JP2007522055A - Spool and spool assembly for winding up the transport tape of a bag chain stacked in a tape-type roof tile for packaging - Google Patents

Abstract

A spool for winding up an adhesive carrier tape of a packaging taped imbricated bag chain in an apparatus for taking up a succession of imbricated packaging bags including a core with a core surface and walls forming a race where turns of tape are wound up, wherein the core surface includes resilient means for releasing a radial pressure acting on the turns of tape that have been wound up first. Also, a spool assembly for winding up at least two adhesive carrier tapes of a packaging taped imbricated bag chain in an apparatus for taking up a succession of imbricated packaging bags includes at least two spools, each spool having a core surface and walls forming a race where turns of tape are wound up, wherein the core surface includes resilient means for releasing a radial pressure acting on the turns of tape that have been wound up first.

Description

  The present invention relates to the field of bag packaging, and more particularly, to a bag stacked in a tape-type tile shape. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved spool, i.e., a spool assembly that can be accommodated in a suitable cassette, for winding up an adhesive transport tape carrying a series of tiled bags.

  It has been known for many years to package foods such as meat fillets and chicken in suitable bags. Generally, a packaging bag is conveyed to a loading station in the form of a continuous bag of tiles. The bag is held in such a tile-like shape and is carried by using a pair of single-sided adhesive tapes. Generally, a series of bags are pulled toward a loading station while the tape is wound on a spool.

  GB 20644477 relates to a bag dispenser with tape, ie a device for delivering a bag from a series of bags connected together in a tiled arrangement on a pair of tapes. The back dispenser is connected to a starting point of the bag with the tape, a spool for winding the respective tape, and a device including a driving means for transmitting the movement to a differential gear that gives a rotational movement to the spool. Thereby, the spool can be rotated at different speeds so as to maintain substantially equal tension on the two tapes, so as to hold the bag in alignment. The detection means detects the presence or absence of a bag and is linked to a drive means that can include a sprocket and chain or a pneumatic ram.

  The dispenser according to GB 2064477 has the inconvenience that the differential gear is somewhat complicated, expensive and integral with the dispenser. Furthermore, the step of replacing the wound spool is quite complex and time consuming. As a result, the entire device for delivering the bag is stopped for a considerably long time.

  U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,412 assigned to the same assignee of the present application relates to a packaging method utilizing a series of taped bags with cassettes. A series of bags for supplying packaging bags to a bag loader includes bags that are stacked in tiles and conveyed by a pair of parallel conveying tapes wound on a cassette spool. All that is required by attaching a series of bags to a drive that intermittently feeds the bag is to place the cassette in the proper position so that the spool engages the parallel drive dogs. After operating the drive motor in this way, the dog is driven intermittently by driving the dog by the differential unit, and the tape is wound up. At the same time that a series of bags is completely consumed, it is possible to remove the cassette and replace it with a new cassette with tape outside the cassette to carry the tiled bags.

  While the cassette loading and unloading steps are simpler and more convenient than the spool in GB 20644477, the drive is still complex and the cassette is quite expensive.

  PCT Application No. EP03 / 10754 filed by the same applicant of the present application is a device for winding a series of tiled bags with tape and a bag train attached to a bag loader On how to do. An apparatus according to PCT application No. EP03 / 10754 comprises two transport tape winding spools arranged in the same axis and a differential gear unit arranged between the spools, The unit is configured to be detachably connectable to the bag loader shaft in use so that the two transport tapes can be wound onto the spool with equal tensile force. Advantageously, each spool has a recess on the surface facing the other spool, and the differential gear unit is arranged in the recess.

  Beginning with the apparatus according to PCT Application No. EP03 / 10754, the applicant felt that there was a need to provide an improved apparatus capable of winding longer tapes. In fact, bags are currently packaged in boxes and the like, and it is desirable to have a larger number of bags in the box. A larger number of bags results in a longer wound tape. It goes without saying that it is an advantageous feature to have a larger number of bags without having to change cassettes, because the loader plant is not stopped and the throughput is higher.

