Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
CLAMP FOR SHEETS OF MATERIAL
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a clamp. More
specifically but not exclusively, the present invention is concerned with a
clamp
for sheets of material. Still more specifically but not exclusively, the
present
invention is concerned with a clamp for a bagging system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Clamps for sheets of material are well known in the art.
Such
clamps are commonly used in bagging systems.
[0003] It is known in the art to bag or package certain
products, such
as bundles of lumber, in order to protect them from the external environment,
such as UV radiation, and preserve an appropriate degree of humidity.
Apparatuses for loading forestry, agriculture or other products into
stretchable
plastic tubes have been provided.
[0004] Many conventional apparatuses include clamps for pulling
a
sheet of bagging material over a load, gripping members for turning the bag
inside out over a movable bag stretching structure. The movable bag stretching
structure is displaced towards a facing side of the material while being held
in a
stretched state. This continuous displacement causes the bag to be inverted
onto the material for covering thereof.
[0005] A variety of clamps for pulling this sheet of bagging
material
are known in the art.
[0006] A drawback of standard clamps is that they do not
sufficiently
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grip sheets of material for proper manipulation thereof. Other conventional do
not
sufficiently grip sheets of film and the like without damaging thereto or
creasing thereof.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A non-exclusive object of the present invention is to provide
a clamping
member.
[0008] Another non-exclusive object of the present invention is to
provide a
clamping device.
[0009] Another non-exclusive object of the present invention is to
provide an
apparatus for bagging material.
[0010] Another non-exclusive object of the present invention is to provide
a
method for clamping overlaying sheets of material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a
clamping member for sheets of material, said clamping member comprising: an
external
clamping side for engaging a sheet of material; an internal clamping area
inwardly
extending from said external clamping side; and a pair of dragging sheets
mounted on
said external clamping side and comprising respective external ends thereof
being
secured to said external clamping side and respective opposite ends being
retractable
into said internal clamping area, wherein said external dragging sheets are at
least
partially retractable into said internal clamping area so as to frictionally
drag
therebetween at least a portion of the sheet of material, engaged thereby,
into said
internal clamping area therewith.
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[0012] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is
provided a clamping member for sheets of material, said clamping member
comprising:
an external clamping side comprising an external dragging surface for engaging
a sheet
of material; and an internal clamping area inwardly extending from aid
external clamping
side, said internal clamping area comprising pneumatic members for being
inflated and
deflated; wherein said external dragging surface is at least partially movable
into said
internal clamping area so as to frictionally drag at least a portion of the
sheet of
material, engaged thereby, into said internal clamping area therewith, said
pneumatic
members being inflated so as to grip said at least a portion of the sheet of
material and
deflated so as to release said at least a portion of the sheet of material.
[0013] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is
provided a clamping member for sheets of material, said clamping member
comprising:
an external clamping side comprising an external dragging surface for engaging
a sheet
of material; and an internal clamping area inwardly extending from said
external
clamping side, said internal clamping area comprising a pair of oppositely
disposed
pivotable clamping plates; wherein said external dragging surface is at least
partially
movable into said internal clamping area so as to frictionally drag at least a
portion of
the sheet of material, engaged thereby, into said internal clamping area
therewith, said
clamping plates providing for clamping said at least a portion of the sheet of
material
dragged within said clamping area.
[0014] A method of clamping overlaying sheets of material including
at least a
first sheet and a second sheet, the method comprising: engaging the first and
second
sheets with a respective dragging surface; frictionally dragging a portion of
each first
and second sheets into a respective crevice contiguous with each dragging
surface; and
clamping the portions of the first and second sheets within the respective
crevices.
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[0015] The term "clamp" is construed herein to include any type
of
clamping device, pinching device, gripping device and the like.
[0016] The terms "rolling" and "unrolling" are not used herein
in its
most strict sense and even though, the action of convention rollers is
included,
this term also includes without limitation the movement of rolled or semi-
rolled
sheets being opened, unfolded or unrolled or closed, moved towards a folded
or rolled.
