METHOD FOR WRAPPING BANDS AROUND OBJECTS, AND CORRESPONDING MACHINES

Abstract

In a method for wrapping a band around at least one object of at least one object, in which the at least one object is wrapped with a band, wherein the band in the form of an object-band loop is arranged around the at least one object in such a manner that at least two sections of the band are made to overlap and are connected together, wherein in an area in which the at least two band sections are made to overlap, a counter-pressure plate is introduced between the at least one object and the band, and the at least two overlapping band sections are pressed against the counter-pressure plate to connect them, prior to the introduction of the counter-pressure plate the band is passed through a band guiding device and/or positioned such that a defined free space is created for introducing the counter-pressure plate.

Claims

1. A method for wrapping a band around at least one object wherein this is a lengthwise banding method and/or a lengthwise strapping method, in which an object band loop is formed around the object at least partially by the movement of the object in a conveying direction and in which the at least one object is wrapped with a band, wherein the band in the form of an object-band loop is arranged around the at least one object in such a manner that at least two sections of the band are made to overlap and are connected together, wherein in an area in which the at least two band sections are made to overlap, a counter-pressure plate is introduced between the at least one object and the band, and the at least two overlapping band sections are pressed against the counter-pressure plate to connect them, wherein before the introduction of the counter-pressure plate, the band is guided through a band guiding device and/or positioned such that a defined free space for introducing the counter-pressure plate is created.

2. The method for wrapping a band around at least one object according to claim 1, wherein a substance-to-substance connection is produced, especially using a welding method, preferably by an ultrasonic welding method.

3. The method for wrapping a band around at least one object according to claim 1, wherein band tension is controlled with a band tensioner during the entire process.

4. The method for wrapping a band around at least one objects according to claim 1, in which the object band loop is placed around the object using a method comprising the steps of: a) Fixing the beginning of a band in a rear holding device below the conveying level b) Clamping a band between the rear holding device holding the beginning of the band and a retractable band guide located in a level above the objects c) Moving part of the band in the conveying direction by means of the object, which is moving in the conveying direction on the conveying level and thus makes the band protrude d) Placing of an additional section of the band below the conveying level through the band guide and e) Forming the band into a loop which is located below the conveying level, is closed in the conveying direction and comes out from the band guide, especially with the aid of a loop puller.

5. The method for wrapping a band around at least one object according to claim 4, wherein the band tension is regulated such that it assumes a first value while no object is touching the band, a second value while the band is being moved by the object and a third value while the band guide is pressing the band down.

6. The method for wrapping a band around at least one objects according to claim 4, in which the insertion of the counter-pressure plate comprises the following steps: a) Fixing the beginning of a band in the rear holding device below the conveying level b) Moving part of the band in the conveying direction via an object that is moving in the conveying direction on the conveying level c) Guiding and/or positioning the band through the band guiding device such that a defined free space for introducing the counter-pressure plate is created and d) Inserting the counter-pressure plate below the conveying level into the free space between the band and the object, created by the band guiding device.

7. The method for wrapping a band around at least one object according to claim 4, in which the following steps are performed for overlapping the band sections: a) Fixing the beginning of a band in the rear holding device below the conveying level b) moving part of the band in the conveying direction via an object that is moving in the conveying direction on the conveying level c) placing an additional section of the band below the conveying level through the band guide d) fixing the band at a front point with a front holding device e) releasing the beginning of the band by the rear holding device, especially chronologically following the above-named process steps and f) forming a loop starting from the band guide and spreading in the conveying direction, especially with the aid of a loop puller (100), wherein the loop expands to such an extent that it overlaps with the beginning of the band.

8. The method for wrapping a band around at least one object according to claim 4, in which the following steps are performed for overlapping the band sections: a) Fixing the beginning of a band in the rear holding device below the conveying level b) Moving part of the band in the conveying direction via an object that is moving in the conveying direction on the conveying level c) Placing an additional section of the band below the conveying level through the band guide d) Fixing the band at a front point with a front holding device e) Releasing the beginning of the band with the rear holding device, especially chronologically following the above-named process steps f) Forming the band into a loop which is located below the conveying level, is closed in the conveying direction and starts out from the band guide, with the aid of a loop puller g) Fixing of the band in the area of an upper part of the loop with an additional holding device h) Severing the band in the area of the loop and i) Spreading the now open loop especially with the loop puller, wherein before severing, the loop was of such a size and a severing point was selected such that the band overlaps with the start of the band.

9. The method for wrapping a band around at least one object according to claim 7, in which the following steps are performed for overlapping the band sections: a) Placing and retaining the band start with a band start fixing device at a site located above a loop created by a band start fixing device.

