MXPA05012269A - 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

METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR HOLDING ITEMS WHEN LOOSING STRIPS AROUND THEM DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY This invention relates to a method for protecting objects against theft, in which at least one strapping means is linked around an object to be fastened, joining overlapping portions of the strapping means, and to an apparatus for the protection of objects against theft by surrounding them with at least one strapping means, with a sealing device for sealing the overlapping portions of a strapping means surrounding the object to be fastened. Increasingly, merchandise items offered for sale in retail outlets are being protected against theft by wrapping plastic bands around the merchandise packaging in order to prevent the merchandise from being removed from its packaging and carried beyond the cash register without realizing it. A method and an apparatus for securing articles by means of strapping is known, for example, from DE 195 16 043 A1. In a strapping machine described in this specification, a band conveying device triggers a high speed plastic strip towards a band guide partially surrounding the object to be fastened. With this, a loop is formed which is placed around the object. The free end of the band is captured by a band holder and securely fixed in place. The web transport device subsequently retracts the web in the opposite direction. This causes the loop to be stretched around the object, staying tight against its surface. By means of a tensioning device, the band is tensioned and subsequently, in a tensioned condition, it is sealed through a sealing device in a section of overlapping portions of the band. Furthermore, it is known to protect items of merchandise against theft with the aid of electronically detectable security elements which, as a rule, are applied to the package or directly to the object to be fastened. Said security elements contain electrical, electronic and / or magnetic devices to emit an electronically detectable signal. Suitable detection devices produce alternating magnetic fields which excite the security element to emit a characteristic signal. This characteristic signal is subsequently received by the detection devices causing them to produce an alarm. From EP 0 446 910 A1, for example, a security label is known which is formed by an electronically detectable security element, which can be deactivated and a self-adhesive coating covering it. The deactivatable safety element is a soft magnetic strip element capable of being excited to emit the characteristic signal and apply it to rectangular elements of a hard magnetic material. The hard magnetic material can be brought to saturation through a strong magnetic field and, due to its magnetization, prevents the soft magnetic material from responding, so that the safety element can be deactivated when the goods purchased correctly. This security element adheres to a detachment strip for storage and transportation purposes. When the release strip is removed, the security element with the adhesive coating then exposed can be adhered to an object that will be fastened. However, said security tag has the disadvantage of being relatively easy to detach from the object to be fastened or from its packaging. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus of the type initially referred to which provide effectiveness and economy in securing the objects that will be protected. From a method of the type initially referred to, this objective is fulfilled according to the invention by feeding at least one electronically detectable security element to the bending means in such a way that the security element is enclosed between the overlapping portions. With this approach to the invention, it is ensured that the security element can no longer be easily removed from the attached article. According to the invention, the security element is enclosed between overlapping portions of the strapping means, which means that all the strap has to be removed to also remove the security element. A security element attached to the packing of the merchandise can be removed as easily as a fixed security element on the strapping means. However, the strapping means are sealed invisibly and fixed in a section of the overlapping portions, which in this section, are joined, so that a security element can not be removed which according to the invention is enclosed in this particular section of the strapping means. The joining of the overlapping portions can be carried out, for example, by welding, through which a very firm bond is obtained. In addition, the method for strapping the object to be fastened can be combined with the procedure for applying a security element for electronic surveillance of articles in one step, giving as a global result a very fast and low-cost method for the protection of articles. The security elements involved may include, for example, electromagnetic (EM), acousto-magnetic (AM), radio frequency (RF) or radio frequency identification (RF-ID) elements. Therefore, according to the invention, different types of security elements can be used, with flat security elements being preferred, such as security elements in the form of a strip or thin film elements. These can be of the deactivatable type, which allows them to be deactivated in the cash register when the merchandise has been duly paid. The use of strip or thin film elements, in addition, offers the advantage of having a thin layer thickness that allows them to be integrated into the strip without