EP3369663B1 - Collar forming device for elongated workpieces and method for bundling elongated workpieces - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a bundling device for elongated workpieces according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for bundling elongated workpieces according to the preamble of claim 14.

Such a federal formation institution is from the U.S. 3,127,829 A known.

With bundling devices, elongated wooden parts, which can be several meters long, are bundled as workpieces and held together to form a bundle by means of a strapping band or the like. The wooden parts are transported with the transport device transversely to their longitudinal direction up to a stop. The bundle consists of layers lying on top of one another, each layer being formed from several pieces of wood lying next to one another. Known fret forming devices have a multiplicity of fret forming units which are arranged one behind the other at a fixed distance.

Depending on the length of the wood, the wood parts protrude more or less far over the outside bundle formation units. In the extreme case, the overhang is approximately the distance between the individual bundle forming units. In the case of a relatively large overhang, curved wooden parts often lead to disturbances, since the wooden ends stand up or down and collide both in the collar to be formed and in the transport device.

In addition, the large number of bundle forming units results in a large number of interfering edges. As a result, the positional positioning of pushing devices for the bundles formed and the strapping stations for strapping the bundles is restricted. As a result, the strapping on the outside often has a different distance from the two ends of the wooden parts, which leads to an unsightly appearance. The large number of collar forming devices also means that the collar forming device is structurally complex and correspondingly expensive.

The invention is based on the object of designing the generic collar formation device and the generic method such that workpieces of different lengths can also be optimally bundled without the need for a structurally complex design of the collar formation device.

This object is achieved with the generic fret forming device according to the invention with the characterizing features of claim 1 and with the generic method according to the invention with the characterizing features of claim 14.

In the collar forming device according to the invention, at least one collar forming unit can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the workpieces. Therefore, the bundle forming unit can be adjusted very easily to the respective workpiece length and strapping position by longitudinal adjustment. This adjustment can be carried out automatically, so that regardless of the length of the workpieces to be bundled, reliable bundling of the workpieces is guaranteed. The bundle forming unit can advantageously be adjusted continuously to the optimal position. Due to the adjustability, only a small number of bundle forming units is necessary.

In particular, excessive protrusion of the workpieces over the collar forming unit can be avoided. The workpieces can sag less, and curvatures or warpage of the workpieces to be bundled do not affect the susceptibility to failure. Due to the adjustability of the bundle forming unit, it is possible to attach the strapping of the bundles regardless of the length of the workpieces in such a way that they are evenly spaced from the two workpiece ends and, if necessary, also lie exactly in the middle of the workpieces, so that the strapped bundles have a visual appearance have impeccable appearance.

The support for the workpieces to be bundled is part of a lifting unit that is adjustable in the vertical direction. With the support, it is possible to raise the respectively formed layer so far that the next layer of workpieces can be fed with the transport device.

The bundle forming station is provided with at least one support unit for the workpieces. The layers on workpieces raised by the lifting unit can be taken over and supported with the support unit. The lifting unit or the support can then be lowered again so that the next layer of workpieces can be formed on the support.

So that a simple transfer and support of the raised workpiece layers is ensured, the support unit has at least one tongue that can be adjusted under the respectively formed stacked collar. This tongue is so long that it can safely support the workpieces lying next to one another within the layer.

So that the support of the lifting unit can be lowered again after the respective bundle layers have been taken over by the tongue of the support unit, the support and the support part lie in the longitudinal direction of the workpieces side by side. This allows the support and the tongue to be adjusted without interfering with one another.

The support unit can be adjusted transversely to the longitudinal direction of the workpieces. This makes it possible for the tongue to be retracted when the next layer formed on workpieces is lifted with the lifting unit. When moving back, the layers supported by the support unit fall onto the layer on the lifting unit. The tongue of the support unit can then be moved under the last layer formed in order to take over the respective stack of workpieces. Now the support can be lowered down to take over the next layer of workpieces.

In order to ensure that the workpieces are properly fed by means of the transport device, it is advantageous if at least one hold-down device extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the workpieces is provided in the area above the transport device. It prevents the workpieces from being unintentionally set up and running over one another on the transport device.

The transport device and the hold-down device are advantageously coupled to one another, so that they are adjusted together during the adjustment along the workpieces.

So that the workpieces do not unintentionally stand up during the formation of the collar and thereby impair the formation of the collar, at least one pressure unit is advantageously provided in the area above the transport device with which the workpieces are loaded in the direction of the support during the formation of the collar.

The pressing unit is also advantageously coupled to the transport device in such a way that they are adjusted together along the workpieces when the transport device is adjusted.

