EP0968919B1 - Method and device for enveloping quadrangular objects with a tape-like enveloping material - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for wrapping cuboid objects with a web-shaped wrapping material according to the preamble of claim 1.

A device of this type is known from EP-A-0 120 251 and the corresponding one U.S. Patent No. 4,738,078.

In the known device, the objects to be wrapped in a compressed state in one of a support table and a transfer channel formed this associated printing device introduced and at the same time wrapped in a U-shape by a material web. A leadership facility then guides the material web, forming a material web loop along the rear side of the Subject and simultaneously forms a first material web section and on the other hand one on the rear side of the object extending second material web section, the length of which is greater than the dimension of the object in the longitudinal direction of this second Material web section. The tensioned material web sections are held by means of holding arrangements that have needles that the Pierce the web of material. The material web is then by means of a stationary cutting device between the two holding arrangements severed. After lifting the stationary Printing device is the edition with the wrapped object and around the second material web section held under tension Rotated 180 °. When conveying the wrapped object from the support table the protruding end section of the second is on a belt conveyor Material web section after its release against the bottom of the Object flipped.

When rotating the pad, the object is only by its own weight and the tensioned and held second material web section held. On the one hand, this requires a certain material web Strength and on the other hand, in order to enable a quick turning, the arranging the object at least approximately centrally on the support table, so that its axis of rotation is at least approximated by the The focus of the subject is.

Starting from this prior art, it is an object of the present Invention to develop the generic device in such a way that even when using a less firm and therefore cheaper Material web faster rotation of the pad and thus a reduction the time necessary to wrap the object is made possible.

This object is achieved with a generic device that the Features in the characterizing part of claim 1.

The wrapped object is also during the rotation of the table kept compressed between this and the printing device, which, on the one hand, leads to a rich concern for the material web on Object leads and on the other hand a very fast rotation of the pad allows even if the object is eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation is arranged. The material web must continue when turning the pad no longer assume holding forces for the object.

In one embodiment of the invention Device are the support table two spaced apart and independent printing devices controlled from each other at a distance from the support table assigned. This allows the introduction of another one too wrapping object between the support table and one of the Printing facilities, while another already wrapped, between object arranged on the support table and the other printing device is conveyed away from the support table. You can use these items have different dimensions.

Further particularly preferred forms of training of the inventive Device are specified in the dependent claims.

Fig. 1

in Ansicht die wesentlichen Teile einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung mit einem zu umwickelnden Gegenstand und einem auf einem drehbaren Auflagetisch angeordneten und bereits teilweise umwickelten Gegenstand;

Fig. 2

in gleicher Darstellung wie Fig. 1 die dort gezeigte Vorrichtung zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt, wobei der zu umwickelnde Gegenstand auf den Auflagetisch gefördert und der vorgängig teilweise umwickelte Gegenstand nun vollständig umwickelt vom Auflagetisch weggefördert ist;

Fig. 3

in gleicher Darstellung wie Fig. 1 und 2 die dort gezeigte Vorrichtung zu einem noch späteren Zeitpunkt, wobei die Materialbahn zwischen dem auf dem Auflagetisch angeordneten, teilweise umwickelten Gegenstand und einem nächstfolgenden, zu umwickelnden Gegenstand, unter Bildung einer Schlaufe hindurchgezogen worden ist;

Fig. 4

in gleicher Darstellung wie in Fig. 1 bis 3 die dort gezeigte Vorrichtung mit dem um 180° gedrehten Auflagetisch und einem weiteren zu umwickelnden Gegenstand in Position zum Fördern auf den Auflagetisch;

Fig. 5

in gleicher Darstellung wie in den Fig. 1 bis 4 die dort gezeigte Vorrichtung zu einem abermals späteren Zeitpunkt, bei welcher der nächstfolgende zu umwickelnde Gegenstand auf den Auflagetisch gefördert und der vorgängig umwickelte Gegenstand von diesem weggefördert ist;

Fig. 6

einen Teil der in den Fig. 1 bis 5 gezeigten Vorrichtung mit einer Führungseinrichtung für die Materialbahn in ihrer obenliegenden Ruhestellung und strichpunktiert angedeutet während der Bildung der Materialbahnschlaufe; und

Fig. 7

die in der Fig. 6 gezeigte Führungseinrichtung in ihrer untenliegenden Endstellung, in welcher die Materialbahn mittels einer Schneideinrichtung aufgetrennt wird.

