Device and system for applying edge protectors on a strapped package

Abstract

A device arranges an edge protector on a package. The device includes a drive wheel for moving the device along a guiding rail from a point of departure to the package and from the package to the point of departure. A motor is carried by the device and drives the drive wheel. A clamp mount includes a movable clamping jaw and a counter bearing for taking up the edge protector in an open position of the clamping jaw and to hold it in a closed position of the clamping jaw. The motor drives the drive wheel and acts on a power transmission assembly to induce opening and closing of the clamping jaw. A device for strapping packages having the edge protector applicator includes a frame carrying a press plate above a vertically movable packing table. The press plate has running rails on which the edge protector applicator is movably mounted. The applicator device is mounted below the press plate.

Claims

1. A device for arranging an edge protector on a package, the device comprising: a chassis; at least one drive wheel mounted to the chassis and configured to rotate relative to the chassis and move the chassis along a rail from a point of departure to the package and from the package to the point of departure; a motor operably connected to the at least one drive wheel and configured to rotate the at least one drive wheel; a counter bearing mounted to the chassis; and a clamping jaw mounted to the chassis, wherein the motor is operably connected to the clamping jaw via at least one power transmission device and is configured to move the clamping jaw relative to the counter bearing between an open position and a closed position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one power transmission device is configured to move the clamping jaw to the closed position when the motor causes the at least one drive wheel to rotate to move the chassis along the rail toward the package and is configured to move the clamping jaw to the open position when the motor causes the at least one drive wheel to rotate to move the chassis along the rail back toward the point of departure.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the clamping jaw is part of a pivotable lever that is pivotable around a swivel axis.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising a first end stop positioned to stop the lever from moving when the clamping jaw reaches the open position.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one power transmission device includes a first gear positioned on an axis of the at least one drive wheel via a slipping clutch configured to discard overload and hold a defined torque when the clamping jaw reaches the open position or the closed position.

6. The device of claim 4, further comprising a second end stop positioned to stop the lever from moving when the clamping jaw reaches the closed position.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the at least one power transmission device includes a first gear positioned on an axis of the at least one drive wheel.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the at least one power transmission device further comprises a second gear rotatable around the swivel axis, wherein the first drive gear drivingly engages the second gear.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the first gear is positioned on the axis of the at least one drive wheel via a slipping clutch configured to discard overload and hold a defined torque when the clamping jaw reaches the open position or the closed position.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the chassis is part of the motor.

11. A device for strapping packages, the device comprising: a frame; a press plate movably mounted to the frame and including a rail; a packing table positioned below the press plate and at least partially within the frame; and a device for arranging an edge protector on a package positioned on the packing table, the device for arranging the edge protector comprising: a chassis; a drive wheel mounted to the chassis and bearing on the rail of the press plate, wherein the drive wheel is configured to rotate relative to the chassis and move the chassis along the rail from a point of departure to the package and from the package to the point of departure; a motor operably connected to the drive wheel and configured to rotate the drive wheel; a counter bearing mounted to the chassis; and a clamping jaw mounted to the chassis, wherein the motor is operably connected to the clamping jaw via at least one power transmission device and is configured to move the clamping jaw relative to the counter bearing between an open position and a closed position.

12. The device of claim 11, further including a lifting device configured to lift the device for arranging the edge protector on the package such that the drive wheel does not contact the rail.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the lifting device comprises an electromagnet configured to be charged with an electric current to induce a magnetic force that acts on a metallic part of the device for arranging the edge protector on the package to lift the device for arranging the edge protector on the package such that the drive wheel does not contact the rail.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the lifting device comprises a lifting arm configured to engage a lifting element of the device for arranging the edge protector on the package to lift the device for arranging the edge protector on the package such that the drive wheel does not contact the rail.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Below, the invention is now described with reference to an embodiment, where

(2) FIG. 1 shows a strapping arrangement with the arranging means According to the invention, at a point of departure,

(3) FIG. 2 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 1 with the arranging means on the package,

(4) FIG. 3 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 1, again with the arranging means at the point of departure,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a rear view of the arranging means according to the invention,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a lateral view of the arranging means according to the invention with a clamping jaw in open position, cut along section V-V in FIG. 4.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a lateral view of the arranging means according to the invention with the clamping jaw in closed position, cut along section V-V in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) In the drawings, the entire strapping arrangement for packages is given reference number 10. The entire device for arranging the edge protection meansalso called the arranging meansis given reference number 50.

