EP2707287B1 - Method and device for strapping packagings, products for packaging or grouped items - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for strapping groups, containers, packaged goods and / or grouped articles, packaged goods o. The like. With the features of claim 1. The invention further relates to a strapping station with the features of claim 6 and a control and / or control method for controlling / controlling a belt tension of a strapping belt freely guided between a magazine and a movable application head, having the features of claim 9.

For the processing, compilation, grouping and packaging of articles such as beverage containers, there are different types of packaging, for example, the summary of articles or containers to portable, relatively handy packaging units. For this purpose, various ways are known to combine individual articles into larger containers. For example, beverage containers are usually combined and packaged by means of shrink films into containers of four, six or more containers. The production of containers is usually unavoidable because they represent the most common variant of sales units for beverage containers or bottles made of PET plastic. The containers are partially recombined for transport and / or put together in layers and palletized.

In the production of known types of packaging specific manufacturing steps are required in order to process the shrink films commonly used can. These manufacturing steps require a relatively high energy input. In addition, the film used causes costs for production, for the provision, for handling and for later disposal, since it is no longer needed after the sale. The machine equipment for providing the so-called. Film wrapping modules and other handling stations causes high investment costs. Finally, the provision of the so-called. Shrink tunnel, in which the beaten to the container foil is shrunk by Heißluftbeaufschlagung around the container requires a relatively high capital investment.

A variant in which it is basically possible to dispense with the use of shrink films are so-called strapping packages. Here, the container by means of so-called. Strapping tapes combined into a bundle and connected together. In continuous or intermittent strapping machines containers, articles or bottles are grouped into formations and then strapped with the aid of Umreifungsaggregaten with a band or with multiple bands. Typical formations may be, for example, 1 x 2 arrays (two bins in series), 2 x 2 arrays (four square bins or diamond formation), 3 x 2, 4 x 3 or, in principle, variable n x m arrays , When using such Umreifungsbänder, however, stability problems may arise because the container may not be stable in position due to the ambiguous assignment of the container to each other. To reduce the displacement of the containers are usually certain biasing forces of the strapping required.

However, problems can also be caused by the fact that with flexible articles and containers such as plastic bottles, such as those used in the beverage industry, the internal pressure in the containers may vary. Many beverage containers are filled with carbon dioxide, nitrogen or other gases or substances during bottling. Depending on the prevailing temperatures during filling, on the outside or ambient temperature, on the solution concentration of the gas or carbon dioxide, on the passage of time since filling and possibly on numerous other parameters such as, for example, the hall temperature, the temperature of the liquid to be filled, the season, etc., can change the internal pressure of the container to be strapped. However, since the strapping parameters and the straining forces applied during strapping are to be set to a certain value, too much or too little bias may occur. If the preload is too high, the containers may be damaged, but if the preload is too low, the holding stability will be impaired. Whether or not the selected pre-tensioning pre-tensioning is properly adjusted can essentially only be verified by sampling and checking samples, which, however, produces rejects during container and package production. The machine parameters of the strapping machine must be adjusted by an operator and reset.

From the DE 10 2009 040 700 A1 For example, there is known a method for producing containers from at least two interconnected articles, which are held together by a strapping clamped horizontally around the outsides of the articles, which is placed around the articles during an uninterrupted conveying process and then fixed. During the application of the strapping the articles become not stopped because the strapping is applied in a continuous process during the uninterrupted promotion of the articles around them. The strapping is formed by at least one stretched around the outer sides of the article and then connected under bias at its ends band.

The application heads used for strapping the articles, containers or packaged goods are usually fed into machine frames and move one after the other over the containers to attach the strapping. Since in this case the strapping must be permanently tracked, at high speeds of the application heads problems may arise in terms of tape tracking, which can lead to machine malfunction under unfavorable circumstances.

The primary object of the present invention is seen in an improved apparatus and a corresponding method for producing strapped containers, groupings of cargo and / or packaged goods from one, but in particular from at least two combined with a strapping articles, cargo or containers to propose which ensures and maintains a reliable, interference-free and collision-free tape guide under all operating conditions.

