WO2005049426A1

WO2005049426A1 - Banding a stacked product to be packed

Info

Publication number: WO2005049426A1
Application number: PCT/CH2004/000692
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alois Tanner
Original assignee: Ats Automatic Taping Systems Ag
Priority date: 2003-11-21
Filing date: 2004-11-16
Publication date: 2005-06-02
Also published as: ATE365677T1; ES2289570T3; CH696398A5; DE502004004216D1; EP1697213B1; CA2546417C; DK1697213T3; CA2546417A1; EP1697213A1; US20070157555A1; PL1697213T3

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for banding stacked, soft and/or fragile products (52) to be packed, using a wrapping machine (10). According to said method, the unwound band (22) is guided around the product to be packed (52), pulled by a reverse movement onto the product to be packed (52), then stuck or welded, and cut. A pre-selection loop of the band (22) is pulled back by the reverse movement, by means of an electronic control system (60), to a pre-selected length of loop (L). Said method can be used to band soft and/or fragile products in a fully automatic manner, economically satisfying the highest requirements.

Description

Banding of stacked packaged goods

The invention relates to a method for banding stacked, soft and / or sensitive packaged goods with a banding machine, wherein the unwound banderole led to the packaged, pulled in a return to the packaged, glued or welded and cut off.

In banding machines, a band-shaped foil made of paper, plastic or a composite is guided in a stretch-limiting band guide as a loop around a packaged goods stack. This tape guide is designed as an open or closed sheet, depending on the rigidity of the bands, the dimensions and use. With soft banderoles, numerous means are known for holding the band up during and after the sheet pass, but a free return for tightening the band must be ensured.

In principle, the packaged goods to be banded can be of any desired design, for example square, rectangular, round or trapezoidal with respect to the base area. At least one banderole is created, with several at the same time or one after the other.

A fully automatic banding machine initially forms a stable or upheld loop in which the Packgutstapel is placed. The loading of the packaged goods can also be done before looping. Controlled by a sensor or triggered by a hand or foot switch, the band clamped at its free end is withdrawn until it rests snugly on the packaged goods. Then the clamped end is glued or welded and cut off with the attached strip. Soft and / or delicate stacks can be compressed more or less manually before the return of the band. The basic principle of banding is widely known. EP 0551244 A1 describes a banding machine which comprises cold welding. This guarantees a clean closure, requires less maintenance, prevents deposits of foil firing and the replacement of heating elements.

US 5146847 relates to an apparatus and method for banding objects. Over the tape drive roller, the length of the guided around the objects band is continuously monitored and issued a corresponding signal. The drive motor shoots the swath into the swath at a first predetermined speed, comparing the measured length signal to a first input length. When this length is reached, the speed of the drive motor is reduced to a second predetermined speed, the length of the inserted banderole is compared with a second predetermined length and initiated when the return line is reached.

Despite far advanced automation and refinement of the individual components, the banding of soft and / or sensitive packaged goods remains a problem that could only be solved to some extent satisfying. It is not the initiation but the termination of the return that is essential in this regard.

The present invention has for its object to provide a method of the type mentioned, in which the banding of soft and / or sensitive packaged goods can be done fully automated. The banded packaged goods should neither be deformed to an undesirable extent nor damaged.

According to the invention, the object is achieved in that a pre-loop of the band in the return by means of an electronic control on a selected loop length is stretched back. Specific and further developing embodiments of the method are the subject of dependent claims.

With the method according to the invention, the control of the return for tightening the band around the stacked packaged goods is placed on a new basis. The preselected controlled variable for controlling the working process is no longer the strip tension but a preselected loop length. It can thus be determined in advance how long a loop placed around the stacked soft and / or sensitive packaged goods should be. As a result, the control is advantageously improved, even a slight change in a predetermined belt tension can have undesirable consequences in these packaged goods stacks, which can be prevented with a preselected loop length.

The return of the band is preferably terminated by a precisely rotating encoder role, which is electronically controlled by the controller, in particular a digital control. In other words, when the predetermined loop length is reached, the rotary encoder roller triggers an electrical signal, whereupon the controller initiates an immediate stop of the return line via a belt drive roller.

Before the start of the process, the stacked packaged goods can be manually measured and the corresponding data entered into the controller, where they are stored selectable. According to an advantageous further development, the stacked packaged goods are automatically measured at the beginning of the process, the data entered into the digital control and stored selectable.

If it is determined during the banding process that the specified loop length is not optimal, a value correction can be entered and also stored as selectable.

The electronic control, preferably a digital control, is massively programmed so that if the preselected loop length is not reached, the process is interrupted and a fault is indicated. As a result, the risk of undesirable deformation of soft products and / or damage to sensitive products is largely ruled out. Furthermore, a stack with a surplus piece can be identified.

As an additional measure to the preselected loop length can be entered for the return of the band one of the controller, in turn, preferably a digital control selectable maximum band tension. Of course, this value is also product-specific and can be entered or saved. If the preset maximum belt position is exceeded, the process is also interrupted and a fault is displayed. This double measure can be found even for the most sensitive products an appropriate solution.

