KR20060038373A - Method and installation for securing articles by tightening straps around them - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for securing articles against theft. According to the inventive method, at least one strapping means (10) is tightened around an article (2) to be secured, whereby overlapping areas of the strapping means (10) are linked with each other. At least one electronically detectable securing element (21) is fed to the strapping means (10) in such a manner that the securing element (21) is included between the overlapping areas. The invention also relates to an installation (1) for securing articles against theft by tightening around them at least one strapping means (10) comprising a locking installation (18) for locking the overlapping areas of a strapping means (10) enclosing the article (2) to be secured. The installation further comprises a device for applying at least one electronically detectable securing element (21) to the strapping means (10) before the latter is closed.

Description

TECHNICAL AND INSTALLATION FOR SECURING ARTICLES BY TIGHTENING STRAPS AROUND THEM}

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method of protecting an object from theft, and more particularly, to a method of wrapping a loop around an object intended to protect at least one bundle means, and to glue the overlapping portions of the bundle means to each other, and at least one wound A device having a sealing means and a sealing device for sealing an overlapping portion of the binding means for winding an object to be protected.

Products for sale in stores tend to prevent theft by wrapping plastic bands around the package to prevent it from falling off the package and to prevent the clerk from being noticed.

Methods and devices for protecting objects by means of bundles are known, for example, from DE 195 16 043 A1 and the like. In the bundle described in this specification, the band carrying device shoots the plastic band at high speed toward a band holder which is partially wrapped around the object to be protected. So a loop is formed around the object. The free end of the band is held in the band holder and securely fixed. The band carrier then pulls the band in the opposite direction. This allows the loop to be pulled tightly around the object so that it fits snugly on the surface of the object. By the tensioning device, the band is taut and in that state the overlapping portion of the band is sealed by the sealing device.

It is also known to protect goods from theft with the aid of an electrically detectable security element, which is attached directly to the object to be protected or to its packaging. Such security elements include electrical, electronic and / or magnetic devices for emitting electrically detectable signals. Appropriate detection devices generate selective magnetic fields to stimulate security elements that emit specific signals. The detection device then receives this particular signal and generates a warning sound.

From EP 0 446 910 A1, for example, a security tag consisting of an electronically detectable, inert security element and a self-adhesive coating covering it is known. The inactive security element is a soft magnetic strip element that can be stimulated to emit a specific signal and supply the signal to a rectangular element of ferromagnetic material. The ferromagnetic material may be driven at saturation of a strong magnetic field, and the magnetic element may cause the soft magnetic material to stop responding so that the security device may be deactivated if the product is purchased correctly. This security element is attached to a strip that is peeled off for storage and transportation. Removing this stripping strip exposes the security element and allows the adhesive coating to adhere to the object to be protected. However, such a security tag has the disadvantage that it is relatively easy to fall away from the object to be protected or from its packaging.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus of the aforementioned type, which effectively and economically protect a protected object.

Through the method as mentioned above, this object is achieved by supplying at least one electronically detectable security element to the bundle means in such a way that the bundle means are sandwiched between the overlapping portions.

This method of the present invention ensures that the security element is not easily removed from the protected object. According to the invention, the security element is sandwiched between the overlapping portions of the binding means and, when removed, must be removed together with the entirety of the binding means. The security element attached to the package of the article can be easily removed like the security element attached to the binding means. However, the enclosing means are tightly sealed without being visible in the compartments in which they are superimposed and joined together so that the security elements embedded in said compartments of the enclosing means according to the invention cannot be removed. The joining of the overlapping portions is, for example, by welding, which results in very hard adhesion. In addition, the procedure of tying the protected object may be combined in one operation with the procedure of attaching a security element for monitoring an electronic product, thus making the overall high speed and low cost method.

Such security elements may include, for example, electromagnetic (EM), acoustic-magnetic (AM), radio frequency (RF) or radio frequency identification (RF-ID) elements. Thus, according to the invention, flat security elements such as strip-shaped security elements or thin film elements are preferred but various types of security elements can be used. These security elements are of the type that can be deactivated, which can be deactivated at the checkout counter when the cost of the item is paid. The use of a strip or thin film device further provides the advantage of thinning the layer thickness so that the devices can be integrated into the bundled device without any problem.

EM, i.e., where electromagnetic elements are used as security elements, the EM material is either a co-molded material or only activated in a plastic coating, which includes a strip element ("simple strip") as a deactivated element. It may be a material. The plastic coating is made of a plastic that can be fused with the plastic bands that make up the bundle and is co-molded and commercially available.