A simple design of the device according to the invention results when the hold-down device and the pressure unit are guided on a common carrier. These parts of the system can be guided along the workpieces during adjustment.

In a further embodiment according to the invention, if there are several transport devices, they can all be vertically adjusted linearly relative to the hold-down device. This makes it possible to adjust the device according to the invention to different thicknesses of the workpieces. A feed with which the workpieces are fed to the transport device is advantageously adjusted in the feed height to a corresponding extent. It is not necessary to adjust the height or thickness of the hold-down device.

The hold-down device is advantageously provided with a side stop. Together with the opposite stop, it determines the width of the collar to be formed, that is, the number of workpieces to be lifted with the lifting unit.

The opposite stop can be adjusted relative to the side stop in the transport direction of the workpieces. This makes it very easy to adjust to different collar widths.

The adjustable stop is advantageously arranged on a base body of the lifting unit so that it can be adjusted along the workpieces together with the lifting unit.

In an embodiment according to the invention, the pressure unit, the side stop, is located in order to achieve perfect collar formation and the support in each horizontal position of the bundle forming station essentially at least approximately in alignment with one another.

The bundle forming unit is followed by at least one strapping station in which the bundle formed is strapped with a strapping band or the like.

The strapping station is advantageously adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the workpieces independently of the bundle forming unit. This allows the strapping to be attached at the optimal point on the collar.

In the method according to the invention, at least two bundle forming units work in parallel next to one another. For example, the fret forming device can have four fret forming units, two of which each work together to form the fret. Two bundles of workpieces can therefore be produced at the same time in the bundle forming device. In this case, the bundle forming units work at least in double-lane operation, which means that very high productivity is achieved.

In an advantageous embodiment, the bundle forming units can be switched on and off independently of one another. Therefore, those coil forming units that are not required for the coil formation can be switched off, whereby the wear and the energy consumption are kept low.

The subject matter of the protection request results from the subject matter of the individual claims.

Fig. 1

in Seitenansicht einen Teil einer erfindungsgemäßen Bundbildungseinrichtung,

Fig. 2

die Bundbildungseinrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 in einer anderen Betriebsstellung,

Fig. 3

in Vorderansicht die erfindungsgemäße Bundbildungseinrichtung in einem Doppelspurbetrieb,

Fig. 4

in Vorderansicht die erfindungsgemäße Bundbildungseinrichtung in einer Stellung zum Stapeln von langen Holzteilen in einer Spur,

Fig. 5

in vergrößerter Darstellung und in Vorderansicht eine Bundbildeeinheit der erfindungsgemäßen Bundbildungseinrichtung,

Fig. 6

in perspektivischer Darstellung einen Teil der erfindungsgemäßen Bundbildungseinrichtung.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. Show it

Fig. 1

a side view of part of a fret forming device according to the invention,

Fig. 2

the federal formation institution according to Fig. 1 in another operating position,

Fig. 3

the front view of the fret forming device according to the invention in a double-lane operation,

Fig. 4

in a front view the fret forming device according to the invention in a position for stacking long pieces of wood in a track,

Fig. 5

in an enlarged representation and in a front view a collar forming unit of the collar forming device according to the invention,

Fig. 6

a perspective view of part of the fret forming device according to the invention.

The bundling device described below is used to stack elongated wooden parts (wooden slats, squared timber) as workpieces and to strap the stacked wooden parts with ribbons and the like and thus secure them. Such wooden parts occur, for example, in planing or sawmills.

The device has a base frame 1, which is supported by legs 2 on the ground ( Fig. 6 ). The base frame 1 advantageously has an angular outline and is provided on each of its longitudinal sides with a carrier 3, which is designed, for example, as a hollow carrier and extends over the length of the base frame 1. Both carriers are connected to one another by cross members 3a, which are spaced one behind the other.

In the area above the base frame 1, at least two transport devices 4 are arranged next to one another, of which in FIG Fig. 6 only one transport device is shown and with which the wooden parts 5 ( Fig. 1 ) across their length up to stops 6 '( Fig. 1 and 5 ) can be transported. The stops 6 'are part of at least two collar forming stations 39, which will be described later, and are thus arranged one behind the other over the length of the base frame 1 at a distance. To transport the wooden parts 5, the transport devices 4 are driven synchronously by means of gear motors 59, so that the wooden parts 5 are reliably transported up to the stops 6 '.

The transport devices 4 are advantageously formed by chain tracks. They have at least one endlessly revolving chain belt 7 that is guided over pulleys 8, 9. The transport devices 4 have at least one cross member 10 on which the deflection rollers 8, 9 are rotatably mounted.

