CH647993A5 - DEVICE AND METHOD FOR REVERSING AN OBJECT. - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for strapping an object according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for operating the device.

There are automatic binding machines with a yoke and a lacing mechanism, which together form a substantially continuous binding material channel. The material is removed from a supply and laid through the channel to form a loop with overlapping front and feed sections. After the front end portion of the loop is gripped, a tensile force is applied to the feed portion of the binding material, thereby tensioning the loop around the article. The overlapping end sections of the loop are combined, if necessary welded.

There are also semi-automatic lacing machines without a yoke, in which the front end section of the binding material is taken from a supply by hand, guided around the object and brought into a gripping position. The binding material detected therein is placed around the object in the form of a tensioned loop by applying a tensile force to the feed section, and the ends of the tensioned loop are then combined or welded to one another.

For a better understanding it should be noted that the term “lacing mechanism” or simply “mechanism” is to be understood as a device which contains at least elements for gripping the binding material which is looped around the object to be laces. Desired but not absolutely necessary is a device for closing or uniting the overlapping front and feed end sections of the binding material after the voltage has been applied to the material. Means for holding or gripping the binding material supply section and for guiding and tensioning the material are necessary and can be arranged separately from the lacing mechanism. Some devices described below include gripping, feeding and tensioning elements in part, others include all of these devices in the lacing mechanism, for example the known device described in US Pat. No. 3,759,169 (Goodley).

As described in this patent, the lacing mechanism may be located under a table supporting the article. In other conventional semi-automatic lacing machines, the closing point of the overlapping binding material sections is on the underside of the object. However, the lacing mechanism can also be aligned relative to the base for the object in such a way that the tensioned lacing loop is closed at the top or at the side 40. It can also be a pallet lacing machine or horizontal lacing machine, as described, for example, in US Pat. Nos. 3,949,662 (Woomer) and 4,005,647 (Goodley).

The known lacing devices mentioned work relatively satisfactorily, but in certain cases a higher tensioning force is desired.

The invention has for its object to provide a device for strapping an object of the type mentioned and a method for strapping objects 50 with which higher tensile forces can be achieved in the binding loop around the object.

Solutions according to the invention of the stated problem are specified on the device side in patent claim 1 and on the method side in patent claim 16.

55 Advantageous further developments of the inventive concept are contained in the subordinate dependent claims.

An essential feature of the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention is that by a special and individual action on the two ends of the binding material placed in the form of a loop around the object to be tied, a desired high loop tension and also a desired stress distribution in the around the object 65 laid loop can be achieved.

Under the expression "applying a pulling force" or similar designations within the description and claims is the effect of a pulling force on the

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• Understand the feed end section and / or the front end section of the binding material placed in a loop around the object in order to tension or re-tension the loop. For example, if a loop is placed around the object and gripped at its front end portion, then by applying a tensile force to the feed portion, the feed portion is pulled away, thereby tightening the loop around the object, and while maintaining the tension in the loop, a tensile force is applied to the front end portion transferred to move it and increase the tension in the loop.

In this way, a better distribution of tension in the binding loop sections around the object is achieved, in particular because the frictional resistances occurring during the tensioning process of the loop around the object are largely overcome.

With the device according to the invention it is possible to apply a binding material loop under a very high tension, the connection point of which can be at the bottom, at the top or at the side of the object, as desired.

While in the conventional method the loop is only tensioned by applying a tensile force, both ends can be subjected to separate tensile forces with the device according to the invention. For example, in a process variant, a loop that is tensioned around the object by a tensile force at the front end can be tensioned even more by applying a tensile force to the other, in this case, the rear end. The overlapping end sections of the high-tension binding material loop are then combined, preferably welded.

In the known lacing method, the tensile force applied at only one end when the loop is tensioned around the object creates unavoidable frictional forces, which cumulatively reduce the tensioning forces in the individual loop sections, so that there is a considerable difference in tension between the two loop end sections. These voltage differences remain even after the overlapping end sections have been welded. For example, in the case of a rectangular object, the loop sections connected to one another will be under a much higher voltage than the loop section on the opposite side of the article. If later on, under the influence of time and / or movements of the tied object during storage or transport, these different tensions are compensated for by displacement, the entire binding material loop inevitably loosens somewhat.

These disadvantages can also be overcome with the lacing method according to the invention, because here both end sections are exposed to tensile forces. As a result, a higher tension is generated in the loop and, above all, the frictional forces that occur when tensioning the object are largely overcome. In the invention, the initial tension in the binding material loop is higher than in conventional processes, so that tach (after the joining of the end sections over the course of time only a lower tension compensation can occur in the loop. The object remains firm and tied with a relatively high tension.