  Tapes commonly used for tiled bags with tape are made of polypropylene (though polyester may be used), with a width of about 6.0 mm and a thickness of about 0.1 mm. is there. One side of the tape is lined with an adhesive formulation to attach the bag. Currently, the length of the tape is about 50 m, which corresponds to about 1500 bags.

  Advantageously, the spool to be used in connection with PCT application No. EP03 / 10754 is made of a plastic material and has a cylinder core and a first extending outwardly at the first end of the cylinder core. A plurality of spokes and a second plurality of spokes extending outward at opposite ends of the core. The free ends of the first and second spokes are each connected by an outer ring. In other words, the first and second spokes form a race around which the adhesive tape is wound. Alternatively, a flat disk-like surface can be substituted for multiple spokes. Advantageously, the spool is made of two pieces that fit together. The lace is slightly wider than the tape.

  Applicants understand that when the first length of adhesive tape is wound on a spool, the tape turns are arranged together in a regular and basically systematic manner. is there. As the adhesive tape is wound under tension, each single turn creates a radial pressure in the underlying turn. As longer tape lengths are wound, the middle and outer turns create a higher radial pressure on the inner turns, increasing the number of turns and increasing the radial pressure. Get higher. Due to the high radial pressure, the winding tends to move axially and push the outer surface of the race (substantially defined by the spokes). As a result, the winding structure of the tape becomes messy and unstable. This results in the spool being deformed and possibly missing.

  With the above in mind, it is only possible to wrap a much shorter length of tape, corresponding to a significantly reduced number of bags, without risking the spool being blocked or broken.

  In the applicant's opinion, the problem of moving the tape in the axial direction while winding the tape is caused by several factors, such as the Euler's beam causing instability of the tape. Narrowness and the fact that fluid is inserted every time the tape is wound. In practice, each tape has a surface that is coated with a fluid adhesive material that provides significantly reduced adhesion. This results in the tape moving in the axial direction while the tape is being wound.

  Applicants studied such problems to find a solution. A possible way to solve the problem would be to have a stiffer and harder spool, which addresses the major need to have a cheaper and lighter spool Not what you want.

  Surprisingly, Applicants have discovered that a further possible solution is the radial pressure acting on the winding of the tape that was initially wound when such pressure reached an excessive number. In order to release this, an elastic means is provided on the core of the spool. In this way, the winding of the first wound tape is reduced or is subjected to substantially zero radial pressure.

  Therefore, according to the first aspect, the present invention provides a spool for winding an adhesive transport tape of a bag chain stacked in a tape-shaped roof tile for packaging, and winding a packaging bag stacked in a series of roof tiles. The spool includes a core surface forming a race around which the tape winding is wound and a core having a wall, the core surface being wound on the tape wound first. Elastic means for releasing the radial pressure acting on the rotation is provided.

  According to a first embodiment, the elastic means comprises at least one elastic protruding tongue.

  A plurality of protruding tongues with equally spaced elasticity are preferably provided on the core surface.

  According to one embodiment, the tongue basically touches the core surface.

  According to a further embodiment, the tongue is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the tangent to the core surface.

  In one embodiment, the thickness of the tongue decreases towards its free end.

  Advantageously, the tongue is molded with the core surface or part thereof.

  Preferably, the spool is at least partially made from a plastic material or the like.

  When the tongue is molded with the core surface, the core surface preferably comprises a suitable cavity at the bottom of each tongue.

  Alternatively, the tongue is made at least partially from metal or the like.

  According to a second embodiment, the elastic means comprises a continuous liner made of an elastic material.

  Advantageously, the elastic material comprises a rubber or foam plastic material. Preferably, the elastic material is a cellular material, and is either an open cell or a closed cell.

  Preferably, the spool comprises two separate parts that fit together to form an assembled spool.

  Preferably, each spool wall comprises two or more spokes extending radially outward from the core, the free ends of the spokes being connected by an outer ring.