The transport devices 4 are mounted on a support frame 11, which is arranged in the area above the base frame 1 and advantageously has a rectangular outline ( Fig. 6 ).

The support frame 11 can be adjusted in the vertical direction. For this purpose, height adjustment devices 12 are provided distributed over the length of the support frame 11, which are for example lifting cylinders or threaded spindle drives with which the support frame 11 can be continuously adjusted in height. Since the transport devices 4 are mounted on the support frame 11, the transport devices 4 are also correspondingly adjusted vertically when the height of the support frame 11 is adjusted. Vertical linear guides 60 are provided on one carrier 3 of the base frame 1 and are arranged distributed along the carrier 3. The support frame 11 can be guided in height by means of the linear guides 60.

The transport devices 4 can also be adjusted along the support frame 11 in order to adapt them to different wood lengths or strapping positions. How out Fig. 6 As can be seen, the transport devices 4 extend at right angles to the carrier 3 of the base frame 1 and protrude over both longitudinal sides of the base frame 1.

In the area next to the transport device 4 there is a lifting unit 13 with which the wooden parts 5 can be lifted in a manner still to be described. The lifting unit 13 is driven by a drive 14 ( Fig. 1 ) adjustable in vertical direction. In the exemplary embodiment, the drive 14 is formed by a crank mechanism, the motor 15 of which is mounted on a bearing plate 16 protruding downward.

The lifting unit 13 has a horizontal lifting part 17 ( Fig. 1 and 5 ), on which the wooden parts 5 to be lifted rest during the lifting process. The lifting part 17 is designed in the form of a strip and extends over part of the length of the adjacent transport device 4.

A further drive 18 for a support unit 19 is provided on the end shield 16 and can be adjusted in the horizontal direction by means of the drive 18. The drive 18 is, for example, a crank drive which has a motor 20 which is mounted on the end shield 16. At its upper end, the support unit 19 has a support part in the form of a tongue 21 which runs horizontally and is advantageously designed in the form of a strip. The tongue 21 extends like the lifting part 17 in the horizontal direction in the transport direction 22 ( Fig. 1 and 2 ) of the transport device 4.

How Fig. 5 shows, the two motors 15, 20 are at right angles from the end shield 16 and are parallel to each other. With the drive 18, the support unit 19 can switch between the two positions according to FIGS Fig. 1 and 2 be moved horizontally. In the position according to Fig. 1 the tongue 21 lies below the stack of wood parts to be formed and directly adjacent to the lifting unit 13 in the feed direction. In the position shown in FIG Fig. 2 the tongue 21 is horizontally adjusted or withdrawn from the stack of wood parts to be formed that it lies behind the lifting unit 13 in the feed direction.

The drives 14, 18 for the lifting unit 13 and the support unit 19 only take up little installation space if they are preferably designed as crank drives.

The lifting unit 13 and the support unit 19 are provided on the common end plate 16, which forms a base body for the lifting unit 13 and the support unit 19. The base body 16 can be adjusted horizontally along the wooden parts and the carrier 3 of the base frame 1. A slide 23 ( Fig. 6 ) is provided, from which the base body 16 protrudes and which can be moved along the carrier 3 on linear guides 61. This makes it possible to adjust the lifting unit 13 and the support unit 19 to the timber length and the strapping position. A corresponding drive 24 is provided for adjusting the slide 23, which in the exemplary embodiment is a geared motor with a rack and pinion drive.

For stacking the wooden parts 5, further stops 6 are provided which, like the stops 6 ', are arranged on the base body 16, but are adjustable in height. In this way, the stops 6 can be clocked when the collar formed on the wooden parts 5 has been produced and is to be transported further.

The stops 6 'lie in the area below the tongue 21 of the support units 19 in the conveying path of the carpet of wood parts fed to the transport devices 4, so that they stop it at the front end. The transport devices 4 are constantly driven so that they slide under the carpet of wood parts when it is in contact with the stops 6 'with its wood part 5 at the front in transport direction 22. Since the stops 6 are set back somewhat in the conveying direction with respect to the stops 6 ', the stops 6 used to form the collar can be clocked without touching the front wooden part 5 resting against the stops 6'.

How Fig. 5 shows, a support 63 is provided in the area next to the tongue 21, which extends in the direction of a strapping station 41 ( Fig. 1 ) extends and serves to push off the stack / bundle formed from the wooden parts 5. The support 63 closes the gap between the tongue 21 and a table 53 of the strapping station 41 when the tongue 21 is at its greatest distance from the strapping station 41 ( Fig. 2 ). The bearing surfaces of the support 63, the tongue 21 and the table 53 lie in a common horizontal plane.