problems. In cases where EM elements, ie electromagnetic elements, are used as security elements, the EM material can be a coextruded material containing within a plastic coating, a strip element ("single strip") as deactivatable element or only active material. The plastic coating is made of commercially available coextrudable plastics capable of being fused with a plastic band from which the strip can be formed. In an advantageous aspect of the method of the invention, provision is made for the security element to be fed to the strapping means before the binding operation and to be applied to one of the overlapping portions. Accordingly, the security elements may already be fixed in the strapping means when this is brought into the engaging operation. This requires that the security elements be applied to the strapping means at suitable locations at a predetermined relative distance to ensure that they are placed between the overlapping portions of the strapping means when the latter are joined. In another advantageous aspect of the method of the invention, provision is made for the security element to be fed to the strapping means during the binding operation and to be placed between the overlapping portions. This combines the operation of feeding the security elements directly with the crimping operation, so that the complete fastening of the object occurs in one step resulting in an extremely economical procedure. This arrangement advantageously provides that as a binding means, at least one loop made of weldable binding material, in the form of a band, is arranged in surrounding relationship around the object, with the overlapping portions of the band-shaped binding material forming an area of welding, and that a security element coated at least in part with a meltable material is introduced between the overlapping portions of the band-shaped binding material in the welding zone, followed by welding of the binding material and the security element between yes in the welding zone, thus sealing the loop. When the safety element is welded with the crimp material, a very firm connection is established making it practically impossible to remove the safety element. For welding, a friction welding or ultrasonic welding procedure may be employed. In an advantageous aspect of the method of the invention, it is further provided that the strapping means is fed by means of a conveying device to a band guide which surrounds the object at least in part and is routed through said guide, and / or that the strapping means is removed from a supply spool and the loop is separated from the remaining supply of strapping material before or after the joining operation. The security elements can be detached from a supply reel, on which they are wound in the form of a continuous strip, and fed to the strapping means. In the method, a simple security element is separated from the continuous strip before or after it is enclosed within the strapping means. Alternatively, the security elements can be presented as strip elements cut to size and fed to the strapping means one at a time. When the object to be fastened is tied with two half-strapping means and in the procedure at least two safety elements are fixed to the object at an angle of 90 degrees one with respect to the other, then the detection rate of the antennas can be increased of the detection device at the exit of the sales room, allowing the effectiveness of the method of the invention to be further improved. From an apparatus of the type initially referred to, the objective is carried out according to the invention, since it includes a device for applying at least one electronically detectable safety element to the strapping means before it is sealed. With this applicator, the function of a conventional strapping machine can be further developed in an advantageous manner to allow a combination of the feeding of security elements with the binding operation, that is, an application of mechanical and electronic security elements within an appliance. In this arrangement, the applicator may include an assortment device adapted to apply a security element to one of the overlapping portions for integration into the strapping means. Through said assortment device, for example, a simple assortment nozzle, the security elements can be applied to the strapping means before it is fed to the crimping operation, ie fired on the strap guide of the strapping machine. . In this case, it is necessary that the apparatus of the invention be controlled by a control unit so that the safety elements are applied to the strapping means at suitable locations and at predetermined relative distances so that they are disposed between the overlapping portions of the strapping means when these they join. Alternatively, the applicator may include a positioning device with which a security element that will be integrated into the strapping means may be placed between the overlapping portions. This positioning device is arranged and adjustable in such a way that a safety element is inserted between the upper and lower layer of the strapping means immediately before the joining of the two overlapping portions thereof, so that the safety element is enclosed between the two overlapping portions of the strapping means during and after the joining operation. Preferably, the device of the invention includes a conveying device by means of which a band-shaped binding material can be fed to a band guide as the strapping means. The band guide is arranged so as to surround the object at least partially, so that the strapping means forms a loop around the object to be fastened.

