EP1512630B1 - Device for bundling articles, in particular compressible articles such as layers of corrugated cardboard - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for strapping in particular compressible packaged goods such as corrugated cardboard layers or the like. according to the preamble of claim 1, as for example EP 0 681 958 B1 has become known.

This device straps the packaged goods by means of a band-shaped strapping means, in particular a thermoplastic plastic band. The strap is located on a Umreifungsmittelvorrat, which is located near the ground side of the device. The strapping material withdrawn from the strapping supply is first passed through a strapping supply device located adjacent to the strap supply and then into an adjacent strapping supply. From there, the strapping passes through a vertical strapping guide and a Umreifungsmittel-deflection and a Umreifungsmittel-transfer line to the closing unit.

The closure unit, which can be moved synchronously with the press plate in the vertical direction of the apparatus, as is the case with the strap transfer and the strap deflection, are assigned with the known device strapping conveyor rollers. These have the task initially to shoot the strapping in a surrounding the packaged surrounding Umreifungskanal until the leading end of the strapping has reached the closure unit again. Then falls to the conveyor rollers the task, the strapping, whose leading end is now held in the closing unit to tighten the packaged goods. For this purpose, the drive of the strapping conveyor rollers is reversible, so that pulled out after reversal of their driving direction, the strap from the strapping and around the Packaged can be tightened, whereupon then the closure unit produces the tape closure in a known manner by thermal welding each other in the closure unit overlapping tape ends.

It is common practice - as with the device accordingly EP 0 681 958 B1 - At least not deduct the strapping into the Umreifungskanal in the full required length directly from the Umreifungsmittelvorrat, but as possible zugspannungsarm remove a Umreifungsmittelspeicher containing a certain amount of strapping. In the device according to EP 0 681 958 B1 is such a Umreifungsmittelspeicher immediately before the closure unit associated with the Umreifungsmittel conveyor rollers in press plate fixed assignment. Thus, the strapping conveyor rollers can remove the required strap length by the shortest route to the Umreifungsmittelspeicher.

For a better understanding of the invention explained below, it should be noted that the in EP 0 681 958 B1 Means 25, referred to as a 'strap entry device', essentially serves to supply strapping means to the closure assembly at the first start-up of the device or after a change of the strap supply, and therefore more appropriately to be referred to as a 'strap feed device'. By contrast, the strapping conveyor rollers 32 represent the actual strapping device whose task it is to produce strapping loops in the strapping cycle of the device. Since the strapping conveyor rollers also tighten the strapping material around the packaged goods by withdrawing excess strapping material, the strapping conveyor rollers 32 are the EP 0 681 958 B1 de facto essential components of a 'strap entry and withdrawal facility'.

The known device accordingly EP 0 681 958 B1 has proven itself in years of use in terms of their reliability and working speed extremely well. Compared with previously known devices of their kind, so-called 'packaging presses', also clear operating advantages could be achieved because it had become possible to supply the closure unit from the bottom of a new Umreifungsmittelanfang in any operating position of the machine.

Out US 2002/0116900 A1 is one of the EP 0 861 958 B1 In principle similar device known, which differs from this substantially in that the strap insertion device instead of only a pair of strapping conveyor rollers comprises two pairs of strapping conveyor rollers.

The present invention has now recognized a need for improvement in that it is desirable to improve in the event of a breakdown in which access is required, in particular to the strapping conveyor rollers adjacent to the closing unit and to the strapping store, inasmuch as it should no longer be necessary. climb the press plate or lower it to the ground.

An essential object of the invention is therefore to design a device of the type assumed to be known in such a way that its maintenance effort in the case of strapping conditional malfunctions is significantly reduced.

The invention solves this problem with the features of claim 1 and is accordingly characterized in that the strap feeding device at the same time comprises the strap conveyor rollers and the initial or refilling of the device with strapping and as a strap retraction and tensioning device and the Function of the Umreifungsmittel-Einschussrollen takes over, and that the Umreifungsmittelspeicher, the Umreifungsmittelvorrat adjacent to the ground is arranged laterally outside the Umreifungszone.

The essential essence of the invention therefore consists in a modular construction in so far as the closure unit itself no tape drive means - ie neither Umreifungsmittel-conveyor rollers or Umreifungsmittel-retraction roles - are more directly associated and otherwise also no Umreifungsmittelspeicher, but this Machine units now together with the Umreifungsmittelvorrat and the Umreifungsmitteleinspeisung near the ground and arranged laterally outside the strapping and thus at any time from the ground by the operating and maintenance personnel are easily accessible.