A carrier plate 62 is fixedly connected to the base body (bearing plate) 16 and engages around the transport device 4 from below in a U-shape and drags it along when the slide 23 is adjusted.

In the area above the respective transport device 4 there is a pressure unit 25 with which the stacked wooden parts 5 are secured so that that the wooden parts 5 can no longer stand up or lie on top of each other in a disordered manner. The pressure unit 25 has at least one pressure plate 26 which extends in the transport direction 22 of the transport device 4 and thus perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wooden parts 5. It is attached to the free end of a piston rod 27 of a pneumatic linear unit 28, by means of which it can be moved in the vertical direction and from which it protrudes downward. The linear unit 28 is mounted on a carrier 31 via at least one support arm 29 ( Fig. 6 ), which is a frame that is provided in the area above the transport devices 4. It has two longitudinal beams 32, 33 running parallel to one another, which extend over the length of the device and are connected to one another by beams 30 which are arranged at intervals along the longitudinal beams 32, 33. The frame 31 is connected at its ends to the base frame 1 via a support device (not shown) and is thus supported on the floor.

The wooden parts 5 are transported by means of the transport devices 4 distributed over the length of the device, perpendicular to their longitudinal direction in the transport direction 22, lying against one another. The wooden parts 5 lie against one another with their long sides and form a carpet of parts. So that the wooden parts 5 lying against one another in the carpet of parts cannot stand up, at least one hold-down device 34 is provided in the area of each transport device 4, which extends in the transport direction 22 and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wooden parts 5. The hold-down device 34 is advantageously designed as a plate standing on edge. The hold-down device 34 is provided at its front end in the transport direction 22 with a side stop 35, which lies opposite the stop 6 at a distance. Between the two stops 6, 35, the respective collar is formed from the wooden parts 5. The side stop 35 is advantageously designed as a vertically arranged bar, to which the hold-down device 34 adjoins at right angles.

As the Fig. 1 and 2 show, the hold-down device 34 is arranged such that its lower edge 36 is at a distance from the carpet of parts that is smaller than the thickness of the wooden parts in the carpet of parts. This reliably prevents that the wooden parts 5 can unintentionally stand up or run over each other.

So that the wooden parts 5 get under the hold-down device 34 without problems, the rear end of the hold-down device in the transport direction 22 is widened. The hold-down device 34 can for example be provided at the lower edge with freely rotatable rollers which are arranged one behind the other and which have little air to the top of the carpet of parts or which rest lightly on it.

How Fig. 6 shows, the hold-down device 34 is suspended with the side stop 35 on two brackets 37, each of which can be pivoted about a horizontal axis 38 extending in the transport direction 22. As a result, the hold-down device 34 can be pivoted upwards about the pivot axes 38 when the wooden parts 5 are conveyed or transported through the device without being stacked and strapped to form a bundle.

The tabs 37 of the hold-down device 34 are mounted on the support arm 29 of the pressure unit 25, which, as described, is arranged on the frame 31 so as to be longitudinally movable. This means that the hold-down device 34 and the pressure unit 25 can also be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the wood. In the exemplary embodiment, this takes place by means of a coupling device, not shown, with which they are coupled to the transport units 4 or the carriage 23 and are thus adjusted together with the carriage 23 during the motorized adjustment of the carriage. In the uncoupled state, the support arm 29 is clamped on the frame 31 via its linear guide and therefore remains in the set longitudinal position.

The stops 6, 35 are part of the bundle forming station 39, in which the wooden parts to be bundled are stacked in a row next to and on top of one another. In the Fig. 1 and 2 the wooden parts 5 to be bundled are shown in the bundle forming station 39.

So that different collar widths can be created, the stops 6 can be adjusted in the transport direction 22 and thus perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wooden parts 5 by means of a drive, not shown. This allows the number of wooden parts 5 per layer to be set.

The stop 6 can be moved from a stop position ( Fig. 1 and 2 ) by means of a pneumatic cylinder 40 ( Fig. 5 ) are lowered so far that the bundle formed in the bundle forming station 39 in the direction of the strapping station 41 ( Fig. 1 and 2 ) can be transported. The pneumatic cylinder 40 is attached to a plate 64, which is arranged horizontally adjustable on the bearing plate 16 for the above-described collar width adjustment. The upper region of the edge of the plate 64 facing the supplied wooden parts 5 forms the stop 6 '.