10. The method for wrapping a band around at least one object, in which the joining of the band comprises the following steps: a) Introducing a counter-pressure plate, b) Bringing the band sections to overlap according to claim 7, c) Joining the band sections in the area of the overlap.

11. The method for wrapping a band around at least one object, comprising the steps a) Placing an object band loop around the object, b) Inserting a counter-pressure plate, c) Connecting the band according to claim 10, d) Holding the band in the area of a lower part of the loop using the rear holding device after the loop puller has formed a loop and before the band is severed in the area of the loop, preferably shortly in front of the rear holding device, and e) Removing he counter-pressure plate from the area between band and object after the band has been joined to itself.

12. A device for introducing a counter-pressure plate between a band and a conveying level in a banding and/or strapping machine, especially in a method according to claim 6, comprising: a) A rear holding device which can hold a band start and b) a conveying level with an opening which is located above the rear holding device and on which an object can be moved in a conveying direction, wherein in this movement of the object a band, the start of which is held by the rear holding device and which projects through an opening device into the conveying level is drawn in the conveying direction through the opening in the conveying level, wherein wherein c) a band guiding device is present, which positions and/or guides the band beneath the conveying level, creating a free space for inserting the counter-pressure plate between the band and conveying device.

13. A device for wrapping bands around an object, especially a banding machine and/or a strapping machine, comprising the following parts: a) A device for introducing a counter-pressure plate according to claim 12 b) A retractable band guide which can be located in a level above the objects and which may be located below a conveying level and in both positions can guide the band and in a starting position tensions the band between itself in the level above the objects and the rear holding device c) A counter-pressure plate that can be brought below the conveyor level between the band and the underside of the object and removed again d) A front holding device that can fix the band at a point in front of the rear holding device e) A loop puller that can pull the band from the band guide, in the position beneath the conveyor level, starting in the conveying direction, into a loop f) A severing device that can sever the band, preferably directly behind the rear holding device, and g) A joining device that can connect the band to itself in an overlapping region.

14. The device for wrapping a band around at least one object according to claim 13, wherein there is also a band tensioner which regulates the band tension and that the band tensioner is preferably electrically controllable and that the band tensioner can preferably change the band tension during running operation.

15. The device for wrapping a band around at least one object according to claim 13, wherein the device comprises several, preferably two, supply rolls for bands and that preferably the supply rolls are coordinated with one another by a supply roll controller in such a manner that a supply roll can be changed in each case while bands are being drawn off of another supply roll.

16. The device for wrapping a band around at least one object according to claim 13, wherein it comprises a band storage unit which makes it possible for the banding process to continue running for a certain time without braking or only slowing, without the band on the other side of the band storage unit moving because of the banding process, wherein the band storage unit is especially controlled by a band storage unit controller.

17. The device for wrapping a band around at least one object according to claims 15, wherein there the supply roll controller and the band storage unit controller are coordinated with one another or integrated into a mutual control unit.

18. The device for wrapping a band around at least one object according to claim 13, wherein it comprises a connecting device with which a band end of one band on a first supply roll can be connected to the beginning of a band on a second supply roll.

19. The device for wrapping a band around at least one object according to claim 18, wherein the connecting device involves a welding device, especially an ultrasonic welding device.

20. The device for wrapping a band around at least one object according to claim 18, wherein the connecting device and the first or second controller are coordinated with one another in such a manner that upon welding of one end of a band with the start of a band, these overlap by less than 1 cm, especially less than or equal to 0.7 cm in length.

21. The device for wrapping a band around at least one object according to claim 13, wherein the device comprises a printer unit for imprinting the band before and/or during the banding or strapping process, wherein the printer unit is preferably a thermal transfer printer.

22. The device for wrapping a band around at least one object according to claim 21, wherein the printer unit is mounted after a band storage unit in a band movement direction and in particular freely accessible, so that in particular no tools need be used to access the printer unit.

23. The device for wrapping a band around at least one object according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the drives used is realized as at least one servomotor and that preferably a servomotor can be controlled by remote access.

24. The device for wrapping a band around at least one object according to claim 23, wherein preferably at least one servomotor that drives the band can also be used as an abrasion-free brake.

25. The device for wrapping a band around at least one object according to claim 13, wherein the device comprises at least one sensor that can preferably measure the pressure on the packets and/or the tension on the band and/or the presence of supply rolls and/or the quality of the imprinting and/or another property of the device, the packet and/or the band.

26. The device for wrapping a band around at least one object according to claim 25, wherein the sensor data can preferably be read by remote access.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0282] The drawings used for explaining the exemplified embodiments show:

[0283] FIG. 1 Starting situation of the banding process as an example of a method for wrapping a band around an object.

