The present invention relates to an apparatus and a process
for filling containers with granular or powdered materials,
in particular with finely divided solids with a high air
content, as well as to the container itself.
The handling of pourable finely divided solids having a
high air content and extremely low pour density such as,
for example, finely divided silica poses various problems.
Producers as well as final consumers are faced with the
fact that these materials raise dust even in the slightest
air convection. The formation of dust must be avoided to
protect the personnel dealing with the product from
possible damage to their health by breathing in the dust.
In addition, the low pour density increases transportation
costs because the ratio of container weight to filling
weight is high and a correspondingly large amount of
packaging material is required.
Owing to its three-dimensional spatial branch structure,
finely divided silica is a product having an extremely low
compacted bulk density of about 40 to 50 g/1. Owing to its
fine structure, finely divided silica is capable of binding
a very large amount of gas, for example air, so the product
is put into a quasi-fluid state of about 20 to 30 g/1.
Spontaneous escape of this removable air content takes
place only very slowly and incompletely. The dust problem
is also increased in this fluid state because the mobility
of the finely divided silica is extremely high.
Pourable finely divided solids with a high air content and
extremely low pour density are therefore introduced into
air-permeable bags predominantly by means of an externally

applied vacuum. The duration of filling increases as the
air content increases.
The bags consist of three to four plies of paper, and one
ply of the paper may additionally be laminated with
polyethylene as a barrier against penetrating moisture. To
achieve the desired air permeability during the filling
process, all plies are microperforated. This has the effect
that the product is compressed as it is introduced into the
bag and its filling density increases relative to the
natural pour density.
It is also possible to carry out preliminary deaeration
using special press rollers, but this can always give rise
to structural damage which may adversely affect the
properties of the solids in use.
The higher proportion of the product in the container
weight reduces transportation costs, but this saving is
offset by additional expenditure for procuring the special
container and the necessary filling devices.
A process and a receptacle for repeated filling with and
emptying of pourable product having a low pouring density
is known from EP-A-0 773 159. The woven fabric receptacle
described therein, the so-called big bag or also super bag,
consists of flexible air-permeable woven fabric, preferably
a single or multiple ply of plastic woven fabric with at
least one inlet. This woven fabric receptacle is also
filled using vacuum filling systems. A vacuum is applied to
the woven fabric receptacle and the product is aspirated
through the open inlet into the woven fabric receptacle
until a predetermined filling weight is achieved. The
issuing gas is distributed over the entire surface of the
woven fabric receptacle. During the filling process, the
product is reversibly compacted, as when being poured into
bags, without its structure being destroyed in the process.

DE-A-198 39 106 describes flexible large containers for
finely divided solids having a high air content for
repeated filling using vacuum filling systems, which
consist of at least two superimposed plies, an inner ply
consisting of uncoated air-permeable woven fabric and an
outer ply being dustproof and being coated with a moisture
barrier and these plies being mutually connected by a
special seam in such a way that the container may only be
aerated through it.
With this design of containers, in particular the increase
in moisture in the filling product during storage in the
large container could be reduced.
As the air is no longer able to escape over the entire
surface of the woven fabric receptacle, however, a drawback
is that the period of time required to reach a
predetermined pouring density is considerably extended and
the filling capacity therefore reduced. To compensate for
this, the DE-A-198 39 106 describes a particular process
for filling this large container, with which the filling
material is subjected to preliminary deaeration prior to
filling and a further deaeration via the seams of the
fabric is carried out during filling. The preliminary
deaeration and therefore partial compaction of the filling
product are also effected by the application of vacuum.
A drawback of the process described in DE-A-198 39 106 is
the extremely high expenditure on apparatus as vacuum
systems are required for both preliminary compaction and
filling of the large container. Despite this expenditure,
the filling capacity is still too low, so the process
described in DE-A-198 39 106 is uneconomical overall.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus, a container and a process for filling
the containers, in particular with finely divided solids
having a high air content, with which a high filling