Further, in addition to the preselected loop length, a minimum belt tension selectable by the controller may be entered to terminate the return of the swaddle. If the minimum belt tension is fallen below in succession, a program-controlled shortening of the loop length can take place. With this advanced method, it is possible to prevent the band from being too weak for soft and / or delicate staple goods. In order to avoid random correction, a repeated successive underrun is programmed, for example three or six times. Of course, the remedy of a too low band tension at the completion of the return can also be manually entered and stored. According to a variant, the process can be interrupted and a fault displayed when falling below the predetermined minimum belt tension. This way, a stack of packaged goods can be displayed with a missing piece.

The present inventive method requires no print marks per se. In a printed band, however, the inventive Procedures are complemented by a special print mark control, which places the imprint repeatable, using methods known per se.

Combined banding machines can print on the continuous foil bands at the same time. For this purpose, the printed information, also using the pre-selection loop placed controlled and preferably banded in the middle.

With the present invention, a method for fully automatic banding of soft and / or sensitive products has been created that meet the highest standards and yet can operate economically.

The invention will be described with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing, which are also the subject of dependent claims, explained in more detail. It show schematically

1 is a view of a banding machine with a rotary encoder,

2 a worktable of a banding machine with a curved band guide and inserted stacked packaged goods, FIG.

- Fig. 3 the return of a band, and

FIG. 4 shows a band placed around the stacked packaged goods.

FIG. 1 shows a banding machine 10 with a height-adjustable chassis 12 on lockable wheels 14. On a transverse strut 16 of the chassis 12, a concealed roll-off disc 18 is rotatably mounted with a banding roller 20. A band 22 is unwound via a band store 24, which comprises three stationary deflection rollers 26 and three deflection rollers 30 mounted on a tensioned, pivotable lever 28. In the case of very rapid looping, the tape storage 24 serves as a reserve.

After the band store 24, the band 22 is inserted into a band channel 32. pulled, which is arranged in a machine housing 34 with a folding table 36. In this machine housing 34 further, hidden machine elements are arranged, in particular a belt drive roller 38, a corresponding position of a lever 40, the band 22 to the capstan 38 pressing or this freewheel granting transport roller 42, with the band 22 exactly co-rotating encoder roller 44, a hold-down plate 46, a welding and cutting unit 48, as well as an electrically connected to the drive of the capstan 38 and the encoder roller 44 control 60, in this case a digital control.

The tape guide 50 in the area of stacked packaged goods 52 is open in the present case, by two planymmetrically arranged support horns 54, which are easily supplemented by a horizontal channel open at the bottom.

Under a flap cover 58, a switch 56 is arranged, which simultaneously indicates the end of the tape. This switch 56 may also be designed as a footswitch. The actuation of the switch 58 activates the tape drive roller 38, which pushes the band 22 at high speed through the tape guide 50. After the formation of a present above-free arc, the front end of the band 22 is clamped. The tape roll drive 28 rotates in the opposite direction and pulls the band 22 around the inserted, stacked packaged 52, which is referred to as return. The rotary encoder roller 44 is given an exact loop length L, which is monitored by it with the aid of the digital control 60. Upon reaching the predetermined length L, the digital controller 60 immediately stops the return. Subsequently, the welding and cutting unit 48 enters into action.

2 to 4, the three essential phases of the inventive method are shown again briefly schematically.

FIG. 2 shows a stack of packaged goods 52 which is positioned resting on the folding table tray 36 in the band guide 50 in such a way that it can be placed in the desired position on the folding table. is derolated.

FIG. 3 shows a phase of the return of the banderole 22 in the direction of the arrow 62 to the loop length L predetermined by the digital control 60 and measured by the rotary roller 34 (FIG. 1).

Fig. 4 shows the finished banded stack of goods 52. The band 22 of length L is serpentine on the stack of packs 52, but without deforming the soft individual elements or otherwise damaging.

Claims

claims

1. A method for banding stacked, soft and / or sensitive packaged goods (52) with a banding machine (10), wherein the unwound band (22) to the packaged goods (52), pulled in a return to the packaged goods (52), glued or welded and cut off, characterized in that a pre-selection loop of the band (22) in the return by means of an electronic control (60) is stretched back to a preselected loop length (L).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that an electronically controlled, rotating encoder roller (44) terminates the return of the band (22) at the preselected loop length (L).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the loop length (L) predetermined by measuring the stacked packaged goods (52), the data is entered and stored for the digital control (60) selectable.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the stacked packaged goods (52) is automatically measured at the beginning of the process.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that necessary value corrections for the loop length (L) are entered and stored selectable.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that when not reaching the loop length (L) the process under- broke and a fault is displayed.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that for the completion of the return of the banderole (22) in addition to the preselected loop length (L) input from the controller (60), preferably a digital control, selectable maximum tape tension, at If the process is exceeded, the process is interrupted and a fault is displayed.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the termination of the return of the band (22) in addition to the preselected loop length (L) input from the controller (60), preferably a digital controller, selectable minimum band tension, and at a repetitive successive undershooting of the minimum belt tension a program-controlled shortening of the loop length (L) takes place, or interrupted at a first time below the minimum belt tension the process and a fault is displayed.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a printed banderole (22) is placed repeatably with a print mark control.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that in the banding machine (10) printed information using the pre-selection loop controlled and preferably banded in the middle.