[0284] FIG. 2 Protuberance of the band due to an object

[0285] FIG. 3 Introduction of the counter-pressure plate

[0286] FIG. 4 Release of the beginning of the band

[0287] FIG. 5 Starting position of the loop puller

[0288] FIG. 6 Fixation and severing of the loop

[0289] FIG. 7 Spreading out of the loop

[0290] FIG. 8 Connecting

[0291] FIG. 9 Release and transport away of the object

[0292] FIG. 10 Possible resting positions of various components

[0293] Basically in the figures the same parts are provided with the same reference symbols.

METHODS OF EXECUTING THE INVENTION

[0294] FIG. 1 shows the initial situation of a banding method according to the invention as an example of a method for wrapping a band around an object. The method can also be performed analogously as a strapping method. An object 6, e.g., a stack of paper or cardboard, moves on a conveying level 1A band 3 is held in a rear holding device 2 lying below the conveying level From there it moves to a point in a level above the object, where in this case a band tensioner 5 is installed. In this example a band guide 4 is located without contact with the band in the horizontal direction between the band tensioner 5 and the rear holding device 2 and on the same level as the band tensioner Ian another embodiment, contact exists between the band guide 4 and the band 3 in this situation. If this is the case, the band guide 4 can hold the band in the level above the object It is also possible that instead of the band tensioner 5 a deflector roller or another component that can hold the band in the level above the object 6 may be used. The band comes from a band source, not shown, which is preferably a supply roll. From there the band is guided over the band tensioner 5, possibly over the band guide 4, to the rear holding device Ian between, guide rollers and additional components can be used to guide and handle the band in the desired way. For example, it could also be imprinted.

[0295] The band tensioner creates or maintains a band tension lower than that which the closed, finished band loop, which in the case of banding is the banderole, shall finally have (target tension).

[0296] FIG. 2 shows the situation at a time shortly after the situation in FIG. 1. The object 6 has reached the band, tensioned between the rear holding device 2 and the band tensioner 5, and has bulged it out because of its movement in the conveying direction. A band guide device 7 was brought into the band zone and also moves in the conveying direction. Since the object 6 has passed the position of the band guide 4 in the horizontal direction, the band guide 4 now retracts.

[0297] FIG. 3 shows the result of these movements. This is the situation at a time after that shown situation in Figure The band guide 4 has now pressed or guided the band 3 behind the object 6 below the conveying level The band guide device 7 has guided the band beneath the conveying level 1 such that a free space 17 has formed between the band 3 and the conveying level 1 or the object The counter-pressure plate 9 is now introduced into this free space. After this has been done, the band guide device 7 can be removed again. For this purpose the front holding device 8 now moves upward to clamp the band 3 tightly between it and the counter-pressure plate 9.

[0298] While the band guide 4 presses the band below the conveying level 1, the band tension is regulated at the target tension or an even higher tension by the band tensioner 5.

[0299] The situation at a later time point is shown in Figure The band start 3 is held by the front holding device 8 Therefore the rear holding device 2 can release the band. The two jaws of the rear holding device 2 are divided into an upper jaw 2b and a lower jaw 2a. A band start holding device 10 moves upward and thus leads the band start, now free, in the direction of the counter-pressure plate 9.

[0300] In FIG. 5 the band 3 is now pressed against the counter-pressure plate 9 by the band start holding device 10 and the front holding device 8. The band section fixed in this way, however, is only the beginning of the band. Another part of the band travels over or through the band guide Ian a suitable section of the band guide 4, a loop puller 11 is introduced, now located between the band guide 4 and the band It moves in the conveying direction and thus draws the band 3 along with tithe band tension is kept at or somewhat above the high target tension value by the band tensioner 5.

[0301] FIG. 6 shows the loop formed by the movement of the loop puller 11. The upper jaw 2b of the rear holding device is introduced into the loop and moves upward. The lower jaw 2a of the rear holding device also moves upward. The band 3 is now clamped twice in the area of the loop: Once at a point at the upper side of the loop between the counter-pressure plate 9 and the upper jaw 2b. This is the additional holding device. A second time, the band 3 is clamped in the area of the lower side of the loop between the upper jaw 2b and the lower jaw 2a. This is the rear holding device. A severing device 12, which may be a knife, for example, severs the band shortly in front of the rear holding device.(Front and back are defined relative to the conveying direction).

[0302] The following steps are shown in FIG. 7. After the loop was opened by the severing of the band 3, the loop puller 11 moves on in the conveying direction and thus stretches out the loop. A joining device 13 is brought to the band 3 in the area of the counter-pressure plate 9. The band 3 now overlaps in this area. The band guide 4 can now be raised again and return to the position in a level above the object. Now band tension is reduced again by the band tensioner 5.