In a preferred aspect of the method of the present invention, a preparatory work is carried out by supplying a security element to the bundle means and pasting it to one of the overlapping portions before tying. Thus, when the tie means are tied, the security element is already attached to the tie means. This requires that the security elements are pasted at an appropriate position at the appropriate location of the binding means so that the security elements are arranged between the overlapping portions of the binding means when the binding means are joined to each other.

In a further preferred aspect of the method of the present invention, a preparatory work is made to supply the security element to the bundle means during the bundle and to position it in the middle of the overlap. This combines the task of supplying the security element with the tie-in operation, which allows the entire object protection task to be done all at once, making the process very economical.

Preferably, with this arrangement, at least one loop of tie means, which are weldable and made of band-shaped bundle material, is arranged to surround the unprotected material, so that a weld zone is formed at the overlapping portion of the band-shaped bundle material. And a security element coated with at least a portion of the meltable material between the overlapping portions of the band-shaped bundle material in the welding zone, wherein the bundle material and the coated security element are welded to each other in a loop Seal it. By welding the security element with the bundle material, a very tight bond is achieved which makes it practically impossible to remove the security element. Friction welding or ultrasonic welding treatment may also be used.

In a preferred aspect of the method of the present invention, the binding means is fed by a conveying device to a band guide surrounding at least a portion of the workpiece to be passed before or after the binding means are released from the supply reel to bind the binding material. Cut off the loop from the rest of the supply.

The security element may also be peeled off the supply reel wound in the form of a continuous strip and supplied in a bundle. In this process, one security element is cut in a continuous strip before or after putting it in the binding means.

Optionally, the security element may be present in strip elements cut to a custom size and supplied in a bundle at a time.

In the process of binding the to-be-protected object with the two bundle means, if the at least two security elements are attached to the to-be-protected object at an angle of 90 degrees to each other, the detection rate of the antenna of the detection device at the outlet of the store can be increased, thereby the present invention The efficiency of the method is further improved.

Further from the device of the first mentioned type, to achieve the object according to the invention, it comprises a device for attaching at least one electronically detectable security element to the bundle means before sealing the bundle means. With this attachment, the function of a conventional bundle device can be further improved by combining the security element supply operation with the bundle operation, ie combining the mechanical work element and the electronic security element work element in one device.

In such a configuration, the attachment device may comprise a distribution device for attaching the security element to one of the overlapping portions and incorporating it into the binding means. By means of a dispensing device such as a simple dispensing lip, the security elements can be attached to the bundle means before the bundle means is fed to the bundle operation, ie before being fired into the band guide of the bundle device. In this case, the apparatus of the present invention is controlled by the control unit so that the security elements are attached to the bundle means at a predetermined distance from each other at an appropriate position between the overlapping portions of the bundle means when the bundle means are joined to each other.

Optionally, the attachment device may comprise a positioning device capable of disposing a security element in the middle of the overlapping portion which needs to be incorporated in the binding means. The positioning device is constructed and adjusted in such a way that the security element enters between the upper and lower layers of the binding means just before the joining of the overlapping means of the binding means so that the security element is embedded between the two overlapping means of the binding means during and after the joining operation. Can be.

Preferably, the device of the present invention comprises a conveying device capable of supplying a weldable, band-shaped bundle material, ie a bundle means, to the band guide. The band guide is configured to at least partially surround the workpiece so that the tie means forms a loop around the workpiece.

The security element alone is cut to a custom size and placed in a magazine or wound on a supply reel as a continuous strip. In any case, the security element can be supplied quickly and frequently to the attachment device.

According to a preferred aspect of the device of the present invention, it may be provided with a supply device for pulling out the security element and supplying it to the attachment device.

When cutting the security element to a size substantially corresponding to the length of the overlapping portion with a cutting device, which is preferably a cutter, the security element is sized to be completely enclosed by the overlapping portion.

The sealing device can be, for example, a friction welding device or an ultrasonic welding device. In this case, the security elements are coated at least in part with a meltable material, and the tie means and the security elements can be welded to each other to achieve a very hard bond to substantially prevent the security element from being removed.

The security element is preferably a strip-shaped structure or disposed on a carrier web. The security element may include, for example, an electromagnetic (EM), acoustic-magnetic (AM), radio frequency (RF) or radio frequency identification (RF-ID) element.

If the attachment device comprises at least one idler roll and dispensing lip, the security element can be supplied and attached stably and quickly.