The security elements can be arranged alone and cut to size in a tank or rolled onto a supply reel as a continuous strip. In any case, the applicator can be fed quickly and at short intervals. In an advantageous aspect of the apparatus of the invention, a feeding device is also provided for collecting the security elements and feeding them to the applicator. In cases where a cutting device, preferably a cutter, is provided, which cuts the security elements to a size approximately corresponding to the length of the overlapping portions, the security elements are presented in a size in which they can be be completely enclosed by the overlapping portions. The sealing device can be, for example, a friction welding device or an ultrasonic welding device. In these cases, when the security element is coated with at least partially meltable material, then the binding material and the security element can be welded together, so that a very firm connection is established which practically prevents the security element is removed. The security elements preferably have a strip-shaped configuration and / or are arranged on a carrier tape. The security elements may include, for example, electromagnetic (EM), acousto-magnetic (AM), radio frequency (RF) or radio frequency identification (RF-ID) elements. When the applicator comprises at least one tension roller and an assortment nozzle, the security elements can be applied and fed in a fast and reliable manner. A particularly effective operation and not susceptible to problems of the device of the invention is ensured when the strapping means is wound onto a supply reel as a band supply and a cutting device is provided which cuts the strapping means from the band supply. after their overlapping portions have been joined. In the following, the present invention will be explained in more detail by way of example with reference to the figures of the attached drawing. In the drawing: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of the invention apparatus; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of an apparatus of the invention; Figure 3 is a schematic representation of an apparatus for carrying out an embodiment of the method of the invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view of an object wrapped with a strap; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the object of Figure 4 with double crimp; and Figure 6 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 5, of an object with double crimp, with a security element made from co-extruded EM material that is applied to a plastic crimp band in accordance with the Detail view A. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of an apparatus 1 of the invention for protecting an object 2 against theft. The apparatus includes a band guide 3 provided in its 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 an object 2 placed under the table 5 is within the limits of the band guide 3. The apparatus 1 of the invention further includes a supply reel 9 for the strapping means 10. The strapping means 10 involved is a band 11 which can be made of a weldable material, for example, plastics. The strapping means 10 is stretched from the supply reel 9 through a feeding device 12 by a tension roller 13 and fed to a band reservoir 14. By means of a conveying device 15, the strip 11 is fired at high speed. speed from the band reservoir 14 to the band guide 3. The free end of the band 11 is captured in the sealing zone 16 and fixed securely in place. Later, the run direction of the conveying device 15 is inverted, causing the strip 11 to be retracted and placed around the object in the form of a loop 17. Finally, the strapping means 10 is tightened tightly around the object 2 by means of of a tension device, not shown, which can be a tension roller arrangement, so that the loop 17 rests snugly against the object 2. Present in the sealing zone 16, there are now two portions of the medium strapping 10 overlaps and placed opposite. Arranged in direct proximity to the space 19 between the two overlapping portions of the strapping means 10, there is a positioning device 20. The positioning device 20 is used to feed electronically detectable safety elements 21 to the sealing area 16. The positioning 20 is of the adjustable type, thereby allowing the security elements 21 to be placed between the overlapping portions of the strapping means 10. The security elements 21 are fixed to a carrier tape 22 by means of an adhesive coating, which tape it is wound on a supply reel 23. Being routed through the positioning device 20, the carrier tape 22 with the security elements 21 held therein is removed from the supply reel 23 by means of a feed roller 24. At its end near the spout 19, the positioning device 20 has an assortment nozzle wherein the elements of safety 21 are delaminated from the carrier tape 22 and applied to the lower portion of the overlapping portions of the strapping means 10 on which they remain adhered by means of the adhesive coating. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the security elements 21 can also be applied in the upper portion of the overlapping portions of the strapping means 10. In any case, with the embodiment of the apparatus 1 of the invention shown in Figure 1, the security elements 21 are fed to the strapping means during the binding operation and are placed between the overlapping portions of the strapping means 10. Once a security element is present between the overlapping portions of the strapping means 10, these portions are joined by means of the sealing device 18. The sealing device 18 involved can be, for example, a friction welding device or an ultrasonic welding device which allows the weldable crimping material to be welded together, thus sealing the loop 17, that is, the strapping means 10. In a special embodiment of the invention, the security elements 21 can to be additionally coated with a meltable material that melts during the welding of the overlapping portions together, thereby introducing a firm bond with the material of the strapping means 10. After the strapping means 10 is sealed, the element of the sealing element 10 Security 21 is enclosed between the overlapping portions of the strapping means 10 in a manner not visible from the outside, practically preventing it from detaching from the fleecing means. In addition, the sealing device 18 preferably includes a cutting unit that cuts the now sealed sealing means 10, ie the loop 17, from the remaining binding material, ie the web supply. Upon completion of the method of the invention, the loop 17 encloses the object 2, with the loop 17 containing a security element 21 invisibly enclosed between the overlapping portions of the strapping means 10. In another embodiment of the invention, the object 2 can now be rotated through a 90-degree angle and re-angled, so that two