DEVICE FOR APPLYING AT LEAST TWO STRAPS AROUND A PACKET

DISPOSITIF SERVANT A APPLIQUER AU MOINS DEUX FEUILLARDS AUTOUR D'UN PAQUET

English Abstract

Device for arranging at least two bands (B1, B2) around one or more packets
(P), substantially consisting of a frame (1), a lying conveyor belt (2)
supported by the frame for moving forward the packets, band clamping and
guiding means which move transversely of the conveyor belt away from and
toward each other and which are connected to associated supply reels for the
strapping band B1, B2), welding means (7, 8) for welding together the bands
which have been moved toward each other, wherein a first group of band
clamping and guiding means has a first pair of jaws (7) for a first band type,
and a second group has second pair of jaws (8) for a second band type, which
groups arranged one above the other. In this manner the one or more packets
can be strapped with two or more band of a specific type, for instance subject
to the required firmness, via one passage through the device according to the
invention.

French Abstract

Cette invention concerne un dispositif servant à disposer au moins deux bandes (B1, B2) autour d'un ou plusieurs paquets (P). Ce dispositif comprend principalement un bâti (1), une courroie transporteuse horizontale (2) reposant sur le bâti et servant à faire avancer les paquets, des unités de préhension et de guidage de bande qui se déplacent transversalement par rapport à la courroie transporteuse en s'éloignant et se rapprochant l'une de l'autre et qui sont reliées à des bobines débitrices (3, 4) correspondantes de bande (B1, B2) de cerclage, des unités de soudage (7, 8) servant à souder les bandes qui ont été rapprochées l'une de l'autre, un premier groupe des unités de préhension et de guidage de bande comportant une première paire de mâchoires (7) pour un premier type de bande, et un second groupe comportant une seconde paire de mâchoires (8) pour un second type de bande, lesquels groupes sont disposés l'un au-dessus de l'autre. Le ou les paquets peuvent ainsi être cerclés à l'aide d'au moins deux bandes d'un type spécifique, choisi par exemple en fonction de la résistance requise, au moyen d'un passage traversant le dispositif de la présente invention.

Claims

8
CLAIMS:
1. Device for simultaneously arranging at least two bands around one
or more packets, substantially consisting of a frame, a lying conveyor belt
supported by the frame for moving forward the packets, band clamping and
guiding means which move transversely of the conveyor belt away from and
toward each other and which are connected to associated supply reels for the
at
least two bands, welding means for welding together the bands which have been
moved toward each other, wherein the at least two bands comprise a band of a
strap type and a band of a film type, and that a first group of band clamping
and
guiding means has a first pair of welding and clamping jaws, said first group
being
arranged for the band of the strap type and a second group has 'a second pair
of
welding and clamping jaws, said second group being arranged for the band of
the
film type, which groups are arranged one above the other.
2. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second band is wider than
the first band.
3. Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein each jaw of the first pair
of jaws has a clamping surface which runs transversely relative to the
direction of
movement and which co-acts with a counter-surface of an intermediate body
carried by one of the jaws, wherein at least one of the surfaces is provided
with
tooth-like protrusions lying in a direction opposite to the pulling direction.
4. Device as claimed in any one of claims I to 3, wherein each jaw of
the second pair of jaws has a guide surface which runs transversely relative
to the
direction of movement and which co-acts in each case with a motor-driven
supply
roll.
5. Device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein one of the
band types is provided with a label.
6. Use of the device of any one of claims 1 to 5 for arranging at least
two bands around one or more packets.

Description

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DEVICE FOR APPLYING AT LEAST TWO STRAPS AROUND A PACKET
The invention relates to'a device for arranging at least
two bands around one or more packets, substantially
consisting of a frame, a lying conveyor belt supported by the
frame for moving forward the packets, band clamping and
guiding means which move transversely of the conveyor belt
away from and toward each other and which are connected to
associated supply reels for the strapping band, welding means
for welding together the bands which have been moved toward
each other.
Such.devices for strapping a number of packets using a
band are for instance described in the patents NL 7314312 and
EP 98202234 in the name of applicant. These embodiments have
the drawback that the device is only suitable for arranging
one or more bands of the same type per passage of the one or
more packets. Particularly-when high packets must be
strapped, according to the prior art the packet for strapping
must pass through different devices.
Some aspects of the invention provide
a device and a method whereby two or more bands, which can be of
different types, are arranged in one passage of the packets for
strapping and wherein the packet can be provided with a label.
For this purpose some embodiments of the invention are
distinguished by a first group of band clamping and guiding means
which has a first pair of jaws for a first band type and a second
group which has a second pair of jaws for a second band type,
which groups are arranged one above the other.
In this manner the one or more packets can be strapped
with two or more bands of a specific type, for instance