capacity with adequate compression of the solids to be
poured may be achieved with low expenditure on apparatus
and therefore low capital outlay.
This object is achieved with an apparatus for filling
containers, in particular with finely divided solids having
a high air content, comprising a feed nozzle which may be
introduced into the feed orifice of the container, wherein
the feed nozzle is so designed that the solids may be
introduced under pressure and the container is surrounded
by a two-part or multi-part cage (3) .
The present invention also relates to a process for filling
containers, in particular with finely divided solids having
a high air content, by arranging an air-permeable container
in an apparatus according to the invention, air-tight
connection of the container to the feed nozzle, filling of
the container under pressure and removal of the filled
container.
Another subject matter of the invention is a flexible
container for finely divided solids for the repeated
filling and draining, characterized in that it consists of
at least two ply, one above the other, wherein one play
consists of an air-permeable supporting material that is
preferably non-coated and the other ply consists of a
filter material.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the air-
permeable, supporting material can be arranged on the
outside and filter material on the inside.
However, other combinations of the plies, from the inside
toward the outside,are possible, wherein the combination of
supporting and filtering element of the container is
essential.
The container according to the invention can be designed
for optional amounts of finely divided filler materials.

The container according to the invention can preferably be
used for amounts up to 1,200 kg. In contrast, containers
according to prior art could only accommodate filling
amounts of 90 to 100 kg.
The material used for each ply can be commercially
available material.
The container according to the invention permits a dust-
free filling through compacting on the inside of the
container, in particular using the apparatus according to
the invention, wherein clearly higher bulk weights can be
achieved.
The finely divided material can be drained from the
container according to the invention through a preceding
fluidization and simultaneous conveying.
For this, known drainage devices can be used.
The container according to the invention is shown
schematically in Figure 3.
A further subject matter of the invention is a corrugated
cardboard container (carton)for finely divided materials,
which can be ventilated. This container is characterized
by its design, for which one side of the corrugated
cardboard consists of a highly air-permeable paper and the
inside undulation(s) as well as the other sides and
intermediate plies consist of non air-permeable standard
corrugated cardboard with a microperforation.
Optional combinations of the outer plies, the inner plies
and the intermediate plies are possible, wherein the
container (corrugated cardboard container) has a supporting
as well as filtering design.
This results in the following advantages as compared to the
known technology:

The highly air-permeable inner ply acts as a filter for the
product and permits the air to escape.
The outer ply and the intermediate ply(plies) and the
undulation(s) absorb the forces, but permit the air to
escape. As a result of this configuration, air is moved
quickly through the walls and the product can be highly
compacted inside the container with considerably higher
filling weights than is possible with known systems (up to
1,200 kg as compared to the known 90-100 kg, depending on
the product type).
The container according to the invention is shown
schematically in Figure 5.
Finely divided solids having a high air content may be
poured with adequate compression of the solids in high
capacities using the apparatus according to the invention
and the process according to the invention, without high
expenditure on apparatus. In particular, finely divided
granular powdered solids having a high air content and
selected from pyrogenic oxides, precipitated oxides, carbon
blacks and modifications may be poured.
In particular with pneumatic conveyance of the filling
product, the resultant pressure is sufficient to achieve
appropriate filling of the container. According to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
apparatus according to the invention has a special feed
nozzle which is equipped with a flexible sealing skin and
therefore allows dust-free pressure filling. The feed
nozzle may be deformable and may therefore allow the
filling of containers of various sizes.
The cage which is an important component of the apparatus
according to the invention has to withstand, in particular,
the pressure required. At the same time, the cage gives the
container adequate support during the filling process, to