  According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a series of tiled stacks of spool assemblies for winding at least two adhesive transport tapes of a continuous bag of tiled tape with packaging tape. And an assembly for winding the packaging bag, the assembly comprising at least two spools as described above.

  In a preferred embodiment, the assembly further comprises a differential gear unit disposed between the at least two spools, wherein the differential gear unit is configured to be removably connectable to a bag loader shaft in use. So that the two transport tapes can be wound on the spool with equal pulling force.

  Advantageously, each spool has a recess on the surface facing the other spool. That is, the differential gear unit is disposed in the recess.

  Preferably, each of the at least two spools is formed integrally with a bevel gear coaxial with the spool.

  Preferably, the differential gear unit comprises a core and at least one satellite pinion gear attached to the core and arranged to mesh with each bevel gear.

  Advantageously, the differential gear unit core comprises a fitting hole for fitting with the bag loader shaft.

  According to one embodiment, the assembly is housed in a housing, thus providing a cassette or the like.

  According to a third aspect, the present invention comprises a device for winding a series of tiled packaging bags conveyed by at least two conveying tapes, the devices having the same axial center as each other. At least two transport tape winding spools and a differential gear unit arranged between the spools, and the differential gear unit can be attached to and detached from the bag loader shaft when in use. Constructed so that they can be connected, so that the two transport tapes can be wound onto the spool with equal tension, the spool being as described above.

  The invention will become more apparent from the following description, given by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

  FIG. 1 a schematically illustrates how the present invention may be utilized for use with a bag loader machine 100. The bag row 50 includes a plurality of packaging bags 51a, 51b, and 51c that are arranged in a tiled manner on two parallel transport tapes 52a and 52b that are usually about one-half the width of the bag. Bags 51a, 51b and 51c are attached to tapes 52a and 52b by an adhesive. Tape ends 52 a and 52 b are coupled to the spool of spool assembly 10. The spool assembly 10 is manually attached to the shaft 112 of the bag loader 100 without using a tool, and the unit is configured to be detachably connected to the shaft when in use. This configuration may use snap-on fixtures, wing nuts, over center buckles, and the like. In either case, the unit can be attached by hand without the use of tools, so that a method requiring little time and skill can be used. The shaft 112 is rotated by the motor 110. Shaft 112 engages spool assembly 10 and drives the internal mechanisms of the assembly to wind up tapes 52a and 52b. When the tapes 52 a and 52 b are wound, the series of bags 51 a, 51 b and 51 c are brought closer to the bag loader machine 100. It is possible to remove and pack the continuous bags 51a, 51b and 51c from the tapes 52a and 52b while winding the tape.

  While pulling the bags 51a, 51b and 51c toward the bag loader 100, all that is required is that the opening of the bag that is normally oriented in the direction of travel is the same orientation relative to the bag loader 100 (ie, normally Keeping the tension of the two tapes 52a and 52b equal so as to maintain (in parallel to the bag loader), thereby allowing the bag to be automatically removed from the tape. In the present invention, this is done to ensure that the tapes 52a and 52b are at equal tension as the tapes 52a and 52b are pulled toward the bag loader around the rollers or securing pins 54a and 54b. By using the spool assembly 10. This is accomplished by the internal mechanism of the assembly 10 shown in FIGS.

  Next, a method of winding the transport tapes 52a and 52b with equal tension by the spool assembly 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 or FIG. The spool assembly 10 includes two transport tape winding spools 12a and 12b on which the tapes 52a and 52b of the bag row 50 are to be wound. Advantageously, as shown in FIGS. 1b and 2, the spools 12a and 12b are housed in a housing which provides a cassette 140 comprising, for example, first and second components 14a and 14b that are snap-fit to each other. The Slots 15 formed in first housing component 14a allow tapes 52a and 52b to be introduced into the housing so that one tape 52a can advance to spool 12a and the other tape 52b to spool 12b. It becomes. Two slots can be provided, one for introducing each tape 52a and 52b. When the tape is attached to the bag, the rollers or pins 54a and 54b are not required if the slots are located at the same distance as the tape is away. Tapes 52a and 52b are attached to spools 12a and 12b in any convenient manner, for example through holes in the outer flange of the spool and held in place by pins inserted into the holes from the outside. Tapes 52a and 52b are wound around spools 12a and 12b in the same direction.