The invention is explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing. It shows purely schematically:

Fig. 1

in view the essential parts of a device according to the invention with an object to be wrapped and an object arranged on a rotatable support table and already partially wrapped;

Fig. 2

in the same representation as Figure 1, the device shown there at a later point in time, the object to be wrapped being conveyed onto the support table and the previously partially wrapped object now being completely wrapped away from the support table;

Fig. 3

in the same representation as Figures 1 and 2, the device shown there at an even later point in time, the material web being drawn between the partially wrapped object arranged on the support table and a next following object to be wrapped to form a loop;

Fig. 4

in the same representation as in Figures 1 to 3, the device shown there with the support table rotated through 180 ° and another object to be wrapped in position for conveying onto the support table;

Fig. 5

in the same representation as in Figures 1 to 4, the device shown there at a later point in time, at which the next following object to be wrapped is conveyed onto the support table and the previously wrapped object is conveyed away therefrom;

Fig. 6

a part of the device shown in Figures 1 to 5 with a guide device for the material web in its overhead rest position and dash-dotted lines indicated during the formation of the material web loop. and

Fig. 7

6 in its lower end position, in which the material web is separated by means of a cutting device.

The device shown in the figures for wrapping cuboid Objects 10, 10 'with a web-shaped wrapping material 12, has a conveyor 14 with three series-connected belt conveyors 16, 18 and 20 on. These define a movement path 22 for the objects 10, 10 'to be wrapped.

The middle belt conveyor 18 of the three belt conveyors forms a support table 24, which is arranged around a center, in the vertical direction and at right angles to the trajectory 22 axis 26 is rotatable. On schematically indicated rotary drive 28 is intended to support the table 24 each by 180 °.

There are two pressure devices on the rotatable frame part of the belt conveyor 18 30, 32 arranged and rotatable together with the latter about the axis 26. Each of these printing devices 30, 32 has one in the vertical direction extending, attached to the frame part guide rail 34 on the an endless printing belt 38 guided around rollers 36 by means of a schematic indicated drive 40 is mounted adjustable in height. The two Printing tapes 38 of the printing devices 30, 32 are individual in their Height and thus adjustable in its distance from the second belt conveyor 18, but reversibly driven synchronously with the second belt conveyor 18. Each of the printing devices 30, 32 forms with the second belt conveyor 18 a folding channel 42 for U-shaped folding of the wrapping material 12 around the object to be wrapped 10. The in the longitudinal direction of the second belt conveyor 18 measured length of the printing devices 30, 32 is less than the length of the second belt conveyor 18 minus that in Length of the second belt conveyor 18 measured length of largest object to be wrapped 10. Further is the regarding Axle 26 in the radial direction of the roller 36 located vertically above the associated deflection roller 44 of the second belt conveyor 18.

Furthermore, the support table 24 has both ends and below the second Belt conveyor 18 a holding device designed as a vacuum bar 46 48 on.

The distance between the first belt conveyor 16 and the second belt conveyor 18 on the one hand and this and the third belt conveyor 20 on the other is as small as possible but chosen such that the second belt conveyor 18 can be rotated about the axis 26.

That with respect to the second belt conveyor 18 upstream in the conveying direction F. located first belt conveyor 16 is another printing device 50 assigned. This has a further vertical guide rail 52 further pressure band adjustable in height by means of a drive 40 ' 54, which is guided around further rollers 56. This other print ribbon 54 and the first belt conveyor 16 form for each to be wrapped Item 10 a press channel 58.

