DE202011050792U1 - packaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (1) for the automated packaging of a stationary object (2) by means of a plurality of film-like materials (4A, 4B) that can be provided on rolls, comprising means for the automated bypassing (10) of the object (2) and one of the number of film-like materials (4A, 4B) corresponding number of roll receptacles (3A, 3B), the roll receiving axes of which can be aligned parallel to the outside of the object (2), the roll receiving axes being arranged or positionable in such a way that surfaces (4A ', 4B ') can be formed which extend tangentially from the respective rollers or deflection rollers (11A, 11B) to the outside of the object (2) without intersecting.

Description

introduction

The invention relates to the field of packaging, especially the packaging of large-volume items. In particular, the invention relates to a novel apparatus for automated packaging of such articles with sheet-like materials.

State of the art and disadvantages

Objects, and in particular large-volume items such. As transport pallets or so-called "white goods" (refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, etc.), must usually be shielded from external influences in the context of transport from the place of manufacture to the consumer in order to avoid transport damage. Such influences may be shocks and rubbing touches with other objects or transport pallets, as may occur during handling with fork-lift trucks, during transport by trucks, etc., but also weather influences that can act on the cargo in particular during loading and unloading in transport vehicles , as well as manipulation or theft. The packaging materials thus have the primary function of transport safety. The packaging can also fulfill the task of initially holding loose goods within an outer packaging such as in particular a pallet together and / or to connect with the pallet, so that a well manageable unit is formed (pallet packaging).

Are known from the prior art so-called "bubble wrap", which are typically made of polyethylene (PE) and consist of a least two-ply, usually transparent film with regular air inclusions. Foam foils or roll corrugated cardboard are also used as packaging material. Such films, hereinafter also referred to as cushioning films for short, are flexible but not extensible.

Also known are so-called "stretch films" (also winding or net films), which are used in particular for transport safety. Stretch films are particularly expansible films, as they are familiar, for example from the field of cling film. Such films may be made of PE. When an object or a loose composite of objects is "strapped" with such a film while the film is under tension, it expands as it is being wrapped, putting a permanent pressure on the composite of the articles, so that a coherent, easier to handle body is created. For re-dicing the fabric, the film usually has to be cut, since the surfaces of the film usually have a strong adhesion to each other, so that rewinding is difficult. However, such films have no resilient or damping effect against external mechanical influences, and protect only (and only limited) against weather or manipulation.

In order to protect a large object or a composite loose objects on the one hand against shocks and on the other hand against the effects of weather, and at the same time to cause a cohesion of individual objects together and / or with a pallet, more sequential operations are always required. Either there is a - usually only partial - wrapping the object with padding film, a makeshift fixing the same, so that it retains its position on the object, for. With tape, and finally wrapping the padded article with a stretch film. Optionally, this can be fixed again, for example likewise with adhesive tape or by thermal treatment. Or the body is first wrapped with stretch film, before the padding foil attached and the latter is fixed separately.

This procedure is time consuming and error prone. If, for example, too little padding film is used, it must be pieced or rewrapped. If too much padding film has been used, the consumption increases and the body may be given an irregular shape. Slips the padding foil, the object is partially unprotected. If the stretch film is positioned at the bottom, special attention must be paid to a secure hold of the upholstery film, so that it does not fall off during transport. Same problems arise when, for example, cardboard is used instead of a cushioning film.

For wrapping with such films manual winder are known, which have as essential components a portable or rollable frame and a roll receptacle for the packaging material. By repeatedly orbiting the packaged goods and optionally readjusting the height of the roll, the object is wrapped. If a stretch film is used, it must be additionally provided manually for a corresponding train.

Especially for the application of stretch film, corresponding packaging robots ("mobile stretch wrappers") are known, for example the stretch robot "Leonardo", which is offered by the company Cabtree Trading, or the robot "WR 50" by the company Pro-System-Verpackungstechnik (both Companies from Germany).

A disadvantage of the manual systems is the changeover time, which is required for the sequential implementation of the above steps. The known automated solutions are not intended for the processing of upholstery films. Since these devices are also very expensive, eliminating the purchase of two such devices usually.