The device according to the invention can be operated particularly effectively and without inconvenience if the bundle means is wound on a feed reel as a band feeder and there is a cutting device for cutting the bundle means from the band feeder after the overlapping portions are joined together.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

2 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of the device of the present invention;

3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an apparatus for performing one embodiment of the method of the present invention;

4 is a perspective view of an article wound with a string;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the object of FIG. 4 tied with two strings; FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of two straps, similar to FIG. 5, showing the attachment of a security element made of EM material co-molded in accordance with detail A to a plastic bundle band.

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 shows an embodiment of the device 1 of the present invention for preventing theft of an article. The device 1 comprises a band guide 3 provided on a lower rail 4 with a table 5. The side rails 6, 7 and the upper rail 8 of the band guide 3 are arranged around the table 5 so that the object 2 placed on the table 5 is inside the band guide 3 boundary. do. The apparatus 1 of the present invention further comprises a supply reel 9 for the bundle means 10. This binding means 10 is a band 11 made of a weldable material, for example plastic. The bundle means 10 are unwound from the feed reel 9 by the feeder 12 and fed to the band magazine 14 via an idler roll 13. By the conveying device 15, the band 11 is launched from the band magazine 14 to the band guide 3 at high speed. The band 11 has its free end captured in the sealing zone 16 and fixed firmly in the correct position. The driving direction of the conveying device 15 is then reversed to pull the band 11 to wrap the object 2 in the form of a loop 17. Finally, the tie means 10, although not shown, are pulled tightly around the workpiece by a tensioning device, which may be a tension roller device, so that the loop 17 fits snugly against the workpiece 2. There is thus an overlap in the sealing zone 16 of the tie means 10 arranged in two opposite directions. The positioning device 20 is arranged immediately near the space 19 between the two overlapping portions of the binding means 10. The positioning device 20 is used to supply an electronically detectable security element 21 to the sealing zone 16. The positioning device 20 is of an adjustable type and can arrange the security element 21 between the overlapping portions of the bundle means 10. The security element 21 is attached to a carrier web 22 by an adhesive coating, which is wound on a supply reel 23. When the routing is made through the positioning device 20, the carrier web 22 having the security element 21 is released from the supply reel 23 by the supply roll 24. The positioning device 20 has a dispensing lip which detaches the security element 21 from the carrier web 22 at the end adjacent to the space 17 and attaches it to the lower part of the overlapping portions of the binding means 10. The security elements are kept there by the adhesive coating.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the security element 21 also attaches to the upper part of the overlapping portions of the binding means 10. In any case, in the embodiment of the apparatus 1 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, the security element 21 is supplied to the bundle means during the bundle operation and is disposed between the overlapping portions of the bundle means 10. When the security element 21 is between the overlapping portions of the binding means 10, the overlapping portions are overlapped by the sealing device 18. The sealing device 18 may be, for example, a friction welding device or an ultrasonic welding device which can seal the loop 17, that is, the bundle means 10 by welding weldable bundle materials to each other.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the security element 21 may be further covered with a meltable material which melts during welding of the overlapping parts with each other and makes a tight bond with the material of the binding means 10. After sealing the binding means 10, the security element 21 is embedded between the overlapping portions of the binding means 10 in a manner that is not visible from the outside and does not substantially separate from the binding means. In addition, the sealing device 18 preferably comprises a cutting device for cutting the sealed bundle means 10, ie the loop 17, from the residual bundle material, i.e. the band feeder. Upon completion of the process of the invention, the loop 17 completely encloses the object to be protected 2, wherein the loop 17 visually encloses the security element 21 between the overlapping portions of the binding means 10. It is built invisibly. In another embodiment of the present invention, the unprotected material 2 is rotated at a 90 degree angle and tied back so that two loops arranged at 90 degree angles to each other protect the unprotected material 2. If the two security elements are arranged at right angles to each other in this way, this embodiment can further increase the detection rate. The apparatus 1 of the present invention may further include a cutting device such as, for example, a cutter, the cutting device having a length corresponding to the length of the overlapping portion of the bundle means 10. 21) The length of the cutout of the security element should be slightly smaller than the length of the overlapping part to ensure that the security element 21 is completely embedded invisibly between the overlapping parts.