According to an important further development of the inventive concept, it is provided that the tensile forces on the front end section and the feed end section are transmitted at least partially and intentionally in succession. In this case, the tensile force can preferably be applied to the feed section first, while the front end section of the binding material is fixed, in order to tension the binding material loop placed around the object. At this stage, as with the conventional methods, the tension in the feed section of the loop will be greater than at the front end section. While the tension at the feed section is at least maintained, a tensile force is then transmitted to the front end section and thus the tension in the loop is increased. This tensile force transmitted to the front end section can be less than, equal to or greater than the force transmitted to the feed section. If the tensile force transmitted to the feed section is simply obtained after the loop around the article has been tensioned, the tensile force applied to the front end section can be of the order of magnitude:

a) smaller than that at the feed section to slightly increase the tension in the loop;

b) substantially equal to the tensile force at the feed section; or c) greater than the tensile force transmitted to the feed section, but not so great that there is an overall displacement of the tensioned binding material loop relative to the object.

Alternatively, after the pulling force is applied to the feed section for tensioning the loop around the object, this pulling force can be maintained and increased during the application of the pulling force to the front end section. The tensile forces at both ends can be of different sizes as previously described.

As a further alternative, the supply section of the binding material can be fixed or held after the application of a tensile force to tension the loop around the object, and then the front end section of the binding material is subjected to a smaller, equal or greater tensile force. In this case, it is possible to transmit a much greater tensile force to the front end section than to the feed section, because now the tensioned binding material loop cannot shift relative to the object.

Both end sections are preferably connected or welded in the superimposed state directly next to the tensioned binding material loop after completion of the tensioning process and remain in a relaxed or less tensioned state. As a result, the welded portion of the applied loop can remain under a tension that was less than, equal to, or greater than that on the feed portion of the loop prior to the joining process, and in any event will be larger than in the conventional methods.

In conventional methods, the binding material is fed or threaded on a web removed from the article to be tied, and the overlapping end portions of the loop are connected or welded at a location remote from the tied article. After releasing the bonded sections of binding material from the joining position, the tension pulls them against the laced article, and part of the total tension is lost. This can be negligible with a semi-automatic lacing machine, but is of great importance when lacing objects lying on a pallet, where the connection process is usually at a distance of 10 cm or more from the object.

In contrast to this, in some exemplary embodiments of the method according to the invention it is preferably provided to move the two overlapping end sections either before or during the tensioning of the binding material loop, either to a predetermined distance from or directly next to the object to be laced, so that the

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then tensioned and tightly closed binding material loop is already close to the circumference of the object and tension losses in the loop are largely avoided.

Similar to the known devices, the device preferably contains elements for wrapping a loop of binding material around an object to be tied and a lacing mechanism with at least one gripping device for gripping the front end of the binding material. Like conventional machines of this type, the device according to the invention includes a tensioning device for applying a tensile force to the feed section of the loop around the object, elements for holding or gripping the feed section while maintaining a loop tension and a device for connecting or welding the overlapping two end sections.

Like conventional machines, the device according to the invention can contain a housing as part of a machine frame for receiving the lacing mechanism. Guide elements of the device according to the invention form a binding material channel lying in one plane. In a semi-automatic lacing device, the guide elements can assist in positioning the front end portion of the binding material, which is manually looped around the object. In the automatic device, the guide device includes at least one yoke, and in the case of a lacing device for objects on pallets, a lance for threading the binding material around as a loop around the object. In both the semi-automatic and the automatic devices, the binding material is guided as a loop, and preferably in the plane of the channel formed by the guide elements. The front and the feed end portions of the material overlap each other.

The lacing mechanism can be movable relative to the substructure or the housing in a plane formed by the binding material guide device. Furthermore, the device may have a drive for moving the mechanism between a retracted and an extended position in order to transmit a tensile force to the front end portion which is gripped by the gripping device of the mechanism. The device designed in this way can transmit tensile forces of different sizes and in succession to the front end section and the feed section of the binding material in order to apply such a tensile load to the binding material loop around the object and to tension it even further by applying the other tensile force.

According to a further development of the inventive concept, the substructure includes a fixed frame and a movable slide on which the lacing mechanism with its housing is arranged and can be moved relative to the object to be tied.

Preferably, the path of movement of the mechanism lies in the plane of the binding material channel. In devices for producing a lateral loop closure point, as is customary in the case of pallet lacing, the lacing mechanism is moved relative to its housing in a vertical plane within the strip feed channel, and preferably at least in one direction by a drive. In this embodiment, a downward pulling force is applied to the front end portion of the binding material when the loop is tensioned to tension the loop, and some or all of the weight of the lacing mechanism is used to generate the pulling force. In this case, the drive serves to support the gravity acting on the mechanism and to

Raise it to its original position after the loop is closed. Conversely, when the device transmits an upward pulling force to the front end portion, the drive lifts the lacing mechanism relative to its housing with a force that more than compensates for its weight. After welding the loop, the mechanism can return to its lower starting position by gravity.

Regardless of the direction and / or type of movement of the mechanism relative to its housing, when the loop is tensioned, the binding material tensioning device first tensions and maintains the feed portion of the loop until the tensile force is applied to the front end portion and improves the loop tension. This sequence of steps is particularly advantageous because it ensures that the tensile force at the front end section does not fully or partially take over the function of the strip tensioning device and not only compensates for the loss of tension at the feed section, but also increases the tension in the loop.