(9) In FIGS. 4 to 6, the arranging means 50 is shown in various views. It will be described below with reference to FIG. 4 to 6.

(10) Shown is an arranging means 50 for edge protection means 11 (see FIGS. 1 to 3) with a drive motor 51. In the embodiment of arranging means 50 shown here, drive motor 51 so to speak forms the chassis on which the substantial components are arranged. These include first of all the drive wheels 52 mounted on a common drive axis 53. Motor 51 drives the drive wheels 52 in forward direction V or reverse direction R and provides for the movement of arranging means 50.

(11) A the forward end in forward direction V of means 50 are non-driven running wheels 54 and guide rollers 55 which provide the lateral guidance of arranging means 50.

(12) At least one first gear wheel 56 is arranged on drive axis 53 by means of a slipping clutch.

(13) At the rear end of arranging means 50 in forward direction V, a lever 57 is attached by means of a swivel axis 58, whereby the lever 57 is pivotable about swivel axis 58. At its bottom end, the lever holds a clamping jar 59 which together with a counter bearing 60 forms a clamp mounting of the arranging means for taking up edge protection means 11.

(14) Fixed to the end of lever 57 opposite clamping jaw 59 is a first rubber bushing 61 as a first end stop for the movement. The second end stop is formed by a second rubber bushing 62. It is fastened to counter bearing 60. Above drive shaft 53 is a metal plate 63 coupled with the motor 51.

(15) Swivel axis 58 carries a second gear wheel 64 engaging in the first gear wheel 56 such that a rotation of the first gear wheel results in rotation of swivel axis 59 and a pivoting movement of lever 57. Since the first gear wheel 56 is arranged on drive axis 53 and co-rotates with it, driving the arranging means 50 in reverse direction R causes lever 57 to pivot together with the closed clamping jaw 59 in open position, as shown in FIG. 5. However, linear motion of the arranging means 50 in forward direction causes a counter-rotating pivoting movement of lever 57 in closed position of the clamp mounting as shown in FIG. 6.

(16) The end stops 61 and 62 limit der pivoting of lever 57. Not to restrict the linear movement of the arranging means after completion of the pivoting movement of lever 57 in open or closed position, it is provided that the first gear wheel 56 is arranged on the first axis 53 with a slipping clutch. Alternatively, the second gear wheel 64 can also be arranged on swivel axis 58 with a slipping clutch. The slipping clutch causes the load to be dropped when the open or closed position of lever 57 is reached while a defined torque is maintained. It means that axis 53 can rotate arranging means 50 in forward direction V or reverse direction R even when gear wheel 56 can no longer rotate by means of lever 57 because it has reached end stop 61 or 62. Maintaining a minimum torque acting upon gear wheel 57 ensures that pivoting lever 57 of the attached clamping jaw 59 stays in open or closed position even while the load is dropped by the slipping clutch.

(17) FIGS. 1 to 3 show a strapping arrangement 10 using arrangement means 50 to apply an edge protection means 11 to a package 12. In the figures, strapping arrangement 10 is only shown schematically and comprises two supports 13 of a machine frame. A vertically movable horizontal press plate 14 is attached to these vertical supports 13 which are at a distance to each other. Below press plate 14 is the package 12 place on load carrier 15 which is formed like a pallet. The load carrier 15 itself is taken into the paper level on a packing table 16.

(18) Arranging means 50 runs on approximately L-shaped running rails (not shown) arranged on the top side of press plate 14, on the side facing away from packing table 16. The drive wheels 52 and the running wheels 54 bear on the horizontal leg of the running rail. The guide rollers 55 are adjoining the vertical legs of the running rails such that the arranging means 50 is aligned horizontally along the guide rollers 55. A gap is provided in the press plate between the running rails (not shown) through which the clamp mountingwhich consists of counter bearing 60 and clamping jaw 59is led to the side facing package 12. That is why the arranging means 50 runs on the upper side of press plate 14 while only the clamp mounting is below press plate 14.

(19) In FIG. 1, the arranging means 50 is at its point of departure, the clamp mounting is closed, the clamping jaw is in closed position. The clamp mounting is holding an edge protection means 11 between the clamping jaw 59 and the counter bearing 60.