loops arranged at right angles to each other hold object 2. Whereas this results in two safety elements that are arranged at right angles one with respect to the other, this mode allows the detection rate to be increased even more. The apparatus 1 of the invention may also include a cutting device, for example, a cutter, which cuts the safety elements 21 to a length corresponding approximately to the length of the overlapping portions of the strapping means 10. The length at which the security elements are cut should be slightly less than the length of the overlapping portions in order to ensure that the security elements 21 are completely enclosed, i.e., invisibly, between the overlapping portions. Figure 2 shows another embodiment of an apparatus 25 of the invention for the protection of an object 2. The apparatus 25 differs from the apparatus 1 of figure 1 in that the device for applying security elements essentially comprised an assortment device 26 by means of of which the security elements 27 are applied to the appropriate sections of the strapping means 10 before the actual engagement operation. Also in this embodiment, the security elements 27 are arranged on a carrier tape 28 which is unwound from a supply reel 30 by means of a feed roller 29. In the process, the carrier tape 28 with the security elements 27 supported on it, it is routed through the assortment device 26 having an assortment nozzle 31 at its end. The security elements 27 are delaminated from the carrier tape 28 in the assortment nozzle 31 and applied to the strapping means 10, ie the band 11. As this occurs, the apparatus 25 has to be controlled in such a way that the security elements 27 are applied to a portion of the strapping means 10 which overlaps during the engagement operation with another portion of the strapping means 10, thus allowing a security element 27 to be enclosed between the overlapping portions of the strapping means 10. Consequently, with the apparatus 25 of the invention, the security elements 27 are fed to the strapping means 10 before the engaging operation, with the security elements 27 being applied to one of the overlapping portions. To adhere them to the carrier tape 28 and the strapping means 10, the security elements 27 can be provided with an adhesive coating, for example. Alternatively, the security elements 27 can also be revetted with a fusible material that fuses with the binding material when the overlapping portions are joined, so that the security elements 27 are locked in a very firm and practically inseparable way between the overlapping portions. Figure 3 shows a strapping machine 35 which also includes a band guide 36 surrounding an object 2 placed on a table. In addition, the strapping machine 35 also includes a supply reel 38 for the strapping means 10 from which the strapping means 10 is fed to a band magazine 40 by means of a feeding device 39. Here also, the strapping means 10 is fired from the band reservoir 40 through a transport device 41 to the band guide 36 and subsequently sealed by means of the sealing device 42. Similar to the embodiment of Figure 2, the security elements 43 are fed to the medium strapping 10 before the engaging operation and applied to portions of the strapping means 10 which overlap during the binding operation for joining. For this purpose, in the present embodiment, the security elements 43 are already applied to the strapping means 10 at predetermined relative distances and wound on the supply reel 38 with the strapping means. The advantage of this method is that it allows a conventional strapping machine 35 to be used, and as the case may be, already existing to carry out the method of the invention. Figure 4 is a perspective view of an object 45 of the invention, showing a strapping means 46 enclosing the object in the form of a loop. The strapping means 46 has a section 47 in which two portions 48, 49 of the strapping means 46 are in overlapping relationship. These portions 48, 49 are firmly joined, preferably welded together, with the strapping means 46 preferably made of a weldable plastic material. Interspersed in portions 48, 49, there is a security element in strip form 50 (shown in dashed lines) which is completely enclosed between the overlapping portions 48, 49 and therefore, is not visible from the outside. The object 45 involved is the packaging 51 of a commodity article. On the one hand, the crimp prevents the opening of the package 51 and a subsequent removal of the article of merchandise, while on the other hand, the security element 50 protects the article against unauthorized removal from the sales room. Figure 5 shows the object 45 of figure 4, which in the present embodiment is additionally held by another means 52. Enclosed in the strapping means 52 between two overlapping portions 53, 54 is another security element 55. Because the security elements 50 and 55 are arranged at right angles to each other, a higher detection rate occurs when the object is carried through a zone subject to surveillance. In all the cases described above, a security element in the form of a strip can be made of co-extruded EM material, of which a defined quantity is supplied from a separate supply reel in the longitudinal direction of the strapping means. However, it will be understood that the EM material can also be supplied in any desired direction. In all cases, the EM material is inserted between the upper layer and the lower layer of the strapping means, preferably a plastic strip. A welding head, such as an ultrasonic head, fuses the strapping means with the material EM. Figure 6 shows an object 45 held by two strapping means 46, 52 as in Figure 5. Encased in the strapping means 52 between the overlapping portions 53, 54 is a security element 55 made of coextruded EM material. Figure 6 further shows that the individual security element 55 can not only be enclosed in the overlap area but can also stand out from it, as is evident from the representation of Figure 6. When mentioned in the above exposed that the security element is enclosed between the overlapping portions 53, 54 or between other overlapping portions, this does not mean that the security element can not protrude beyond the overlapping area. The coextruded EM material has the following structure: Inside a plastic coating is either a single element ("single strip" as known from EP 0 921 942 B1) as a deactivatable element or only the active material. The plastic coating is made of commercially available coextrudable plastics and can have any desired color or shape. The EM material can be provided from a supply spool and cut to the proper length after introduction into the welding zone, or the safety elements, which are already cut to length, are fed to the welding head one at a time. For this purpose, conventional strapping machines can be modified to adapt to this operation.