With the transport devices 4, the wooden parts 5 are transported in the direction of the stops 6, 6 'transversely to their longitudinal direction. The stops 6 are extended by means of the pneumatic cylinders 40. The lifting unit 13 is located in the in Fig. 1 shown lowered position in which the lifting part 17 is located in the area below the transport path of the wooden parts 5. They can therefore be transported by the transport devices 4 up to the stop 6 '. The hold-downs 34, together with the underside of the tongue 21, ensure that they are in the corresponding position Fig. 1 , viewed in the transport direction 22, is in direct extension of the hold-down 34 that the wooden parts 5 cannot stand up or run over one another during transport in the direction of the stops 6 '. This means that the timbers are consistently forcibly guided. The stops 6, 6 'are set in the transport direction 22 of the transport devices 4 so that the collar formed in the collar forming stations 39 has the required width. In the example shown, this collar consists of layers placed one on top of the other, with five wooden parts 5 lying next to one another in each layer.

As soon as the carpet of wooden parts 5 is in the bundle forming station 39, ie has been conveyed up to the stop 6 ', the support unit 19 is in the position accordingly Fig. 2 adjusted and the lifting unit 13 is raised by means of the drive 14 so far that the lifting part 17 raises this first layer of wooden parts 5 formed above the level of the tongues 21 of the support units 19. The wooden parts 5 are thereby moved against the pressure plate 26 of the pressure units 25.

The lifting part 17 extends in the transport direction of the wooden parts 5 to close to the side stop 35, so that the wooden parts of the carpet of parts located between the stop 6 'and the side stop 35 are grasped by the lifting part 17 and each form a stack. The lower edge of the side stop 35 is also referred to as the so-called tear-off edge.

Synchronized with this lifting movement of the lifting unit 13, the support unit 19 is moved into the position shown in FIG Fig. 1 Position shown shifted horizontally as soon as the position has been raised so far that the tongue 21 can retract underneath. As a result, the tongue 21 comes under the raised first layer of the collar to be formed. Since the lifting unit 13 and the support unit 19 are offset from one another in the longitudinal direction of the wooden parts 5 ( Fig. 5 ), the lifting unit 13 and the support unit 19 do not hinder each other in their respective movements. The tongue 21 of the support unit 19 holds the raised position of wooden parts 5. The lifting unit 13 can now return to the position according to FIG Fig. 1 be lowered.

The upper raised position or end position of the lifting unit 13 accordingly Fig. 2 is, as described, always slightly above the tongue 21, whereas the lowered position is accordingly Fig. 1 or the adjustment path is variable and results or is determined from the wood thickness to be stacked. This lowered end position is such that the support surface of the lifting part 17 is slightly below the transport unit, so that the parts can be reliably fed. From the wood thickness entered in the control, the adjustment or travel of the lifting unit is determined in the control and the drive 15 is controlled accordingly. The horizontal position or end position of the tongue 21 of the support unit is analogous 19 accordingly Fig. 1 pre-set machine-fixed and extends to close to the side stop 35. The end position accordingly Fig. 2 results from the specified waistband width. Thus, the adjustments of the lifting unit 13 and the support unit 19 are path-controlled and path-optimized according to the wood thickness and bundle width of the bundles to be stacked.

With the transport devices 4, the carpet of parts is pushed forward again until the front wooden part 5 comes to rest against the stops 6 '. Before the lifting unit 13 is raised again, the tongue 21 is moved horizontally into the position shown in FIG Fig. 2 pulled back. The wooden parts 5 held by the tongues 21 fall, since they are retained at the stops 6, down onto the next layer of the wooden parts bundle to be formed on the lifting part 17. In the bundling station 39 there are now two layers of wooden parts 5, which are raised again with the lifting unit 13 to such an extent that the tongues 21 can be moved under the raised wooden parts again in order to support the two layers. Then the lifting unit 13 can be adjusted downwards again so that the next layer of wooden parts can be formed and lifted.

The pressure unit 25 ensures that the wooden parts 5 located in the bundle forming stations 39 are pressed onto one another and cannot stand up or lie on top of one another in a disordered manner. The pressure unit 25 is constantly subjected to pressure, so that the pressure plate 26 is adjusted accordingly when the stack of wood parts formed is lifted.

Since they are constantly switched on, the transport devices 4 exert a pressure on the wooden parts 5 in the horizontal direction in the direction of the stops 6 '. As a result, the wooden parts 5 lie firmly against one another within the wooden parts carpet. Curvatures of the wooden parts are expressed.