[0017] Other objects, advantages and features of the present
invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-
restrictive description of illustrative embodiments thereof, given by way of
example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] In the appended non-restrictive drawings, where like
references numerals indicate like elements throughout and in which :
[0019] Figures 1A to 1C are perspective front sequential views of the
clamping member in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment
of the present invention;
[0020] Figures 2A and 2B are partial perspective front views of
the
clamping member of Figures 1A to 1B;
[0021] Figure 3 is an exploded front perspective view of the
clamping member of Figures 1A to 1B;
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[0022] Figures 4A and 4B are respective partial cross-sectional
views of Figures 1A and 1B along the lines 4A-4A and 4B-4B respectively;
[0023] Figures 5A to 5E are partial cross-sectional
representational
views similar to Figures 4A and 4B showing the clamping members of Figures
5 IA to 1C in operation;
[0024] Figures 6 is a perspective front view of the clamping
member
in accordance with another non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the
present invention;
[0025] Figures 7A and 7B are respective partial cross-sectional
views of the clamping member of Figure 6 in operation;
[0026] Figures 8A to BE are partial cross-sectional
representational
views similar to Figures 7A and 7B showing the clamping member of Figure 6
in operation;
[0027] Figure 9 is a perspective view of a clamping device in
accordance with non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0028] Figure 10 is a perspective view of an apparatus for
bagging
material in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
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[0029] Generally stated, the invention relates to clamping
members
having a clamping side. The clamping side includes an external dragging
surface that forms a cleavage providing a pair of oppositely disposed sheets.
This cleavage forms a crevice that leads into an internal clamping area. A
common junction between the oppositely disposed is mounted to an actuator
and positioned within the internal clamping area. The internal clamping area
Is
positioned between the pair of oppositely disposed sheets. The actuator acts
on the common junction and thereby on the oppositely disposed sheets to pull
them deeper into the clamping area or push them outwardly of the clamping
area. When the clamping side abuts a sheet of material, the actuator pulls the
dragging sheets inward via the common junction into the clamping area. These
dragging sheets frictionally engage the sheet and frictionally drag it into
the
cleavage formed therebetween dragging into the clamping area. Within the
clamping area pneumatic grippers pinch the dragging sheets as well as the
sheet of material enveloped therebetween thereby clamping this sheet of
material.
[0030] With reference to Figures 1A to 5E, a first non-
restrictive
illustrative embodiment of the present invention will now be described so as
to
exemplify the invention and not limit the scope thereof.
[0031] Figures 1A ¨ 1C show a clamp 10 including an elongate main
body 12 having a clamping side 14.
[0032] The clamping side 14 includes an external dragging
surface
16 defined by a pair of spaced apart dragging sheets 18 and 20 mounted to
respective lip assemblies 22 and 24. With particular reference to Figures 4A
and 4B, an internal clamping area 25 extends from the pair of spaced apart
dragging sheets 18 and 20 and is positioned therebetween. Paying particular
attention to Figure 3, the elongate body 12 provides a housing having a pair
of
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opposite outer panels 26 and 28 as well as a backing plate 29 and a structural
support assembly 23 which will be discussed herein.
[0033]
With particular reference to Figures 4A and 4B and general
reference to Figure 3, each lip assembly 22 and 24 includes a gripping or
pinching members in the form of pneumatic members 30 and 32 respectively
housed within an elongate support 34 and 36 respectively. The pneumatic
gripping members 30 and 32 define a gripping assembly or gripper and are
connected to a pneumatic actuator assembly 31 (partially illustrated in Figure
1A).
Referring to Figures 1A-1C and Figure 3, the pneumatic actuator
assembly 31 includes a pair of tubes 33 and 35 for providing pressure fluid in
order to swell up the pneumatic gripping members 30 and 32, as shown in
Figure 1C, during clamping as will be further detailed herein. Returning to
Figures 4A and 4B. the elongate supports 34 and 36 are mounted to members
26 and 28 via fasteners 15.
[0034] Portions of each dragging sheet 18 and 20 are interfaced
within the internal clamping area 25 and joined together at common junction
37.
In fact, the dragging surface 16 defines a cleavage that provides the
oppositely
disposed dragging sheets 18 and 20, this cleavage meets at the common
junction 37. Therefore, the clamping area includes the crevice defined between
external opening between the sheets 18 and 20 and the internal common
junction. The opposite ends 38 and 40 of the dragging sheets 18 and 20
respectively, are clamped by fastener bars 42 and 44 and resiliently attached
to
members 26 and 28 respectively via respective resilient elastic members 46
and 48. The elastic members 46 and 48 are clamped by fasteners bars 42 and
44 at one end thereof and by the fasteners 50 and 52 at the other end thereof.
Each gripping member 30 and 32 engages a movable clamping member in the
form of plates 54 and 56, respectively, which are pivotally mounted to the
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elongate supports 34 and 36, respectively. The clamping members 54 and 56
define a clamper.
[0035]
The common junction 37 of the dragging surface 16 is
connected to actuator 57 slidably mounted between inner panels 58 and 60.