[0303] In FIG. 8 the connection between the overlapping band sections is just being produced by the joining device 13 The band 3 now no longer need be held against the counter-pressure plate 9 and therefore the front holding device 8 releases, the band start holding device 10 and the rear holding device 2 move, both jaws 2a and 2b are pressed together and, holding the new band start, away from the counter-pressure plate 9, and thus releases the additional holding device. The counter-pressure plate 9 can then also be removed.

[0304] FIG. 9 shows the result: The object 6 with the band rapped around it, the banded object in the case of banding, is transported away. Here this also takes place in the conveying direction. The mechanism for wrapping a band around an object (e.g., a banding or strapping mechanism) is in the same configuration as in FIG. 1a additional object 6 moves in the conveying direction toward the tensioned band 3 and the process can start from the beginning.

[0305] FIG. 10 shows possible resting positions of the components, which move into the band level and are removed from it again over the course of the process. Resting position here is defined as the position in which the components are not performing any task or not their primary task. Naturally other components may be making such movements. FIG. 10 is a sketch of the top view of the conveyor level. The conveyor level 1 and all components shown are illustrated as transparent. Only their outlines are shown.

[0306] The conveying level 1 has an opening 14, and this has a front edge 15. The conveying device 16, which defines the direction for front and back, is shown by an arrow. On the right-hand side of the opening 14, the counter-pressure plate 9 is shown in its resting position. Below the counter-pressure plate 9, parts of the different holding devices are located: The front holding device 8, the upper jaw of the rear holding device 2b and the band start holding device 10.

[0307] During the process, all of these components are never in the resting position simultaneously: The upper jaw of the rear holding device 2b is moved into a situation in the resting position in which at least the front holding device 8 and the counter-pressure plate 9 are being used. At the time when the counter-pressure plate 9 is removed, the upper jaw of the rear holding device 2b is already in use for holding the next band start.

[0308] On the left-hand side of the opening, the band guide device 7 and the loop puller 11 are shown in the embodiment as hooks. These can be brought into the band level by a pivoting movement and then pushed or pulled in the conveying direction.

[0309] Naturally it does not matter which of the components is arranged on which side of the opening. Also, the sizes of the objects and their relationships are selected only for purposes of illustration. It is only necessary to make sure that the various holding devices are suitably arranged, so that the counter-pressure plate can serve as the complement to a clamp if this solution is desired.

[0310] However, the method described in the preceding and the devices shown are to be understood as merely illustrative examples, which can be modified as needed within the scope of the present invention.

[0311] For example, it is possible that the band guide device 7 will initially guide the band 3 further in the conveying direction than the object 6 and the object 6 will only reach the position shown in FIG. 3 at a later time.

[0312] The band guide 4 can already occupy a lower position at an earlier time. However, it should not collide with the object 6. The band guide device 7 can be removed before or after pressing on the front holding device 8.

[0313] The front holding device 8 need not necessarily use the counter-pressure plate 9 as a second clamping jaw, but could have a separate, second clamping jaw.

[0314] The band holding device 10 may also be dispensed within this case the path along which the loop puller 11 moves can be adapted sufficiently.

[0315] The band guide 11 can be designed such that the loop starts at it. For this purpose the band 3 may be held on the band guide 4 with a suitable device. Alternatively, the loop may start at the band guide 4 and end at the corner of the object 6, the edge of the counter-pressure plate 9 or the edge of the band start holding device 10 The preferred solution is for the corner of the object 6 to delimit the loop, since in this case the band 3 will lie tightly against the object 6.

[0316] In the embodiment shown, the additional holding device is formed by the upper jaw 2b of the rear holding device and the counter-pressure plate 9 However, the additional holding device may also consist of two jaws of its own or of one jaw and the counter-pressure plate 9.

[0317] The placement of the band tensioner 5 is also variable. A deflecting roller can hold the band in the place above the object shown here. However, it is also possible for the band 3 to be guided through the band guide 4 in such a way that the band guide 4 can hold the band 3 up without further aids. The band tension could then be placed at any point whatsoever between the band source and the band guide 4. The band tensioner may also be integrated into the band source in that, for example, it controls the rotation of a supply roll.

[0318] The device for introducing a counter-pressure plate according to the invention is shown in FIG. 3. Then in FIG. 4 it is clear how the band guiding device 7 fulfills its task of enabling the introduction of a counter-pressure plate 9 The band tensioner 5 and the band guide 4 are not part of this device, nor are the band 3 nor the object 6.