Also known are semi-automatic solutions, so-called "stretch plates". In these devices, the packaged goods is on a rotatably mounted plate. There is an optionally height-adjustable roll holder on the side of the packaged goods. By turning the plate and thus the packaged goods, the stretch film is unwound and the packaged goods strapped. A disadvantage of this solution is the need to transport the packaged goods on the plate, which is particularly associated with pallets and other, heavy or bulky bodies with appropriate effort. In addition, goods to be packaged must always be brought to the stretcher plate and removed again after packaging.

Object of the invention and solution

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a device for avoiding the problems known from the prior art. In particular, the invention is intended to provide a device which allows an automated strapping of packaged goods with packaging film in a time and material-saving manner. In this case, both the function of the transport safety device and the function of protection against external influences should be fulfilled.

The object is achieved by a device according to claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims, the following description and the figures.

description

The invention provides an apparatus which enables simultaneous and automated wrapping of packaged goods, as will be described in detail below.

Accordingly, a device according to the invention for automated packaging of a stationary object by means of a plurality of film-like, roll-ready materials, means for automatically bypassing the object, and a number of film-like materials corresponding number of roller receivers whose Rollenaufnahmeachsen are aligned parallel to the outside of the article, wherein the roller receiving axes are arranged or positionable such that surfaces can be formed from the sheet-like materials that extend tangentially from the respective rollers or pulleys to the outside of the object without cutting.

Means for automatically driving around the object are in particular driven wheels or rollers, caterpillars or the like. Preferably, these means are steerable. But they can also consist in a suspension of the device, which depends, for example, on arranged above the device rail, the rail sets the path of movement. Also, a suitably far cantilevered arm, which is arranged on a mobile or fixed base, and to which the other components of the device are attached, by definition, allows a deflection of the article with the relevant for carrying out the method of the invention components of the device.

The roller mounts are preferably arranged so that their roller receiving axes are perpendicular. Optionally, the axes can also be tilted from the vertical in order to optimally be able to adapt the position of the rolls to the geometry of a packaged item with non-perpendicular outer walls. It is essential that the roller receiving axes are aligned parallel to the outside of the article. This alignment can be done by manually tilting the axes, or means can be provided which compensate for the non-uniform pull that results when the roller receiving axes are not parallel to the outside of the packaged goods. Such means may for example be provided by a central pivot and a resilient suspension of a roller mount. In this way, a roller axis automatically aligns itself approximately in the desired manner when the orientation of the wall of the packaged goods changes.

It is clear that the rolling films must not interfere with each other, for example by rubbing the films together. This is ensured by the condition according to which the roll receiving axes are arranged or positionable such that surfaces can be formed from the sheet-like materials which extend tangentially from the respective rolls or deflection rolls to the outside of the article without cutting. In this context, reference is also made to the description of the figures.

It is further preferred that at least one of the roller receivers is brakable. This means that the roller arranged on this roller mount is not free and easy to move, but a certain tensile force is required to unwind the film. This can be done in a simple way z. B. by Provision of corresponding friction elements in the storage area of the roll receptacle can be achieved. The effect of braking is particularly desirable when the picked roll is a stretch film.

It is further preferred that the roller receptacles are movable parallel in the direction of the roller receiving axes. In this way, an object whose height exceeds the width of a roll can be wrapped uniformly. An optional simultaneous mobility may be necessary to create an optimal layer composite, since several rolls are unrolled simultaneously. However, it may also be possible to move multiple reel seats in opposite directions to achieve crossover strapping.

As already stated above, the individual film-like materials can be joined together before or after contact with the packaged goods. Accordingly, the device according to the invention further comprises a device for full or partial surface thermal, chemical and / or mechanical bonding of at least two film-like materials together. Incidentally, reference is made to the description of the method according to the invention; the corresponding devices are well known to those skilled in the art and therefore require no further explanation.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the roller mounts are arranged on a mobile platform via a vertically movable articulated arm with a parallel kinematics, and the device further comprises distance sensors for maintaining a certain distance from the object. For explanation, reference is also made to the description of the figures.

