EP0963910A1 - Method and apparatus for packaging stacks of flat articles - Google Patents

Abstract

In the first packing stage the stack (2) of papers are wrapped so that the foil (3) projects on both sides beyond the covered sides of the stack and in the second packing stage the stacks having a stacking height (d1) greater than a predetermined boundary stack height are wrapped round by a band (4) and the stacks having a stack height (d2) smaller than the predetermined height are packed by welding the foil areas projecting over the top and bottom sides of the stack whereby a wrapping band can either be added or omitted. Independent claim describes apparatus having welding means for welding projecting areas of foil wherein control means control the welding device dependent on the stack height.

Description

The invention is in the field of packaging technology and relates to a Method and device according to the generic terms of the corresponding independent claims. The method and device are used for packaging of serially fed, essentially cuboid stacks consisting of a plurality of superimposed, flat objects, such as newspapers or magazines. Of course can with the help of the inventive method and the inventive Device also other, essentially cuboid objects be packed.

Newspapers and magazines are usually arranged in stacks for shipping, which stacks are strapped at least once with a band, for example and, if necessary, be wrapped with a film before strapping. Such Packed stacks are stable and easy to handle thanks to the strapping thanks to the film wrapping, at least the outermost products are against external influences such as moisture or dirt or also against mechanical Damage protected. The strapping is depending on the inherent stability of the Stack and a simple strapping according to the size of the stacked objects, a multiple strapping consisting of at least two arranged in parallel Straps or a cross strapping consisting of at least two bands arranged perpendicular to each other.

For wrapping and strapping serially fed stacks such as also of other, essentially cuboid objects are in the A wide variety of processes and devices are known in packaging technology and for example in Swiss patent applications 01631/97 (F462), 01674/97 (F465) and 00504/98 (F485). With the help of most These methods and devices can be satisfactory with short cycle times stable stack packaging can be created as long as the amount of all supplied Stack lies within a predetermined range and in particular a predetermined minimum height is not fallen below.

There are various reasons for limiting the stack height towards the bottom. The stacked products can, for example, be bendable such that they are bent in a small stack through the tensioned band, causing the tape curls and the package becomes unstable. When the tape is on a vertical side surface of the stack is welded, the welding point with a small stack be higher than the stack, so at all no tight strapping can be created.

Newspapers and magazines are usually ready for dispatch made by stacking and packing, one shipment made up of a number of standard packages (stacks with standard height) and, for example, one Top package (smaller than standard package) Such top packages exist can be from a very small number of magazines or newspapers or even consist of only one newspaper or magazine. Because of the above Limitation of the stack height in the known strapping machines must the top packages for packaging, if necessary, a separate device are supplied, for which purpose not only additional wrapping / strapping devices but also additional conveyor lines and switches are needed. Since in most cases it is also important that the standard and top packages are released from the packaging in the same order how they have been conveyed for packaging is the division of the stack flow to various packaging machines and the Merging of the packet stream after packaging also in terms of control technology complex or with a manual reorganization connected.

The invention has for its object to show a method with which serially fed stacks of flat objects such as newspapers or Magazines can be processed into stable packages, with the added Stack any heights between a standard height and a very small one Can have height. So that means that even stacks that, for example consist of only one newspaper or magazine, with the inventive Processes can be packed easily. The method according to the invention should be applicable without changing the batch sequence in a batch stream and with cycle times that are no longer than cycle times like the ones they have are expected from known stack packaging processes. It is further the object of the invention, an apparatus for performing the method to accomplish.

This object is achieved by the method and the device as it is are defined in the independent claims.

According to the method according to the invention, the serially supplied is In a first step, a film is stacked according to methods known per se placed and closed to an envelope. In a second Step from the covered stacks pressed those with greater stack height and strapped and those with smaller stacking heights that are marked by a Strapping could not be packaged into a stable package by side welding the film wrapper instead of or in addition ready for strapping.

