APPARATUS FOR STRAPPING PACKAGES

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for arranging an edge-protection device on a package. For this purpose, an arranging device is moved from a starting position in the direction of the package. The package edge is sensed by way of a first or a second sensor. Which sensor is to be used is determined by a controller. To this end, the latter checks whether one of the sensors is arranged above the package top side. Also disclosed is an arranging device, which is used in the abovementioned method.

Claims

1-22. (canceled)

23. An apparatus for strapping a package, the apparatus comprising: a packaging table for supporting the package during strapping; a track above the packaging table; a carriage movable along the track in a forward direction from a starting position toward the package and in a backward direction opposite the forward direction, the carriage having: a carriage front; a carriage back; a first detection device closer to the carriage front than the carriage back; a second detection device closer to the carriage back than the carriage front; and a gripper configured to receive, hold, and release an edge protector; and a controller configured to, after the package has been introduced onto the packaging table and the gripper has received and held the edge protector: determine whether the first detection device detects the package while the carriage is in the starting position; and responsive to the first detection device detecting the package while the carriage is in the starting position: move the carriage in the forward direction until the second detection device detects the package; and responsive to the second detection device detecting the package, move the carriage in the backward direction until the carriage reaches an arrangement position at which the edge protector is to be released.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the arrangement position based at least in part on a distance between the second detection device and the gripper.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein at least one of the first and second detection devices comprises a photocell.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the arrangement position comprises a first arrangement position, wherein the controller is further configured to, responsive to the first detection device not detecting the package while the carriage is in the starting position: move the carriage in the forward direction until the first detection device detects the package; and responsive to the first detection device detecting the package, continue moving the carriage in the forward direction until the carriage reaches a second arrangement position at which the edge protector is to be released, the second arrangement position different than the first arrangement position.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the second arrangement position based at least in part on a distance between the first detection device and the gripper.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether the second detection device detects the package while the carriage is in the starting position and, responsive to determining that the second detection device detects the package while the carriage is in the starting position, output an error message.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether the second detection device detects the package while the carriage is in the starting position and, responsive to determining that the second detection device detects the package while the carriage is in the starting position, output an error message.

30. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the carriage comprises a first carriage, the forward direction comprises a first-carriage forward direction, the backward direction comprises a first-carriage backward direction, the carriage front comprises a first-carriage front, the carriage back comprises a first-carriage back, the gripper comprises a first gripper, the arrangement position comprises a first-carriage arrangement position, the starting position comprises a first carriage starting position, and the edge protector comprises a first edge protector, wherein the apparatus further comprises: a second carriage movable along the track in a second-carriage forward direction from a second-carriage starting position toward the package and in a second-carriage backward direction opposite the second-carriage forward direction, the second carriage having: a second-carriage front; a second-carriage back; a third detection device closer to the second-carriage front than the second-carriage back; a fourth detection device closer to the second-carriage back than the second-carriage front; and a second gripper configured to receive, hold, and release a second edge protector; and wherein the controller is further configured to, after the package has been introduced onto the packaging table and first and second grippers have received and held the first and second edge protectors: determine whether the third detection device detects the package while the second carriage is in the second-carriage starting position; and responsive to the third detection device detecting the package while the second carriage is in the second-carriage starting position: move the second carriage in the second-carriage forward direction until the fourth detection device detects the package; and responsive to the fourth detection device detecting the package, move the second carriage in the second-carriage backward direction until the second carriage reaches a second-carriage arrangement position at which the second edge protector is to be released.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the controller is further configured to, responsive to the first detection device not detecting the package while the first carriage is in the first-carriage starting position: move the first carriage in the first-carriage forward direction until the first detection device detects the package; and responsive to the first detection device detecting the package, continue moving the first carriage in the first-carriage forward direction until the first carriage reaches another arrangement position different from the first- and second-carriage arrangement positions at which the first edge protector is to be released.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether the second and fourth detection devices detect the package while the first and second carriages are in the first- and second-carriage starting positions and, responsive to determining that at least one of the second and fourth detection devices detects the package, output an error message.