  The spools 12a and 12b are arranged with the same axial center. Although each spool 12a and 12b is shown as having a central cutout 13, it is not necessarily true. Indeed, in order for the bag loader shaft 112 to reach the differential gear unit 20 coaxially arranged between the spools 12a and 12b, only one of the spools 12a and 12b needs a central cutout 13. The shaft 112 passes through the cutout portion 16, passes through the central cutout portion 13 of the spool 12 b, and meshes with the fitting hole 22 in the core 21 of the differential gear unit 20. Therefore, when the spool assembly is mounted on the bag loader, the spools 12a and 12b and the core 21 of the differential gear unit are coaxial with the shaft 112 of the bag loader.

  At least one bevel pinion 24 is installed in the core 21. In the preferred embodiment, there are four bevel pinions 24 arranged symmetrically around the outside of the core 21. The bevel pinion 24 is installed in the core so that the bevel pinion 24 can freely rotate around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fitting hole 22.

  The differential gear unit 20 is held almost coaxially with the spools 12a and 12b by being arranged in the recesses on the surfaces of the spools facing each other, so that the spools are close to each other and can contact each other. can do. By engaging the spool assembly with the shaft 112, the spools 12a and 12b and the core 21 of the differential gear unit can be axially aligned and held together. Alternatively, the spool and differential gear unit may be designed to snap together (or hold together) without the help of the shaft 112 so that only the shaft 112 engages the differential gear unit 20. it can.

  Each spool 12a and 12b includes an integrally formed bevel gear 26 (in the recess) that faces the other of the spools 12a and 12b and meshes with the bevel pinion 24 when the spool assembly 10 is assembled. In this way, when equal tension is applied to the tapes 52a and 52b and the bag loader shaft 112 rotates the core 21, the bevel pinion 24 does not rotate about its axis of rotation, and the entire core and spool assembly is shaft. The two spools 12a and 12b rotate at the same speed because they rotate about the longitudinal axis of 112 at the same speed. However, when the tension applied to one of the tapes 52a and 52b is reduced, one of the spools 12a and 12b around which the tape is wound rotates faster than the other spool. This occurs because the bevel pinion 24 begins to rotate and rotates until the tension of the tapes 52a and 52b wound around the spools 12a and 12b, respectively, is equal. In this way, it is possible to maintain the row of bags 50 in a certain orientation, and as the tapes 52a and 52b are taken up by the spools 12a and 12b of the assembly 10, the bags 51a and 51b are continuously tiled. And 51c arrive at the bag loader in the optimal orientation for removal from tapes 52a and 52b, respectively.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the spool assembly 10 is housed in a cassette 140 (see FIGS. 1b and 2). Although a door protecting the cassette 140 is shown in FIG. 1b, in practice this is not necessary.

  Cassette housing components 14a and 14b, spools 12a and 12b, and differential gear unit components can all be formed by injection molding a plastic material. This is inexpensive and the components produced in this way are easily durable enough to hold the entire bag train that can have hundreds of bags.

  The front end of each tape is connected to each spool, for example during transport, so that the entire bag chain 50 can be easily attached to the loader without having to first connect the tapes 52a and 52b to the spools 12a and 12b. Thus, the spool assembly or cassette is expected to be stored.

  The spool assembly 10 or cassette 140 can be reusable. In use, a machine operator attaches the next bag row to the spare cassette spool while the machine is operating using another bag row. When the other bag row is complete, the operator can replace the old cassette (or spool assembly) with a spare cassette and start the machine again. The used tape can then be removed from the first cassette and the cassette can be made reusable.