Since the transport devices 4 can be adjusted in the vertical direction by means of the height adjustment devices 12, the distance between the transport devices 4 and the lower edge 36 of the hold-down devices 34 can be adjusted to the thickness of the Wooden parts 5 can be easily adjusted. It is not necessary to adjust the height of the hold-down device 34.

Depending on the length of the wooden parts 5, the transport devices 4 can be shifted along the wooden parts in order to optimally support them. This horizontal adjustment of the transport devices 4 takes place in that they are dragged along by the carriages 23 via the driving plates 62 when they are adjusted. The hold-down devices 34 with the side stops 35 and the pressure units 25 are also adjusted or dragged to the same extent. This ensures that the side stops 35, the pressure units 25 and the lifting unit 13 are always aligned with one another in the vertical direction, in a front view according to FIG Fig. 5 seen. This ensures that the bundling can be carried out properly and without interference, since in particular no bending moments and shear forces are exerted on the individual wooden slats, which could also break the wooden parts.

To transport the bundle away, push-off devices 42 are provided, which further convey the respective bundle for transverse strapping of the bundle. They are each shown in the figures in a waiting position. The pushing device 42 has at least one vertically arranged clamping plate 43 and at least one horizontally arranged clamping plate 44. The vertically arranged clamping plate 43 can be moved horizontally by means of at least one drive 45, preferably a pneumatic cylinder of a linear unit, in the direction of an opposing fixed stop 46 of the pushing device 42 . It is provided rigidly on the pushing device 42.

The horizontally arranged clamping plate 44 can be adjusted vertically by means of a drive 47, preferably a pneumatic cylinder.

How Fig. 1 shows, the clamping plates 43, 44 and the stop 46 delimit a receiving space 48 for the collar to be clamped.

The pushing devices 42 are arranged on a cross member 49. It is arranged on the frame 31 and extends perpendicular to the wooden parts 5 or in the direction of transport 22. The cross member 49 extends beyond the longitudinal member 33 and can also be adjusted manually on the carrier 31 in the longitudinal direction of the wood. In another embodiment, the cross member 49 can also be adjusted and positioned by a motor.

To increase the output, two push-off devices 42 are advantageously provided mirror-symmetrically on the carrier 49 ( Fig. 3 and 4th ). Of these two pushing devices 42, only one pushing device is shown in FIG Fig. 6 shown. Of the second pushing device, only a guide 50 and a drive 51 are shown. The guide 50 extends in the longitudinal direction of the cross member 49. On the opposite longitudinal side of the cross member 49 is a corresponding horizontal guide for the in Fig. 6 Push-off device 42 shown is provided. The two drives 51, 52 are provided on the opposite longitudinal sides of the cross member 49.

The push-off devices 42 can be moved along the cross member 49 parallel to the transport direction 22 of the transport devices 4.

The collar completed in the collar forming station 39 is located on the tongues 21 of the support units 19. The pushing devices 42 take over the collar from them, the vertical clamping plate 43 pressing the collar against the stop 46 with the aid of the drive 45.

As soon as the collar is clamped in the pushing device 42, the stops 6 are lowered so that the collar can be pushed onto the strapping station 41.

The strapping station 41 has the table 53 onto which the bundle with the pushing devices 42 is pushed. The band is strapped on it in a known manner. During the strapping, the horizontal clamping plate 44 of the pushing devices 42 presses the collar firmly onto the table 53, while it is still clamped between the clamping plate 43 and the stop 46. This keeps the bundle in a firm bond during strapping, and the curvatures of the individual wooden parts are expressed.

The strapping station 41 is an independent machine with which the collar is strapped with a fastening tape or the like. The fastening tape is fed through partially circular channels 54, 55. When the federal government is being fed in, they are lowered by the pushing devices 42 so that the collar can be pushed onto the table 53. The channels 54, 55 are then inserted into the in Fig. 1 The position shown is raised, in which the channels form a semicircular guide channel for the strapping. The collar to be strapped is surrounded by the guide channel 54, 55. When the strapping process has ended, the two channels 54, 55 are adjusted downwards so that the strapped collar can be transported or pushed further with a ram 65 of the pushing devices 42. The bundle to be strapped is fed in and the bundle that has just been strapped is pushed on in one movement process of the pushing devices 42.

The strapping stations 41 can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the wooden parts 5 so that the straps can be attached at the required point along the federal government.

In the Fig. 3 and 4th it is shown by way of example that the device has several transport devices 4 with associated lifting units 13, support units 19, stops 6, hold-down devices 34 with side stops 35, pressure units 25 and pushing devices 42. Only one wooden part 5 of the frets is shown, which is placed on the tongues 21 of the support units 19 rests. The lifting units 13 are lowered in the manner described so far that their lifting parts 17 are located in the area below the transport tracks for the collars. For the sake of clarity, the supplied carpet of parts is not shown.