So that the film is welded sideways on stacks with a smaller stack height can be used, a film is used for the wrapping, which is wider than the appropriate dimension of the stack, and so the film around the Stacked and sealed that they have the bottom, the top and two vertical sides of the stack are covered and towered over on both sides. The the top and Foil areas protruding from the bottom of the stack are attached to small Stacking joined together by side welding.

The method according to the invention thus results in stack height-dependent ones Sequence both larger packages (especially standard packages but possibly also larger lace packages) that are wrapped in a film and with a tight band, advantageously across the foil wrapping are strapped (possibly several times), as well as small packages (top packages), which are covered with a film such that the film top and bottom as well as two vertical stack sides and by at least spot welds over the other two vertical sides of the stack closed is. So the stacked items are in the larger and in the smaller packages not only protected but also in the stack held in one direction by the film and in the other Direction either by strapping or by side welding the slide.

The device for carrying out the method is equipped in such a way that them in the same stacking position (strapping / welding position) without any special Setting the creation of a side weld of the film and / or enables strapping The device according to the invention has Means for wrapping serially supplied stacks with a film, Means for pressing wrapped stacks and means for strapping coated stacks, the means for pressing also as a welding agent for the side welding is equipped and at least the means for Strapping and the welding material according to the stack height of each conveyed Stack are controllable.

It is also used to control the stacking height-dependent packaging step necessary, the device with sensory means for detecting the stack height to equip a stack to be packed, or from a central one Computing unit to transmit data that represent this stack height.

Figur 1

die einzelnen Stadien zur Verpackung eines grösseren und eines kleineren Stapels von Zeitungen oder Zeitschriften nach dem erfindungsgemässen Verfahren;

Figuren 2 und 3

eine schematische Darstellung von Teilen einer beispielhaften Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung als Draufsicht (Figur 2) und im Schnitt (Figur 3);

Figuren 4 und 5

eine schematische Darstellung von Teilen einer weiteren, beispielhaften Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung als Draufsicht (Figur 4) und im Schnitt (Figur 5).

The method according to the invention and the device according to the invention are described in detail in connection with the following figures. Show:

Figure 1

the individual stages for packaging a larger and a smaller stack of newspapers or magazines according to the inventive method;

Figures 2 and 3

a schematic representation of parts of an exemplary embodiment of the inventive device as a plan view (Figure 2) and in section (Figure 3);

Figures 4 and 5

is a schematic representation of parts of another exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention as a top view (Figure 4) and in section (Figure 5).

FIG. 1 shows the stages of newspapers or magazines or of other flat objects, which are fed in, for example, as a stream 1, then stacked into stacks 2 with different stack heights d.1 and d.2 and packed according to the method according to the invention. In FIG. 1, the stages (2.1, 2.3 and 2.5), which are passed through by large stacks, are shown above and the stages (2.2, 2.4 and 2.6), which are passed by small stacks, at the bottom, which could give the impression that that stacks of different heights are conveyed in different ways and packed in different devices. However, according to the method according to the invention, this is not the case, but all stacks are conveyed and packed on the same conveying path in a sequence that always remains the same and the carrying out of the one height-dependent packaging step (strapping and / or side welding) is carried out for both large and small stacks performed in the same part of the device, that is to say in a single strapping / welding position, and with essentially the same cycle time. As a result, the speed of the stack or packet stream remains independent of how many of the stacks must be subjected to one or the other stack height-dependent treatment. An important advantage of the method according to the invention also lies in this uninterrupted stack or packet sequence.

Figure 1 shows on the left a stream of flat objects, for example a stream 1 of newspapers or magazines. For this stream 1 are for example for shipping or for storage stack 2.1 and 2.2 creates which stacks of different stack heights d.1 and d.2, in particular can have a standard height and very small heights. The stacks 2 are in a first packaging step with a weldable film 3 wraps such that the film the top of the stack, the bottom of the stack and covers two vertical sides of the stack and protrudes on both sides of the stack. In this first process step, enveloped sheets 3 are produced with weldable foil Stack 2.3 and 2.4.