  4 to 8, the transport tape winding spool 12 (12 a or 12 b) according to the present invention includes a cylinder core 121 having a cylinder surface 122. Spokes 123 connected by outer ring 124 project radially outward from the edge of core surface 122. The spokes and outer ring form a wall 123 '. Clearly, the spokes can be replaced by a continuous surface that results in a continuous wall 123 '. The wall and core surface also form a lace 125 that the winding of the adhesive transport tape 52 takes up. Preferably, the spool 12 comprises two separate portions 127 and 128 that fit together to form an assembled spool. The first portion 127 can be, for example, a perforated protruding core 121 having a wall 123 ′ (which can be made from the spokes 123 and the connecting ring 124), while the second portion 128 (FIG. 6). And shown in FIG. 7) is essentially flat and may also comprise a spoke 123 and a connecting ring 124. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, many hooks 130 protrude from the second spool portion 128. When the spool is assembled by connecting the first and second portions 127 and 128, the hooks 130 enter the corresponding holes 130 'in the first portion 127.

  According to the present invention, the core surface 122 comprises elastic means 126 for relieving the radial pressure acting on the winding of the initially wound tape. According to a first embodiment, the elastic means 126 is in the form of at least one elastic protruding tongue 126. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of protruding tongues 126 having equally spaced elasticity are provided on the core surface 122.

  According to one embodiment, the tongue 126 essentially contacts the surface of the spool. Alternatively, the tongue is inclined to the spool surface at an acute angle with respect to the tangent. The angle at which the tongue is inclined relative to the tangential direction can be up to 30 °, preferably 5 ° to 30 °, more preferably 10 ° to 20 °, and even more preferably about 15 °. That is, the angles considered suitable for the present invention are 5 °, 10 °, 14 °, 15 ° and 20 °.

  According to one embodiment, the thickness of the tongue decreases towards the free end. This feature is provided to reduce the increased rigidity of the tongue, which tends to fit the core surface into the cylinder and correspondingly shrink the length of the tongue when pressure is applied. There is.

  Advantageously, the tongue is molded to the core surface 122 or part thereof. This is especially the case when the spool is made at least partly from a plastic material.

  Once the tongue is molded into the core surface 122, the core surface 122 preferably comprises a suitable cavity 129 at the bottom of each tongue 126 (see FIG. 11). Thus, the tongue can be easily formed into a single piece having a core.

  According to the present invention, the tongue 126 may be made of metal or the like.

  While excellent results can be achieved by arranging the tongues 126 at equal intervals, good performance can be obtained by providing a continuous liner of elastic material around the core surface. The liner can be made from rubber and is preferably made from air bubbles, ie a material that can be compressed under pressure. The cellular material may be “open cells” or “closed cells”. Any type of polymeric material that can foam and thus result in compressible cells can be used as appropriate. For example, polyethylene, polyurethane, polyester and the like.

  The operation of the tongue 126 will be described below with reference to FIGS. Since the tape is wound under tension, a radial pressure is generated in each winding of the tape. When the tape 52 having a significantly reduced number of turns is wound around the core 121, the tongue 126 is subjected to a significantly reduced pressure, and the tongue is substantially not bent. As the number of wound turns increases, the radial pressure acting on the tongue 126 increases accordingly and the tongue 126 bends. In this way, the tension and, as a consequence, the radial pressure in the first winding is partially released and the tape 52 does not move towards the race wall 123 '. This allows the number of turns on the spool to be increased considerably with respect to known spools and the general object of the invention is achieved.

  FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 10 but shows a cavity 129 at the base of the tongue 126. Such a cavity is advantageous for producing the tongue in a single piece with a core by a plastic injection molding process.

  Although the invention has been described above by way of example only, modifications are possible. In particular, as noted above, cassette 140 is not necessarily required for the function of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1a and 2. The structure of the cassette housing can vary.

