A METHOD AND AN ARRANGEMENT TO FORM A PACKAGE FOR PAPER PULP BALES BY WRAPPING, FOLDING AND GLUEING

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for packaging a paper pulp bale. A web-like material is wound in such a manner that wrapping material will project beyond the end surfaces. These projecting parts of the wrapping material are formed into flaps. A binding agent is applied to the flap and/or to a surface against which the flap shall be folded. The flap is then folded in against the end surface and is held until the binding agent forms a durable bond. Folding-in means (32) are mounted in a stand (10), one for each surface of the object (3). The folding-in means, provided with controllable driving devices, is movable, between an inactive position and an end position at the object surfaces. The stand (10) carries at least one binding agent dispensing device (49).

Description: A Method and an Arrangement to form a package for paper pulp bates by wrapping, folding and glueing. The invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for packaging a paper pulp bale or a similar object around which paper wrapping material or some other web¬ like material is wound, said wrapping material having a larger width than the object to be wrapped so that said wrapping material will extend beyond the end surfaces of the object. The method comprises folding those parts of wrapping material which project beyond the end sur¬ faces of the object inwardly and against the end sur¬ faces of the object, in the form of flaps, whereas the arrangement includes folding devices which function to fold those parts of the wrapping material which project beyond the end surfaces of the object in against the end surfaces of said object, in the form of flaps. Methods and apparatus of the aforedescribed kind are well known to the art and are generally used in the packaging of paper pulp bales. Each bale, which may weigh about 200 kg, is wrapped in a paper wrapper. The wrapping paper is folded against the end surfaces of the bale in a number of folds and is held wrapped around the bale by placing a number of steel wire loops therearound. This wire is normally galvanized wire. When the bale of paper pulp is to be used in a paper manufacturing process, the bale is submerged in a hot water bath and dissolved therein to form a pulp suspen- sion. The steel wires may be removed from the bale prior to immersing the bale in the bath, or the bale may be immersed together with the wires. The wires cause a problem in both instances. The task of removing the wires prior to immersing the bale is both trouble- some and hazardous and is performed essentially manual- ly. The removed wires must also be taken care of. This also applies, of course, when the wires accompany the bale into the bath. In this latter case, however, a further problem arises, in that zinc released from the wires is liable to contaminate the water, which means that steps must be taken to clean the water. The method hitherto used when packaging paper pulp bales with the aid of galvanized steel wire is thus encumbered with a number of drawbacks, and the object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus which will eliminate the aforesaid drawbacks and enable paper pulp bales or like objects to be packaged quickly, simply and reliably. This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by means of a method of the kind defined in the introduction having the characterizing features set forth in the charac¬ terizing clause of Claim 1, and by means of an arran¬ gement of the aforedescribed kind which is characteri- zed by the features set forth in the characterizing clause of Claim 3. Advantageous embodiments of the inventive method and arrangement are set forth in the depending Claims. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a bale wrapping machine which includes an arrangement according to one embodi¬ ment of the invention; Figure 2 is a view of the machine shown in Figure l as seen in the direction of the arrows II, certain parts having been omitted in order to show the components of the arrangement more clearly; Figure 3 is a top view of the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 is a view which corresponds to Figure 2 but illustrates the arrangement in another operational state. Figure 1 illustrates somewhat schematically and in side view part of a machine intended for packaging paper pulp bales including an inventive arrangement for carrying out the method according to the invention. The Figure only shows part of the total machine, sufficient to describe the invention. The bales for which the plant is constructed have an approximate size of 60 x 80 x 50 cm and a weight of about 200 kg. The bales are essentially parallelepipedic in shape. Figure 1 shows a stand 1 which carries a conveyor 2, on which a paper pulp bale 3 is shown schematically. The bale 3 shown in Figure 1 has been provided at an ear- lier stage with a paper wrapper, or a wrapper of some other web-like material, which has a greater width than the bale and which is wrapped around the bale such that parts of the wrapper will extend beyond the end sur¬ faces 4 and 5 of said bale. These projecting parts of the wrapper have been folded into flaps in an earlier stage and folded against the end surfaces 4 and 5 of the bale with the exception of respective upper flaps 6 and 7, which are left unfolded, as shown in Figure 2. The bale 3 resting on the conveyor 2 is moved to the right by said conveyor, as seen in Figure 1. During its movement by the conveyor, the bale 3 is passed between guide plates 8, of which only one is shown in Figure 1, which are intended to abut the end surfaces 4 and 5 of the bale 3 so as to hold the inwardly folded flaps against said end surfaces. The bale 3 is then trans¬ ferred to another conveyor 9, by means of which the bale is introduced into a portal-like frame structure 10 which supports the inventive arrangement. The stand 10 includes two columns 11, each of which is mounted on a respective side of the conveyor 9. The conveyor 9 may either be carried by the columns 11 or supported on the same foundation surface as that which supports the columns 11. Mounted on the upper ends of the columns 11 is a rectangular frame 12 (see Figure 3 in particular) which extends substantially horizontally and which is arranged perpendicular to the