ensure that the container withstands the pressure applied
and keeps its shape during the filling process.
Containers of a wide variety of shapes and of various
materials may be filled in the apparatus according to the
invention. The materials may be: air-permeable plastic
woven fabric, preferably polypropylene woven fabric,
plastic woven fabric, textile woven fabric, cardboard,
paper, paper plastic woven material, plastic non-woven
fabric, textile non-woven fabric or composites of the
aforementioned materials. The filling pressure is generally
0 to 8 bar, preferably 0 to 2 bar and particularly
preferably 0.2 to 1.2 bar.
The containers employed in the apparatus according to the
invention using the process according to the invention may
be of any conventional shapes and materials. For example,
the containers may have a base area selected from a group
consisting of polygon, circle, semicircle, ellipse,
trapezium, triangle, rhombus, square and rectangle or a
star-shaped base area. The containers may also have the
shape of a hood, of assembled pockets or the shape of a
tied-up bag. To ensure safe handling even during pressure
filling, however, it is advantageous if, during the filling
process, the cage contacts the container to be filled, as
uniformly and snugly as possible. It is therefore expedient
if the cage substantially corresponds to the shape of the
container. Additional fittings in the cage allow adaptation
to the respective container to be filled.
Owing to the excess pressure prevailing in the interior of
the container, the air is carried off over the surface of
the container. As the excess pressure is able to escape,
compression of the filling product is also achieved. To
enable the excess pressure to escape as rapidly as possible
from the container, in particular in the case of a snugly
fitting cage, it is expedient if the cage (3) itself is
also gas-permeable. The cage may have walls with openings

or with adequate porosity. This may be achieved, for
example, by openings in the cage walls. It is particularly
advantageous if the cage walls are produced from a material
selected from perforated plate, mesh or netting, woven
fabric or sintered material or a mesh material, because
this allows high gas permeability with adequate stability
to ensure that the container does not explode even under
high filling pressures. The cage may be in several parts,
preferably two parts. The cage (3) may have a bottom and
may be designed without a bottom. Preferably, the cage (3)
has no bottom.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the
apparatus according to the invention, the cage (3) may be
in two or more parts and the apparatus comprises additional
devices with which the two parts (3a, 3b) of the cage may
be separated from one another and may be driven apart
manually or automatically, preferably electro-
pneumatically, to release the filled container. In
particular in the case of cage shapes with a polygonal base
area, it is expedient if the cage can be separated along a
diagonal as this prevents damage to the container.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the cage has no bottom, in other words
the cage is open at the bottom. This embodiment allows
particularly simple management of the filling process.
After the two-part cage has been closed and the two parts
have been connected to one another, the actual filling
process can begin. For example, the container can then be
positioned directly on a plate or a pallet, the feed nozzle
can then be introduced into the feed orifice of the
container and can be connected in an airtight manner to the
container. On completion of the filling process, the two
cage wedges can then be separated from one another and
driven apart to release the filled container. As the filled

container is then standing on a plate or pallet, it can
easily be removed by a transportation device.
The present invention will now be described again with
reference to figures.
Fig. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment according to Fig. 1
with opened cage.
As shown in the figures, the preferred embodiment of the
present invention comprises a framework 1 with two rails 2
at the top, along which the two halves 3a and 3b of the
cage (3) may be moved by conventional drive devices.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and 2, the cage has a
square base area and is divided along the diagonal into the
two halves 3a and 3b. This ensures that the two halves can
easily be separated from the filled container, even when the [sic] has been pressed against the cage owing to the I
high~"fi 11 ing pressure. I
The cage also has two half shells 4a and 4b which surround
the feed nozzle (not shown) when closed.
As shown in Fig. 2, the cage 3 is open at the bottom and
the container is positioned on a pallet or plate during the
filling process. It is also advantageous, as shown in the
figures, if the filling nozzle is arranged symmetrically
with respect to the frame 1 so a cage half 3a may be.
removed further from the pallet or plate 5 to allow easy
access, for example for a transportation device for
removing the filled container.
Figure 3 shows schematically a representation of the
container according to the invention.

