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The invention relates to a wrapping station, in particular for wrapping pallets by a wrapping machine associated with a vehicle with an automatic guidance system (AGV) and with suitable means to be able to transfer pallets.
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This station ensures the wrapping machine is more efficient in wrapping operations as it saves time and energy and increases productivity. For the provider of AGV programming services, it standardizes those services which in turn allows quick installation and consequently a decrease in prices.
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The sector that uses the technique is that of wrappers in vehicles with an automatic guidance system.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
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Wrapping machines that are mounted on a transportable support such as a pallet truck to facilitate wrapping operations have been known for years. In this way, it is the wrapping machine that goes to the load to be wrapped and not the other way around, making wrapping processes more agile.
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This type of wrapping machine has been incorporating a series of improvements in order to give them greater autonomy.
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The applicant himself is the holder of patents such as
EP2851305 relating to a system for fixing the film at the beginning of the wrapping cycle and cutting it at its end or
EPO61712504 relating to a device with the same functions as the one above, but for portable machines, taking advantage of the gap between the runners.
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The applicant is also the holder of the application
EP23163543.4 relating to a wrapping machine with a reinforced structure suitable for handling, among other things, higher film loads allowing greater productivity without the need for intervention to replace the spools.
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There are several patents of the applicant that improve various aspects of wrapping machines to increase their autonomy by reducing human intervention in wrapping processes, however no patent is known relating to a station with specific arrangements of the load suitable for optimizing such processes.
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Currently, in the wrapping processes involving AGV vehicles that support wrappers, these vehicles go to the load to be wrapped, which generates traffic within the warehouses and an interaction with fixed elements (corners, corridors or doors, etc.) and mobile elements, other machines or people, which means such machines must travel at a very reduced speed to avoid accidents.
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To do this, they require a customized installation project for each customer with the particularities of each one. For example, reflective markers need to be installed, usually retro-reflectors, anchored to customer elements, vehicle navigation must be programmed specifically for each customer's facilities or a traffic control must be in place to manage several vehicles, among many other things. This makes installation very expensive and technically very complex, with many obstacles and over extended periods of time.
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To this must be added that sometimes the load is in areas where, for lack of sufficient space, it is not possible to start the wrapping so the load must be moved to another, more spacious area.
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It should also be borne in mind that mobile wrapping machines may require assistance (due to a stop, film running out, or some other reason) and the operator must go there to solve the problem. These places are sometimes far from where the goods are stored or far from the operator, with the consequent loss of time.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
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To solve the aforementioned problems, a standardized wrapping station suitable for any type of company with minimum space requirements and without requiring prior pre-installation is proposed.
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The wrapping station comprises an area delimited around its perimeter, accessible from the outside. We will call accessible either an area that allows the easy entry and exit of pallets either because it is flush with the ground that surrounds it or because it has ramps or forklifts for access. The interior space of this area is divided into:
A suitable storage area where the pallets pending wrapping are duly arranged and at a predetermined distance from each other, with respect to the perimeter and, the already wrapped pallets are awaiting removal, usually by a device external to the wrapping station.
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A wrapping area, where the wrapping cycle is executed, this area being where the pallets are wrapped by a wrapping machine mounted on an AGV vehicle.
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A rolling area where the AGV carries out the manoeuvres to face each pallet to be wrapped.
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These areas are arranged next to each other within the aforementioned perimeter.
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The wrapping station also comprises markers that aid the navigation of the AGV. In a preferred embodiment, these markers are retro-reflectors, supported in columns on both sides of the storage area, preferably on both sides of the waiting pallets. Also preferably the pallets in the deposit zone are arranged in a row, aligned between the markers.
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The wrapping station also comprises a wrapping machine arranged on an AGV vehicle, this AGV vehicle preferably being provided with means for moving the pallets, such as a pallet truck.
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In a preferred embodiment the wrapping machine is of the type with two inverted L-shaped arms, the outside being fixed and fastened at the bottom to the vehicle while the inside, which carries the spool, rotates on an axis arranged at its horizontal end, this axis being joined to the outer arm. In this way the spool, attached to the rotating inner arm, orbits around the pallet executing the wrapping cycle.
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For wrapping the pallets, they must have a sufficient free area around them for the wrapping machine to approach and execute the wrapping cycle. The pallet is arranged within that free zone during the wrapping cycle.
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In one possible embodiment, the wrapping area and the deposit area may overlap, occupying the same space. This may be the case provided that the free space available around each pallet in the storage area is sufficient to execute the wrapping cycle.
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In another possible embodiment, the pallets in the deposit area do not have enough free space around them for the wrapping cycle to be executed so, prior to the start of the wrapping cycle, the AGV moves the pallet to be wrapped to a wrapping area that is different from the deposit area and, once the wrapping cycle is over, the pallet is brought back to the deposit area for handling and removal by other systems or devices.