Claims (20)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A method for protecting objects against theft, in which at least one strap means is linked around an object to be fastened, joining overlapping portions of the strap means, characterized by the step of feeding at least one electronically detectable security element (21, 27, 43, 50, 55) to the strapping means (10, 46, 52) in such a way that the security element (21, 27, 43, 50, 55) is enclosed between the overlapping portions (48, 49). , 53, 54).

2. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of feeding the safety element (27, 43, 50, 55) to the strapping means (10, 46, 52) before the engaging operation and apply it to one of the overlapping portions (48, 49, 53, 54).

3. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of feeding the security element (27, 43, 50, 55) to the strapping means (10, 46, 52) during the engaging operation and placing it in the middle of the overlapping portions (48, 49, 53, 54).

4. The method according to claim 3, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of arranging as a means for strapping (10, 46, 52) at least one loop (17) made of a welding material in the form of band in surrounding relationship around the object (2, 45), with the overlapping portions (48, 49, 53, 54) of the band-shaped crimp material forming a welding zone, and introducing a safety element (21, 27, 43 , 50, 55) coated at least in part with meltable material between the overlapping portions (48, 49, 53, 54) of the band-shaped binding material in the welding zone, and subsequently welding the crimping material and the safety element coated (21, 27, 43, 50, 55) with one another in the welding zone, thus sealing the loop (17).