2 shows a further embodiment of the device 25 of the present invention for protecting the object 2. The device 25 is characterized in that the device for attaching the security element is essentially provided with a dispensing device 26 for attaching the security element 27 to the appropriate portion of the binding means 10 before the actual bundle operation. Is different from the apparatus (1). In this embodiment, the security element 27 is also arranged on the carrier web 28 which is unwound from the supply reel 30 by the supply roll 29. In this process, the carrier web 28 with the security element 27 is routed by a dispensing device 26 having a dispensing lip 31 at one end thereof. The security element 27 flakes off from the carrier web 28 at the dispensing lip 31 and attaches to the tie means 10, ie the band 11. Here, the device 25 allows the security element 27 to be attached to a part of the binding means 10 during the binding operation in which one part of the binding means 10 overlaps with another part of the binding means 10. It is to be controlled that 27 is embedded between the overlapping portions of the binding means 10. Thus, in the device 25 of the present invention, the security element 27 is supplied to the binding means 10 before the binding operation so that the security element 27 is attached to one of the overlapping portions. In order to adhere the security element to the carrier web 28 and the tie means 10, the security element 27 may be provided with an adhesive coating, for example. Alternatively, the overlapping portion may be coated with a meltable material that melts with the bundle material when it is joined so that the security element 27 is very tightly embedded so that it does not actually fall between the overlapping portions.

FIG. 3 shows a conventional tie arrangement 35 which equally includes a band guide 36 which surrounds the to-be-protected object 2 lying on the table 37. The bundle device 35 also includes a supply reel 38 for the bundle means 10 to be supplied to the band magazine 40 by the feed device 39. In addition, the tie means 10 are launched from the band magazine 40 to the band guide 36 via the conveying device 41 and sealed by the sealing device 42. Similar to the embodiment of FIG. 2, the security element 43 is supplied to the binding means 10 before the binding operation and sticks to the overlapping and coupled portions of the binding means 10 during the binding operation. To this end, in this embodiment, the security elements 43 are already attached to the bundle means 10 at predetermined appropriate intervals and wound on the supply reel 38 together with the bundle means. An advantage of this embodiment is that it is possible to use a conventional already existing bundle device 35 to carry out the method of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the to-be-protected object 45 of the present invention, showing a bundle means 46 which is roundly enclosed by the to-be-protected object. The enclosing means 46 has two parts 48, 49 of the enclosing means 46 overlapping parts 47. These parts 48 and 49 are made of a plastic material, in which the binding means 46 is preferably weldable, so that they are preferably welded together and tightly joined together. Sandwiched between the portions 48 and 49 is a strip-shaped security element 50 (shown in dashed lines) and is completely embedded between the overlapping portions 48 and 49 so that it is not visible from the outside. This to-be-protected object 45 is the package 51 of a product. The tie prevents opening the package 51 and removing the product, and the security element 50 prevents the product from leaving the store without permission.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment additionally secured by means of a tie 52 which is further different to the workpiece 45 of FIG. 4. Another security element 55 is embedded in the binding means 52 between the two overlapping portions 53, 54. Since the security elements 50, 55 are arranged at right angles to each other, they show a higher detection rate when the protected object moves through the surveillance zone.

In all the cases described above, the strip-shaped security element may be made of a co-molded EM material which is supplied from a separate supply reel in the longitudinal direction of the bundle means in a defined amount. However, it will be appreciated that the EM material may be supplied in other directions as desired. In all cases, the EM material enters between the top and bottom layers of the tie means, which are preferably plastic bands. The bundle means is melted together with the EM material with a welding head such as an ultrasonic head.

FIG. 6 shows the protection of the to-be-protected object 45 with two binding means 46 and 52 as shown in FIG. 5. Encased in the enclosing means 52 between the overlapping portions 53, 54 is a security element 55 made of co-molded EM material. FIG. 6 shows that not only the individual security elements 55 are put in the overlapping area, but also they can come out as shown in FIG. The foregoing description, in which the security element is embedded between the overlapping portions 53 and 54 or between other overlapping portions, does not mean that the security element cannot come out of the overlapping region.

The co-molded EM material has the following structure:

The interior of the plastic coating is a single device ("simple strip" in EP 0 921 942 B1), either as an inertable device or as a activating material. The plastic coating is made of a commercially available material that is co-molable plastic and can have any desired color or form.

The EM material is fed from the feed reel and cut into the proper length when introduced into the welding zone, or a security element already cut to a certain length is fed into the welding head at the same time. To this end, the conventional bundle device may be modified to suit this task.

