EP0528892B1 - Process and device for packing pressed bales - Google Patents

Abstract

A process and a device are disclosed for packing pressed bales with a foil and a hoop. The pressed bales are held under pressure between pressure rams while the packing is applied. The packing device (1) has a wrapping device (5) and a hoop-laying device (6) arranged on transport carriages (8, 9) that can be separately moved. A movable foil arm (5) on one transport carriage (8) draws the packing foil from a single foil winding (10) to the other transport carriage (9) and lays it as a U-shaped middle bandage around the pressed bales (2). A second grasping arm (20) superposes loosely the ends of the foil, after it has been separated from the winding (10), and secures them with hoops.

Description

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for packaging bales with the features in the preamble of the main method and device claim.

Such a method and the associated device are known from EP-A-0 014 923. The wrapping device consists of two fixed support arms and two swiveling film arms. The film arms are cantilevered at one end and carry the heavy film wrap and a welding and cutting device at the other end. The complete wrapping device sits on a single transport cart and is moved from the side into the baling or packaging station at the level of the baling bale. During the travel movement, the jacket film stretched between the rigid support arms and the film roll is wrapped around the press bale, the pivotable film arms performing an additional rotary movement with the film roll. Such an arrangement poses mechanical and kinematic problems.
The film ends will be firmly connected to one another at the connection point by welding, stapling or in some other way. This is also necessary because for the subsequent strapping, the wrapping device has to be detached from the press bale and completely removed from the packaging or press station. You must make room for the independent strapping device. This technology takes time and requires a lot of construction and control. Last but not least, there is also a space problem, an envelope and a strapping device to accommodate them separately from each other with their transport trolleys, to hold them in waiting positions and to have them retracted and extended separately. The known device can therefore not be used in all press systems, especially not in so-called carousel balers, in which the press bale is difficult to access from the side through the press stand. Furthermore, it remains open in the prior art how, after the sheathing of the sheathing, the opening and retraction of the wrapping device, the free end of the film is grasped again and the sheathing is to be stretched for the next packaging operation. The weld or tack connection between the film ends has also proven to be unfavorable. As a result, high-strength and poorly stretchable films cannot be used for satisfactory packaging.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for packaging pressed bales which can be used on any press systems, are easier to handle and enable better and more reliable packaging.

The invention solves this problem with the features in the main method and device claim.

With the method according to the invention, the heavy film wrap is moved in a simple manner, preferably on a straight path, along the press bale. The problems of the prior art with the kinematics, the mechanics and the stability of the device can hereby be avoided. The U-shaped enveloping movement of the jacket film is carried out by the easier to handle film arm, which can also be dimensioned relatively weak due to the low weight of the film piece pulled off.

The separation of film wrap and film arm and their independent mobility on separate transport trolleys also enable a solution to the space problem. On the one hand, this allows the packaging device to be arranged and also retrofitted on any baling press, in particular also carousel presses. Alternatively, use at independent packaging stations etc. is possible.

On the other hand, strapping can take place immediately after the baling of the press. The strapping device can be combined with the wrapping device or immediately follow it. In any case, the wrapping device does not have to be removed in a time-consuming and space-consuming manner before the strapping device can take action. Rather, the two devices can work together and complement each other in terms of function and device technology, thereby optimizing the construction effort.

It is advisable to loosely overlap the ends of the film and only fix them with the strapping. The film ends can slide against each other if the bale jumps open after expansion and expands. The jacket film can follow the stretching movement without tearing or without the packaging opening in any other way. This also makes it possible to use high-strength packaging films, the strength of which would suffer from the effects of heat during welding or stapling. In the prior art, this caused the closed jacket film to weaken at the junction of the film ends. A break point was preprogrammed.

The wrapping device remains on the press bale during strapping and holds the jacket film firmly. In this way, the taut and overlapped position of the film ends can be secured until and during the strapping. Packing time and control effort are also saved. It is also favorable that only a simple and no cross-wise strapping of the bale is required for film fixing.

Another advantage of the packaging technology according to the invention is that the method and device are suitable for different bale sizes and can be adapted by software. This expands the area of application and at the same time reduces the conversion effort.

Further advantageous refinements of the invention are set out in the subclaims, which improve the function and minimize the construction and control outlay.

Figur 1:

eine Draufsicht auf eine Verpackungsvorrichtung an einer Ballenpresse,

Figuren 2 - 7:

die Verpackungsvorrichtung von Fig. 1 in verschiedenen Bewegungsstellungen und

Figur 8:

eine perspektivische Stirnansicht der Verpackungsvorrichtung gemäß Pfeil VIII in Fig. 4.