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subject to the required firmness, via one passage through the
device according to the invention.
According to a first embodiment relating to a strapping
with two bands, the two lower and the two upper band portions
are brought toward each other in one movement, whereupon both
pairs of band portions are fixedly clamped and are then
separated and welded in a known manner, as described for
instance in NL 7314312.
According to a second embodiment relating to a strapping
with two bands, the upper band parts are first moved toward
each other, separated and welded, whereafter the carrier of
the welding means is moved downward to the lower band
portions, which are then separated and welded. This second
embodiment has the advantage that only one carrier provided
with welding means for any type of band is required.
It will further be apparent that both embodiments can be
readily enlarged into devices for strapping with more than
two bands.
One group of band clamping and guiding means is
preferably suitable for a band of the film type. This type of
band has the advantage that it can easily be provided with a
means of identification, for instance by printing text or
adhering a label thereto. On the other hand, this type of
band is more expensive than the standard strapping bands, and
since it generally suffices to arrange only labels on this
type of band, a cheaper type can be chosen for the other band
or bands.
According to an embodiment, the second band is wider than
the first band, wherein the wider band can for instance then
be provided in practical manner with a means of
identification.
In a first preferred embodiment of the device according
to the invention, each jaw of the first pair of jaws has a

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clamping surface which runs transversely relative to the
direction of movement and which co-acts with a counter-
surface of an intermediate body carried by one of the jaws,
wherein at least one of the surfaces is provided with tooth-
like protrusions lying in a direction opposite to the pulling
direction.
According to another feature of the present invention,
each jaw of the second pair of jaws, which is for instance
suitable for arranging a band of the film type, has a guide
surface which runs transversely relative to the direction of
movement and which co-acts in each case with a motor-driven
supply roll. The setting of the speed of the conveyor belt
and the speed of the rolls ensures that the film can be
placed round the packet with a randomly adjustable tension.
The invention further relates to a method for arranging
at least two bands one above the other around one or more
packets, wherein each band, which is formed by fastening
together at their outer ends two bands unrolled in each case
from a supply roll, is trained in a U-shape round the or each
packet, whereupon each pair of band portions extending around
the or each packet in a U-shape are pressed toward each other
along the object, adhered to each other and severed such that
a band again extends between each pair of supply rolls.
The method is distinguished in that the type of the at
least two bands is chosen according to the height on the one
or more packets, and that for each band each of the two band
portions pressed toward each other is fixedly clamped, moved
toward each other, welded together and separated.
This method makes it possible to firmly strap the one or
more packets in one passage thereof with at least two bands,
the type of which is related to the height position on the
packets.

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According to a first variant of the method according to the invention,
each band of the bands to be arranged one above the other is fixedly clamped,
welded together and separated simultaneously and in one movement.
According to another variant of the method according to the
invention each band of the bands to be arranged one above the other is
successively sought, fixedly clamped, welded together and separated. In this
manner only one pair of clamping and welding jaws is required for arranging
each
band of the same type.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
device for simultaneously arranging at least two bands around one or more
packets, substantially consisting of a frame, a lying conveyor belt supported
by the
frame for moving forward the packets, band clamping and guiding means which
move transversely of the conveyor belt away from and toward each other and
which are connected to associated supply reels for the at least two bands,
welding
means for welding together the bands which have been moved toward each other,
wherein the at least two bands comprise a band of a strap type and a band of a
film type, and that a first group of band clamping and guiding means has a
first
pair of welding and clamping jaws, said first group being arranged for the
band of
the strap type and a second group has a second pair of welding and clamping
jaws, said second group being arranged for the band of the film type, which
groups are arranged one above the other.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided use of the device as described herein for arranging at least two
bands
around one or more packets.
The invention will be further elucidated with reference to the
annexed drawing and the figure description hereinbelow, in which a number of
embodiments of the device according to the invention are illustrated.
In the drawing:
figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the
device according to the invention;

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figure 2 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the
device according to the invention;
figure 3 shows a perspective detail view of the band clamping and
guiding means of the embodiment shown in figure 2;
figures 4A to 4D and 5A to 5E show perspective views of the band
clamping and guiding means of the embodiment shown in figure 2 during a
possible embodiment of the method according to the invention.
According to a first embodiment, and as shown in figure 1, the
device has a portal-like frame 1, although the skilled person will appreciate
that
this frame can take a random form. Running below the portal is a conveyor belt
2
for moving the packets P for strapping in the direction of arrow P3.