In some embodiments of the invention, the lacing mechanism rests with its housing on a carriage that is also movable in the plane of the binding material channel, but in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the lacing mechanism relative to its housing. The mechanism and the slide move in the same plane, but the mechanism moves vertically and the slide horizontally. The slide brings the mechanism directly next to the object to be laced. When strapping objects onto pallets, the sled in its retracted position aligns the mechanism and its housing with the yoke to form a binding material channel, and in the extended position the mechanism lies close to the object.

The slide used in this way in no way hinders the feeding of the binding material or the insertion and /

or removing objects in or out of the device, but facilitates the production of a properly tensioned lace loop. The carriage preferably travels a distance of 10 cm to 30 cm between its retracted and extended positions. Control elements ensure that the folded loop is only tensioned after the slide has reached the extended position.

Furthermore, various objects with different sizes and / or shapes can be tied up; these can e.g. consist of a single body or bundle or of a multiplicity of stacked units or packs.

The term "bandage" or "lacing material" includes various known narrow flat and longitudinally feedable materials, in particular but not exclusively made of plastics such as polypropylene, nylon and polyester, which have been stretched and / or rolled to align the molecules. In this context, the term “connecting”, “closing” means connecting the overlapping binding material sections by thermal welding, metal clips, glue or the like. Goodley's mentioned thermal softening of the superimposed surfaces of the overlapping strands of binder material can be used.

For the sake of clarity and simplicity, the invention is based on an embodiment of a device for strapping palletized objects, as they are partially from the above. Woomer patent is known, and described by embodiments of semi-automatic lacing devices.

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Some exemplary embodiments having the features of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. Show it:

1 is a broken side view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention,

2 is an enlarged partial view of the device of FIG. 1 in the working position,

3 and 4 different partial views of the device of FIG. 1, each seen from the direction of arrows III-III and IV-IV,

5 views of elements of a lacing mechanism seen from the opposite side in FIGS. 1 and 2,

6 and 7 are schematic partial views of the lacing mechanism of Fig. 5,

8 is a basic circuit diagram of a pneumatic system of the device of FIG. 1,

9 and 10 together a schematic circuit diagram of an electrical system of the device of FIG. 1,

II, 12 and 13 different representations of the device according to the invention in different working phases, and

14, 15 and 16 embodiments of semi-automatic binding devices according to the invention.

The embodiment of a binding device shown in FIGS. 1 to 13 is suitable for inclusion in a production or packaging system and in FIGS. 1 and 2 assumes a position for applying tightened binding loops around objects A that lie on pallets P and over one conventional roller conveyor C can be moved. The conventional pallet P has a lower wing 15, which is connected to an upper wing 17 via intermediate pieces.

In terms of its appearance and certain working phases, the device according to the invention described here is similar to a pallet strapping machine described in US Pat. No. 3,949,662 (Woomer), to which reference is hereby made.

1 to 3, a substructure of the device consists of a base 19, two spaced supports 21 and posts 25 and a U-shaped tunnel 27 formed by a roof section 29 and two opposite side walls 31, which between its ends at the Supports and posts are attached. A device for guiding binding material around an object A contains, in addition to yoke parts 33, 35, 37 and 39, a lance 41 which can be moved between a retracted position shown in broken lines in FIG. 1 and an advanced position shown by solid lines and which is moved by a shaft 43 from a is moved by an electric motor 47 with chain drive 49 formed drive 45.

A binding material S to be wound around the object A is drawn off from a supply spool in a delivery unit 51 attached to the tunnel 27, guided around a dancer arm roller 53 and guided by means of rollers in and through an intermediate storage means 55 to a lacing mechanism 57. The embodiment of the lacing mechanism described in detail below includes elements for gripping both ends of the binding material, elements for conveying and loading the binding material feed section and elements for closing the overlapping binding material ends after the action of tensile forces on both end sections.

The previously described part of the device according to the invention largely corresponds to known pallet lacing machines such as that from the aforementioned Woomer patent 3,949,662. A significant difference between the device according to the invention and the known machines is that its lacing mechanism 57 is vertical relative to a housing 59 is movable, and that this housing 59 is carried by a horizontally displaceable slide 61 between a retracted and an advanced position, see FIG. 1 and 2. In this embodiment, the housing 59 and the slide 61 are to be regarded as part of the mechanism support.

According to FIGS. 2 and 3, the carriage 61 consists of a sliding plate 63 stiffened by a carrier 65, which is supported and guided horizontally displaceably between a number of rollers 67 and 69. Shafts 71 for the rollers are mounted on plates 73 fastened to the tunnel side walls 31 by means of screws 75 such that the rollers 69 protrude freely rotatably through openings in the roof section 29. Angle rails 77 as protection for the rollers 67 are attached to the plates 73. A linear movement is transmitted to the slide 61 by a pneumatic cylinder unit 83, the piston rod 79 of which is articulated at 81 to the tunnel 27 and the cylinder part of which is articulated at 85 to the slide plate 63.