This object of the invention is achieved with the objects of the independent claims. Features of advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the respective dependent claims. To achieve the stated object, the invention proposes a method for strapping groupings, containers, packaged goods and / or grouped articles, packaged goods o. The like. With at least one approximately horizontal and / or vertical and / or diagonal around the outside of the container, packaged goods or Group of articles or packaged goods placed and / or tensioned open or a closed ring forming strapping, which is stretched to form a solid composite of strapped containers, articles, packaged goods, etc. ago. In this method, the strapping band is supplied by a magazine with an endless supply of at least one strapping device, ie a strapping head or application head, for applying the strapping to one grouping, one container, at least one packaged good and / or the grouped articles or packaged goods. The strapping is promoted at least within a working range of the applicator head largely unguided and / or free-running, ie the strapping is without further guide elements, tape guides or suspended during the entire strapping process free-floating in the working area of the application head, in particular during its conveying and replenishment movements and during which slow or fast movements during the synchronous tracking of moving in a horizontal conveying direction container and when changing to another, adjacent container.

According to a particular aspect of the present invention, the strapping band between the magazine and the endless supply and / or downstream band guide region and the strapping device or the application head is promoted largely unguided and / or free-floating and thereby runs guideless and collision-free with other machine parts or Components of the packaging or strapping device. The free-flying guidance of the strapping, which can optionally also run to several simultaneously operating application heads, a trouble-free belt conveyor is ensured without the band sags on the one hand too much and thus comes in danger to get tangled or parts of the machine or to put the containers. On the other hand, the band tension, which can be readjusted if necessary at any time, not too high, as this undisturbed Nachförderung required for the strapping and for the movements of the application heads relative to the possibly permanently conveyed on a horizontal conveyor containers or groups of items required tape sections and tape lengths could be affected.

A preferred variant of the method according to the invention provides that the at least one strapping device or the at least one strapping head or application head moves the containers, packaged goods or grouped articles or packaged goods moved on a horizontal conveyor at least during a strapping and / or belt tensioning operation with parallel and approximately synchronous Movement follows and then another to be strapped container, packaged goods, etc. is supplied. It is immediately apparent that in this case the free-floating and / or largely unguided portion of the strapping between the cyclically and / or oscillating and possibly with constantly fluctuating speeds moving strapping or the moving application head and the magazine with the endless supply and / or a tape guide area (storage station) assigned to it in its belt tension or its sag within predeterminable limits between a maximum permissible slack and a belt tension that is not to be exceeded must be kept / tracked. The strapping is thus withdrawn from the supply at different superimposed speeds, which are necessary due to the strapping process and the forward and backward movements of the application head and transported from the magazine and / or from the supply station and fed to the application head, so that the sag of the free-flying region of Bandes can always be kept between sensible extreme values.

For this purpose, it may be necessary, the tape tension between the strapping device or the application head and the magazine (endless supply) or the tape guide area, taking into account several, during the strapping of a container, packaged goods, etc. and moving movements of the at least one application head changing input variables permanently readjust. In this way, the permanently changing tape lengths in the free-running section between the fixed magazine or tape guide region and the application head moving at different speeds and in different directions can be adjusted in terms of sag that the slack becomes neither too great nor too small, which a very fast belt conveyance and also a belt retraction in the tape guide area or in the magazine requires.

The method of the invention also includes steps of feeding and threading a new strapping band when a supply is exhausted or when a disturbance occurs which necessitated a threading out of the band. For the purpose of threading a new beginning of the tape, the method preferably provides for automated, in particular fully automatic, docking of the application head to be loaded with a new tape on the magazine or its tape guide elements and controlled transfer and threading of the tape into the tape guide elements of the application head. Thus, the supply of a new Umreifungsbandanfangs from the magazine to at least one application head by its automatically controlled approach and / or by its docking with the magazine and by an automated threading of the strapping in the application head with simultaneous tracking of the strapping from the magazine. The automated threading of a new strapping in the application head may, for example, even after a crack or damage to the tape may be required and takes place in the manner described.

In order to achieve the abovementioned object, the invention further comprises, in addition to the method described above in various embodiments, a strapping station for strapping groups, containers, packaged goods and / or grouped articles, packaged goods or the like with at least one approximately horizontal and / or vertical and / or. or strapping band placed diagonally around the outside of the packs, packaged goods or group of articles or packaged goods and / or tensioned open or a closed ring which is tensioned to form a firm bond of the band, articles, packaged goods, etc. strapped to the band. The strapping station comprises at least one horizontal conveyor for transporting the containers to be strapped, packaged goods or grouped articles or packaged goods and at least one of the containers, packaged goods or groups of articles or packaged separately from above and at least for a strapping and tape tension cycle parallel and approximately synchronous with the Applicable head or strapping head which can be moved in the conveying direction for containers, packaged goods or groups of articles or packaged goods to be strapped.