According to one embodiment, it is provided that the strap feeding device feeds the strap both to the lock assembly and advances therethrough along the strap guide frame and tightens it around the load.

The strapper delivery device preferably comprises a reversible pair of rollers which is alternatively drivable as a strap entry pair or as a strap retraction roller pair.

According to a further feature of a device according to the invention, the strap transfer leads by the shortest route and directly the strap from the strap deflection device to the shutter.

An embodiment of the invention further provides that the Umreifungsmittelspeicher - viewed in the direction of the strapping - between the Umreifungsmittelvorrat and the Umreifungsmittelzufuhr is arranged and that the filling of the Umreifungsmittelmittelspeicher takes place in Umreifungsmittelrückzug means of the Umreifungsmittel Zufördervorrichtung.

With the exception of rare incidents where direct access to the closure assembly itself is required, all strap-related faults can now be remedied from the ground without the press plate first having to be climbed by a fitter or lowered to a ground level position. the latter would usually also require the prior removal of the packaged goods located in the strapping zone.

The present invention, which is not exhausted in shifting the strap storage away from the platen and the strap feed rollers away from the cap assembly adjacent to the device, results in new operation and economization of aggregate parts. Namely, it combines the former strap feeding device with the strap injection and retraction device to an aggregate, which takes over the tasks of the two prior art devices, what is moreover sufficient for two reversibly driven roller pairs.

On the other hand, the device differs according to the invention of the EP 0 681 958 B1 in that all actions on the strap - ie both its feed or shot as well as retreat - are carried out or controlled solely by the unit located near the ground. The aggregate uniting the strap feed device with the strap injection and return device is now also solely responsible for filling the strap and removing strapping therefrom. All this ultimately also leads to a simplification of the control, since it is no longer necessary to work on two separate units and, moreover, in an exact clock sequence.

Since the Umreifungsmittel retraction during the phase in which the strap is pulled out of the Umreifungskanal and tightened around the packaged, in the inventive device, a relatively long Umreifungsmittelabschnitt must be handled, which in turn greater retraction forces are required, the invention provides to protect the Strap and the guide of these receiving further that the strap Umirkeiririchtung comprises a strap deflection pulley, which is rotatably mounted on the pressing plate and by means of a longitudinally movable on the Umreifungsmittelführung carriage opens the spring-loaded in the closing direction flap closure means serially. Thanks to the pulley driven by the strap and the controlled flaps wear-related sliding friction is largely avoided. This in turn results in a reduction in the forces to which the strap is subjected during its advancement or retraction so that it can move more smoothly.

To increase the performance of the device with at least two provided in parallel vertical planes Umreifungsmittel guide frame, between which the closure unit is displaced, is provided according to further features that the Umreifungsmittel-transfer between the Umreifungsmittel deflection device and the closure unit, preferably forcibly coupled to the closure unit, pivotally is arranged.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung zum Umreifen von insbesondere kompressiblem Packgut wie Wellpappelagen od.dgl.,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Aufsicht auf die in Fig. 1 gezeigte Vorrichtung,

Fig. 3

eine Detaildarstellung der Umreifungsmittel-Umlenkung und Umreifungsmittel-Überleitung in Seitenansicht auf die Vorrichtung, und

Fig. 4

eine Ansicht in Richtung des Ansichtspfeils IV in Fig. 3.

Moreover, the invention is understood with reference to the following description of an embodiment. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

a schematic side view of the device for strapping in particular compressible packaged goods such as corrugated cardboard layers or the like.,

Fig. 2

a schematic plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

a detailed view of the Umreifungsmittel-Umlenkung and Umreifungsmittelüberleitung in side view of the device, and

Fig. 4

a view in the direction of the view arrow IV in Fig. 3rd

A device generally designated 10 for strapping in particular compressible packaged goods 11, such as corrugated cardboard layers or the like, initially comprises a strapped upright strapping 12 with a wound on a drum 13 strapping 14, in particular thermally welded plastic band.

At posts 15, 15 'is a cross member 16 in the direction of the double arrow 17 arranged vertically movable. The cross member 16 forms a pressing plate for compressing the packaged product 11 or is its component and stores on its top an aggregate 18 for forming a strapping closure, which is why the unit 18 will be referred to in the future as a closure unit.

Laterally next to the post 15, a vertically extending strap guide 28 is provided, through which the strapping 14 coming from the strap supply 12 is fed to the closure assembly 18.