The actuator 57 acts on the common junction 37 in order to move a further
portion of the external dragging surface 16 into the clamping area 25 as
sequentially shown in Figures 4A and 4B respectively.
The actuator 57
includes a pair of fingers 62 and 64 which sandwich junction 37 as well as a
portion of the interfaced sheets 18 and 20 defining the cleavage of the
dragging
surface 16.
[0036]
With reference to Figures 2A-3, the fingers 62 and 64 are the
front edges of moveable guide-panels 66 and 68 respectively (also see Figures
4A and 4b). The guide-panels 66 and 68 are moveably mounted to the inner
actuating panels 58 and 60 and include similarly configured guide apertures 70
for slidably receiving guide protrusions 72 therethrough. The inner actuating
panels 58 and 60 also include similarly configured 74 for also slidably
receiving
the guide protrusions 74 therethough. The actuating panels 58 and 60 are
mounted to an actuating assembly 76.
[0037] As
shown in Figures 2A and 2B, the actuating assembly 76 is
mounted to the structural support assembly 23 and includes a hydraulic
cylinder 78 and a piston 80 mounted to the interconnected actuating panels 58
and 60 for movement thereof.
[0038] In
operation, the cylinder 78 actuates the piston 80 to impart
a movement on the actuating panels 58 and 60, which are guided during their
movement via their guide apertures 74 sliding along their guide protrusions
72.
The foregoing causes a complementary movement to the moveable guide-
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panels 66 and 68 which are guided, via their apertures 70 sliding along guide
protrusions 72.
[0039] Hence, when the piston 80 is moved outwardly of the
cylinder
78, as shown by arrow A in Figure 2A, the panels 58 and 60 are pushed in
direction A as well, causing the panels 66 and 68 to move inwardly as shown
by arrow B. In this way, the fingers 62 and 64 are moved inwards as shown in
Figure 4B, bringing the dragging surface common junction 37 deeper into the
clamping area 25. As shown, in Figure 4B, the sheets 18 and 20 are moved
towards the clamping area 25 bringing their respective clamped end 38 and 40
therewith (as well as the clamping bars 42 and 44) and hence, the movement
of which is arrested by the clamped elastic members 46 and 48 when they
reach a maximum stress level. The sheets 18 and 20 are pulled in quickly and
their surface in under stress between the fingers 62 and 68 and the elastics
46
and 48 as such the sheets 18 and 20 frictionally engage the pivotable clamping
members 54 and 56 thereby closing these members. When the piston 80 is
moved into the cylinder 78, as shown by arrow C in Figure 2B, the panels 58
and 60 are pulled in direction B, as well, causing the panels 66 and 68 to
move
outwardly as shown by arrow D. In this way, the fingers 62 and 64 are moved
outwards as shown in Figure 4A, moving the sheets 18 and 20 outwardly of the
clamping area 25 causing the clamping members 54 and 56 to pivot as to
open.
[0040] Referring now to Figures 5A to 5B, a pair of clamping
members 10A and 10B engages a folded film F having a pair of overlaying
sheets S1 and S2 by being brought towards the film F with the clamping side
14 of each clamping member 10A and 10B being adjacent to a respective
sheet S1 and S2. First, the gripping sides 14 of each clamping member 10A
and 10B engage the sheets S1 and S2, respectively, as shown in Figures 5A
and 5B. Then, the actuator 57 retracts deeper into the area 25 pulling the
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sheets 18 and 20 therewith which frictionally drag a portion of each sheet Si
and S2 as shown in Figure 5C therebetween. Simultaneously, the clamping
members 54 and 56 close, as shown in Figure 4B, thereby clamping a portion
of the sheets 18 and 20 with a portion of the sheets Si or S2 therebetween. As
5 shown in Figures 1C and 5D, the gripping members 30 and 32 swell up in
order
to add gripping pressure to the portion of the sheets Si and S2 which have
been sucked into the clamping area 25. Once the sheets S1 and S2 are firmly
gripped as shown in Figure 5D, the clamping members 10A and 10B are
moved away from one another thereby separating the previously overlaying
10 sheets Si and S2 as shown in Figure 5E.
[0041] With reference to Figures 6 to 8E, a second non-
restrictive
illustrative embodiment of the present invention will now be described so as
to
further exemplify the invention and by no means limit the scope thereof.
[0042] Figure 6 shows a clamp 110 including an elongate main
body
12 having a clamping side 114. Clamp 110 is substantially similar to clamp 10,
in fact the differences between clamp 110 and clamp 10 are between their
respective clamping sides 114 and 14. As such, mostly the differences
between clamping members110 and 10 will be discussed herein for concision
purposes only. It should be noted that like reference numerals in the Figures
regarding clamps 110 and 10 indicate like elements, whether or not these
elements are described for a second time when discussing clamping member
110.