(20) From this point of departure, the press plate 14 is lowered in vertical direction X, the direction of the package 12, whereby a measuring means (not shown) measures the horizontal distance H between the point of departure and of arranging means 50 and a package edge K, then the control calculates the required travel path in forward direction V which the arranging means 50 then travels, to place the edge protection means 11 in the area of the package edge K on the tops side of the package 12the side facing press plate 14. This situation is shown in FIG. 2 whereby the edge protection means 11 is still held by the clamp mounting of arranging means 50 on the one side and between press plate 14 and the top side of package 12 on the other side.

(21) During the process in forward direction V, the slipping clutch between the first gear wheel 56 and the drive axis 53 maintains a defined torque which acts via the second gear wheel 64 upon lever 57 and thus keeps the clamping jaw 59 in closed position.

(22) Starting from the situation shown in FIG. 2, the control (not shown) induces the arranging means 50 to move back in reverse direction R to the point of departure. This forces the drive axis 53 to move counter to the prior forward direction and causes a counter-rotating movement of the first gear wheel 56. This has the effect that during the reverse movement in direction R the lever 57 pivots and moves the clamping jaw 59 into its opening position. Thus the edge protection means 11 is released by the clamp mounting and is now only held between the press plate 24 and the package 12, such that the strapping process can begin. In a manner not shown, a strapping means is now wrapped package 12, whereby the edge protection means 11 is arranged between the strapping means and the package 12. When the strapping means is tightened around package 12, the edge protection means 11 is formed around package edge 12 so that it adjoins between the strapping means and the package edge K.

(23) After this now completed strapping process, the press plate is vertically lifted opposite to direction X, which releases package 12 which can be removed from strapping arrangement 10.

(24) In a manner not shown, a new edge protection means 11 is inserted at the point of departure in the clamp mounting of the arranging means 50. A slight forward movement of the arranging means 50 in forward direction V closes the clamp mounting and leads to the firm application of the edge protection means 11 such that after a new package 12 is inserted in the strapping means 10, the point of departure of FIG. 1 is reached.

(25) In a manner not shown, the strapping arrangement 10 can have a lifting device on its press plate 14 at the point of departure of arranging means 50. When the arranging means 50 is at the point of departure, it is in the effective range of the lifting device. Purpose of the lifting device is to uncouple the area with the drive wheels 52 by raising the arranging means 50 at the running rails (not shown) such that the drive motor 51 is no longer able to induce a forward or reverse movement.

(26) The lifting device can be provided with mechanical means such as a hook which can positively engage in a corresponding recess on the arranging means 50. However it is especially preferred to arrange an electromagnet above the arranging means 50, approximately in the area of the drive axis 53, which can act upon a metal component of the arranging means. If the electromagnet is charged with a current, the magnetic forces act upon the corresponding metal component of arranging means 50, for example the metal plate 63. The arranging means 50 is lifted pout accordingly by the magnetic force, and the drive wheels 52 are uncoupled from the running rails. Now, by starting the drive motor 51 and by interaction between the gear wheels 56 and 61, the clamping jaws 59 can be moved into either open or closed position without moving the arranging means 50 in forward direction V or reverse direction R. The travel path otherwise necessary for the opening or closing movement along the press plate 14 can be eliminated. That travel path, which can also be called the shifting travel, within which a package 12 cannot be arranged, is saved by the lifting device. As a result, on the one hand, the width between the supports 13 can be reduced accordingly, such that the strapping arrangement can be narrower. Alternatively, strapping means 10 could be used to process a package 12 that is wider by the width of the shifting travel. In summary, this means that the arranging means, thanks to the lifting device, can take up an edge protection means at the point of departure and can then deposit it on a package edge.

(27) It was thus disclosed how an advantageous arranging means 50 can be designed in which neither a separate drive nor a separate control is necessary because the opening and closing movement is force-controlled via the drive arrangement 51 of the arranging means 50. In addition it was shown that through a lifting device for the arranging means 5, a travel path to the arranging means 50 for opening and closing the clamp mounting can be eliminated.

REFERENCE SIGNS

(28) 10 Strapping arrangement 11 Edge protection means 12 Package 13 Support Press plate 14 Load carrier 15 Packing table 50 Means for arranging edge protection means (arranging means) 51 Drive motor 52 Drive wheel 53 Drive axis 54 Running wheel 55 Guide roller 56 First gear wheel 57 Lever 58 Swivel axis 59 Clamping jaw 60 Counter bearing 61 Rubber bushing 62 Second rubber bushing 63 Metal plate 64 Second gear wheel K Package edge X Direction Y Forward direction R Reverse direction H Horizontal distance