The housing 59 simply consists of a cover plate 87 and corner angle parts 89 fastened to the slide, and the rest of the lacing mechanism 57 is bordered by a cover plate 91 and a base plate 93. A rod 95 of the lacing mechanism attached to the cover plate 91 extends through an opening in the housing cover plate 87, and similar rods 97 are attached to the sliding plate 63 and protrude through openings 99 in the bottom plate 93 in order to close the lacing mechanism 57 during its vertical movement, described below to lead. Because the space between the lacing mechanism 57 and the article A can clearly be seen, the elements 29, 63 and 93 are provided with slots 101, 103 and 105 lying in alignment. The similar slot contained in the cover plate 87 has already been mentioned.

1, in the retracted position of the carriage 61, the yoke sections 33 to 39 and the lance 41 together with the lacing mechanism 57 form a substantially continuous path through which the binding material S is passed lengthwise to form a binding loop around the object A. The yoke part 33 is fastened to the base 19 and with brackets 107 to the post 25, and the yoke part 35 is pivotably supported by means of a joint 109 (see broken lines). A torsion spring 111 normally always presses the yoke part 35 against a stop pin 113 and thus into the position drawn with solid lines.

When threading, the front end portion of the binding material is guided into the yoke part 35 by means of the lacing mechanism guided by the yoke part 37, and after the movement along the yoke part 33 and the lance 41, the front end portion is guided into the lacing mechanism 57 by the yoke part 39. As shown in FIG. 5, the yoke parts 37 and 39 are only attached to the lacing mechanism 57 and can move freely relative to the sliding plate 63 and the housing cover plate 87 when the lacing mechanism 57 is moved vertically.

The yoke parts 33 to 39 are of conventional construction. For example, the yoke part 37 shown in section in FIG. 4 consists of a carrier 115, gates 117, a goal screw 119 with nut 121, springs 123 and spring pots 125. The gates 117, which are pivotably supported on the carrier 115 at 127, form a guide channel with a carrier flange 129 131 for the binding material S. When the binding material threaded through the yoke part is tensioned, this material causes the gates to deflect, and when the tension subsides, the springs 123 guide the gates 117 into their position5

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put rest position back; the movement is dampened by elastic inserts 133.

Since the lacing mechanism 57, apart from its vertical mobility relative to the housing 59 and certain control properties, otherwise largely corresponds to that from the aforementioned Woomer patent, only the details of interest of the lacing mechanism 57 including its controls are explained in detail below.

A feed and tensioning device 135 of the lacing mechanism 57 shown in FIG. 5 pulls the binding material from the supply column and guides it in the longitudinal direction upwards through the gripper arrangement 137 into and through the yoke part 37. The binding material end is then successively attached to the yoke parts 35, 33 , the extended lance 41 and past the yoke part 39 so that it wraps around the object A, reaches the lacing mechanism 57 again and is gripped by the gripper arrangement 137. In the subsequent tensioning process, the binding material is pulled tightly onto the object A and the length of binding material that is released in the process is absorbed by the intermediate store 55.

According to FIGS. 5 to 7, the feed and tensioning device 135 contains tensioning and feed wheels 139, 141, each on a shaft 143, 145. A chain 147 driving the shaft 143 loops around a sprocket 149 fastened on the shaft 143 and a sprocket 149 on a shaft 153 of a reversible air motor 155 fixed sprocket 151. A free-running sprocket 157 on a swivel arm 159 scans the lower chain center and actuates a tension switch TS to switch off the air motor 155 as soon as the binding loop around the object A has reached a predetermined tension, as still is described in detail.

6 and 7, the gripper arrangement 137 contains a front gripper 163 and a rear gripper 165. When the binding material S is inserted, it passes through an opening 167 in the front gripper 163, an opening 169 in a fixed shear plate 171, passes a knife 173 , between a movable pressure plate 175 and a retractable tongue 177 and between the rear gripper 165 and a retractable anvil 179. After passing through this path, the front end 181 of the binding material finally passes between the front gripper 163 and the anvil 179 and between the tongue 177 and the anvil 179 until it abuts a stop 183. The wheels 139, 141 continue to run, but as soon as an excess loop forms on the tensioning wheel 139, a swivel arm 185 yields and actuates a limit valve SV, which causes the front gripper 163 to close the front end 181 and switches off the air motor 155.

The elements of the lacing mechanism 57 relating to the tracking, gripping, sealing or closing and cutting off of the binding material essentially correspond to those in the Goodley and Woo-mer patents mentioned; these elements are actuated there by a linear drive LA and a cam arrangement LC.

In the exemplary embodiment according to the invention, the upward movement of the lacing mechanism 57 into an extended position is achieved pneumatically by means of a cylinder unit 187 which is fastened on the one hand to the housing cover plate 87 and on the other hand with its piston rod 189 to the cover plate of the lacing mechanism 57.

An operation cycle is then described in connection with a preferred method according to the invention in connection with FIGS. 8 to 10 and 11 to 13. The device is ready to execute a work cycle when the lacing mechanism 57 is in position

and the carriage 61 is in its retracted or rest position and the binding material S has been pre-threaded in the course of the yoke parts 37, 35 and 33.