[0043] The external dragging surface 116 is defined by a pair of
spaced apart dragging sheets 118 and 120 mounted to respective lip
assemblies 122 and 124. An internal clamping area 25 extends from the pair of
spaced apart dragging sheets 118 and 120 and is positioned therebetween.
Each lip assembly 122 and 124 includes gripping members 30 and 32
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respectively housed within an elongate supports 34 and 36 respectively and fed
with pressure via the actuator 31 as previously described.
[0044]
Portions of each dragging sheet 118 and 120 are interfaced
within the internal clamping area 25 and joined together at common junction
137. The common junction 137 of the dragging surface 116 is mounted to
actuator 57 for actuation thereof. The opposite ends 138 and 140 of the
dragging sheets 118 and 120 respectively, are respectively fastened to the
panels 26 and 28 of the longitudinal body via fasteners 42 and 44,
respectively.
[0045]
Similarly to clamp 10, the actuating assembly 76 causes the
actuator 57 to move the common junction 137 outwardly of the clamping area
25 as shown in Figure 7A and inwardly of the clamping area 25 as shown in
Figure 7b. When the sheets 116 and 120 are moved outwardly of the clamping
area 25 they are "unrolled" as shown in Figure 7A and hence provided with
slack. When the sheets 116 and 120 are moved inwardly further into the
clamping area they are "rolled" or pulled back and held tightly between the
retracted actuator 57 acting on the common junction 137 and the fastened ends
138 and 140.
[0046] In
operation, and with reference to Figures 8A to 8E pair of
clamping members 110A and 110B respectively are moved towards and
engage the overlaying sheets S1 and S2 of the film F as shown in Figures 8A
and 8B. The sheets 118 and 120 are in the unrolled position (Figure 7A) as
they abut the sheets S1 and S2 as show in Figure 8B. When the actuator 57
retracts deeper into the area 25 it retracts the sheets 118 and 120 therewith
which frictionally drag a portion of each sheet S1 and S2 as shown in Figure
80
into the clamping area 25 therebetween, enveloping this portion of each sheet
S1 and S2. Simultaneously, the clamping members 54 and 56 close, as shown
in Figure 8B, thereby clamping a portion of the sheets 118 and 120 with a
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portion of the sheets S1 or S2 therebetween. As shown in Figures 6 the
gripping members 30 and 32 swell up in order to add additional gripping
pressure to the portion of the sheets S1 and S2 which have been sucked into
the clamping area 25. Once the sheets S1 and S2 are firmly gripped as
schematically shown in Figure 8D, the clamping members 110A and 110B are
moved away from one another thereby separating the previously overlapping
sheets Si and S2 as shown in Figure 8E.
[0047] The foregoing emulates a vacuum sucking action which
pulls
a portion of the sheets Si and S2 inwardly between the lip assemblies 122 and
124 (or 22 and 24 for clamping member 10).
[0048] In both the clamping member 10 or clamping member 110
cases, once the sheets S1 and S2 are to be released, the pressure in the
gripping members 30 and 32 is arrested and these members deflate back to
their idle position. The actuator 57 pushes the common edges 37 or 137
outwardly of the clamping area thereby opening the pivotable clamping
members 54 and 56 (as shown in Figures 4A and 7A) and the dragging sheets
(18 and 20 or 118 and 120) are moved outwardly of the clamping area 25
pushing the formerly clamped portions of the overlaying film sheets S1 and S2
out of the clamping area 25 as well thereby releasing the film.
[0049] The action of the dragging surfaces 16 and 116 as well as the
clamping members 54 and 56 and the gripping members 30 and 32 on the film
sufficiently clamp a film F for manipulation thereof without damage thereto.
[0050] The sheets 18, 20, 118 and 120 can be made of variety of
synthetic or polymeric materials, plastics, rubbers and the like. Their
frictional
dragging actions be accomplished by a variety of ways known in the art and as
such the actuation and guiding systems described herein only serve as one
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example within the scope of the inventive concept. The sheets 18 and 20 are
part of the same larger sheet defined by the dragging surface 16 and hence
sheets 18 and 20 may be sheet portions of a single sheet. As such the sheet
16 includes an external portion 18 and 20 and an internal portion within the
camping area 25. In another embodiment, these sheets 18 and 20 may be
separate disconnected sheets having one end mounted to an actuator 57, yet
their two ends mounted to the same actuator 57 together define their common
junction. In either case the dragging surface 16 envelopes the portion of
sheet
material it engages and frictionally drags the portion into the clamping area
25.