In addition, the strapping station comprises a magazine with an endless supply of the unwinding strapping band which is fed to the at least one application head or strapping head. According to the present invention and to achieve the above-mentioned objects, the strapping band is guided free-floating at least in a working region of the application head and without further guides, band guide elements or the like. Optionally, the strapping band between the magazine with the endless supply of the strapping and the application head or the strapping device can be largely guided and promoted running without guidance and / or free-floating.

As a work area in the present context, the maximum range of motion of the application heads understood when they follow the promoted groups or containers during strapping or implemented after a completed strapping process to another container or to a group to be strapped. The movement of the application heads can be controlled by gantry robots, by means of articulated robots or in other ways. The space that can reach and cover the application heads here due to their kinematics, defines the said work area of the application heads in the context of the present invention, also based on the previously described in various embodiments method for strapping of containers, groups, packaged goods, etc. The guideless and referred to as "free-flying" Band course extends according to the present invention, at least on this work area. Optionally, the guideless or free-flying band profile can also extend beyond the working area of the application heads, if, for example, the magazine or a band guide area adjacent thereto or downstream forms the transfer point of the guided band to the guideless or free-running band guide area adjoining it. In this case, the guideless band course portion is correspondingly longer, which may possibly mean an increased regulatory effort to ensure correct tape tension or a sufficient tape sag.

If there is talk of a work area in the above sense, so that in no way a restriction on the feeding direction of the strap is connected. This may, for example, also be supplied from a lateral position, so that the free-lying area is located laterally of the application head moving forwards, backwards and vertically, wherein the feed angle of the band may change in accordance with the oscillating movements of the application head. The same applies in principle to workspaces where the application head can not only wrap containers of a transport track, but also containers or groups transported side by side on several transport tracks. In addition, the strapping can optionally be supplied from above or from below or from almost any position.

The feeding usually occurs over the transfer area of the belt, which must be suitable for rapid conveyance or return transport to limit both the maximum slack and the maximum belt tension of the strap in the "free-flying" section. This tape guide section may form part of the magazine, but this is not mandatory. Optionally, the magazine can be arranged at almost any point inside or outside the strapping, for example, in front, behind or next to a machine frame. However, the transfer area is normally associated with the strapping station or fixed to its machine frame, but may also be placed separately from the machine frame. The magazine are then usually associated with one or more endless rollers with the unwinding strapping, but which can also be placed separately from the magazine, so that a certain distance between the replaceable roles with the strapping and the stationary magazine can exist.

The strapping station is usually located in a machine frame, which also accommodates the magazine for storing the endlessly from a roll o. The like. Unwinding strapping band. From this magazine, the feeding of the strapping tape to its place of use, which is defined by a working area of at least one application head. At least one such application head, possibly also several application heads, move within the machine frame and ensure the automated strapping of the packaged goods, containers or groups of articles. According to the invention, the strapping band is guided between the fixed magazine and the moving application head without further guide or suspension elements. The promotion and feeding of the tape from the magazine into the work area to the application head is thus "free-flying" or leadership.

In a variant of the strapping station according to the invention between the magazine with the endless supply of the strapping and the at least one application head or Umreifungskopf a controllable tape guide area for tracking and / or back tension of the free guided portion of the strapping between the cyclically and / or oscillating moving application head and the magazine arranged. Since the at least one application head moves with constantly fluctuating speeds in different directions, the slack or the length of the free-running band section permanently changes, so that by means of the band guide section as needed for a slow or fast tracking or for a slow or rapid withdrawal of Bandes can be taken to prevent malfunctions of the machine. The mentioned tape guide area is a stationary part of the magazine and normally comprises motor-driven rollers or other conveying means with which the tape can be moved quickly and largely without slippage in both conveying directions.

In order to perform its task optimally, the tape guide area is preferably a control device for controlling the belt tension between the endless supply and the at least one strapping head, taking into account the consumption of strapping and its superimposed vertical and horizontal movements during a strapping process and / or when changing to another assigned to strapping containers, packaged goods or a group of articles or packaged goods. The control device thus controls all conveying drive movements of the strapping in all directions, and this depending on the volume requirement during the different movements of the at least one application head. In the case of a plurality of application heads used, a plurality of tape guide sections and a plurality of supply rolls with endlessly unwinding strapping are required, so that all application heads can be supplied with the strapping belt in the same way without causing collisions, excessive belt tension or other strains during strapping and / or or the handling of the strapping can come.

