Filling sleeve

Abstract

The present invention provides a filling sleeve which allows containers with a rectangular or square cross-section, especially bags with deep side folds, to be filled advantageously in that they are given a stable shape. The objective is achieved by means of a filling sleeve which is characterized in that, in the exit cross-section, a central region is provided with inserts and four separate exit apertures are kept open in the corners of the square or rectangular cross-section. In this way, the filling material flowing through the substantially completely open and normally undivided entrance cross-section of the filling sleeve is divided into four individual streams which are associated with the corners of the exit cross-section. Thus, while being filled, the bags are initially stabilized from the corners, as a result of which a certain tension remains in the walls between the corners, so that the walls cannot bulge out when the level of the filling material rises. The effect is the same, both on bags clamped to the filling sleeve and on bags standing on a base. The filled bags comprise a stable rectangular or square cross-sectional shape, so that, after the bags have been filled and released from the filling sleeve, the edges of the bag flaps are positioned largely parallel relative to one another, thus allowing simple and uncomplicated closing operations.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.