For a better understanding of the operation sequence, the function of certain switches is explained 5 beforehand:

Limit switch:

Limit switches LS-1 and LS-2 control the electric motor 47 for extending and retracting the lance drive 45 by disconnecting a motor relay ME (extending) and a motor relay MR (retracting).

The horizontal rest limit switch 191 indicates the position of the slide 61. When the carriage is fully retracted, a switched-off relay R-7 enables the binding material to be fed through the yoke at the beginning of a machine cycle or at the end of a winding cycle for pre-threading the yoke,

A top plate limit switch 195, via a solenoid valve 197, causes the carriage 61 to stop and the binding material to be tensioned.

A cam limit switch 199 controls the downward movement of the lacing mechanism 57 and the return movement of the carriage 61.

25 VE electric pressure switches:

The switch PE-1 initiates the extension movement of the carriage 61, and a switch PE-2 is actuated when the binding material is fully tensioned and controls the dwell of the linear cam arrangement LC. In the preferred embodiment here, a switch PE-3 prevents energization of a relay R-6 and allows the mechanism 57 to move or move vertically if the carriage does not move a given distance to the object A.

35 A compressed air source AS belongs to FIG. 8 and an electrical power source ES belongs to FIG. 9. In Fig. 9, a switch SW-1 allows switching to automatic or manual operation, and the corresponding position is indicated by a lamp AL or ML. Currently this switch SW-1 is set to 40 automatic mode. The initiation of a machine cycle begins either by pressing a start button 201 or by energizing relay R-1 with an input signal. This triggers a machine cycle timer TDR-4, sets the lance switch SW-2 45 to the extended position, switches the feed and tension switch SW-3 to the feed position according to FIG. 9 and controls the motor relay ME (extend). to drive lance 47 through the shaft in pallet P by starting the motor accordingly. After the lance has been extended by approximately 2.5 cm, the rear limit switch LS-2 closes and, via the relay R-5, causes a visual display 203 "Lance retracted" to go out, excites a lance blocking timer LDR-2 and prepares the motor relay MR for the return of the lance 41 at the end of the winding cycle. 55 When the lance 41 is fully extended, the front limit switch LS-1 closes, causes the light indicator «Lance extended» to light up via the relay R-4 and switches off the delay timer TDR-2. If the front limit switch LS-1 does not close because the lance extension movement 60 is blocked, then relay R-4 is not activated and the delay timer TDR-2 expires, the display 207 «Fault» lights up and activates a relay R-3, so that this switches off the relay Rl and interrupts the cycle. By pressing a reset button 209, the lance 41 is returned to its starting position.

Due to the excitation of relay R-4 described above, the motor relay ME is abge for the extension movement

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switches, the motor 47 stopped. Now the magnet S-3 of valve V-6 actuates valve V-4 to introduce air into the air motor and thread binding material S through lacing mechanism 57 and along yoke parts 37, 35, 33, lance 41 and the like To cause yoke part 39 until its free end 181 touches the stop 183. The binding material loop which then forms on the wheel 139 triggers the limiting valve SV via the swivel arm 185, and this displaces the valve V-1. Compressed air now reaches front gripper 163, which presses free end 181 against anvil 179.

Now the electrical pressure switch PE-1 is activated and excites the magnet S-4 of a slide feed valve 211 which, by venting the cylinder unit 83, drives the slide 61 in the direction of the object A which is to be wrapped. After passing a given distance through the carriage 61, a carriage end valve 213 ventilates the piston side of the cylinder unit 187 and activates a switch PE-3. When this closes, relay R-6 is energized and thereby activates the magnet S-5 of a vertical floating valve 215. The air pressure is regulated by a floating pressure regulator 217 so that the piston rod 189 is just able to support the weight of the entire lacing mechanism 57 after the tensile force has been applied to the conveying section of the binding material S.

If at 191 articulated cover plates 193 are touched by the object A during the carriage advance, they trigger a limit switch 195 which activates the carriage holding magnet S-1 and the magnet S-6 of valve V-5. The horizontal movement of the carriage 61 now ends, and air enters the air motor for binding material tension via the solenoid valve V-5. As soon as the binding material is placed tightly around the object A, the tensioning switch TS is actuated via the swivel arm 159 (FIG. 5) and relay R-2 is activated. At this stage shown in FIG. 11, the binding material would be maximally stretched according to conventional winding methods. In the device according to the invention, however, the triggered relay R-2 activates a tensioning time switch TDR-5 and a magnet S-7 of a vertical drive valve 219 in order to pressurize the cylinder side of the vertical floating / drive cylinder 187. The inlet air is regulated by a regulator 221 to a pressure which generates a force on the piston rod 189 of such a magnitude that the weight of the entire lacing mechanism 57 is balanced with an upward force transmitted to the mechanism 57 by the tensioned binding material.

With this counterbalancing of mechanism 57 by piston rod 189, the device is now able to exert a pulling force on the front end of the binding material that is at least similar or preferably equal to the force applied to the conveyor section of the binding loop. This state is shown in Fig. 12.