So that the wooden parts 4 are properly aligned with one another in their longitudinal direction within the federal government, they are aligned with the aid of a collar aligner 56. The federal organizers 56 are located at one end of the federal government. At the opposite end there is a stop 57 against which the wooden parts 5 can be pushed within the federal government. The collar aligners 56 are advantageously adjustable in the horizontal direction, so that they can be adapted to wooden parts 5 of different lengths. The collar aligners 56 have a slide 58 which can be extended in the horizontal direction and pushes all wooden parts in the collar produced, which may be slightly offset due to the process, into a common alignment. This is achieved in that the slide 58 pushes the wooden parts against the opposite stop 57.

The stop 57 is manually adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the wood and forms the reference edge of the bundle forming device both for feeding the loose pieces of wood and for transporting the bundles formed to downstream processes.

The individual bundle forming stations 39 with the lifting unit 13, the support units 19 and the stops 6, 6 'are displaced and positioned in the horizontal direction by means of the carriages 23 and their drive motors 24. Here, the pressure units 25 and the hold-down devices 34, which are part of the coil forming stations 39, as well as the transport devices 4 are dragged along on their respective guides 31, 11.

The individual bundle forming stations 39 together with the transport devices 4 form bundle forming units and, due to the common adjustment in the longitudinal direction of the wood, always have the same position relative to one another.

The collar forming units together with the base frame 1, the support frame 11 with the height adjustment, the carrier 31 and the pushing devices 42 form the collar forming device. Depending on the application, the entire bundle forming device has a modular structure such that several, at least two, of the bundle forming units and pushing devices 42 are arranged on the base frame 1 or frame 31.

All the bundle forming units and push-off devices 42 can, as indicated by the double arrows, be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the wooden parts 5. The cross members 49 on which the pushing devices 42 are arranged can be moved along the frame 31.

Along the frame 31, not only the cross members 49 for the push-off devices 42, but also the collar aligners 56 can be shifted horizontally. The cross members 49 and the collar aligners 56 can be displaced independently of one another and also independently of the collar forming units, so that the various system parts can be optimally and flexibly adapted to the length of the wooden parts 5 forming the respective collar. In a simple embodiment, the cross members 49 and the collar aligners 56 can be moved by hand.

In the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 3 two coil forming units work in parallel in so-called double-lane operation. This results in a very high productivity in the plant. Since the bundle forming units can be adjusted independently of one another in the horizontal direction, pieces of wood 5 of different lengths can be bundled at the same time in both tracks. The horizontal adjustability and positionability of the various units enables optimal, flexible and rapid adaptation to different lengths of the wooden parts 5. Since the strapping stations 41, which in Fig. 3 are not shown, are also adjustable horizontally and independently of the bundle forming units, the straps can be attached to the points of the frets that ensure optimal cohesion of the wooden parts 5 within the bundle. The straps can be arranged, for example, in such a way that the two ends of the wooden parts 5 protrude equally. This also results in an optically uniform appearance. Since, in addition, the transport devices 4 can also be adjusted vertically with the aid of the height adjustment devices 12, simple and rapid adaptation to wooden parts 5 of different thicknesses is also possible. With the height adjustment devices 12, the support frame 11 on which the transport devices 4 are mounted is adjusted linearly in the height direction. The height adjustment devices 12 are firmly attached to the base frame 1. The individual height adjustment devices 12 can be driven synchronously. There is also the possibility of mechanically coupling the height adjustment devices 12 to one another via connecting shafts and belt drives in such a way that uniform adjustment is possible. The height adjustment devices 12 can, for example, be a vertically arranged threaded spindle 66 ( Fig. 6 ), with which a stepless height adjustment of the support frame 11 is possible.

In the example system according to Fig. 4 the right bundle forming unit with the associated pushing device 42 is out of operation. This saves energy and keeps wear and tear to a minimum. In this case, the three remaining bundle forming units with the associated units and pushing devices 42 are in operation and enable the bundling and strapping of wooden parts 5 which are significantly longer than in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG Fig. 3 . Since the bundle forming units, pushing devices 42 and strapping stations 41 are adjustable in the manner described along the bundle of wood parts, the straps can be attached in such a way that they have the same distance from the ends of the wood parts and, for example, a strap can be provided halfway along the wood parts 5. This also ensures optimal support of the long wooden parts 5, so that the wooden parts are prevented from sagging, which could lead to malfunctions.