Below the deflection roller located downstream in the conveying direction F 44 'of the first belt conveyor 16 is also a vacuum bar 46 trained further holding device 48 'arranged stationary.

Between the first belt conveyor 16 and the second belt conveyor 18 a dash-dotted line runs through it in the vertical direction V. Path of movement 60 of a guide device 62. The two side by side Deflection rollers 64 having a parallel-axis guide device 62 is of a rest position 66 shown in FIG located above the highest position of the printing tapes 38, 54 in vertical direction downwards, in a separation position shown in FIG. 7 66 'and movable back again. The separation position 66 'is located below the holding devices 48 and 48 '.

The web-shaped wrapping material 12 is from one above the conveyor 14 and the printing devices 30, 32, 50 arranged supply roll 68 deducted. The material web runs from the supply roll 68 70, forming supply loops around a plurality of stationary rollers 72 and in between arranged dancer rollers 74. The free end of the material web 70 runs with a first material web section 76, the movement path 22 of the object 10 to be wrapped crossing between the first and second belt conveyor 16, 18, and is at the free end region held by the stationary holding device 48 '.

In the example shown, the objects to be wrapped are 10, 10 'around stacks of different heights of printed matter, such as newspapers, magazines or the like. For wrapping material 12 is a self-adhesive plastic film.

The mode of operation of the device will now be described with reference to the other figures explained. These contain the reference symbols necessary for understanding used.

1 there is an object 10 that is already partially wrapped on the second conveyor belt 18. It is between this and the downstream located printing device 32 kept pressed together. The Wrapping material runs from about the center of the bottom of the item 10, as indicated by dash-dotted lines, clockwise around the Object 10 around and with an end portion 78 between the second Belt conveyor 18 and the third belt conveyor 20 through to the corresponding Holding device 46 where the end portion of the end portion 78 is held is.

Im formed by the first belt conveyor 16 and the further printing device 50 Press channel 58, there is another object to be wrapped 10 '. This is between the first belt conveyor 16 and the other Pressure device 50 kept pressed together. The first Belt conveyor 16 facing printing device 30 of the support table 24 is at the level of the further printing device 50 by means of the drive 40 set.

There are now all three belt conveyors 16, 18, 20 simultaneously and with the same Speed driven in the direction of conveyance F and for as long as until the object 10 'to be wrapped completely on the support table 24 is located in the flip-flop 42 and already partially in the foregoing wrapped object 10 is on the third belt conveyor 20, as shown in Fig. 2. When conveying this object 10 from the second Belt conveyor 18 on the third belt conveyor 20, the end portion 78th folded against the bottom, the bottom of the object 10, wherein the two end regions of the material web overlap with one another come and combine due to their liability properties. The object 10 located on the third belt conveyor 20 is thus completely wrapped.

When conveying the other object 10 ′ from the first belt conveyor 16 on the second belt conveyor 18, it is seen with its in the conveying direction F. leading side to the first material web section 76 for contact come, whereby this when entering the transfer channel 42nd on the one hand around the bottom of the object 10 and on the other hand under Tighten from the supply loops and the supply roll 68 around the upper one Side of the article 10 is flipped. The material web runs in the process 70 around the deflection roller 64 of the guide device shown on the left in the figures 62, of this between the object 10 'and the printing tape 38 of the printing device 30 in a U-shape around the object 10 ' about in the middle of the floor.

Now, as can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 7, the guide device 62 moved from its rest position 66 into the separation position 66 '. As a result, the material web 70 becomes a material web loop 80 along the rear side 82 of the object as seen in the conveying direction F. 10 to below the conveyor 14 and the corresponding Holding devices 48, 48 'passed through; see also FIG. 3.