The required belt Nachförderung or return funding can optionally be determined by means of a suitable sensor, which can work in different ways. Thus, for example, to detect the band voltages, photoelectric barriers or other image capture devices such as cameras can be provided. The belt tension can optionally also be detected mechanically, inductively or by other means. These belt tension detection devices may preferably be coupled to the control device. In a simpler embodiment variant, it may also be sufficient to detect the belt conveyances in each case with displacement and / or angle sensors in the area of the belt guide area or of the magazine, for example by simple revolution encoders or rotary encoders which can be associated with deflection or drive rollers in the band guide area. Their signals can provide meaningful values to the control device which, in connection with a position detection of the application heads, can provide the necessary conveyor lengths or return conveyor lengths for the strapping belt. Between the endless supply of the strapping and the free tape guide portion is preferably a so-called. Active tape guide with which the entire scheme is implemented to control the slack of the "free-flying" guided band section between the magazine and the application head. This tape guide control normally includes drive motors which cooperate with conveyor rollers or the like for the belt and move and / or retract it in both directions.

Finally, the invention comprises a control and / or control method for controlling / controlling a band tension of a strapping band guided between an endless supply of a magazine and a movable strapping head or application head, free or "free-floating". The method is used in particular for controlling the belt tension at a strapping station according to one of the previously described embodiments. By means of the control and / or control method according to the invention, a guideless and / or free-guided section of the strap between the application and / or oscillating and possibly with constantly fluctuating speeds moving application head or Strapping head and the magazine with the endless supply and / or this subordinate tape guide area (supply station) held in its belt tension or its sag within predeterminable limits between a maximum allowable sag and a not to be exceeded belt tension and / or tracked. In this context, the tape tension between the application head or strapping head and the endless supply or the tape guide area, taking into account several, possibly changing input variables are permanently adjusted.

A first input variable may be formed in this control method from a regular tracking distance, which is required to compensate for the consumed during the strapping of the container, the packaged goods or grouped article length of Umreifungsbandes. This is usually a relatively slow tracking of the strap. By contrast, a second input variable can be derived from the consideration of a fast tape tracking during the "shooting in" of the tape into the frame of the application or strapping head. In this case, the strapping must be tracked relatively quickly. This fast tracking occurs repeatedly briefly and repeatedly cyclically.

A third input variable for the control method can furthermore be formed from consideration of a medium-fast, temporarily fluctuating tracking and / or a medium-fast reverse voltage by the oscillating movements of the application or strapping head. The application head moves alternately parallel to the conveying direction of the containers or articles and applies the strapping. Then it is returned with the same, but typically at a much higher speed to be moved over another container and there to apply the strapping. Once this strapping is applied and tensioned, the application head moves back against the belt conveying direction, so that the strapping must be retracted or stretched back a suitable way to reduce slack and to prevent tangling of the belt. For controlling the belt tension, preferably at least two of the three mentioned input variables, in particular all three input variables for obtaining a controlled variable for the controlled tracking or reverse tension of the strapping band in the band guiding region, are taken into account and offset against each other. The superimposed band movement can be calculated from this and implemented very quickly and dynamically.

If, in the context of the present description, only general mention is made of strapping, this basically means a sufficiently flexible, mechanically stable and easily conveyable endless material, which is generally unrolled from a roll. The strapping can be formed, for example, by one, two or more bands of rope material, wire, plastic, metal, paper or a composite material which are glued, welded, clamped, knotted or otherwise connected at their ends. Alternatively, variants are possible in which the strapping is placed as a closed ring on the container or groupings and stretched to form a loop.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine Ausführungsvariante einer erfindungsgemäßen Umreifungsstation in einer schematischen Seitenansicht.
• Fig. 2 zeigt einen Teil einer Förderstrecke einer Verpackungsmaschine mit einer Umreifungsstation in einer schematischen Draufsicht.
• Fig. 3 zeigt eine perspektivische Darstellung eines aus sechs Getränkebehältern gebildeten Gebindes, das mit einem horizontal um die Außenseiten der Getränkebehälter gespannten Umreifungsband zusammengehalten ist.
• Fig. 4 zeigt in einer schematischen Darstellung die wichtigsten Komponenten der Umreifungsstation.
• Fig. 5 zeigt in einem Blockschaltbild die bei einem Steuerung- oder Regelungsverfahren verarbeiteten Eingangsgrößen.

In the following, embodiments of the invention and their advantages with reference to the accompanying figures will be explained in more detail. The proportions of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the actual size ratios, since some shapes are simplified and other shapes are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

• Fig. 1 shows a variant of a Umreifungsstation invention in a schematic side view.
• Fig. 2 shows a part of a conveyor line of a packaging machine with a strapping station in a schematic plan view.
• Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a container formed from six beverage containers, which is held together with a horizontally strapped around the outer sides of the beverage container strapping.
• Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of the most important components of the Umreifungsstation.
• Fig. 5 shows in a block diagram the input variables processed in a control process.