The various drives for the lifting units 13, the support units 19 and the pushing devices 42 are connected to a controller. In a motion / speed profile is stored on the basis of which the

Movement or the speed of the corresponding drives can be controlled. Based on the stored profiles, the amount of acceleration, the maximum displacement speed and the amount of braking can be selected automatically for the specified system parts. The drives are advantageously servo drives. The respective profile depends on the maximum weight of the bundle to be produced. The maximum bundle weight is determined from the length and height of the wood parts, the number of lengths of the bundle to be produced, the width of the bundle and the wood density. The maximum wood density is permanently stored in the control.

The length and the thickness of the wooden parts 5 as well as the collar width are entered into the control for positioning the corresponding units. The number of layers in the bundle to be formed is entered in the control system before the bundle formation begins. Using this data, the control calculates the bundle weight and selects the associated profile.

Depending on the height of the bundle weight, the corresponding movement / speed profiles for the drives 14, 15, 18, 20, 51, 52 for the lifting unit 13, the support unit 19 and the pushing device 42 are selected. The lower the bundle weight, the faster the bundle can be moved, accelerated or decelerated. In this way, very reliable and highly productive bundling is achieved. With fixed speeds and accelerations, as is the case with conventional coil forming devices, the maximum coil weight is specified. Heavier weights can damage the fret forming facility. With lower weights, the ability of the fret forming device is not used and the optimum productivity is not achieved. With the fret formation device according to the invention, in comparison to conventional fret formation devices, bundles of higher weight can be formed without the fret formation device being unnecessarily or impermissibly loaded.

Claims (15)

1. Bundle forming device for elongated workpieces (5), in particular wood parts, comprising at least two bundle forming units with at least one transport device (4) for the wood parts (5) and at least one bundle forming station (39) with at least one support (17) for the bundle to be formed, which is part of a lifting device (13) which is adjustable in the vertical direction, wherein at least one bundle forming unit is adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the workpieces (5), characterized in that the bundle forming station (39) has at least one support unit (19) for the workpieces (5), which is adjustable transversely to the longitudinal direction of the workpieces (5) and which is provided with at least one tongue (21), which is adjustable under the stacked bundle formed in each case.
2. Bundle forming device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the support (17) of the lifting unit (13) and the tongue (21) of the support unit (19) lie next to one another in the longitudinal direction of the workpieces (5).
3. Bundle forming device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the region above the transport device (4) at least one downholder (34) extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the workpieces (5) is provided.
4. Bundle forming device according to one of Claims 1 to 3,
   characterized in that the transport device (4) and the downholder (34) are coupled to one another.
5. Bundle forming device according to one of Claims 1 to 4,
   characterized in that in the region above the transport device (4) at least one pressure unit (25) is provided, by means of which the workpieces (5) are loaded in the direction of the support (17) during formation of the bundle.
6. Bundle forming device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the pressure unit (25) is coupled to the transport device (4).
7. Bundle forming device according to one of Claims 1 to 6,
   characterized in that the downholder (34) and the pressure unit (25) are guided on a common carrier (31) .
8. Bundle forming device according to one of Claims 1 to 7,
   characterized in that in the case of several transport devices (4) all are jointly adjustable linearly vertically relative to the downholder (34).
9. Bundle forming device according to one of Claims 1 to 8,
   characterized in that the downholder (34) is connected to a side stop (35).
10. Bundle forming device according to one of Claims 1 to 9,
    characterized in that a stop (6, 6') lying in the transport direction (22) of the workpieces (5) is adjustable in the transport direction (22) to adjust different bundle widths transversely to the longitudinal direction of the workpieces (5).
11. Bundle forming device according to one of Claims 1 to 10,
    characterized in that the pressure unit (25), the side stop (35) and the support (17) lie approximately in alignment above one another in each horizontal position of the bundle forming station (48).
12. Bundle forming device according to one of Claims 1 to 11,
    characterized in that the bundle forming unit (39) is located downstream of at least one strapping station (41) .
13. Bundle forming device according to one of Claims 1 to 12,
    characterized in that the strapping station (41) is adjustable independently of the bundle forming unit in the longitudinal direction of the workpieces (5).
14. Method for bundling elongated workpieces, in particular wood parts, in which the workpieces are stacked into bundles by means of bundle forming units with a bundle forming device according to one of Claims 1 to 13,
    characterized in that respectively at least two bundle forming units simultaneously form respectively one bundle adjacent to one another from the workpieces (5).
15. Method according to Claim 14,
    characterized in that the bundle forming units can be switched on or off independently of one another.

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