7 shows the separation position 66 'of the guide device 62. When moving through the two facing holding devices 48 and 48 ', the material web 70 was vacuumed on both applied vacuum bar 46, whereby the material web 70th is captured. On a schematically indicated machine frame 84, on which in a manner not shown but generally known the other parts of the device are arranged is a U-shaped in cross section Support element 86 attached. Between the leg ends of the support element 86 and the deflection rollers 64 of the guide device 62 the web of material 70 is clamped. Between the two deflecting rollers 64 the guide device 62 has a cutting knife 88 which consists of a 6 retracted position shown approximately at the level of the axes of the Deflection rollers 64 in a downward direction into one shown in FIG. 7 Cutting position over the lower tangent to the two deflecting rollers 64 is slidable through it. With this movement, the clamped Material web 70 in the first material web section 76 and a second Material web section 90 separated with the end section 78.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, the vacuum bars 46 have one hollow, cross-sectionally rectangular beams, whose interior with a schematically indicated vacuum source 92 is connected, and the side of the material web 70 facing a plurality of Through holes is provided.

The input side of the first belt conveyor 16 is another in FIG. 2 Object 10 ", on which a cover sheet lies, is shown. The further printing device 50 is at a distance from the first belt conveyor 16 on a Height shifted slightly higher than the corresponding one Dimension of the object 10 ''.

This object 10 "is, as shown in FIG. 3, in the press channel 58 introduced and pressed together by lowering the further pressure device 50. On the support table 24 is the previous partially wrapped object 10 ', the guide means 62 is in the separation position 66 'shown in FIG. 7 and that Cutting knife 88 cuts the material web 70. It got further Printing belt 38 of the printing device 32 simultaneously with that of the other Printing device 50 lowered to the same height.

The support table 24 is then rotated through 180 ° about the axis 26. The situation thus achieved is shown in FIG. 4. Same as in the 1, the first material section 76 runs on the seen in the conveying direction F. front side of the object located in the press channel 58 10 "over and the guide device 62 was again in its rest position 66 raised. The transfer channel 42 is on the support table 24 now ready for receiving the object 10 ". The one shown in FIG Situation corresponds to that of FIG. 1.

Now all three belt conveyors 16, 18, 20 and the printing belts are again 38, 54 driven in the conveying direction F, whereby on the one hand the Press channel 58 located object 10 "while folding the material web 70 is inserted into the transfer channel 42 and on the other hand at the same time the other object 10 'from the support table 24 to the third Belt conveyor 20 is transferred, see Fig. 5. This is the end section 78 applied to this item. Another item 10 '' 'is ready to between the first belt conveyor 16 and the further printing device 50 to be introduced. The now free printing device 30 can then at the level of the further printing band 54 of the other Printing device 50 can be adjusted.

Repeating these steps becomes one item at a time wrapped.

Since the objects 10, 10 ', 10' ', 10' '' during the rotation of the table 24 between the second belt conveyor 18 and the corresponding one Printing device 30, 32 must be kept pressed together the holding device 48 has no tensile force on the end section 78, but only this with free movement and fluttering while turning prevent. This enables the vacuum bars 46 to be connected continuously the vacuum source; the material web 70 can with low tensile force respective further conveying of the object 10, 10 ', 10' ', 10' '' from the Vacuum bar 46 are removed. Of course, the device a control device, not shown, for controlling all Drives of the device.

The device shown is not only suitable for wrapping stacks of printed matter, but also of packages or individual newspapers, Magazines or the like. While printed matter in are usually compressible, these are other cuboid objects not necessarily. To avoid damage, the printing devices, for example, be provided with pressure sensors in order to prevent further lowering when a certain compressive force is achieved is.

Instead of the conveyor belts and pressure belts, roller conveyors are also suitable. While the belt conveyors 14 and 20 are driven in the start-stop mode are the second belt conveyor 18 and the pressure belts 38 of the printing devices 30 and 32 driven by a reversible drive.

It is also possible to have more than two, for example three, on the support table or to assign four printing devices. These are then in the circumferential direction seen evenly distributed and each printing device is its own reversible belt conveyor or a corresponding conveyor assigned.