In addition to the Umreifungsmittelvorrat 12 a Umreifungsmittelspeicher 19 is provided. It serves to store a certain amount 14 'of strapping 14. This amount of strapping 14' is sufficient either for at least one strapping of a packaged goods 11 or for the beginning of a strapping, in which case the additionally required amount of strapping material is taken directly from the strapping 12. In the latter case, the drum 13 is pre-accelerated by a drive, not shown, for the elimination of their steady-state moment.

The strapping 14 emerging from the strapping memory 19 and then withdrawn therefrom then enters a device generally designated 31, which feeds, among other things, the strap 14 into the strapping guide 28.

Then, a strapping reversal 29 and a strap transfer 30 are shown above. The strap deflection 29, which takes over the strap 14 from the strapping guide 28 and guides it into the channel-like strapping 30, is designed as a freely rotatable roller 37 from the strap 14.

While the strapping guide 28 is arranged fixed in space or space, the strapping deflection 29, the strapping transfer line 30 and the closing unit 18 are so far motion-uniformly connected to the pressure plate 16, as they always together with this in the vertical direction (double arrow 17) are movable. The designed as a roller 37 Umreifungsmittel-deflection 29 is mounted on a press bar fixed boom 38.

1. a. Zur Erst- oder Neubefüllung der Vorrichtung 10 mit Umreifungsmittel 14 oder nach einem Wechsel des Umreifungsmittelvorrats 12 werden die Rollen 26, 32 so angetrieben, dass sie das zunächst von Hand durch den Umreifungsmittelspeicher 19 geführte Umreifungsmittel 14 bei der mit 27 bezeichneten Umreifungsmitteleinspeisung in die Umreifungsmittel-Führung 28, von dort aus über die Umreifungsmittel-Umlenkung 29 durch die Umreifungsmittel-Überleitung 30 und das Verschlussaggregat 18 hindurch in den mit 39 bezeichneten Umreifungskanal und durch diesen hindurch vorschieben, bis das führende Ende des Umreifungsmittels 14 wieder im Verschlussaggregat 18 angelangt ist. Die Rollen 26, 32 haben hier also zunächst allein eine Funktion als Umreifungsmittel-Zuförderrollen.
2. b. Beim Ausführen einer ersten Umreifung eines Packguts 11 im Anschluss an einen der zuvor beschriebenen Vorgänge wird - bei im Verschlussaggregat festgehaltenem führenden Umreifungsmittel-Ende - der Antrieb der Rollen 26, 32 nunmehr reversiert, d.h. die Rollen 26, 32 werden im umgekehrten Drehsinn angetrieben. Nun ziehen die Rollen 26, 32 das Umreifungsmittel 14 zurück mit der Folge, dass einerseits der Umreifungsmittelspeicher 19 mit einer Umreifungsmittel-Menge 14' gefüllt wird und andererseits das im Umreifungsmittel-Rahmen befindliche Umreifungsmittel 14 aus diesem nach innen zum Packgut 11 hin heraus gezogen und um das Packgut 11 gestrafft wird. Hierbei ist die Funktion der Rollen 26, 32 also die einer Umreifungsmittel-Rückzug- und -Spanneinrichtung. Das Verschlussaggregat 18 fertigt nun den Umreifungsmittel-Verschluss, wie dies grundsätzlich bekannt und üblich ist. (Zur Vermeidung von Missverständnissen sei angemerkt, dass hierbei in Abweichung von der schematischen Darstellung der Fig. 1 der Pressbalken 16 unter Kompressionsdruck oben auf dem Packgut 11 aufliegt).
3. c. Bei dem darauf folgenden und jedem weiteren Umreifungszyklus der Vorrichtung 10 reicht das Umreifungsmittel 14 bis zu seinem Aufbrauch vom Umreifungsmittelvorrat 12 bis zum Verschlussaggregat 18. Für eine weitere Umreifung werden die Rollen 26, 32 erneut reversiert angetrieben, so dass sie in der Lage sind, das Umreifungsmittel 14 aus dem Verschlussaggregat 18 und um den Umreifungskanal 39 herum vorzuschieben. Da dieser Vorgang gemeinhin mit 'Bandeinschuss' bezeichnet wird, haben die Rollen 26, 32 jetzt also die Funktion von Umreifungsmittel-Einschussrollen. Es folgen nunmehr für jede weitere Umreifung nacheinander die oben mit b. und c. erläuterten Schritte.