5. The method according to claim 4, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of employing a friction welding or ultrasonic welding process for the welding operation.

6. The method according to any of claims 1 to 5, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of feeding the strapping means (10, 46, 52) by means of a conveying device (15) to a band guide ( 3, 36) which surrounds the object (2, 45) at least in part and route it through said guide, and / or remove the strapping means (10, 46, 52) from a supply reel (9, 38). ) and cutting the loop (17) of the remaining supply of crimping material before or after the joining operation.

7. - The method according to any of claims 1 to 6, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of detaching the security elements (21, 27, 43, 50, 55) from a supply reel (23, 30) on which they are wound in the form of a continuous strip and fed to the strapping means (10, 46, 52), and cut a simple safety element (21, 27, 43, 50, 55) of the continuous strip before or after its integration into the strip. the strapping means (10, 46, 52).

8. The method according to any of claims 1 to 6, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of presenting the security elements (43, 50, 55) as strip elements cut to size and feeding them to the strapping means (10, 46, 52) one at a time.

9. The method according to any of claims 1 to 8, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of strapping the object (2, 45) that will be fastened with two strapping means (10, 46, 52) and fixed in the procedure at least two security elements (21, 27, 43, 50, 55) to the object (2, 45) at an angle of 90 degrees one with respect to the other.

10. An apparatus (1, 25) for the protection of objects against theft by enclosing them with at least one strapping means, with a sealing device for sealing overlapping portions of a strapping means enclosing the object to be fastened, characterized by a device for applying at least one electronically detectable safety element (21, 27, 43, 50, 55) to the strapping means (10, 46, 52) before it is sealed, so that it is enclosed between the overlapping portions of the strapping means when the overlapping portions are sealed by means of the sealing device (18, 42).

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further characterized in that the applicator includes an assortment device (26) adapted to apply security elements (47, 43, 50, 55) to a respective portion of the portions (49, 54) of the strapping means (10) for integration in the strapping means (10, 46, 52) prior to the engaging operation, said portion overlapping during the engagement operation with another portion (48, 53) of the strapping means (10). ).

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, further characterized in that the applicator includes a positioning device (20) with which a safety element (21, 50, 55) that needs to be integrated in the strapping means (10, 46, 52), is adapted to be placed in the middle of the overlapping portions (48, 49, 53 , 54).

13. The apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 12, further characterized in that it includes a transport device (15) by means of which a weldable material in the form of a band as a strapping means (10, 46, 52) it is adapted to be fed to a band guide (3) arranged to surround the object (2, 45) at least partially.

14. The apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 13, further characterized in that the security elements (21, 27, 43, 50, 55) are arranged individually and are cut in a tank or wound on a reel of supply (23, 30) as a continuous strip.

15. The apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 14, further characterized in that provision is made for a feeding device for collecting the security elements (21, 27, 43, 50, 55) and feed said security elements (21, 27, 43, 50, 55) to the applicator.

16. The apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 15, further characterized in that a cutting device is provided, preferably a cutter, which cuts the safety elements (21, 27, 43, 50, 55) to a size corresponding approximately to the length of the overlapping portions (48, 49, 53, 54).

17. The apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 16, further characterized in that the sealing device (18, 42) is a friction welding device or an ultrasonic welding device, and the safety element (21, 27, 43, 50, 55) is coated with at least partially meltable material.

18. The apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 17, further characterized in that the security elements (21, 27, 43, 50, 55) have a strip-shaped configuration and / or are arranged on a carrier tape. (22, 28).

19. - The apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 18, further characterized in that the applicator comprises at least one tension roller and an assortment nozzle (31).

20. The apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 19, further characterized in that the strapping means (10, 46, 52) is wound on a supply reel (9, 38) as a band supply and a cutting device which cuts the strapping means (10, 46, 52) from the web supply after the overlapping portions have been joined.