For identical or equivalent elements of the invention, identical reference numerals are used. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures, which are required for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples of how the device or method of the invention may be configured and are not an exhaustive limitation.

The schematic side view of Fig. 1 illustrates, by means of an exemplary embodiment, a strapping station 10 according to the invention which comprises the strapping of groups, containers 12, packaged goods and / or grouped articles, packaged goods or the like with at least one approximately horizontal and / or vertical and / or diagonal around the outside of the containers 12, Packaged goods or group of articles or packaged goods and / or tensioned open or closed ring forming strapping 14, which is stretched to form a solid bond.

In the illustrated embodiment, the container 12 in particular according to Fig. 3 be formed by a plurality of combined beverage container 16, which are held together by a horizontally extending strapping 14. Optionally, the containers 16 and / or the strapping 14 may be provided with a carrying handle 18, which may be formed either from the strapping material or from a sheet material or the like. The anchoring of the carrying handle 18 may be located on the outer circumferential surfaces of two or more containers 16, for example. By splices. If necessary, the carrying handle 18 can also be formed by a closed ring, which engages under the strapping 14, which is stretched horizontally around the containers 16 of the container 12. The groupings, containers 12, packaged goods, etc. held together with the strapping 14 can optionally also have almost any other configurations. The presentation of the Fig. 3 should be understood merely as an example.

The strapping station 10 is part of a packaging machine 20, the example. According to Fig. 2 be configured and may have a transport path 22 with a single or multi-track formed horizontal conveyor 24 for transporting the container to be strapped 12. The strapping station 10 comprises at least one of the containers to be strapped 12 individually fed from above and at least for a strapping and tape tensioning cycle parallel and approximately synchronously with the containers to be strapped 12 in the conveying direction 26 movable application head 28. Normally, however, to achieve a sufficient conveyor and Processing speed several such application heads 28 arranged in a strapping station 10, for example. Two ( Fig. 1 ) or four ( Fig. 2 In addition, the strapping station 10 comprises a magazine 30 with an endless supply 32 of the unwinding strapping 34, which is the at least one application head 28 is supplied. In the case of several strapping heads 28, the magazine 30 must have a corresponding number of rollers or endless supply rolls 32 with strapping band 34 to be unrolled in order to be able to supply all application heads 28 equally with the strapping band 34.

As the Fig. 1 can be seen in an implied manner, which is designated in this area by the reference numeral 36 strapping between the stationary magazine 30 with the likewise stationary endless supply 32 of the strapping 34 and the application head 28 guideless and free-running running and promoted. The strapping station 10 is normally located in a machine frame 38, which is also the in Fig. 2 not shown magazine 30 for storing the endless from a roll 32 o. The like. Unwinding strapping 34 receives. From this magazine 30, the feeding of the free-guided guided strapping 36 to its place of use, which is defined by the respective work area of each existing application head 28. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a plurality of application heads 28 move within the machine frame 38 and ensure the automated strapping of the containers 12.

Between the magazine 30 with the endless supply 32 of the strapping 34 and the application head 28, a controllable tape guide portion 40 for tracking and / or back tension of the free-guided portion 36 of the strapping between the cyclically and / or oscillating moving application head 28 and the magazine 30 is arranged. Since the application head 28 moves at constantly fluctuating speeds in different directions parallel to or opposite to the conveying direction 26 of the horizontal conveyor 24, the sag or the length of the free-running belt section 36 changes permanently so that by means of the belt guide section 40 for a slow or fast tracking or for a slow or rapid retraction of the belt 36 can be taken, which prevents the risk of interference due to a too sagged or too taut stretched belt section 36.

Like the schematic representation of the Fig. 4 shows, the tape guide portion 40 is a part of the magazine 30 and this associated with and includes normally motorized rollers 42 or other funding, with which the belt 36 can be moved quickly and largely without slippage in both conveying directions. The tape guide portion 40 and the conveyor rollers 42 is a control device 44 for controlling the tape tension between the magazine 30 and the application head 28, taking into account the consumption of Umreifungsband 34 and its superimposed vertical and horizontal movements during a Umreifungsvorganges and / or when changing to another to be strapped Container 12 assigned. The control device 44 controls all conveying drive movements of the strapping band 34, 36 in all conveying directions, and this depending on the tape requirement during the different movements of the application head 28th

In a plurality of application heads 28 used a plurality of tape guide portions 40 and a plurality of supply rollers 32 are endlessly umwickelndem Umreifungsband 34 required so that all application heads 28 can be supplied in the same way with the free-guided strapping 36 without it to collisions, too high Tape tension or other disturbances in the strapping and / or handling of the strapping 36 may come.