It is a perspective view which shows a bag row | line | column provided with the spool assembly with which the bag loader was mounted | worn. It is a perspective view which shows a continuous bag provided with the cassette with which the bag loader was mounted | worn. It is an exploded view which shows the apparatus for winding up the packaging bag piled up on the series of tile shape of this invention. 2 is an exploded view of a spool assembly in a housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a top view of the 1st half spool by this invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a second half spool that fits into the first half spool of FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled spool according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a partial view of the first half spool of FIG. 4 under low pressure. FIG. 10 is a partial view similar to the partial view of FIG. 9 under higher pressure. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view similar to the partial view of FIG. 9.

Claims (23)

In a device for winding a series of packaging bags, a spool (12, 12a, 12b) for winding an adhesive transport tape (52, 52a, 52b) of a tape-type bag chain for packaging,
The spool (12, 12a, 12b)
A spool comprising a core (121) having a core surface (122) and a wall (123 ') forming a race (125) around which a winding of the tape (52, 52a, 52b) is wound,
Spool characterized in that the core surface (122) comprises elastic means (126) for releasing radial pressure acting on the winding of the initially wound tape (52, 52a, 52b) .   The spool according to claim 1, wherein the elastic means (126) comprises at least one elastic protruding tongue (126).   The spool of claim 2, wherein a plurality of equally spaced elastic protruding tongues (126) are provided on the core surface (122).   The spool according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the at least one tongue (126) essentially contacts the core surface (122).   Spool according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the at least one tongue (126) is inclined at an acute angle with respect to a tangent to the spool surface.   The spool according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the at least one tongue (126) is molded with the core surface or part thereof.   Spool according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the core surface comprises a cavity (129) at the bottom of the at least one tongue.   A spool according to claim 1, wherein the elastic means (126) comprises a continuous liner made of an elastic material.   The spool of claim 8, wherein the elastic material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of rubber and foamed plastic material. A spool assembly (10) for winding at least two adhesive transport tapes (52, 52a, 52b) of a packaging tape-type bag chain in a device for winding a series of packaging bags,
10. A spool assembly comprising at least two spools (12, 12a, 12b) according to any one of claims 1-9.   The assembly further comprises a differential gear unit disposed between the at least two spools, the differential gear unit being configured to be removably connectable to a bag loader shaft in use, thereby The assembly of claim 10, wherein two transport tapes can be wound on the spool with equal tensile force.   The assembly according to claim 11, wherein each spool has a recess on a surface facing the other spool, and the differential gear unit is disposed in the recess.   13. An assembly according to claim 11 or 12, wherein each at least two spools are integrally formed with a bevel gear coaxial with the spool.   14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the differential gear unit comprises a core and at least one satellite pinion gear attached to the core and arranged to mesh with each bevel gear.   15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the core of the differential gear unit includes a mating hole for mating with a bag loader shaft.   16. Assembly according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the assembly is housed in a housing and thus provides a cassette (140). A series of tape bags for packaging, the series comprising a number of bags and at least two adhesive transport tapes each having a free end,
A series of bags, wherein a free end of the tape is engaged with a spool of a spool assembly according to any one of claims 10 to 16. An apparatus for winding up a series of tiled packaging bags conveyed by at least two conveying tapes (52, 52a, 52b);
The device is
At least two transport tape winding spools (12, 12a, 12b) arranged with the same axial center, and
A differential gear unit disposed between the spools;
With
The differential gear unit is configured to be detachably connectable to a bag loader shaft in use, whereby two transport tapes can be wound on the spool with equal tension Because
Device, wherein the spool is according to any one of claims 1-9.   19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein each spool (12, 12a, 12b) has a recess on the surface facing the other spool, and the differential gear unit is arranged in the recess.   20. An apparatus according to claim 18 or 19, wherein each spool (12, 12a, 12b) is integrally formed with a bevel gear coaxial with the spool.   21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the differential gear unit comprises a core and at least one satellite pinion gear attached to the core and arranged to mesh with each bevel gear.   The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the core of the differential gear unit comprises a mating hole for mating with a bag loader shaft.   23. Apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 22, wherein the spool and differential gear unit are housed in a cassette.

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