The invention is shown for example in the drawings. Show in detail

Figure 1:

a plan view of a packaging device on a baler,

Figures 2 - 7:

1 in various movement positions and

Figure 8:

3 shows a perspective end view of the packaging device according to arrow VIII in FIG. 4.

FIG. 1 shows a packaging device (1) in connection with a baling press (3), here in the form of a two-column carousel baling press known per se. For the sake of clarity, only the two vertical posts (4) of the press frame are shown for the press parts. These are located at the finishing press station, in which the press bale (2) is held under pressure between two press rams (27). The bale preferably consists of short cut or long textile fibers, the so-called tow. Alternatively, textile waste or other materials can also be used as bale material.

Figure 1 shows the starting position in which the press box (not shown) has just been pulled off the press bale (2). At this stage, the packaging device (1) is located outside the press space and approximately at the level of the outer press post (4).

The packaging device (1) consists of a wrapping device (5) and a strapping device (6), both of which are arranged on two transport carriages (8, 9). The transport carriages (8, 9) are arranged to be movable on rails or other interconnects on both sides and along the bale (2). They have independent drives and can be moved separately. During the packaging process, they move in the direction of travel (28).

The wrapping device (5) has a film roll (10) with a downstream dancer (11) as well as a film feeder (12) and a cutting device (13) arranged behind it, which are arranged together on the transport carriage (9). The wrapping device (5) also includes a gripping arm (20) which is arranged on a row arrangement of deflection channels (18) of the strapping device (6) so as to be pivotable about a vertical axis (38). These parts are also arranged on the trolley (9). The wrapping device (5) also has extendable holding pins (21) (see FIG. 6), which are also located on the transport trolley (9).

A film arm (15) of the wrapping device (5) with an end gripper (16) is arranged on the opposite transport carriage (8). In the direction of travel (28) there are two strapping heads (17) of the strapping device (6).

The film roll (10), which is rotatably mounted and provided with guide means for the jacket film (7), is located at the front end of the transport carriage (9) in the direction of travel (28) and is somewhat set back relative to the bale (2). The downstream dancer (11) forms a film store in which the jacket film (7) spans several vertical rollers are connected in a spring-elastic manner. The dancer (11) compensates for film tensions and ensures even removal from the film wrap (10).

The jacket film (7) then enters the film feeder (12), which is a conveyor and holding device, e.g. has a friction wheel arrangement which can pull off the jacket film from the film roll (10) and hold the film end. Immediately behind is the cutting device (13), which can be designed as a knife arrangement, fusible wire or in some other suitable manner. The cutting device (13) and the film feeder (12) sit in the direction of travel (28) behind the film wrap (10) and are located directly on the edge of the transport carriage (9) on the bale side. They are arranged together on a carrier which is rotatably mounted on the transport carriage (8) about a vertical pivot axis (14) (cf. FIG. 4).

The deflection channels (18) are arranged at the rear end of the transport carriage (9) in the direction of travel (28). They are rotatably mounted about a vertical axis (19), which is located at the rear end of the carriage and on the bale-side carriage edge. The deflection channels (18) are present at least in the same number as the lacing grooves (26) in the press rams (27) and are arranged accordingly. The individual deflection channels (18) are connected and held together at the rear by a frame (29) which in turn engages the axis of rotation (19). In the rest position according to FIG. 1, the deflection channels (18) are pivoted back from the bale-side wagon edge. The gripper arm (20) is located at the front end of the frame of the deflection channels (18). It consists of a double arm arrangement, the arm parts (30, 31) of which extend transversely to the direction of travel (28) and are spaced apart from one another by more than the film height. The arm pieces (30.31) carry vertical and movable tension fingers (32) at the ends, which can grip the horizontal film edges from above or from below. The clamping fingers (32) are in turn adjustable in height.

The film arm (15) is mounted on the trolley (8) so that it can be extended transversely to the direction of travel (28). It consists of a telescopic double-arm arrangement, the arm parts (33, 34) of which also extend transversely to the direction of travel (28) and are at a distance from each other by less than the height of the film. The gripper (16) is arranged on the arm ends so as to be pivotable about a vertical axis (35). It consists of two arm extensions (36) that have horizontal tension fingers (37) at the ends, which can grasp and hold the vertical film edge.