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The band B1 and film B2 for arranging are pulled
respectively from supply reels 3 and 4 (see arrows P1 and P2) and
guided to clamping and welding jaws 7 and 8 via resistance
mechanisms and return pulleys (not shown). A corresponding
5 configuration can be found on the other side of the portal.
In the drawing the welding jaws 7 and 8 are each provided
with separate support frames, although it will be apparent
that they can equally well be mounted on the same support
frame when the two bands are moved towards each other in a
single movement.
Both ends of band B1 and film B2 respectively-are in each
case welded together at 9 and 10 respectively. The clamping
and welding jaws 7, 8 are moved toward each other, wherein
band B1 and film B2 are nestled under tension against the
rear side of the packets P for strapping.
Band B1 and film B2 are then clamped fixedly on either
side, whereupon the band and the film are cut through on both
sides and the corresponding band and film ends are welded
together.
Each clamping jaw 7 of the band B1 which in this
embodiment is of the strap type, is advantageously embodied
with a clamping surface which is provided with teeth 7A
protruding in a direction opposite to the pulling direction
in order to prevent slippage resulting from the tensile
force. Such clamping jaws are described in detail in the
European patent application EP 98202234 of applicant.
Each clamping jaw 8 of band B2, which in this embodiment
is of the film type, has a guide surface which runs
transversely relative to the direction of movement and which
co-acts in each case with a motor-driven supply reel 4. The
setting of the speed of conveyor belt 2 and the speed of
rolls 4 ensures that the film can be placed round the packet
with a randomly adjustable tension.

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A second embodiment is shown in figure 2. Frame 1 is
provided on either side with a support frame 11 with clamping
and welding means, which support frames are shown in detail
in figure 3.
At the top of the support frame are arranged guiding and
welding means 8 for a band B2 of the film type, while
clamping and welding means 7 for a band B1 of the strap type
are built in at the bottom. The latter has a left-hand and
right-hand welding jaw 13, 13' which are built into a two-
part sleeve-like housing 14. Band portions B1 are guided over
respective guide surfaces 15, 15'. For a detailed description
of all components of these jaws reference is made to the
patent EP 0 890 510 of applicant.
As shown in figure 2, frame 1 is provided with a
motorized beam 12 to which the support frames 11 are
connected, which beam 12 can be moved up and downward using
control means, as designated with arrow P4, such that the
height of support frames 11 can be adjusted. Control means
are likewise further provided for carrying support frames 11
towards each other in the direction of arrow P5.
The method of the invention wherein each band of the
bands to be arranged one above the other is successively
sought, fixedly clamped, welded together and separated, is
illustrated with reference to figures 4A to 4D and SA to SD.
Figure 4A shows the step wherein a band B1 of the strap type
has been sought and taken up by the guiding means. Both
support frames are then moved towards each other until the
lower pair of welding jaws are mutually engaging, as shown in
figures 4B and 4C. In figure 4C the band portions are adhered to
each other and separated. The band of the strap type Bl is
then sealed round the one or more packets and also separated
from the band parts coming from supply rolls 3 with their
ends fixed to each other, so that the support frames can move

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back away from each other (figure 4D) and a subsequent band can
be sought.
Figures 5A to 5E shows the different steps of the movement of
support frames 11 when a band of the film type is taken up.
Both support frames 11 are moved toward each other until the
lower pair of guiding and welding jaws are mutually engaging,
as shown in figures 5B and 5C, whereupon the upper pair of
guiding jaws 8 are moved toward each other, as shown in
figure 5D. The band portions are then adhered to each other and
separated. The band of film type B2 is then closed round the
one or more packets and also separated from the band parts
coming from motorized supply rolls 4 with their ends fixed to
each other, so that support frames 11 can be moved back away
from each other (figure 5E) and a subsequent band can be
sought, or the strapped packets can be transported further
when all bands B1, B2 have been arranged.
The invention is not limited to the above described
embodiment; it is thus also possible for instance to provide
the device with three groups of band clamping and guiding
means, with which three different band types can be arranged.

Representative Drawing