The foregoing also applies for sheets 118 and 120 of dragging surface 116.
[0051] In another non-illustrated embodiment, the dragging
surface
comprises rollers for rollingly and frictionally engaging a portion of the
sheet
material to rollingly drag this portion into the clamping area.
[0052] The clamping members and the clamping sides thereof can
be provided in a number of suitable configurations other than the longitudinal
designs illustrated herein as examples.
[0053] The gripping members 30 and 32 can be provided in a
variety
of sizes and configurations. In fact, a variety of moveable gripping,
clamping,
pinching, securing, tightening members and the like such as members 30, 32,
54 and 56 which engage the portions of material dragged into the clamping
area either by translational movement, or by swelling, inflation and the like
can
be used in order to tightly clamp the sheet of material without damage
thereto.
In fact, in other non-illustrated embodiments, the sheets 18 and 20 or 118 and
120 are sufficiently close to one another within the clamping area 25 and they
are sufficiently retracted within the clamping area 25 as to clamp the portion
of
dragged sheet material without the use of any additional grippers, clampers,
and the like.
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[0054] With reference to Figure 9, a clamping device 200 is
shown
including a pair of clamps 210A and 210B. Clamps 210A and 210B are
similarly constructed to clamps 10 and 110 previously discussed.
[0055] The clamping device 200 can be provided in a variety of
configurations and constructions, in this example, the clamping members 210
and 2106 are movable along the longitudinal length of a mobile arm 212, with
their clamping sides 214A and 214B facing each other, to reciprocally move in
the direction shown by arrow X for approaching overlaying sheets
therebetween, engaging each overlaying sheet, clamping each overlaying
sheet and moving the sheets away from one another as discussed and shown
in Figures 5A to 5D and 8A to 8D. The mobile arm 212 includes rails, which
are engaged by bearing guide members 276 mounted to the support structures
23 of each clamping member 214A and 214.
[0056] The mobile arm 212 is mounted to an elevator support 216
so as to be movable along the longitudinal length of the support 216 and as to
be pivotable relative to support 216. Elevator support 216 is mounted to a
carriage 218 so as to be movable along the vertical length of this carriage
218.
The carriage 218 may also be movable along the length of a railing 220 shown
in Figure 10.
[0057] With reference to Figure 10, an apparatus 300 for bagging
material B in a bundle is shown in accordance with a non limiting example of
the present invention.
[0058] The apparatus 300 is an assembly of sub-apparatuses
including a first load transfer 302 for conveying the load B in the -Y and +Y
directions, a second load transfer 304 for conveying the load 12 in the +X and
-X directions, a film dispensing and cutting assembly 306, a film conveying
device 308 for conveying film in the -Y and +Y directions, and a film
stretching
and bagging device 310 which includes the clamping devices 200A and 200B.
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As such the stretching and bagging device 310 includes a pair of left and
right
moveable carriages 218A and 218B moveably mounted on the railing 220
carrying the clamping devices 200A and 200B respectively.
[0059] Hence, the present apparatus 300 provides for clamping a
5 film F with the clamp devices 200A and 200B. The clamping members 210A of
each device 200A and 200B clamp a side Si of the film F, the clamping
members 210B of each device 200A and 200B clamp a side S1 and S2 of the
film F. The carriages 218A and 2185 move away from each other stretching
the film. The clamping members 210A and 210B of each device 200A and
10 200B also move away from each other opening the film F to form a bag.
The
bag F covers the bundle B as the devices 200A and 200B lower the opened
and stretched bag F onto the bundle B. Once the bundle B has been covered,
the clamping members 210A and 21013 of both devices 200A and 200B release
the bag F onto the bundle B and move away from the covered bundle B to
15 engage another length of film F.
[0060] Furthermore and is apparent to the skilled artisan in
view of
the present description, the present invention also provides a method of
clamping overlaying sheets of material including at least a first sheet and a
second sheet. This method comprising engaging the first and second sheets
with a respective dragging surface, then frictionally dragging a portion of
each
first and second sheets into a respective crevice contiguous with each
dragging
surface and subsequently clamping the portions of the first and second sheets
with the respective crevices.
[0061] It should be understood that the various features and
characteristics of the various previously described embodiments as well as the
non-restrictive Figures can be combined and modified in a variety of ways to
provide still other non-restrictive embodiments within the scope of the
invention.
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[0062] While particular embodiments of the present invention have been
illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art
that various other
changes and modifications can be made. The scope of the claims should not be
limited
by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given
the
broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