The application of the device according to the invention will be described in detail below. It is clear that even device features mentioned here represent advantageous embodiments of the device.

• – Bereitstellen der folienartigen Materialien auf einer entsprechenden Anzahl Rollen;
• – Ausrichten der Rollenachsen parallel zur Außenseite des Gegenstands;
• – Ansetzen der Folienenden an den Gegenstand;
• – automatisiertes Umfahren des Gegenstandes, so dass dieser unter gleichzeitigem Abrollen der Folien umwickelt wird.

To use the device according to the invention for automated packaging of a stationary object by means of a plurality of film-like materials, the following steps are to be carried out:

• - Providing the film-like materials on a corresponding number of roles;
• - aligning the roller axes parallel to the outside of the object;
• - Attaching the film ends to the object;
• - Automated driving around the object so that it is wrapped with simultaneous unwinding of the films.

At the same time, at least two of the sheet-like materials are unrolled simultaneously without mutual obstruction, so that they create a layer composite on the outside of the article.

The first essential aspect of the invention is thus to provide not a single, but several roles on a device. In this way, the need to provide two or more devices is avoided. A corresponding cost savings, or a time savings by avoiding long changeover times, is the result.

The second aspect is the fact that the films are unrolled sequentially but at the same time. In this way, a layer composite of the two, typically different materials when strapping the packaged material is achieved. It is clear that a mutual obstruction of the rollers or the unrolled and not yet on the packaged material to be avoided foil material must be avoided. For this purpose, reference is also made to the description of the device and the figures below.

Preferably, at least one of the sheet-like materials is put under tension during the wrapping and thus applied to the object in a stretched state. This procedure is preferred in principle and regardless of the type of film-like material, since such an uneven strapping of the packaged goods is avoided. It is indispensable when the film-like material is stretch film. Technically, this is achieved by braking the rotation of the corresponding roller mount. The braking can be fixed or readjustable to apply different levels of tensile forces on the film and thus on the object to be packaged.

It is further preferred that during the wrapping additionally a movement of the rollers takes place in the direction of the roller axes. For example, if the roller axles are vertical, vertical movement of the rollers also occurs. In this way, a tall object can be strapped with a short roll. If necessary, the movement can also be done intermittently several times in order to achieve a uniform packaging result.

More preferably, the sheet-like materials are selected from the group consisting of stretch film, bubble wrap, foam sheet, wrapping paper, nonwoven and corrugated board. Of course, other materials, such as conductive or conductive coated materials for shielding against electrical voltages, or net-like materials with the method according to the invention are processable.

It is also preferred that the process be carried out with those film-like materials which consist of the same base material, for example PE or PP. Thus, a simple recycling of the films can be done after removing the packaging, as a separation by substance group is eliminated.

As already described above, after rolling, but before or after applying the layer composite to the outside of the article, full or partial thermal, chemical and / or mechanical bonding of at least two film-like materials can take place. In other words, the initially separately present sheet-like materials are connected to each other either immediately before or after application to the packaged to ensure increased strength. Since, in the case of the use of stretch film and another film, the former provides cohesion, the latter need not additionally be secured from being detached; on tapes or the like can be dispensed with. The thermal bonding can be done for example by heat sealing or by blowing hot air. For example, the chemical bonding may include adhesive, or the film materials are prone to adhesive reaction with the partner. When mechanically connecting brackets can be used, and also the folding of, for example, the edge regions can produce a mechanical connection. Of course, combinations, such as folding and subsequent thermal bonding of the fold, are also encompassed by the invention.

The device according to the invention allows an automated strapping of packaged goods with packaging film in a time and material-saving manner. In doing so, both the function of transport safety and the function of protection against external influences are fulfilled.

figure description

1 illustrates schematically the operation of the device according to the invention.

2 shows a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention.