On the one hand, the container 6 according to Figure 3
consists of two plies, namely the supporting, air-permeable
outer material 7 (PP woven ribbon material with a weight of
75 to 300 g/m3) .
The material is not coated so that air can pass through.
This outer layer is supporting as well as carrying for
product amounts up to 1,200 kg.
On the other hand, the second ply, the inner ply 8
(inliner) consists of a filter material (e.g. HDPE nonwoven
„TyvekNN by DuPont, which holds back the finely divided
product but permits the air escaping from the product to
pass through (filter effect).
The drain 9 is shown schematically in Figure 4. The drain
has a conical design and is thus particularly suitable for
a special draining apparatus according to EP 0 761 566 Bl.
Figure 5 shows the schematic representation of the
corrugated cardboard container according to the invention.

WE CLAIM:

1. Apparatus for filling containers, in particular with
granular, powdered or finely divided solids having a high air
content, comprising a feed nozzle which is introduceable into the
feed orifice of the container, the aparatus additionally
comprising a two-part or multi-part cage suitable for surrounding
a container, the feed nozzle being so configured that the solids
are introduceable under pressure (3), whereby the feed nozzle is
equipped with a flexible sealing skin which allows dust-free
pressure filling and the cage (3) is gas permeable.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base area
of the cage (3) has a shape selected from the group consisting of
polygon, circle semicircle, ellipse, trapezium, triangle,
rhombus, square and rectangle or the base area is star—shaped.

3. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims,
wherein the cage (3) is in two or more parts and the apparatus
comprises additional devices with which the two or more parts
(3a, 3b) of the cage may be separated from one another and may be
driven apart to release the filled container.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the devices
are driven apart manually or by drives.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims,
wherein the cage (3) is gas permeable.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cage (3)
has walls with orifices or adequate porosity.
7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that
the walls are produced from a material selected from perforated
plate, mesh, netting, woven fabric and sintered material.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the cage is designed with a bottom or,
preferably, without a bottom.

9. The apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding
claims, wherein the apparatus is enabled to fill a container
which is produced from air-permeable plastic woven fabric
preferably polypropylene, plastic woven fabric, textile woven
fabric, cardboard, paper, paper-plastic woven fabric, plastic
non-woven fabric, textile non-woven fabric or composites of the
aforementioned materials.
10. The apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding
claims, wherein the apparatus is enabled to generate a filling
pressure wherein 0 to 8 bar, preferably 0 to 2 bar and
particularly preferably 0.2 to 1.2 bar.
11. The apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding
claims, wherein the apparatus is enabled to fill the containers
with any finely divided granular powdered solids having a high
air content and selected from a group consisting of pyrogenic
oxides, precipitated oxides, carbon black and modifications
thereof can be filled in.

12. The apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding
claims, wherein the apparatus is enabled to fill a container
having a base area of a shape selected from the group consisting
of polygon, circle, semicircle, ellipse, trapezium, triangle,
rhombus, square and rectangle or which has a star-shaped base
area of the shape of a hood, of assembled pockets or takes the
form of a tied in bag.
13. Process for filling containers, in particular with
finely divided granular, powdered materials having a high air
content, comprising the steps of:
* arranging an air-permeable container in an apparatus
as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13,
* air-tight connection of the container to the feed
nozzle,
* filling of the container under pressure and
* removal of the filled container.

ABSTRACT

' APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH
GRANULAR OR PULVERULENT MATERIAL
Apparatus for filling containers, said apparatus comprising a feed nozzle
which may be introduced into the feed, orifice of the container, the apparatus
further comprising a two-part or multi-part cage suitable for surrounding a
container, the feed nozzle being so designed that the solids may be
introduced under pressure (3), whereby the feed nozzle is equipped with a
flexible sealing skin which allows dust-free pressure filling and the cage (3) is
gas permeable. The invention also provides a process for filling containers, in
particular, with finely divided granular powered materials having a high air
content by
• arranging an air-permeable large container in, an apparatus according to
the invention
• air-tight connection of the large container to the feed nozzle
• filling of the container under pressure and
• removal of the filled container.