33. An edge-protector positioning method comprising: introducing a package on a packaging table; while a carriage positioned above the packaging table is holding an edge protector and in a starting position, determining whether a first detection device of the carriage detects the package; and responsive to the first detection device detecting the package while the carriage is in the starting position: moving the carriage in a forward direction from the starting position toward the package until a second detection device of the carriage detects the package; and responsive to the second detection device detecting the package, moving the carriage in a backward direction opposite the forward direction until the carriage reaches an arrangement position at which the edge protector is to be released.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising determining the arrangement position based at least in part on a distance between the second detection device and a gripper.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein moving the carriage comprises moving the carriage along a track positioned above the packaging table.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the arrangement position comprises a first arrangement position, the method further comprising, responsive to the first detection device not detecting the package while the carriage is in the starting position: moving the carriage in the forward direction until the first detection device detects the package; and responsive to the first detection device detecting the package, continuing to move the carriage in the forward direction until the carriage reaches a second arrangement position at which the edge protector is to be released, the second arrangement position different than the first arrangement position.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising determining the second arrangement position based at least in part on a distance between the first detection device and a gripper.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising determining whether the second detection device detects the package while the carriage is in the starting position and, responsive to determining that the second detection device detects the package while the carriage is in the starting position, outputting an error message.

39. The method of claim 33, further comprising determining whether the second detection device detects the package while the carriage is in the starting position and, responsive to determining that the second detection device detects the package while the carriage is in the starting position, outputting an error message.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein the carriage comprises a first carriage, the forward direction comprises a first-carriage forward direction, the backward direction comprises a first-carriage backward direction, the arrangement position comprises a first-carriage arrangement position, the starting position comprises a first-carriage starting position, and the edge protector comprises a first edge protector, the method further comprising: while a second carriage is positioned above the packaging table, is holding a second edge protector, and is in a second-carriage starting position, determining whether a third detection device of the second carriage detects the package; and responsive to the third detection device detecting the package while the second carriage is in the second-carriage starting position: moving the second carriage in a second-carriage forward direction from the second carriage starting position toward the package until a fourth detection device of the second carriage detects the package; and responsive to the fourth detection device detecting the package, moving the second carriage in a second-carriage backward direction opposite the second-carriage forward direction until the second carriage reaches a second-carriage arrangement position at which the second edge protector is to be released.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising, responsive to the first detection device not detecting the package while the first carriage is in the first-carriage starting position: moving the first carriage in the first-carriage forward direction until the first detection device detects the package; and responsive to the first detection device detecting the package, continuing to move the first carriage in the first-carriage forward direction until the first carriage reaches another arrangement position different from the first- and second-carriage arrangement positions at which the first edge protector is to be released.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising determining whether the second and fourth detection devices detect the package while the first and second carriages are in the first- and second-carriage starting positions and, responsive to determining that at least one of the second and fourth detection devices detects the package, outputting an error message.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0047] Further advantages and a better understanding of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment. In the figures:

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a side view of the carriage for edge-protector arrangement of an apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure,

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the rear of the carriage according to FIG. 1,

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a perspective bottom view of the carriage according to FIG. 1,

[0051] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a strapping apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure with the carriage in a starting position,

[0052] FIG. 5 shows an illustration as per FIG. 4 with the carriage in an arranging position, and

[0053] FIG. 6 shows an illustration as per FIG. 4 with an excessively wide package.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] While the systems, devices, and processes described herein may be embodied in various forms, the drawings show and the specification describes certain exemplary and non-limiting embodiments. Not all of the components shown in the drawings and described in the specification may be required, and certain implementations may include additional, different, or fewer components. Variations in the arrangement and type of the components; the shapes, sizes, and materials of the components; and the manners of connections of the components may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims. Unless otherwise indicated, any directions referred to in the specification reflect the orientations of the components shown in the corresponding drawings and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. Further, terms that refer to mounting processes, such as mounted, connected, etc., are not intended to be limited to direct mounting processes but should be interpreted broadly to include indirect and operably mounted, connected, and like mounting processes. This specification is intended to be taken as a whole and interpreted in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure and as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0055] FIGS. 4 to 6 schematically illustrate a package strapping apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, which is provided overall with the reference numeral 10. An arranging device for edge-protection device in the form of a carriage is illustrated in various views in FIGS. 1 to 3 and provided overall with the reference numeral 30.

[0056] The strapping apparatus 10 illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6 comprises a packaging table 11, on which packages 12 are arranged in order to be strapped in a strapping device. In the exemplary embodiment, the package 12 is moved through the apparatus on a pallet 13.

[0057] A press plate is arranged in a vertically movable manner on two columns 14 located to the right and left of the packaging table 11. The press plate not illustrated here for reasons of simplification. The press plate provides a track 15 for two carriages 30. The carriages 30 serve to arrange edge-protection device 20 on the upper package edges 16 exposed to the strapping device.