In the 1 the operation of the device according to the invention is shown schematically. For this purpose, the figure shows a plan view of a simplified representation of the device according to the invention 1 as well as the packaged goods to be packed 2 The device according to the invention 1 is located on the side of a stationary object 2 which may be a palette, for example. On the device 1 are two role recordings 3A . 3B arranged so that their axes of rotation are perpendicular to the sheet plane, and thus parallel to the outside of the object 2 stand. The roller mounts are each equipped with a roller, which foil-like material 4A respectively. 4B wearing. In addition, the role, which is on the role recording 3B is, by a schematically illustrated brake 5 braked. The device 1 moves around the object 2 represented by the motion path 6 , in the direction of movement 7 ,

The two foil-like materials 4A and 4B are simultaneously unrolled during the bypass without mutual interference, so that they are as a layer composite to the outside of the object 2 invest. This is achieved in that the roller receiving axes are arranged or positioned such that of the film-like materials 4A . 4B surfaces 4A ' . 4B ' can be formed, which are tangent from the respective rollers to the outside of the object 2 extend without cutting. For the case not shown, that the films in addition via corresponding pulleys 11A and or 11B run, it is clear that this condition must apply mutatis mutandis, possibly also, for these pulleys.

By braking the roller holder 3B becomes while the object is traveling around 2 an increased tensile force on the corresponding film-like material 4B exercised. If this is a stretch film, it expands and exerts a compressive force on the outside of the object to be packaged 2 out.

Preferably, the roll holder 3A equipped with a padding foil. In this way, a layer composite can be realized in one step, which serves both the transport safety device, as well as the packaged goods 2 protects against external influences.

In the 2 is a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention 1 shown. This is located on the side of the object to be packaged 2 , which in the present case is a pallet on which individual boxes are stacked. The two roller pictures 3A . 3B are via a vertically movable articulated arm 8th with a parallel kinematics on the mobile platform 9 arranged. Both role shots 3A . 3B are simultaneously vertically movable. The roller shot closer to the viewer in the picture 3B in the present case carries a cushioning film, and the remotely located roll receiving 3A a stretch film. As a means of automated driving around 10 of the object 2 There are simple wheels.

By avoiding the object 2 this becomes with the foil-like materials 4A . 4B wrapped on the outside of the object 2 form a layer composite. The surface formed by the cushioning film 4B ' is also recognizable. This extends tangentially from the corresponding pulley 11B , which is the role recording 3B is assigned to the outside of the article 2 , In doing so, she cuts the surface hidden from her and therefore not visible in the image 4A ' the with the foil-like material 4A equipped other role or pulley 11A Not.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

contraption

2

Object, packaged goods

3A, 3B

roll cradle

4A, 4B

foil-like material

4A ', 4B'

surfaces

5

brake

6

motion path

7

movement direction

8th

articulated arm

9

mobile platform

10

Automated bypassing means

11A, 11B

idler pulley

Claims (5)

Contraption ( 1 ) for the automated packaging of a fixed object ( 2 ) by means of a plurality of film-like, roll-ready materials ( 4A . 4B ), comprising means for automated avoidance ( 10 ) of the object ( 2 ) and one of the number of film-like materials ( 4A . 4B ) corresponding number of roll receptacles ( 3A . 3B ) whose roller receiving axes parallel to the outside of the object ( 2 ) are alignable, wherein the roller receiving axes are arranged or positionable such that from the sheet-like materials ( 4A . 4B ) Areas ( 4A ' . 4B ' ) are tangential to the respective rollers or pulleys ( 11A . 11B ) to the outside of the article ( 2 ) without cutting. Contraption ( 1 ) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the roller receptacles ( 3A . 3B ) is brakable. Contraption ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the roller receptacles ( 3A . 3B ) are movable parallel in the direction of the roller receiving axes. Contraption ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the same further comprises a device for full or partial surface thermal, chemical and / or mechanical bonding of at least two film-like materials ( 4A . 4B ). Contraption ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the roller receptacles ( 3A . 3B ) via a vertically movable articulated arm ( 8th ) with parallel kinematics on a mobile platform ( 9 ), and the device ( 1 ) distance sensors to maintain a certain distance from the object ( 2 ).

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