Figures 2 to 7 show the sequence of the packaging process. First, as shown in FIG. 2, both transport carriages (8, 9) move a small distance in the direction of travel (28) until the film arm (15) and the cutting device (13) and the film feed (12) between the press post (4) and the bale ( 2) assume an aligned position. The film arm (15) then extends and, with its gripper (6) directed straight ahead, grips the front film end (22) which protrudes a little above the cutting device (13). The film arm (15) then moves back to the starting position on the transport carriage (8) and pulls the jacket film (7).

According to Figure 3, the trolley (8) then continues until the film arm (15) is just in front of the bale (2). The film arm (15) extends again until the swivel joint (35) of the gripper (16) is approximately at the level of the opposite broad side (25) of the press bale (2). The other dolly (9) also moves a short distance at the same time or shortly thereafter and thereby places the covering film (7) on the rear bale front.

The press bale (2) usually has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape and extends along the direction of travel (28). With the aforementioned travel and pull-out movements, the jacket film (7) is placed in a lateral U-shape around the two narrow sides and one broad side of the bale (2). The broad side (25) of the bale (2) facing the transport carriage (9) is now still open. In order to still wrap this broad side (25), the transport carriage (9) moves a little further according to FIG. 4 until the axis of rotation (19) is just behind the bale (2). The cutting device (13) and the film feeder (12) pivot automatically about their pivot axis (14) through the film pull and then extend together with the jacket film (7) at an angle to the bale (2). In this position, they are located along the row arrangement of the deflection channels (18), so that the clamping fingers (32) of the gripping arm (20) can grip the upper and lower edge of the film. As soon as this has been done, the cutting device (13) operates and cuts through the jacket film (7). The rear end of the film (23) is now held by the gripping arm (20).

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the deflection channels (18) now pivot about their axis (19) on the press bales (2), the covering film (7) being placed flat on the broad side (25). The deflection channels (18) are aligned with the lacing grooves (26) and are already firmly in their strapping position. They then stop during the strapping process. The gripping arm (20) comes to rest on the front bale corner due to the pivoting movement of the frame (29). The jacket film (7) and the rear film end (23) are under tension placed on the side surface (25) and held. The gripper (16) is then actuated and folds onto the side surface (25), taking the front film end (22) with it. It moves through the free space within the curved deflection channels (18) and under the gripping arm (20) and, under tension, places the front film end (22) on the rear film end (23).

According to FIG. 6, two or more holding pins (21) now extend and press the front foil end (22) onto the side surface (25). The gripper (16) can now let go of the front end of the film (22) and swivel it back into the straight position opposite the film arm (15), which then also retracts. In this position, the two first tire straps (24) are placed by the two strapping heads (17) arranged behind the film arm (15). At least one tire tape is placed over the overlapped film ends (22, 23) and fixes them.

According to FIG. 7, the transport carriage (8) cycles further with the lacing groove spacing with the film arm (15) withdrawn and places the remaining tire belts (24). The transport carriage (9) remains with the deflection channels (18). During the strapping, the gripper arm (20) and the holding pins (21) also hold the film ends (22, 23) in place. After the strapping is completed, the press rams (27) are relieved, causing the press bale (2) to expand and jump into the tire belts (24). The holding pins (21) and the gripping arm (20) are released from the film ends (22, 23) and move or pivot back. For this purpose, the clamping fingers (32) of the gripping arm (20) are first pulled up or down from the edge of the film. The deflection channels (18) then fold back into the starting position according to FIG. 1 and the baling bales (2) can be removed after the transport trolleys (8, 9) have returned. In the starting position according to the figure 1, the pre-press station of the baler (2) can be reloaded, whereby the cover foils for the upper and lower bale surface are also put on and turned over. The film feeder (12) has meanwhile also conveyed the new front film end (22) a little beyond the opened cutting device (13) so that it can be gripped again by the film arm (15) during the next packaging process.

