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.

Description:
[0001]    The invention relates firstly to a device to arrange an edge protection means on a package, with at least one drive wheel with which the means is movable along a running rail from a point of departure to the package and from the package to the point of departure, with a motor carried by the means itself and which sets at least one drive wheel in motion, with a clamp mounting comprising a movable clamping jar and a counter bearing to take up the edge protection means in an open position of the clamping jaw and hold it in a closed position of the clamping jaw. 
         [0002]    Means to arrange edge protection means on packages are used in strapping arrangements. For example, such strapping arrangements are used to secure products on load carriers, in particular to secure pallets for transportation with strapping bands. Alternatively, it is also known to strap packages—such as packaging cartons—with a band prior to transportation to prevent the carton from opening during transportation. Since the strapping means is tightened around the package during the strapping process, strong forces are acting upon the package edges. This can cause damage to the package. To prevent this, so-called edge protection means are applied in the area of the edges. In the simplest case, these are flat cardboard strips applied to the package, for example with the arrangement means according to the invention and described below, and held in the area of the edge. During the strapping process, the flat cardboard strips are usually bent by the strapping means itself along the package edge and laid around the edge. The edge protection means runs between the strapping means and the package, thus preventing damage to the latter. 
         [0003]    The Applicant firm itself has in the recent past produced numerous developments in this field, mainly for the purpose of providing arranging means for strapping arrangements that are simple to retrofit. This involves various carriages which can be moved, for example, along guides on the packing table—disclosed in DE 20 2012 004 335 U1—or below the press plate also along guides to the package—disclosed in DE 20 2013 002 503 U1. 
         [0004]    The invention is based on the Applicant firm&#39;s own 20 3013 002 503 U1 which discloses an arranging means for edge protection means in the form of a carriage which can be moved below the press plate of the strapping arrangement from a point of departure to the package and back again. At the point of departure, an edge protection means is laid into a clamp mounting, arranged on the package and there fastened to the package with the strapping means as described above. 
         [0005]    The object of the invention is to provide a simplified arranging means of compact design for edge protection means. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    This object is achieved by a means to arrange an edge protection means with the characteristics of claim  1 , in particular with its generic characteristics according to which the motor for driving the at least one drive wheel acts upon at least one power transmission means which induces the opening and closing movement of the clamping jaw. 
         [0007]    The substantial advantage of the invention is that it simplifies the design of the hitherto separately controlled clamp mounting. The invention advantageously recognizes that there is no need for the clamping jaw of the clamp mounting to have its own drive if the clamping jaw is coupled with the motor which causes the motion of the arranging means between the point of departure and the package. In addition, the invention demonstrates that there is no need for a separate control of the clamping jaw when the motor drive of the arranging means is used to force the clamping jaw to close and to open the clamping jar when the package is moved in the direction of the point of departure. This eliminates a separate control logic, and the control of the clamping jaw is purely mechanical, accomplished through coupling with the drive of the arranging means. 
         [0008]    In concrete terms, it is provided that the power transmission means induces the closing movement of the clamping jaw when the means is moved in the direction of the package and to open it when the means is moved in the direction of the point of departure. 
         [0009]    Furthermore, it is provided that the clamping jaw is part of a lever that is pivotable about a swivel axis, and that the motor induces the swivel movement. 
         [0010]    In a preferred embodiment it is provided that the power transmission means is a first gear wheel which is preferably positioned on an axis of the drive wheel, particularly when the swivel axis is provided with a second gear wheel that engages in the first gear wheel. 
         [0011]    In this preferred embodiment, an especially simple transmission of the propulsion force of the arranging means&#39; motor upon the clamping jaw of the clamp mounting has been chosen in that the rotational movement of the drive axis via the gear wheel on the drive axis side and the gear wheel on the lever side is translated into an opening or closing swivel movement of the clamping jaw lever. 
         [0012]    It is also provided that the means, if need be the lever itself, is provided with at least one end stop for the movement, limiting the opening or closing movement of the lever. 
         [0013]    In a very advantageous embodiment it is provided that the first gear wheel is positioned on the axis of the drive wheel via a slipping clutch which discards the overload and holds a defined torque when the clamping jar reaches the opening or closing position. 
         [0014]    The slipping clutch allows the translation of the drive movement into a closing movement of the clamping jaw or the opening movement of the clamping jar such that a very short travel of the arranging means is sufficient to complete the opening or closing movement. To allow a further movement of the arranging means while maintaining the open or closed position, the slipping clutch is used which, however, maintains a defined torque affecting the clamping jaw. 
         [0015]    Another component of the invention is a strapping arrangement for packages comprising the arranging means according to the invention and having the characteristics of sub-claim  8 . In addition to using the arranging means according to the invention in the strapping arrangement according to claim  8 , the arrangement for strapping can be further improved thanks to the arranging means according to the invention. 
         [0016]    Thus it is provided that at the point of departure, the arrangement is provided with a lifting device with which the means for arranging the edge protection means can be lifted out of the running rails to uncouple the opening and closing movement of the clamping jaw from the linear motion of the arranging means. 
         [0017]    The substantial advantage of this embodiment is that the lifting device removes the coupling between the drive wheels of the arranging means and the running rails on the device side. Thus, the motor of the arranging means can be set in motion and affect the drive wheels without this causing the operation of the arranging means. Therefore the opening or closing movement of the clamping jaw can be triggered, using the lifting device at the point of departure, without this causing a movement of the arranging means. 
         [0018]    As a result, the arranging means can be provided with an edge protection means at the point of departure itself to hold the edge protection means securely clamped without having to travel in the direction of the package. That is how the travel portion of the carriage, otherwise necessary for the closing motion of the clamping jaw, can be saved, Therefore, the strapping arrangement can either have a smaller design or, with the same width, can process wider packages, whereby the width must be measured along the travel path of the arranging means. 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 itself and subsequently deposit it on a package edge. 
         [0019]    It is provided that the lifting device comprises an electromagnet whose magnetic force acts upon a metal coupling part of the arranging means. 
         [0020]    The use of an electromagnet has the substantial advantage that it eliminates mechanical components prone to disruption. 
         [0021]    Alternatively, it can also be provided that the lifting device comprises a lifting arm which positively engages in a lifting element of the arranging means. 
         [0022]    That embodiment is suitable in particular wherever packages are treated which react sensitively to magnetic fields. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0023]    Below, the invention is now described with reference to an embodiment, where 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a strapping arrangement with the arranging means According to the invention, at a point of departure, 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  shows the arrangement according to  FIG. 1  with the arranging means on the package, 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows the arrangement according to  FIG. 1 , again with the arranging means at the point of departure, 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  shows a rear view of the arranging means according to the invention, 
           [0028]      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 . 
           [0029]      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 
       [0030]    In the drawings, the entire strapping arrangement for packages is given reference number  10 . The entire device for arranging the edge protection means—also called the arranging means—is given reference number  50 . 
         [0031]    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 . 
         [0032]    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 . 
         [0033]    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 . 
         [0034]    At least one first gear wheel  56  is arranged on drive axis  53  by means of a slipping clutch. 
         [0035]    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 . 
         [0036]    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 . 
         [0037]    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 . 
         [0038]    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. 
         [0039]      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 . 
         [0040]    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 mounting—which consists of counter bearing  60  and clamping jaw  59 —is 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 . 
         [0041]    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 . 
         [0042]    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  12  - the 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. 
         [0043]    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. 
         [0044]    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. 
         [0045]    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 . 
         [0046]    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. 
         [0047]    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. 
         [0048]    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. 
         [0049]    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 
       [0000]    
       
           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