Closure device for flexible containers and a method for closing flexible containers

A filling device for filling a flexible container with a powdered filling material, the filling device comprising:

• a filling spout provided for introduction into a filling valve of the container;
• a closure device for closing the flexible container, the closing device comprising:
• a welding device;
• a sensor device configured to acquire a position of a part of the container to be closed;
• and a control unit coupled with the sensor device and the welding device, the control unit being configured to place the welding device in a first position relative to the part of the container to be closed and in a second position spaced apart from the first position relative to the part of the container to be closed by actuating at least one moving device, detect when at least one of the two positions has been reached via the sensor device, and actuate the welding device at the respective first and second position to generate a weld seam on the container;
• and
• a container moving device configured to move the container relative to the welding device of the closure device such that the container moving device moves the container relative to the welding device from a first container position to a second container position after the weld seam is generated with the welding device at the first position.

A method for closing a flexible container, the method comprising the steps of:

• actuating at least one moving device for placing a welding device in a first position on a part of the flexible container to be closed;
• moving the flexible container to a first container position;
• generating a first weld seam with the welding device in the first position and with the flexible container in the first container position;
• moving the flexible container to a second container position after generating the first weld seam;
• after moving the flexible container to the second container position, actuating the at least one moving device for placing the welding device in a second position on the part of the flexible container to be closed;
• generating a second weld seam with the welding device in the second position and with the flexible container in the second container position, wherein a sensor unit for acquiring a position of the part of the flexible container to be closed detects when at least one of the two positions has been reached.