PARTS LIST

1

Packaging device

2nd

Bales, bales

3rd

Baler

4th

Press frame

5

Envelope

6

Strapping device

7

Cladding film

8th

Transport trolley, trolley I

9

Transport trolley, trolley II

10th

Foil wrap

11

dancer

12th

Film feed

13

Cutting device

14

Swivel axis

15

Film arm

16

Gripper

17th

Strapping heads

18th

Deflection channels

19th

Axis of rotation

20th

Gripper arm

21

Retaining pin

22

Foil end, front

23

Foil end, rear

24th

Tire tape

25th

Side face, broadside, strapped

26

Lacing

27

Ram

28

Direction of travel

29

frame

30th

Arm part

31

Arm part

32

Tension finger

33

Arm part

34

Arm part

35

Axis, swivel

36

Arm extension

37

Tension finger

38

axis

Claims (17)

1. Method of packing pressed bales which are held under pressure between pressing rams, a casing foil being laid laterally around the pressed bale by a wrapping apparatus with a foil reel and a movable foil arm which grips the free foil end, and the pressed bale subsequently being hoop-cased, characterized in that the foil reel (10) and the foil arm (15) are moved separately from one another on opposite sides of the clamped pressed bale (2), the foil arm (15) drawing off the casing foil (7) from the foil reel (10) and laying it around the pressed bale (2) in a U-shaped movement, and the foil reel (10) being moved longitudinally with respect to the pressed bale (2).
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the foil reel (10) is stationary during the drawing-off movement of the foil arm (15) and is subsequently moved longitudinally with respect to the pressed bale (2).
3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the foil reel (10) and the foil arm (15) are moved along the pressed bale (2) on a straight track, the foil arm (15) additionally performing transverse movements at the end sides of the pressed bale (2).
4. Method according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the foil reel (10) and the foil arm (15) are moved on separate transporting trolleys (8, 9) on either side of the pressed bale (2).
5. Method according to Claim 1 or one of the subsequent claims, characterized in that the foil ends (22, 23) are loosely laid one on top of the other with an overlap by the wrapping apparatus (5) at a side face (25) which is subsequently hoop-cased, are securely held there by the wrapping apparatus (5) until and during the hoop-casing operation and are fixed at the end by means of at least one hooping band (24) in frictional engagement with mutual movability of the foil ends (22, 23) in the event of bale expansion.
6. Method according to Claim 1 or one of the subsequent claims, characterized in that the foil arm (15) at the end of the U-shaped wrapping movement leaves the front foil end (22) projecting beyond the uncovered side face (25), subsequently the remaining web of the casing foil (7) being drawn off from the foil reel (10), cut and laid with the rear foil end (23) flush with the edge of the side face (25), and in that the front foil end (22) is then folded round onto the rear foil end (23).
7. Method according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the foil ends (22, 23) are held under tension until the hoop-casing operation.
8. Apparatus for packing pressed bales (2) which are held under pressure between pressing rams (27), having a wrapping apparatus (5) which lays a casing foil (7) laterally around the pressed bale (2) and which has an individual foil reel (10), a movable foil arm (15) and a cutting apparatus (12) and grippers (16), and having a hoop-casing apparatus (6), characterized in that the foil arm (15) and the foil reel (10) are arranged separate from one another on transporting trolleys (8, 9) which can be moved independently and on either side of the pressed bale (2), the foil arm (15) being arranged to be transversely movable on its transporting trolley.
9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, characterized in that the foil arm (15) has at the end a pivotal (35) gripper (16).
10. Apparatus according to Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the hoop-casing apparatus (6) is also arranged on the transporting trolleys (8, 9).
11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, characterized in that there is provided at least one hoop-casing head (17) which is arranged with the foil arm (15) on a common transporting trolley (8).
12. Apparatus according to Claim 8 or one of the subsequent claims, characterized in that a dancing roller (11), a foil intake (12) and the cutting apparatus (13) are associated with the foil reel (10) and are all mounted on a transporting trolley (9).
13. Apparatus according to Claim 12, characterized in that the cutting apparatus (13) is mounted to be pivotal about a vertical axis (14).
14. Apparatus according to Claim 8 or one of the subsequent claims, characterized in that the deflection channels (18) are provided in at least the same quantity as the cord grooves (26) in the pressing rams (27) and are arranged to be rotatable (19) on the transporting trolley (9) of the foil reel (10).
15. Apparatus according to Claim 14, characterized in that the deflection channels (18) have a movable gripping arm (20) for the casing foil (7).
16. Apparatus according to Claim 8 or one of the subsequent claims, characterized in that, as seen in the direction of travel (28) of the transporting trolleys (8, 9), the deflection channels (18) are arranged behind the foil reel (10) and the hoop-casing heads (17) are arranged behind the foil arm (15).
17. Apparatus according to Claim 8 or one of the subsequent claims, characterized in that the wrapping apparatus (5) has movable holding pins (21) for temporarily fixing the overlapped foil ends (22, 23), which holding pins (21) are arranged on the transporting trolley (9) on the reel side.

Images