member through said hang-weighing mechanism;

further comprising a rotatable base on which the lower end of the first support member is mounted such that the first support member is rotatable about an axis which is parallel to said generally vertical direction.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the rotatable base comprises a turntable mechanism.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said second support member extends in a forward direction from said first support member, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a third support member connected to said generally vertical member and extending at an angle to said generally vertical direction and in a direction which is generally opposite to that in which the second support member extends;

a second filling head for engagement with an opening of a second bulk bag;

wherein the second filling head is connected to the third support member and are supported therefrom;

and a second bulk bag support structure for engagement with support elements of the second bulk bag, wherein the second bulk bag support structure is connected to the third support member and is supported therefrom.