GB2148840A - Packaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for securing a loop of tape around a package to secure the package has a flat top panel 12 on which the package is supported and in which a U-channel 14 is formed. A crimping head 18 is located in an opening (16) in the panel intersecting the channel (14) together with a tape clamp 34 and a tape guide. A seal 21 is placed in the crimping head and the tape 30 fed from below into the opening through the guide and seal 21. The package is then placed over the crimping head and the tape drawn around the package and fed again through the sleeve 21 to form a loop. The free end region of the tape is then clamped by the clamp 34 and the tape drawn taut around the package. The seal 21 is then crimped to secure the tape loop while at the same time the loop is cut from the feed tape and the clamp 34 released. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Packaging apparatus The present invention relates to packaging apparatus.

Where items are industrially packaged, for added security a non-adhesive tape of plastics or similar material is normally wrapped around the package with the two free ends of the tape being secured together by means of a metal seal which is crimped about the over lapping ends of the tape.

Before the seal is crimped the tape is drawn taught about the package and, after crimping, any excess tape is cut off relatively close to the seal.

The crimping is normally effected either by hand using a hand tool or by machine. The hand tools which are used are cumbersome and slow to operate while the machines which are available are expensive, electrically powered machines which have not proved very reliable and which cannot normally be freely moved about. In addition, the machines are not fully automatic and an attendant operator is still required.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved packaging apparatus.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for securing a loop of tape or the like around a package, the apparatus comprising: clamp means for receiving and clamping a seal about said tape; support means for supporting the package above said clamp means; means for feeding a free end of said tape from a source of tape along a feed path through said seal for enabling an operator to draw said tape around the package and pass said free end again through said seal to form a loop around the package; means for securing said tape adjacent said free end on the side of said seal remote from said tape free end for enabling said tape loop to be drawn taut about said package; actuating means operable for actuating said clamp means to deform said seal to secure said tape in said loop; and means for severing said secured loop of tape from said source.

In one embodiment of the invention the apparatus is manually operated and the clamp means serve to crimp the seal in position about the tape.

The apparatus also includes cutting means to sever any trailing length of tape.

The present invention is further described herein after, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crimping head of one embodiment of apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a further perspective view in the direction of arrow A of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a cross-section through a seal for use with the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2.

The preferred form of packaging apparatus 10 partially illustrated in the drawings has a housing (not shown) which supports a top panel 12 partially shown in dotted lines. The top panel 12 has a U-shaped channel 14 running along the centre of the panel and intersected by a generally rectangular opening 16 exposing a crimping head 18 of the apparatus.

The crimping head 18 comprises two jaws 20 each of which is formed by a number of vertical elongate parallel jaw 10 plates 22. The lower ends of the jaw plates 22 are pivoted to and interleaved with a number of levers (not shown). The levers are arranged in two sets, one for each jaw, with the free ends of the levers being interconnected by a pivot pin (not shown) such that the 15 two sets of levers form respective limbs of a V. The pivot pin is coupled to a manually actuable lever such that movement of the lever in a first direction raises the pivot pin which in turn, through the action of the levers, causes the jaws 20 to pivot about further pivot points adjacent their upper ends to move the upper ends of the jaws towards one another. Reverse movement of the manually actuable lever opens the jaws.

The space between the jaws 20 is capable of receiving a seal 21 of the form shown in cross-section in Figure 3. When a seal is placed between the jaws and the jaws are actuated they close to crimp the seal, which is made of metal, to packaging tape which has previously been passed through the seal.

The apparatus also has a device 24 for feeding packaging tape from a roll suitably positioned in the housing to the clamping head 18. The device 24 comprises two rollers 26 and 28 arranged with with their axes generally vertically spaced and parallel. The rollers are positioned on respective axles whose spacing is sufficient to ensure a reasonable contact pressure between the two rollers. The tape 30 is conveniently fed along an S-shaped path around the lower roller 28, between the two rollers and then around the upper roller 26 along a feed chute 32 to the clamp head 18. The feeding of the tape 30 is effected manually by means 15 of a handle (not shown) connected to the axle of the upper roller 26. The roller 26 is preferably knurled while the lower roller is conveniently nylon or similar material.