Claims (20)

A method of winding the article around the workpiece with at least one bundle means and combining the overlapping portions of the bundle means with each other to prevent theft of the article. The security elements 21, 27, 43, 50, so that at least one electronically detectable security element 21, 27, 43, 50, 55 is embedded between the overlapping portions 48, 49, 53, 54. Supplying said bundle means (10,46,52) to the bundle means (10,46,52). The method according to claim 1, wherein the security elements (27, 43, 50, 55) are supplied to the bundle means (10, 46, 52) before the bundle operation, and among the overlapping portions (48, 49, 53, 54). And attaching to one side. The method according to claim 1, wherein the security elements (21, 43, 50, 55) are supplied to the bundle means (10, 46, 52) during the bundle operation, and the intermediate portions of the overlapping portions (48, 49, 53, 54) are provided. And positioning it in a. 4. A welding device according to claim 3, wherein at least one loop of tie means made of weldable band-shaped bundle material is arranged to surround the to-be-protected objects 2,45 to weld to the overlapping portion of the band-shaped bundle material. The overlapping portions 48, 49, 50 of the band-shaped bundle material of the welding zone are formed by forming a zone and coating at least a portion of the security elements 21, 27, 43, 50, 55 with a meltable material. , 55) and welding the bundle material and the coated security elements 21, 27, 43, 50, 55 to each other in the welding zone to seal the loop 17. How to. 5. A method according to claim 4, wherein friction welding or ultrasonic welding is used for the welding operation. The band guide (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the banding means (10,46,52) is enclosed by the conveying device (15) at least partially surrounding the object (2,45). 36 to pass the guide or to pass the loop 17 at the remaining feed amount of the bundle material before or after the bundle means 10, 46, 52 are released from the feed reels 9, 38 and joined. Method of cutting off. 7. The security elements as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the security elements (21, 27, 43, 50, 55) are peeled off from the supply reels (23, 30) wound in a continuous strip shape. A single security element (21,27,43,50,55) in the continuous strip before or after incorporation into the bundle means (10,46,52) and incorporated into the bundle means (10,46,52). Method of cutting off. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the security elements (43, 50, 55) are made into strip elements cut to fit-size and supplied to the bundle means (10, 46, 52) at once. Characterized in that the method. 9. The protective object (2, 45) is bundled with two binding means (10, 46, 52) and at least two security elements (21, 27, 43, 50). , 55 to each of the objects to be protected (2,45) at an angle of 90 degrees to each other. An apparatus having a sealing device for preventing theft by winding around at least one bundle means around a to-be-protected object, and sealing an overlapping portion of the bundle means surrounding the to-be-protected object, And an attachment device for attaching at least one electronically detectable security element (21,27,43,50,55) to said bundle means (10,46,52) before sealing. 11. The attachment device according to claim 10, wherein the attachment device attaches a security element (27, 50, 55) to one of the overlapping portions (48, 49, 53, 54) to incorporate into the bundle means (10, 46, 52). A dispensing device (26). 12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the attachment device arranges the security elements (21, 50, 55) in the middle of the overlapping portions (48, 49, 53, 54) to be incorporated in the binding means (10, 46, 52). And a positioning device (20). 13. The weldable band-shaped bundle material as the tie means (10,46,52) is arranged to at least partly surround the workpiece (2,45). And a conveying device (15) fed to the band guide (3). 14. The supply reel (23, 30) according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the security elements (21, 27, 43, 50, 55) are cut into custom sizes in a reservoir and placed alone or as a continuous strip. Apparatus characterized in that the wound on the. 15. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the security elements (21, 27, 43, 50, 55) are grasped and the security elements (21, 27, 43, 50, 55) are supplied to the attachment device. Apparatus characterized in that the supply device is provided. 16. The security element according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the security elements (21, 27, 43, 50, 55) are cut out to a size substantially corresponding to the length of the overlapping portions (48, 49, 53, 54). Is provided with a cutting device, preferably a cutter. 17. The device according to any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the sealing devices 18, 42 are friction welding devices or ultrasonic welding devices, and the security elements 21, 27, 43, 50, 55 are at least partially. Apparatus characterized by being coated with a meltable material. 18. The device according to one of claims 10 to 17, characterized in that the security elements (21, 27, 43, 50, 55) are of strip-shaped construction or are arranged on the carrier webs (22, 28). Device. 19. The device according to any one of claims 10 to 18, wherein the attachment device comprises at least one idle roll and a dispensing lip (31). 20. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 19, wherein the tie means (10, 46, 52) are wound on feed reels (9, 38) as band feeders, And a cutting device for cutting the bundle means from the band feeder after the overlapping portions are joined to each other.

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