If the regulator 219 is set such that the force exerted by the piston rod 189 is greater than the necessary weight balance for the lacing mechanism 57, the lacing mechanism 57 is pushed upwards with a force and the force acting on the front end 181 of the tie loop is quite or exactly the same force that acts on the conveyor section of the loop. This stage is shown in Fig. 13.

Since the solenoid valve V-5 is still activated, the air motor still tensions the binding material and stops. A pressure regulator 223 regulates the air pressure through the solenoid valve V-5 and thus the torque of the air motor 155. After the timer TDR-5 has elapsed, the actuation of a solenoid valve V-10 by means of air causes the valve V-2 to move, which at the same time is actuated by the Switch PE-2 switches off valve V-5. This ends the tensioning process, the linear cam dwell timer TDR-1 is activated, the rear gripper 165 is actuated so that it presses the feed section of the binding loop against the anvil 179, and the linear cam is extended by ventilation of the associated cylinder.

When the linear cam extends, the limit switch 199 shoots, and then the tensioned binding material is cut and welded by a heated blade 225. The TDR-1 timer expires and de-energizes the relay R-1.

This excites the motor relay MR (retraction movement) so that the lance 41 is withdrawn. The relay R-2, the vertical drive valve 219 and the tensioning timer TDR-5 are also de-energized. The latter element switches off the solenoid S-8 of the valve V-10.

When the time interval of the linear cam dwell timer TDR-1 expires, the self-holding relay R-8 is activated, which de-energizes the solenoid valve V-6 via the relay Rl, so that air flowing through valve V-6 causes the valves Vl and V- 2 switches. After the switchover, valve V-2 will vent the rear gripper 165 and vent the piston rod side of the linear cam cylinder to cause the cam to retract, open the anvil 179, release the binding material and open the cam limit switch 199. In addition, the switch PE-2 returns to its normal position. Valve V-2 vents front gripper 163 and causes switch PE-1 to return to its normal open position.

The slide feed solenoid valve 211, the slide hold valve 197, and the vertical float valve 215 are now de-energized, but the slide 61 does not return until the knotting mechanism is down and has actuated a vertical limit switch 227. As soon as this has been done, the carriage 61 moves back, actuates the limit switch 213, whereby the piston ends of the vertical floating / drive cylinder are ventilated and the switch PE-3 de-energizes the relay R-6.

With the complete return movement, the slide 61 actuates the horizontal limit switch 191, excites the pre-threading timer TDR-3 and the solenoid valve V-6 via the relay R-7. Air now enters the air motor 155 via the valve V-4, so that binding material S is again threaded through the lacing mechanism and the yoke parts 37, 35 and 33. After the LDR-3 timer expires, the R-8 relay and the V-6 solenoid valve are de-energized to stop the air motor 155 and stop the binding material feed.

In the operating phase shown in FIG. 11, the knotting mechanism 57 is located directly next to the object A to be bound, the front end 181 of the binding loop is grasped and the loop is pulled firmly around the object by the tensioning device 135. The tension in the individual sections 197, 199, 201, 203 and 205 of the binding loop applied are denoted by T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, and frictional forces which hinder the movement of the binding material during tensioning, particularly in the corners, bear the designations F1, F2, F3, F4.

Apparently the tension in the binding loop decreases in the longitudinal direction in steps from a maximum tension Tl to a minimum tension T5. Since the voltage T5 = T1-F1-F2-F3-F4, if the front end were welded to the feed end of the applied loop, the voltage on the side formed by sections 197 and 205 would be between that of T1 and T5.

According to the invention it is provided in connection with FIG. 12 that after and during the continued tensioning s

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the binding loop is pushed up by the tensioning device 135 the lacing mechanism 57 with a force indicated by arrow 209 in such a way that its weight is balanced.

13, on the other hand, the lacing mechanism 57 is pressed upward with a force 211 which is greater than the dead weight of the mechanism 57. Sections 197 and 199 of the loop are thus subjected to voltages T1 and T2 which are caused by force 211. The forces T5 and T4 on the sections 205 and 203 are generated by the extended lacing mechanism 57 and are as large as possible as the tensioning forces Tl and T2, while the force T3 on the section 201 of the loop is approximately the same on both sides and from both Means 135 and 57 is applied. In this way, as desired, T1 = T5 and T2 = T1-F1 = T4 = T5-F4, while T3 = T2-F2 = T4-F3 and larger than in FIG. 11.

After sections 197 and 205 of the loop have been welded, the tension on this loop side will be equal to the original tension on similar sections, or T1 will be equal to T5.

The warming-up force 211 acting on the lacing mechanism 57 in FIG. 13 is dependent on the frictional forces on the object A in question and also on the surface properties such as grip and smoothness of the binding material S. If the lacing mechanism 57 is lifted with an upward force exceeding its own weight, then this should not be so large that the object A is lifted or the frictional forces F1 to F4 are exceeded so that the loop does not slip around the article A.