The required belt Nachförderung or return funding can be determined either by means of suitable sensors that can work in different ways. Thus, for example, optical sensors 46 or the like can be used to detect the belt tensions. The tape tension can optionally also be detected by means of mechanical sensors 48 or in another way. These belt tension detecting means 46, 48 are coupled to the control means 44 for controlling the conveyor rollers 42 in the manner required for proper belt tension of the free-running portion of the strapping belt 36. In a simpler embodiment variant, it may also be sufficient to detect the belt conveyors in each case with displacement and / or angle sensors 50 in the region of the belt guide region 40 or of the magazine 30, for example by simple revolution encoders, which are assigned to the deflection or drive rollers 42 in the band guide region 40 can. Their signals can deliver meaningful values to the control device 44, which in conjunction with a position detection of the application heads 28 can supply the necessary delivery lengths or return lengths for the strapping band 36.

When a supply 32 of the strap 34 is used up, the application head 28 for the purpose of threading a new beginning of tape fully automatically dock on the magazine 30 or on its tape guide elements 40, after which a controlled transfer and threading of the tape into the tape guide elements of the application head 28 takes place. In this way, the supply of a new Umreifungsbandanfangs from the magazine 30 to at least one application head 28 by its automatically controlled approach and / or by its docking with the magazine 30 and by an automated threading of the strapping 36 in the application head 28 with simultaneous tracking of the strapping from Magazine 30 done.

The automated threading of a new strapping 34 into the application head 28 may also be required after a tear or damage to the strap 34.

The schematic block diagram of Fig. 5 illustrates the relationships in the control or regulation of the driven conveyor rollers 42, which are part of the tape guide portion 40 of the magazine 30 and controlled by the control device 44. The control or control method is used to control or control the tape tension of between the magazine 30 and the movable application head 28 guided "strapped" strapping 36. By means of the method, the guideless and / or free-guided portion of the strap 36 between the cyclically and / or oscillating and possibly with constantly fluctuating speeds moving application head 28 and the magazine 30 with the endless supply 32 and its associated tape guide portion 40 held in its tape tension or its sag within specifiable limits between a maximum allowable sag and a not to exceed belt tension and / or tracked. For this purpose, the tape tension between the application head 28 and the tape guide portion 40 is permanently readjusted taking into account a plurality of normally constantly changing input variables.

A first input variable 52 may be formed in this control or control method from a regular tracking distance, which is required to compensate for the consumed in the strapping of the respective container 12 length of the strapping band 34 and 36, respectively. This is normally a relatively slow tracking of the free-flying portion of the strap 36. On the other hand, a second input 54 may be derived from consideration of fast tape tracking in "shooting" the tape into the frame of the application head 28. In this case, the strapping band 36 must be tracked relatively quickly. This fast tracking occurs repeatedly briefly and repeatedly cyclically. A third input quantity 56 for the method is formed from the consideration of a medium-fast, temporarily fluctuating tracking and / or a medium-fast reverse voltage by the oscillating movements of the application head 28. The application head 28 moves alternately parallel to the conveying direction 26 of the container 12 and brings the strapping 14 on. Subsequently, it is returned to the conveying direction 26 at the same, but typically with a significantly higher speed, in order to be moved over a further container 12 and there to apply the strapping 14. As soon as this strapping 14 is applied and tensioned, the application head 28 moves back against the belt conveying direction 26 of the horizontal conveyor 24, so that the strapping belt 34 or 36 has to be pulled back or pulled back by a suitable path by means of the driven rollers 42 To reduce sag and to prevent tangling of the belt 36.

For controlling or controlling the belt tension, preferably at least two of the three mentioned input variables 52, 54 and 56, in particular all three input variables 52, 54 and 56, are taken into account to obtain a control variable for the controlled tracking or back tension of the strapping band 36 in the band guide region 40 and offset against each other , The superimposed band movement can be calculated from this and implemented very quickly and dynamically.

The simplified representation of the Fig. 5 clarifies with the relationships of the three input variables 52, 54 and 56 and the dependent control of the conveyor rollers 42 by means of the control device 44, although no control method in the true sense, since such a reaction of the controlled variable due to the influencing input variables. However, since the belt tension of the free-flying section 36 of the strapping 34 is influenced not only by the input variables 52, 54 and 56, but equally by the respective control of the conveyor rollers, in the present case can basically be spoken of a belt tension control.