[0058] The carriage 30 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 has a carriage front 21, which is arranged at the front with regard to the forward direction of travel in the direction X and has two front wheels 33 that accommodate the carriage chassis 32 between one another. Arranged at the carriage front 31 is a first detection device 34, wherein this is a sensor in the form of a photocell in this example embodiment. The first detection device 34 is directed substantially vertically downwards and is illustrated symbolically by way of a first detection beam 35.

[0059] With regard to the forward direction of travel X, the carriage 30 has a carriage rear 36, which is provided with a second detection device 37, which is fastened at the rear of the carriage 30 in the forward direction of travel X. The detection direction of the second detection device 37 is likewise directed substantially vertically downwards and is illustrated symbolically by a second detection beam 38.

[0060] At the vehicle rear 36, the carriage chassis 32 forms a retaining arm 39, which carries an actuator 40 for a gripping tool 41 arranged on the actuator 40. The gripping tool 41 has two clamping jaws 42 that are movable relative to one another and are movable into an open position and a closed position by the actuator 40. In the open position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, an edge-protection device 20, illustrated only in FIG. 1, can be introduced between the clamping jaws 42 and is held by the clamping jaws 42 in the closed position (see FIG. 1). Rear wheels 43, which have a larger diameter than the front wheels 33, accommodate the chassis 32 between one another in the rear region 36.

[0061] FIGS. 2 and 3 show that, between the front wheels 33 and the rear wheels 43, the carriage chassis 32 carries a drive 44, which acts on the rear wheels 43 and by way of which the carriage can be set in motion.

[0062] A handle 45 located at the front 31 of the carriage 30 makes it easier to handle the carriage 30 when it is being mounted on and removed from the apparatus 10 and during maintenance or otherwise.

[0063] FIGS. 4 to 6 explain in more detail how the carriages 30 place edge-protection device 20 on the upper package edges 16 of the package 12.

[0064] In FIG. 4, the carriages 30 are in their starting position. Edge-protection device 20 have been introduced into the gripping tool 41, in order to be arranged on the package edges 16. The first and the second detection device 34 and 37 are interrogated about the existence of a plausibility value. The plausibility value exists when the detection device is free, i.e., no package is arranged beneath the detection devices 34 and 37. The system controller assumes that the two detection devices 34 and 37 are functioning correctly. The existence of the plausibility value of the first detection device 34, i.e., the front detection device 34 in the direction of travel at the carriage front 31, also means that this first detection device 34 can be used to detect the package edge 16. Values from the second detection device 37 are ignored.

[0065] The carriages 30 now both travel forwards in the direction of travel. The first detection device 34 detects the position of the package edge 16 on passing over the latter. The system controller calculates from the position of the package edge 16 the movement in the forward direction X that is still required until the arranging position, illustrated in FIG. 5, for placing the edge protector 20 on the package edge 16 is reached. This value can be determined from the position of the gripping tool 41 with respect to the front, first detection device 34 and the width, measured in the direction of travel X, of the edge-protection device 20. These values are transmitted to the system controller as actual values before the apparatus is put into operation.

[0066] FIG. 6 now shows an illustration as per FIG. 4. The carriages 30 are in a starting position, provided with an edge-protection device 20 in the gripping tool 41. A much wider package, compared with FIG. 4, stands with its top side beneath the first, front detection devices 34 of the carriages 30. If the plausibility value is now requested, this is absent for the front detection devices 34, but the rear, second detection devices 37 do return the plausibility value.

[0067] Therefore, to control the carriages, the signal from the first detection devices 34 is ignored, and instead the second detection devices 37 are used for detecting the package edges 16. The controller causes the carriages 30 to move forwards in the direction of travel X until the second detection devices 37 pass over the package edges 16. In the process, the position of the package edges 16 is detected. The controller will now calculate the travel that the carriages 30 have to cover until an arranging position for the edge-protection device 20 is reached. To this end, the carriages 30 are moved counter to the forward direction X back in the direction of the starting position. In this case, the arranging position is calculated from the relative position of the second detection device 37 with respect to the gripping tool 41, taking the edge-protection-device width measured in the direction of travel X into consideration.

[0068] In an example that is not illustrated here, it is conceivable for a package not to enter centrally between the supports 14 but in a laterally offset manner In this case, it is possible for the plausibility value of the first detection device 34 of one of the carriages to be absent, but to exist at the second carriage 30. In this case, the carriages 30 are controlled differently from one another. The carriage 30 for which the plausibility value exists for both detection devices 34 and 37 uses only the first detection device 34 to identify the arranging positions. The carriage 30 for which only the plausibility value for the rear, second detection device 37 exists uses this very rear detection device 37 to identify the arranging position of the edge-protection device 20.