Deviating from the preferred process sequence in the exemplary embodiment previously described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 13, work can also be carried out without advancing the slide 61. In this case, due to the upward force acting on the lacing mechanism 57, which may be equal to or greater than its own weight, the yoke part 37 will cause the yoke part 35 from which it is carried to deflect into the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. 1. During the subsequent welding of the front and the feed end of the binding loop, the welded side is pressed against the side of the wrapped object, as in the conventional device. However, since the free end and the feed end of the loop are under stresses which at least correspond to those before the welding, the total tension in the tie loop applied is greater than would be achievable with the conventional device.

In the described exemplary embodiment according to the invention, the tensioning device 135 remains active after the attachment of the binding loop to the object A according to FIG. 11 and generates a tensile force on the free end section or section 205 of the binding loop in the manner shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. The maintenance of the tension on the binding loop via the tensioning device 135 can also be achieved by detecting the section 197 of the tensioned binding loop at a point outside the lacing mechanism 57, and the operation of the tensioning device can then be interrupted.

Further exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below in connection with FIGS. 14 to 16. The semi-automatic lacing device of FIG. 14 includes, as far as this must be mentioned to explain the invention, a frame 213 with a table 215 and a fixed guide 217, and a lacing mechanism 219. Stops 221 and 223 arranged on the side of a lacing track are adjustable relative to one another to pick up objects of different sizes.

The lacing mechanism 219 of FIG. 14 guided on the guide 217 by bearings 225 comprises a gripper device 227 and a holding device 229 for holding the front end and the feed section of a binding material S, furthermore a welding device 231 for welding the stacked binding material sections and a feed device. and tensioning device 223 with io wheels 235, 237. If a binding material S made of a thermoplastic material is used, the elements designated 227, 229, 231 and 223 can be designed as described in the Goodley patent mentioned. A toothed wheel 241, which is driven by a motor, not shown, engages in a toothed rack 239 fastened to the lacing mechanism 219. 14, the movement of the mechanism 219 to the left is limited by a stop 243.

In operation of this exemplary embodiment, the feed device 233 feeds a piece of binding material S of a predetermined length from a supply (not shown) in such a way that its front end 244 can be gripped and manually wrapped around the object A. As with conventional automatic lacing machines, when the front end 244 is inserted into the gripping device 227, a switch (not shown) is actuated, which initiates an operating cycle. In the course of this operating cycle, the gripping device 227 first grips the front end 244 of the binding material, and then the tensioning device 233 30 works and places the binding material S as a tensioned loop around the object A. As described in connection with FIG. 14, the conventional semi-automatic one also does this Lacing machine. The difference of the device according to the invention, however, is that after tensioning the binding loop around object A, the tensioning device 233 remains in operation and keeps the binding loop under tension, while the lacing mechanism 219 via rack 239 and gear 241 in the direction of arrow 245 in Movement is set. In this embodiment, the force transmitted by the tensile force to the front end of the loop may be less than or equal to the tensile force at the conveyor section of the loop.

The embodiment in FIG. 15 differs from that in FIG. 14 by a feed and tensioning device 233 arranged separately from the lacing mechanism 219-45. Here, the lacing mechanism 314 is driven in the direction of arrow 245 via gearwheel 241 and rack 239 and thereby transmits a tensile force onto the front end of the binding material, which is less than or equal to that carried by the device 233 over 50, and if the binding material conveying section does not slide against the device 233, the force transmitted to the front binding material end may be greater than that at the conveying section.

In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 16, a subframe fastened to the underside of the table 215 carries the guide 217 and the feed and tensioning device 233; otherwise this embodiment corresponds essentially to that shown in FIG. 15. 16, an auxiliary gripping or holding device 251 is attached to the table 215, which is not part of the lacing mechanism 219. In operation of this embodiment, the binding material strip S threaded around the object A is held by the gripping device 227 and stretched around the object by the tensioning device 233. Then the conveying section of the binding material is held by the holding device 251. Although there are similarities here with known lacing machines, the embodiment in FIG. 16 is considered before the overlapping binding material is welded

647993

10th

cuts the lacing mechanism 219 moved by rack 239 and gear 241 in the direction of arrow 245 to thereby transmit an additional tension to the front end of the binding loop. At this moment, the force transmitted to the leading end of the strip material can be less than, equal to or greater than the force transmitted to the feed section of the material. As soon as this tensioning process is finished, the holding device 229 holds the feed section of the binding material, after that the auxiliary holding device 251 is released and the overlying binding material sections of the loop are welded to one another.

v

9 sheets of drawings

Claims (27)