In use, a seal is first placed in position between the two jaws 20. The package to be bound is placed over the clamp head and the tape 30 then fed to the clamp head 18 and through the seal. The tape is then guided by an operator around the package and then back through the seal to provide a complete loop of tape about the package. The free end region of the tape, immediately before the seal, is clamped by means of an over-centre lever action clamp 34 which is manually actuated by the operator.

This prevents the end of the tape from being withdrawn through the seal when the operator rewinds the tape to draw it taut about the package.

Once the tape is drawn taut the jaws 20 are actuated to crimp the seal to the tape. At the same time, actuation of the jaws also raises a knife blade 36, supported by levers 38 to sever the looped tape from the tape roll. On return of the handle which actuates the jaws 20 the former, through a connected cam surface (not shown) trips the over centre clamp 34 to release the latter. Since the looped tape is under tension, having been drawn taut prior to crimping, the tape contracts tightly against the package drawing the sleeve from the clamping head 18.

To assist feeding of the tape through the seal a gate 40 is provided. The gate 40 is slidable laterally of the channel 14 and has a generally rectangular opening 42, the edges of which are chamfered to assist in guiding the tape to the seal. The gate is coupled to the clamping device 34 so that actuation of the clamping device 34 slides the gate 40 laterally of the channel 14 to bring a different portion of the opening 42 into register with the seal depending on whether the clamping device 34 is actuated or released. That portion of the opening 42 which is in register with the seal when the clamping device 34 is released is bounded along an upper edge by an extension finger of the guide plate 40. This extension finger is provided to ensure that the tape 30 is guided from the guide chute 32 into the seal since, because the tape is fed from below the seal, without the extension finger there would be a tendency for the tape to rise above the seal. When the clamping device 34 is actuated the guide plate 40 is moved in the direction of arrow B of Fig. 2 to bring into register with the seal that portion of the opening 42 which opens into the upper edge of the guide plate 40. When the clamping device 34 is released after the seal has been crimped the tension in the tape looped around the package is such that the tape is drawn upwardly from the opening 42 before the action of releasing the clamping device 34 slides the guide plate across to bring the extension finger over the tape path.

Claims (10)

1. Apparatus for securing a loop of tape or the like around a package, the apparatus comprising: clamp means for receiving and clamping a seal about 5 said tape; support means for supporting the package above said clamp means; means for feeding a free end of said tape from a source of tape along a feed path through said seal for enabling an operator to draw said tape around the package and pass said free end again through said seal to form a loop around the package; means for securing said tape adjacent said free end on the side of said seal remote from said tape free end 15 for enabling said tape loop to be drawn taut about said package; actuating means operable for actuating said clamp means to deform said seal to secure said tape in said loop; and means for severing said secured loop of tape from said source.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said severing means is actuable responsively to operation of said actuting means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said actuating means is coupled to said securing means whereby operation of said actuating means to release said clamp means releases said securing means.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising guides means adjacent said clamp means for guiding said tape along said feed path into said seal.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said guide means comprises a guide finger movable between a first position wherein said finger overlies said feed path 15 for deflecting said tape free end downwardly and into said seal and a second position clear of said feed path.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said guide means is actuable responsively to actuation of said clamp means to move said guide finger into said second position whereby severing of said tape and releasing of said clamp means allows said tape loop and seal to resile clear of said guide means and against the package.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said guide means is actuable responsively to release of said clamp means to move said guide finger towards said first position.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 wherein said feeding means comprises roller means rotatable in a first direction to feed said tape from said source and through said seal and a second, reverse direction to draw said tape loop taut around said package.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any of claim 1 to 8 wherein said support means has a substantially planar support surface and a channel formed in said surface to enable said tape to pass freely under the package; said clamp means, said severing means and said guide means are located in an opening in said support means intersecting said channel; and said feeding means is located vertically below said channel, said feed path extending from said feeding means upwardly into said opening.

10. Apparatus for securing a loop of tape or the like around a package, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.