The device 31 provided between the strap memory 19 and the strap feed (at 27) into the strap guide 28 comprises two rollers 26 and 32 which can frictionally engage the strap 14 to move it in its both longitudinal directions. These two rollers 26, 32, of which at least one is motor-driven and reversibly driven, have - as explained below - several functions, namely:

1. a. For initial or new filling of the device 10 with strap 14 or after a change of Umreifungsmittelvorrats 12, the rollers 26, 32 are driven so that they initially guided by hand through the Umreifungsmittelspeicher 19 strap 14 at the designated Umreifungsmitteleinspeisung in the Umreifungsmittel- Guide 28, from there via the Umreifungsmittel-deflection 29 by the Umreifungsmittelüberleitung 30 and the closure unit 18 through in the designated 39 Umreifungskanal and through this advance until the leading end of the strap 14 again in the closure unit 18 has arrived. The rollers 26, 32 thus initially have only one function here as strapping feed rollers.
2. b. When carrying out a first strapping of a packaged product 11 following one of the previously described processes, the drive of the rollers 26, 32 is now reversed, with the leading strap end held in the closing unit, ie the rollers 26, 32 are driven in the reverse direction of rotation. Now pull the rollers 26, 32, the strap 14 back with the result that on the one hand, the Umreifungsmittelspeicher 19 is filled with a strapping amount 14 'and on the other hand, located in the strapping frame strap 14 pulled out of this inwardly to the packaged goods out 11 out and to the packaged goods 11 is tightened. Here, the function of the rollers 26, 32 that is a strapping retraction and tensioning device. The closure assembly 18 now makes the strap closure, as is well known and common. (To avoid misunderstandings, it should be noted that, in deviation from the schematic representation of FIG. 1, the pressing bar 16 rests on top of the packaged goods 11 under compression pressure).
3. c. During the subsequent and each subsequent strapping cycle of the apparatus 10, the strap 14 extends from the strap supply 12 to the closure assembly 18 until exhausted. For further strapping, the rollers 26, 32 are again reversely driven so that they are able to do so To advance strap 14 from the closure unit 18 and around the strapping 39 around. Since this process is commonly referred to as 'tape insertion', the rollers 26, 32 now have the function of strapping rollers. It follows now for each further strapping successively above with b. and c. explained steps.

Before each unreifungsvorgang the pressure plate 16 is lowered under pressure from above onto the packaged goods 11. In this case, the closure unit 18, the Umreifungsmittel-transfer line 30 and the Umreifungsmittel-deflection 29, which are all connected in a unitary motion with the pressure plate 16, the vertical movements with. The distance of the strap deflection 29 e.g. From the bottom changes with the movement of the pressing plate 16 and is above all dependent on the respective height of the packaged goods 11. Therefore, it is necessary that the Umreifungsmittel-deflection 29 remove the strap 14 at each candidate height position of the strap guide 28 can. For this purpose, the channel-like strapping guide 28 has an array of normally closed under the action of springs not shown channel-enclosing flaps 40 which are arranged in pairs on both sides of the strap guide 28.

The flap system and its control show Figs. 3 and 4 more clearly. In this case, the arrangement is such that with the Umreifungsmittel deflection 29, a carriage 41 is connected in a uniform motion unit in the vertical direction. The carriage 41 carries rollers 42, each run on one side (left side in Fig. 3) on the local edges of the flaps 40 and the flaps 40 open to the roller 37 facing side, so that the strap 14 (in FIG 3 and 4) may exit the channel of the strap guide 28 and pass over the roller 37 via the strap reversal 29 and then into the strap transfer 30. In FIGS. 3 and 4, of the four pairs of flaps shown, the two uppermost, adjacent to the roll 37, are shown open, while the two channel-forming or channel-closing channels underneath are closed.

With reference to Figure 2, it should be noted that the apparatus shown there is implemented as a 'tandem machine' which, in juxtaposition, has two strap supplies 12, 12 ', two Umreifurigsmittelspeicher 19, 19 'and two strapping drive units 31, 31' and also contains two closure units 18 and 18 'and otherwise all the device elements described as Umreifungsmittel-transitions 30, 30', strapping guides and Umreifungskanäle. With such a tandem system so two strapping can be performed on a packaged goods at the same time parallel spaced. Even a triple arrangement is conceivable and already proven.