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In this way, the navigation of the AGV vehicle carrying the wrapping machine is very simple to program since, with small nuances, it can be standardized for all companies that require wrapping processes.
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From the tests carried out, a space of 9x6 metres has been considered sufficient for the installation of an efficient station, in the event that the wrapping occurs without the need to move the pallet from its deposit area, or 7x5 metres whereby the pallets are very close to each other in the deposit area and a pallet has to be moved out of the row and taken to the wrapping area to, ensure enough space for the wrapping cycle. However, the dimensions depend on the number of pallets in storage as well as the dimensions of the pallets, and the fact that there may be stations of different numbers of pallets. However, a preferred embodiment is considered to be between 3 and 7 pallets.
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In a preferred embodiment, the wrapping station is placed on the floor of the hall or warehouse, with no major requirements, and in any case it is preferably on the same level as the rest of the facility's floor allowing pallets to be easily moved in and out using pallet trucks.
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It is understood that the wrapping station is coplanar, when no additional lifting device is required to move pallets from the floor of the hall or warehouse to the floor of the wrapping station. The pallet trucks or transport vehicles themselves can handle any potential differences in height.
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A station of this type is fed by other types of machines, automatic or not, wrapping lines, or pallet trucks moved or guided by operators who deposit the pallet in the deposit area and, once wrapped, remove it without interfering with the wrapping operations or with the movements of the AGV vehicle that carries the wrapping machine.
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This optimizes the time and work of the wrapping machine on an AGV since its movements are minimal, thus increasing its wrapping productivity.
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It also simplifies the programming of the AGV navigation systems as the navigation requirements can be largely standardized, the required navigation is much less complex, given that it takes place in a small, confined space, rather than across the entire facility. This also eliminates the risks associated with traffic and interactions between the AGVs and operators or other machinery.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
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- FIGURE 1 schematically shows an embodiment of the wrapping station, wherein we find the perimeter (1) and, within it, the deposit area (2), the wrapping area (3) and the running area (4) through which the wrapping machine (5) manoeuvres in search of the pallets (6). This figure also shows the markers (7).
- FIGURE 2 shows one of the pallets moved to the wrapping area (3) and once the wrapping cycle is completed, it will return to its place in the deposit area waiting to be removed.
- FIGURE 3 shows a configuration where the separation between pallets in the deposit area is greater so they can be wrapped in that same area, whereby this configuration fulfils the double function of deposit area and wrapping area.
DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT TO THE INVENTION
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A description of an embodiment to the invention is given below that is not unique or limiting, but merely as an example.
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The wrapping station comprises an area inside a room, that area being level with the rest of the floor of the room. The area is rectangular and measures 7 x 5 meters and is delimited by a perimeter (1).
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This area is internally divided into three transverse areas; deposit area (2), wrapping area (3) and running area (4).
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The deposit area (2) occupies one of the ends of the area, being accessible from any of its sides.
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This area has three exempt sides, while the fourth is the border with the wrapping area (3).
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The markers (7) are arranged on the outside of the perimeter on the free sides facing the deposit area. The markers comprise retro-reflectors.
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The pallets waiting (6) to be wrapped or already wrapped, are arranged in the deposit area between the markers, aligned and distributed in a regular manner, that is, with essentially equal distances between each of them and between the end pallets and the perimeter.
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The wrapping area occupies the central strip of the area and comprises enough free space in which to execute the wrapping cycle, i.e. its minimum width is equal to the width of the free space required to execute the wrapping cycle, while its length is equal to the width of the area.
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This wrapping area is accessible from all sides.
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At the opposite end of the wrapping area is the running area (4), where the AGV carrying the pallet wrapper (5) performs the necessary manoeuvres to position itself and approach each pallet to be wrapped, or remains parked while waiting for the next wrapping cycle.
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This AGV carrying a wrapping machine (5) has autonomous wrapping systems, including the start and end of the wrapping cycle as well as the cutting and sealing of the film, which allows the wrapping cycle to be carried out completely autonomously, avoiding the possible risks associated with human handling.
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Furthermore, the AGV vehicle has pre-programmed instructions for its operation within the palletizing station. It picks up each pallet from the storage area, transports it to the palletizing station, performs the palletizing cycle, and once the cycle is complete, returns the palletized load to the storage area for handling by other equipment.
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As explained, the wrapping station is flush with the floor of the rest of the facility where it is located and is accessible from any of its sides. However, if a perimeter fence, even a partial one, were deemed necessary for safety reasons, this could be easily implemented without any further requirements other than ensuring the smooth flow of pallets in and out of the packaging station.