Finally, it should be emphasized at this point that the free-running profile of the tape guide extends at least over a working area 58 of the application heads 28. The working area 58 is defined by the maximum range of movement or radius of action of the application heads 28. This range of movement 58 results, for example, when the application heads 28 follow the conveyed groups or containers 12 during strapping or are converted into a further container 12 or to a group to be strapped after a completed strapping operation. In principle, the tape feed can take place from any desired directions, for example laterally, from above, from below, etc. The movement of the application heads 28 can be controlled by means of gantry robots, by means of articulated robots or in another manner. The space which the application heads 28 can reach and cover due to their kinematics defines the aforementioned Working region 58 of the application heads 28. The guideless and "free-floating" designated band extending at least on this work area 58. Of course, the "free-flying" band also extend beyond the work area 58 out, for example, the transfer or tape guide portion 40 spaced from the Limits of the work area 58 of the application head 28 is placed.

So, like this in the FIGS. 1 and 4 is shown, the guideless or free-flying tape course optionally also extend beyond the working area 58 of the application heads 28, if, for example, the magazine 30 or this affiliate or downstream tape guide area 40 with the conveyor rollers 42 therein the transfer point of the guided belt 34 to him subsequent guideless or free-flying tape guide portion 36 forms.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications or changes may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

strapping

12

container

14

strapping

16

beverage containers

18

handle

20

packaging machine

22

transport distance

24

Horizontal conveyor

26

conveying direction

28

application head

30

magazine

32

Endless stock, roll

34

strapping

36

free-flying / unguided strapping band

38

machine frame

40

Tape guide section

42

Rollers, conveyor rollers

44

control device

46

optical sensor

48

mechanical sensor

50

Angle sensor, angle sensor

52

first input

54

second input

56

third input

58

Working area (the application heads 28)

Claims (11)