In a further packaging step, foil-wrapped stacks 2.3 are used a stack height that is greater than a predetermined limit stack height, for example strapped with a band 4, and with foil-wrapped stacks 2.4 a height that is equal to or less than the limit stack height the film areas protruding from the top and bottom of the stack 3.1 welded together. In this second packaging step arise strapped, foil-wrapped packages 2.5 or laterally sealed, foil-wrapped Packages 2.6.

The welding of the outstanding film areas 3.1. can find out about the entire stack side or can, as shown in Figure 1, from a plurality of spot welds 5 exist.

Welding heads are advantageously used for the welding, which can be lowered against a bearing surface of the stack. For this case to dimension the outstanding film areas 3.1 such that they at least are wider than the limit stack height by the desired seam width.

The film wrapping preceding the strapping / welding step can, for example, when feeding into the strapping / welding position be created in that each stack when entering the strapping / welding position against one consisting of the wrapping film The curtain is conveyed and in such a way that the foil curtain is taken off the stack and can be closed on the back of the stack when the stack is positioned in the strapping / sealing position. In In such a case, the film wrapping is parallel to the conveying direction aligned and the strapping is advantageously a transverse strapping. It it is also conceivable that the stacks, for example, even before wrapping have been strapped across to this and in the strapping / welding position then lengthways, that is, strapped parallel to the wrapping.

But it is also quite possible that the film wrapping in a wrapping position which wrapping position is created from the strapping / welding position is spaced. The wrapped stacks will be then from the wrapping position to the strapping / welding position promoted, being between the two positions also by 90 ° (relative to the Conveying direction) can be rotated. It is also conceivable here that the also equipped as a welding position strapping position one of two Strapping positions is, with a part in each of the strapping positions a cross strapping is created.

Figures 2 and 3 show a first exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention as a top view (Figure 2) and in section (Figure 3, according to section line III-III in Figure 2). The device serves for strapping a film-wrapped stack and / or for side welding on the stack sides aligned parallel to the conveying direction F. The two figures show a film-wrapped stack 2 (film wrapping parallel to the direction of conveyance F) in a strapping / welding position, with FIG. 3 showing an extended stack 2.4 with a small stack height and a dash-and-dash stack 2.3 with a larger stack height.

The device has not shown funding for the supply of Stack 2 or for conveying away packages in the direction of conveyance F and wrapping means for wrapping the stack 2 with a film 3. The stacks are in an upstream part of the device parallel to the conveying direction wrapped in foil or in the device part shown (strapping / welding position) for example by making a foil curtain go through and take it with you and that the foil curtain on the back See the stack close. All related to the film wrapping Device parts are known per se and are therefore in the Figures 2 and 3 not shown.

The device also has strapping means 10 for transverse strapping (Strapping transversely to the direction of conveyance F), for example a band channel, in which a loop of a strapping 4 is positioned, and pressing means 11, for example in the form of two arranged to the side of the belt position, press bars 11.1 and 11.2 movable up and down. This press beam are shown in Figure 3 in a lowered (extended) on the large stack 2.3 and a raised (dash-dotted) position. On the ends of the press beams 11.1 and 11.2, which are a stack 2 protrude laterally, a welding head 12 is arranged such that the Welding heads 12 when lowering the press beams 11.1 and 11.2 on both sides of the Stack are lowered and when lowering onto a stack with a Stack height that is less than the limit stack height, the base area of the stack to reach.

The welding heads 12 are preferably resilient in this way by means of springs 13 the press beams 11.1 and 11.2 arranged that they are lowered enough State against the conveyor pad 14 of the stack 2 or against a corresponding one stationary counter element are pressed.

The device can additionally also have means which serve to a stack 2 to be packed, in particular a stack 2 to be strapped to add a cover sheet 16. These means for adding cover pages exist, for example from a two-part, channel-shaped cover sheet holder 15, in the in the direction of arrow A a cover sheet 16 can be fed and from which Cover sheet 16 carried along by the lowering press beams 11.1 and 11.2 and is positioned and pressed onto the stack 2.3. The cover page is extended in Figure 3 and designated 16 against the cast stack 2.3 pressed and dash-dotted and designated 16 'in the cover sheet holder 15 shown.

