Conveying device, system for stacking filled bags, and method for stacking filled bags

A system for stacking filled bags, the system comprising:

• a feeding station through which filled normal bags can be fed into a conveying path for conveying the filled normal bags from the feeding station to a stacking area,
• a conveying device, which is arranged at the feed station so that at least part of the conveying path is formed by a conveying unit of the conveying device, and
• a stacking unit which is arranged on the conveying device and by means of which a bag stack can be created,
• wherein the conveying device has a supply unit, from which filled special bags can be fed into the conveying path, so that in the stacking area the bag stack can be created from filled normal bags and filled special bags,
• wherein special bags are bags of a format that has been modified in comparison with normal bags,
• wherein the bag stack formed from filled normal bags and filled special bags have different stack patterns in a layer of filled special bags in comparison with a layer of filled normal bags,
• so that the bag stack with recesses can be provided which are suitable for receiving the bag stack by a fork lift truck without pallets,
• wherein a control unit is provided identifying a need for filled special bags in the stacking area so that sufficient layers of filled normal bags are formed in the stacking area and that a layer of special bags is then to be formed, and
• wherein a special feeding station for filling previously unfilled special bags and for introducing the filled special bags into the supply unit is arranged on the supply unit of the conveying device.

A method for stacking filled bags to a bag stack, comprising the following steps:

• introducing filled normal bags into a conveying path by a feeding station for conveying the filled normal bags from the feeding station to a stacking area,
• conveying the filled normal bags along a part of the conveying path to the stacking area by a conveying device,
• forming a first layer of at least two rows of filled normal bags in the stacking area, and
• forming at least one second layer of at least two rows of filled normal bags on said first layer,
• wherein
• at least the following steps are foreseen:
• inserting at least one special bag into the conveying path by a supply unit, wherein a special feeding station for filling previously unfilled special bags and for introducing the filled special bags into the supply unit is arranged on the supply unit of the conveying device, and
• forming a special layer from at least one special bag in the stacking area,
• wherein special bags are bags of a format that has been modified in comparison with normal bags, and
• wherein the bag stack formed from filled normal bags and filled special bags have different stack patterns in a layer of filled special bags in comparison with a layer of filled normal bags,
• so that the bag stack with recesses can be provided which are suitable for receiving the bag stack by a fork lift truck without pallets.