1. A method for strapping groups, bundles (12), packaged goods, and/or grouped articles, grouped packaged goods, or the like, which are being moved on a horizontal conveying device, with at least one strapping band (14, 34), which is placed and/or tensioned approximately horizontally and/or vertically and/or diagonally around the exterior of the bundles (12), packaged goods, or group of articles, or group of packaged goods, said strapping band (14, 34) forming either an open or a closed ring, which is tensioned to form a firm assembly of the bundles (12), packaged goods, etc., wherein the strapping band (34) is fed to at least one application head (28) for applying the strapping band (14) to a group, to a bundle (12), to at least one packaged good, and/or to the grouped articles or grouped packaged goods, respectively, said application head (28) following the bundle, packaged good etc., which is to be strapped, in a synchronous movement, characterised in that the strapping band (34) is fed to the at least one application head (28) by a magazine and in that the strapping band (34, 36) extends and is conveyed largely without being guided and/or in a free-floating manner, at least within an operating range (58) of the application head (28).
2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the strapping band (34, 36) extends and is conveyed largely without being guided and/or in a free-floating manner between the magazine (30) and/or a band guide section (40) allocated to or arranged downstream from said magazine (30), and the application head (28).
3. The method as recited in claim 1 or 2 wherein the at least one application head (28) follows the bundles (12), packaged goods, or grouped articles, or grouped packaged goods that are being conveyed on a horizontal conveying device (24) at least throughout a strapping and/or band tensioning process in a parallel oriented and approximately synchronous movement, said at least one application head (28) being subsequently conducted to another bundle (12), packaged good, etc., which is intended for being strapped, and wherein the segment (36) of the strapping band (34) that extends free-floatingly and/or in a largely guide-less manner is held and/or refed between the application head (28), which moves cyclically and/or oscillatingly, and the magazine (30) and/or a band guide section (40) allocated to or arranged downstream from said magazine (30), with the band tension or the band sag of said segment (36) of the strapping band (34) ranging within predefineable limits between a maximum permissible sag and a band tension that should not be exceeded.
4. The method as recited in one of the claims 1 to 3 wherein the band tension between the application head (28) and the magazine (30) or the band guide section (40) is readjusted either on a permanent basis or at regular intervals, thereby allowing for multiple input values (52, 54, 56), which vary throughout the process of strapping a bundle (12), a packaged good, etc. and in the process of the conducting motions of the at least one application head (28).
5. The method as recited in one of the claims 1 to 4 wherein a new strapping band end (34, 36) is fed from the magazine (30) to the at least one application head (28) by the automatically controlled approach and/or by the docking of the application head (28) onto the magazine (30) or onto the band guide section (40) arranged downstream from said magazine (30) and by an automatic threading of the strapping band (34, 36) into the application head (28) while the strapping band (34, 36) is simultaneously being refed from the magazine (30).
6. A strapping station (10) for strapping groups, bundles (12), packaged goods, and/or grouped articles, grouped packaged goods, or the like, having at least one strapping band (14, 34), which is placed and/or tensioned approximately horizontally and/or vertically and/or diagonally around the exterior of the bundles (12), packaged goods, or group of articles, or group of packaged goods, said strapping band (14, 34) forming either an open or a closed ring, which is tensioned to form a firm assembly of the bundles (12), packaged goods, etc., said strapping station (10) comprising a horizontal conveying device (24) for conveying the bundles (12), packaged goods, or grouped articles, or grouped packaged goods intended for being strapped; at least one application head (28), which can be conducted individually from above to the bundles (12), packaged goods, or groups of articles, or groups of packaged goods, and which can be moved in conveying direction (26) in parallel and approximately in synchrony with the respective bundles (12), packaged goods, or groups of articles, or groups of packaged goods intended for being strapped for the duration of at least one strapping and band tensioning cycle; characterised in that the strapping station (10) has a magazine (30) with a continuous supply (32) from which the strapping band (34) is unrolled and fed to the at least one application head (28) and in that the strapping band (34, 36) extends and is conveyed largely without being guided and/or in a free-floating manner, at least within an operating range (58) of the application head (28).
7. The strapping station as recited in claim 6 wherein a band guide section (40) is arranged between the magazine (30) with the continuous supply (32) of strapping band (34) and the at least one application head (28), said band guide section (40) being used for refeeding and/or retracting a freely conducted segment (36) of the strapping band (34) between the application head (28), which moves cyclically and/or oscillatingly, and the continuous supply (32) of the magazine (30), and wherein the strapping band (34) extends and is conveyed largely without being guided and/or in a free-floating manner between the magazine (30) and/or the band guide section (40) and the application head (28).
8. The strapping station as recited in claim 6 or 7 wherein the band guide section (40) is associated with an adjustment device (44) for adjusting the band tension between the continuous supply (32) and/or the magazine (30) and the at least one application head (28), thereby taking into account the application head's (28) usage of strapping band (34, 36) and its superimposed vertical and horizontal movements while carrying out a strapping cycle and/or while shifting to a further bundle (12), packaged good, or a group of articles, or a group of packaged goods intended for being strapped.
9. An adjustment and/or control method for adjusting/controlling a band tension of a strapping band (34, 36) that is being freely conducted between a magazine (30) with a continuous supply (32) and a movable application head (28), for adjusting the band tension in a strapping method according to one of the claims 1 to 5 or in a strapping station (10) according to one of the claims 6 to 8, characterised in that a segment (36) of the strapping band (34), which is conducted in a guide-less and/or free-floating manner, is held and/or refed within an operating range (58) of the application head (28) and/or between the application head (28), which moves cyclically and/or oscillatingly, and the magazine (30) with the continuous supply (32) and/or a band guide section (40) allocated to or arranged downstream from said magazine (30), with the band tension or the band sag of said segment (36) of the strapping band (34) ranging within predefineable limits between a maximum permissible sag and a band tension that should not be exceeded,
   wherein the band tension between the application head (28) and the magazine (30) with the continuous supply (32) or the band guide section (40) is readjusted either on a permanent basis or at regular intervals, thereby allowing for multiple and variably changing input values (52, 54, 56),
   wherein a first input value (52) is derived from a regular refeeding line section, which is required for compensating for the length of strapping band (34, 36) used up for strapping the bundle (12), the packaged goods, or the grouped articles and/or wherein a second input value (54) is based on a speedy refeeding of the band during the strapping process that is being carried out by the application head (28).
10. The adjustment method as recited in claim 9 wherein a third input value (56) is derived based on a temporarily fluctuating refeeding and/or retracting due to the oscillating movements of the application head (28) while following the groups, bundles (12), packaged goods, and/or grouped articles, or grouped packaged goods that are intended for being strapped.
11. The adjustment method as recited in claims 9 to 10 wherein the band tension is adjusted by acquiring a control variable for the controlled refeeding and/or retracting of the strapping band (34) in the band guide section (40), said control variable being based on permanently taking into account and offsetting against each other at least two of the three input values (52, 54, 56), in particular all three input values (52, 54, 56).

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