The cover sheet holder 15 could also be arranged on the pressing means 11 and be lowered against the stack with this. One in the cover sheet holder Cover sheet is then strapped against the stack by the strapping pressed and when lifting press media and cover sheet holder after Strapping released from the cover sheet holder.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a further exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, again as a top view (FIG. 4) and in section (FIG. 5, according to section line VV in FIG. 4). The device is used for strapping foil-wrapped stacks 2 transversely to the conveying direction F or for side welding on the leading and trailing sides of the stack (foil wrapping transversely to the conveying direction F). The device according to FIGS. 4 and 5 differs from the device according to FIGS. 2 and 3 in particular in that the welding means 12 are arranged in the region of the leading and trailing sides of the stack 2. Furthermore, the device has no means for applying a cover sheet to stacks to be packaged. Identical parts are identified with the same reference numerals in all four figures.

FIG. 5 clearly shows how the stack underside and the stack top outstanding film areas 3.1 with the welding heads the support pad 14 is pressed and welded together.

Claims (12)

Method for packaging essentially cuboid stacks (2) consisting of flat objects, in particular newspapers or magazines, the stacks (2) being conveyed to the packaging in succession, are wrapped in a first packaging step with a weldable film (3) such that the film (3) covers the top, the bottom and two vertical sides of the stack, and is pressed and strapped in a second packaging step, characterized in that in the first packaging step the stack (2) is wrapped in such a way that the film (3) the covered sides of the stack protrude on both sides, and that in the second packaging step stacks (2) with a stack height (d.1) which is greater than a predetermined limit stack height are strapped and stacks with a stack height (d.2) which is smaller than that predefined limit stack height, by welding the film areas projecting above the top and bottom of the stack (3. 1) are packed, the strapping being carried out or suppressed simultaneously. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the stack height (d.1, d.2) of the supplied stacks (2) is sensed. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the projecting film areas (3.1) are welded to one another in a plurality of welding points (5). Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stacks (2) are conveyed in a conveying direction (F) parallel to the film wrapping to the second packaging step and in the second packaging step by strapping transversely to the film wrapping and / or by welding them parallel to the conveying direction (F) arranged pages are packed. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stacks (2) are conveyed in a conveying direction (F) transversely to the film wrapping to the second packaging step and in the second packaging step by strapping transversely or parallel to the film wrapping and / or by welding on them - and trailing pages are packed. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a cover sheet (16) is added to the stacks (2) to be strapped in the second packaging step before or with the strapping. Device for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 6, which device has conveying means for feeding a rapid stack stream and for conveying away a serial packet stream, and wrapping means for wrapping supplied stacks (2) with a film (3), pressing means (11) for Pressing wrapped stacks and strapping means (10) for strapping pressed stacks, characterized in that the device further comprises welding means (12) for welding film areas (3.1) projecting beyond the top and bottom of the stack and that control means are provided by which at least the Welding agents (12) can be controlled depending on the stack height (d.1, d.2). Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the welding means (12) are arranged on the pressing means (11). Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that press bars (11.1, 11.2) which can be moved up and down are provided as press means (11) and are arranged on both sides of the strapping means (10), and that the welding means (12) on the press bars ( 11.1, 11.2) are arranged in such a way that they can be lowered against the stack support (14) with the press bars (11.1, 11.2) on both sides of a stack to be packed or in front of and behind a stack (2) to be packed. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that a plurality of welding heads are provided as the welding means (12). Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that it additionally has a channel-shaped cover sheet holder (15) which is arranged such that a cover sheet (16) positioned in the cover sheet holder (15) by the pressing means (11) or by the strapping (4) can be pulled onto the cover sheet holder. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the cover sheet holder (15) is fixedly connected to the pressing means (11) and is movable therewith.

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