Fig. 2 also shows a tandem system, with a packaged goods 11 can be strapped in different parallel distances. For this purpose, it is provided to be able to move the closing unit 18 in the transverse direction (double arrow 43). The strap-transfer 30 is pivotally connected on the one hand with the closing unit 18 and on the other hand with the Umreifungsmittel-deflection 29 (Fig. 1), so that the strap path of the transverse displacement of the closing unit 18 can follow automatically. In the second position level of the closing unit 18 (dashed lines in FIG. 2), a further strapping frame 39 'is consequently provided on the machine frame.

For a final understanding, some details of the device 10 are explained, even if they do not directly affect the actual invention.

Both the posts 15, 15 'and the cross member 16 are associated with strapping guides in the form of straight channels or channel sections and Eckumlenkungen known design. It is also known that the portal-like Umreifungsmittelführungskanalabilde thereby form a self-contained Umreifungsrahmen that at the bottom of a packaged 11 or the pallet on which it rests, underrun lance or a bayonet 24 which contains a straight Umreifungsmittelführungskanal, is provided. With regard to such an arrangement and embodiment is on the aforementioned EP 0 681 958 B1 directed.

Claims (9)

1. Apparatus for strapping, in particular, compressible packing material, (11), such as, for example, corrugated board layers or the like, by means of a strip-shaped strapping means (14), in particular a thermoplastic plastic tape, comprising
   a strapping means supply (12),
   at least one strapping means guide frame disposed in a vertical plane,
   a pressing plate (16) for the compression of the packing material (11),
   strapping means transport rollers (32) for tightening the strapping means (14) around the packing material (11),
   a sealing unit (18) for the ends of the strapping means (14) tightened around the packing material (11),
   a strapping means store (19) for the provision of a strapping means quantity for the sealing unit (18),
   a strapping means feed-in (27),
   a strapping means feed apparatus (31) between the strapping means supply (12) and the strapping means feed-in (27), and
   a strapping means guide (28) between the strapping means supply (12) and the sealing unit (18),
   wherein
   the sealing unit (18) is disposed such that it is vertically movable with the pressing plate (16),
   whilst the strapping means supply (12) is disposed close to the ground laterally outside of the strapping zone and the pressing plate (16),
   the strapping means guide (28) comprises at least one channel-like strapping means conduit (30) leading to the sealing unit (18), and
   the strapping means feed-in (27) is accessible from the outer side of the apparatus on which the strapping means supply (12) is disposed, and is assigned to a lower portion of a strapping means guide channel (28) which extends vertically alongside a post (15) of the strapping frame and along which a strapping means deflection device (29) for transferring the strapping means (14) into the strapping means conduit (30) is guided such that it is vertically adjustable synchronously with the pressing plate (16), and the strapping means guide channel (28), on its side facing the strapping zone, has channel closing means which can be opened automatically by the movement of the strapping means deflection device (29),
   characterized
   in that the strapping means feed apparatus (31) at the same time comprises the strapping means transport rollers (32) and serves for the first filling and refilling of the apparatus (10) with strapping means (14) and also as a strapping means retractor and tensioning device and assumes the function of the strapping means insertion rollers, and in that the strapping means store (19), adjacent to the strapping means supply (12), is disposed close to the ground laterally outside of the strapping zone.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the strapping means feed apparatus (31) both feeds the strapping means (14) to the sealing unit (18) and advances it through the latter along the strapping means guide frame (20-24) and tightens it around the packing material (11).
3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the strapping means feed apparatus (31) comprises a reversible roller pair (32), which can be driven alternatively as a strapping means insertion roller pair or as a strapping means retraction roller pair.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the strapping means conduit (30) feeds the strapping means (14) directly and by the shortest route from the strapping means deflection device (29) to the sealing unit (18).
5. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the strapping means store (19) - viewed in the running direction of the strapping means (28) - is disposed between the strapping means supply (12) and the strapping means feed-in (27), and in that the filling of the strapping means store takes place as the strapping means is retracted by means of the strapping means feed apparatus (31).
6. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 4, characterized in that the strapping means deflection device (29) comprises a strapping means deflection roller (37), which is rotatably mounted on the pressing plate (16) and, by means of a slide (41) transportable along the strapping means guide (28), serially opens the channel closing means formed from flaps (40) which are springloaded in the direction of closing.
7. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least two strapping means guide frames, which are provided in parallel vertical planes and between which the sealing unit (18) can be shifted, characterized in that the strapping means conduit (30) is disposed, in each case pivotably, between the strapping means deflection device (29) and the sealing unit (18).
8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, characterized in that the strapping means conduit (30) is coupled in a forcibly pivotable manner to the sealing unit (18).
9. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strapping means supply (12) is mounted on a drum (13) provided with a drive mechanism.

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