647993 2nd PATENT CLAIMS 1. A device for tying an article, with a substructure, means for supplying a binding material having a front end and a feeding section and for wrapping a binding material loop around the article, a lacing mechanism with devices for gripping the front binding material end and for applying tension to the front End of the loop placed around the object, characterized in that the lacing mechanism (57; 219) can be moved by means of a drive device (187, 189; 239, 241) relative to the substructure between an extended and an extended position, in order to move to the front End (181; 244) of the binding material (S) gripped by the gripping device (163; 227) to transmit a tensile force and the loop around the object (A) by the lacing mechanism (57; 219) and a feed and tensioning device ( 135; 233) to tension applied forces; and that there is a connecting means (e.g. 231) for uniting the overlapping binding material sections in order to keep the binding material loop stretched around the object in the stretched state. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lacing mechanism (57) is movably guided in one plane relative to the substructure; and that the feed and tensioning device (135; 233) guides the binding material (S) for threading around in the form of a loop around the object (A) at least approximately in said plane. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the lacing mechanism (57) is horizontally movable in this plane relative to the substructure. 4. The device according to claim 2, characterized by at least approximately arranged in this plane and with the feed and tensioning device (135) and the lacing mechanism (57) interacting binding material guide elements (33, 35, 41) for threading the binding material around in shape a loop around the object to be laced. 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the lacing mechanism (57) is horizontally movable in this plane relative to the substructure and the binding material guide elements. 6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the substructure from a fixed frame, a lacing mechanism carrying and with this horizontally movable in said plane carriage (61) and from a carriage in this plane relative to the fixed frame between a retracted and an extended position moving drive (83); that the lacing mechanism (57) is connected to the binding material guide elements in the retracted position, but is in the extended position immediately next to the object to be tied; and that means for moving the lacing mechanism into an extended position are present, at least after the carriage has been brought into its extended position. 7. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the lacing mechanism on the base in a vertical plane relative to the base and to the binding material guide elements is movably arranged. 8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the substructure consists of a fixed frame and a slide (61), that the lacing mechanism is guided on the slide in the vertical plane, that the slide by a drive (83) in the horizontal plane is movable relative to the fixed frame between a retracted position where the lacing mechanism is in connection with the binding material guide elements and an extended position where the lacing mechanism is located directly next to the object to be laced; and that the lacing mechanism (57) can be advanced by a drive (187, 189), at least after the slide has reached its extended position. 9. The device according to claim 2 or 7, characterized in that the feed and tensioning device (135; 233) works at least during the movement of the lacing mechanism in its advanced position, and that a gripping device (165; 229; 251) for holding the feed section that exists around a loop. 10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the feed and tensioning device works before and during the movement of the lacing mechanism into the advanced position. 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the feed and tensioning device (135) is movable with the lacing mechanism and generates an initial tension in a binding material loop around an object with transmission of a substantially uniform tensile force on the feeding section of the binding material, and that the lacing mechanism (57), when moving to its advanced position, transmits traction to the front end of the binding material. 12. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the feeding and tensioning device (135) works at least during the vertical movement of the lacing mechanism into its advanced position and the feeding section of the loop is held by a gripping device (165) and stretched around an object (A) becomes. 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the clamping device works before the vertical movement of the lacing mechanism in its advanced position. 14. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the feeding and tensioning device with the lacing mechanism is vertically movable and generates an initial tension in a binding material loop around an object with transmission of a substantially uniform tensile force to the feeding section of the binding material, while the lacing mechanism ( 57) transfers a tensile force to the front binding material end during the vertical movement into its advanced position. 15. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the feed and tensioning device (135; 233) works in time before the movement of the lacing mechanism (57) into its advanced position; and that the feed section of a binding material looped around an object is held by means of a gripping device (165; 229; 251) and subjected to a tensile force. 16. The method for operating the device according to claim 1, characterized in that A binding material with a front end section and a feed section is threaded in a loop lying in one plane around the object to be laced, - The two end sections are gripped and moved to each other with the application of tensile forces to tension the loop around the object, and - The two overlapping end sections are then combined with one another in order to keep the binding material loop in the state stretched around the object. 17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the two end sections are moved to each other with differently large tensile forces. 5 10th 15 20th 25th 30th 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 3rd 647993 18. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the tensile forces transmitted to the two end sections of the binding material laid in the form of a loop around the object are at least partially transmitted successively in time, and that at least the tension is maintained in the other end section during the one End portion is subjected to a tensile force. 19. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that - The two end sections are moved after detection and at least partially in succession by applying the tensile forces to the end sections, which one end section is held at least during the action of an initial tensile force on the other end section in order to tension the other end section and the loop around the object ; and that - At least the tension is obtained in the other end section, during which one end section is subjected to a tensile force. 20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that the front end portion of the binding material is held while first a tensile force is transmitted to the feed section. 21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that the tensile force transmitted to the feed section of the binding material is kept constant at least during the action of the tensile force on the front end section of the material. 22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that the tensile force transmitted to the front end section is smaller than the force transmitted to the feed section. 23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that the tensile force transmitted to the feed section is increased during the action of the tensile force on the front end section. 24. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that the tensile force transmitted to the front end section is greater than the force transmitted to the feed section. 25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that the force transmitted to the feed section is increased while the tensile force is transmitted to the front end section. 26. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that the feed section of the binding material is fixed after transfer of the tensile force to it, and that the tensile force transmitted to the front end section is smaller than the force transmitted to the feed section. 27. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that the feed section of the binding material is fixed to it after transmission of the tensile force, and that the tensile force transmitted to the front end section is greater than the force transmitted to the feed section.