Claims (10)

1. An apparatus for wrapping cuboidal articles with a web-like wrapping material, having a conveying arrangement (14) for moving along a movement path (22) the article (10) which is to be wrapped, having a guide arrangement (62) for unwinding the material web (70) from a supply roll (68) and guiding said material web (70) in a direction (V) which intersects the movement path (22), having a bearing table (24) which, as seen in the conveying direction (F) of the conveying arrangement (14), is arranged downstream of the material web (70), running transversely with respect to the movement path (22), which can be rotated about an axis (26), running at right angles to the conveying direction (F), and which is intended for the article (10) which is to be wrapped, and having a pressure-exerting arrangement (30; 32) which is arranged above the bearing table (24), forms, with the latter, a wrap-around channel (42) for the material web (70) and the article (10) which is to be wrapped, and is intended for compressing the article (10) as the latter is wrapped, it being the case that the guide arrangement (62) is intended, once the material web (70) has been wrapped around the article (10) as the latter is conveyed into the wrap-around channel (42), for guiding the material web (70) along the trailing side (82) of the article (10), as seen in the conveying direction (F), and, with the formation of a material-web loop (80), at the same time for forming, on the one hand, a first material-web section (76) and, on the other hand, a second material-web section (90), which runs on the trailing side (82) of the article (10) and of which the length is greater than the dimension of the article (10) in the longitudinal direction of said second material-web section (90), it being the case that, once the bearing table (24) has been rotated, the end section (78) of said second material-web section (90), this end section projecting beyond the article (10), is wrapped around against the article (10) as the article (10) is moved from the bearing table (24), wherein the pressure-exerting arrangement (30; 32) can be rotated about the axis (26) together with the bearing table (24) and at least two spaced-apart pressure-exerting arrangements (30, 32) which are controlled independently of one another in respect of a distance from the bearing table (24) and can be rotated about the axis (26) together with said bearing table are present.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein two pressure-exerting arrangements (30, 32) are arranged opposite one another symmetrically in relation to an axial plane.
3. The apparatus as claimed in one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the bearing table (24) has a belt conveyor (18) which is driven reversibly.
4. The apparatus as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pressure-exerting arrangement (30; 32) or the pressure-exerting arrangements (30, 32) has/have an endless pressure-exerting belt (38) which is guided around deflection rollers (36) and is preferably driven reversibly.
5. The apparatus as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, wherein upstream in relation to the material web (70), which intersects the movement path (22), the conveying arrangement (14) has a belt conveyor (16) which is preferably driven in start/stop operation and is assigned a further pressure-exerting arrangement (50) in order, even before it is wrapped with the material web (70), to compress the article (10) which is to be wrapped and to introduce the latter into the wrap-around channel (42) in the compressed state.
6. The apparatus as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, which comprises a retaining arrangement (48) which is preferably designed as a vacuum-producing bar (46), is arranged beneath the bearing table (24), can be rotated about the axis (26) together with the bearing table and is intended for retaining the end section (78) of the second material-web section (90) as the bearing table (24) is rotated.
7. The apparatus as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the guide arrangement (62) has axis-parallel deflection rollers (64), which can be moved at right angles to the conveying direction (F) and are intended for the material web (70), and a cutting arrangement (88), which is arranged between said deflection rollers and is intended for severing the material web (70) into the first material-web section (76) and second material-web section (90).
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, which comprises a bearing element (36) which is intended for clamping in the material web (70) between itself and the deflection rollers (64), for the purpose of severing said material web.
9. The apparatus as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, which comprises a further retaining arrangement (48'), which is preferably designed as a vacuum-producing bar (46) and is intended for retaining the first material-web section (76).
10. A method of operating an apparatus as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, wherein that pressure-exerting arrangement (30, 32), of the pressure-exerting arrangements (30, 32) assigned to the bearing table (24), which discharges an article (10, 10') in each case is set in accordance with the height of the further pressure-exerting arrangement once the article (10, 10') has been conveyed out of the wrap-around channel (42) and before the rotational position which faces in the direction of the material web (70) has been reached.

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