transporting direction of the conveyor 9. The frame 12, in turn, carries two carriages 13 and 14 which are movable independently of one another in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the frame 12. Each carriage 13, 14 is provided with three wheels 15, which run in horizontal tracks 16 mounted on the inner surface of the longitudinally extending beams of the frame 12. The tracks 16 have a configuration such that the wheels 15 will prevent the carriages 13, 14 from moving vertically..Each carriage is also provided with brackets 17 which project laterally outwards in rela¬ tion to the carriage 13, 14. Each bracket 17 carries a roller 18 which is rotatable about a vertical axis and located above one of the longitudinal side beams of the frame 12 and engages a channel 19 provided on the side beam. The coaction between the rollers 18 and the channels 19 guides the carriages 13, 14 laterally in relation to the frame 12. The carriages 13, 14 are thus guided both laterally and vertically in relation to the frame 12, and hence the carriages 13, 14 can only move in the longitudinal extension of the frame 12. A pressure-medium operated piston-cylinder device 20, hereinafter called the cylinder motor, is connected between the carriages 13 and 14. One end of the cylin¬ der motor is connected to an attachment 21 on the carriage 13, and the piston rod 22 of said motor is connected to an attachment 23 on the carriage 14. The cylinder motor 20 can be used to move the carriages 13 and 14 relative to one another in both directions of movement. The cylinder motor 20 functions to move the carriages 13 and 14 apart to a starting position, in which each carriage 13, 14 abuts a respective buffer 24 means at each end of the frame 12. Movement of the car- riages 13, 14 in the opposite direction, i.e. in a direction towards one another, is effected with the aid of compression springs 25. Each of these compression springs 25 is mounted between an outwardly projecting attachment 26 on respective carriages 13 and 14 and an attachment 27 which is fixedly mounted in relation to the frame 12. The springs 25 thus urge the carriages 13 and 14 towards one another. Each of the attachments 27 is fixedly mounted on a rod 28. Each rod 28 extends along the whole of the frame 12 on a respective side thereof and is fixedly connected to the frame 12 by means of attachments 29. Each of the attachments 26 on the carriages 13, 14 run on an associated rod 28. The rod 28 may also be provided with intermediate guide means 30 for associated compression springs 25. Preten- sioning of the compression springs 25 can be adjusted, by moving the relevant attachment 27 connected to the rod 28. Each of the carriages 13 and 14 carries an inwardly folding device in the form of a respective plate 31 and 32, which is pivotally mounted on a pivot shaft 33 and 34 extending transversely on a respective carriage 13 and 14. Each of the plates 31, 32 can be swung between an inactive position, shown in full lines in Figure 2, and an end position in which they abut a respective end surface 4 and 5 of the bale 3, this end position being shown in chain lines in Figure 2. The plates 31 and 32 are moved with the aid of pressure-medium operated cylinder motors 35 and 36 respectively, each of which is mounted on a respective carriage 13 and 14 and the respective piston rods 37 and 38 of which are connected to the shafts 33 and 34 by means of a respective pivot arm 39 and 40. The plates 31 and 32 can be swung around respective pivot shafts 33 and 34, by extending or retracting the piston rods 37 and 38 in relation to respective cylinders 35 and 36. The carriages 13, 14 are provided with downwardly extending arms 41 and 42 respectively, the bottom ends of which are directed substantially horizontally to¬ wards one another. The free ends of the arms 41 and 42 carry guide plates 43 (see Figure 1) which are intended to hold the inwardly folded flaps.in a correct position on the bale 3. The free ends of the arms 41, 42 also carry a respective outwardly projecting bracket 44 and 45 which extends towards the conveyor 2 and which carries a respective holder 46 and 47. The holders are intended to hold three schematically shown binding agent dispensers in the form of glue guns 48 and 49 respectively. The holders 46 and 47 also carry angled guide plates 50 and 51 respectively. When carrying out the inventive method, the inventive arrangement operates in the following manner. A paper pulp bale 3 wrapped in paper or some other web material which has been folded to form bottom flaps and side flaps against the end surfaces 4 and 5 is conveyed by the conveyor 2 past the guide plates 8, which hold the previously in-folded flaps in position. The bale 3 is then moved between the guide plates 50 and 51. In conjunction herewith, the cylinder motor 20 is relieved of pressure, so that the compression springs 25 will move the carriages 13 and 14 towards one another until the guide plates 50 and 51 come into abutment with the end surfaces 4 and 5 of the bale 3, as illustrated in Figure 4. The conveyor 9 then moves the bale 3 in between the guide plates 43, the bale 3 therewith passing the glue guns 48 and 49. The glue guns 48- and 49 are activated so as to dispense glue beads of appro- priate lengths onto the inwardly folded wrapping mate¬ rial on the end surfaces 4 and 5 of the bale 3, by means of appropriate control devices. Advancement of the bale 3 is interrupted when the bale has reached the position on the conveyor 9 shown in Figure 1, substan- tially immediately beneath the frame 12. Subsequent to reaching this position, the cylinder motors 35 and 36 are activated so as to extend the piston rods 37 and 38 of respective devices. This causes the plates 31 and 32 to be swung from their starting positions, shown in full lines in Figures 2 and 4, downwards and inwards against the end surfaces 4 and 5 of the bale 3. The plates 31 and 32 therewith fold the upper flaps 6 and 7 inwardly towards the end surfaces 4 and 5. When the plates 32 and 32 reach the positions shown in broken lines in Figure 4, the plates will be in " abutment with the edge surfaces of the bale 3. Further pivotal movement of the plates 31 and 32 to the position shown in chain lines in Figure 2 will cause the carriages 13 and 14 to move away from one another, against the pressure of the springs 25. As a result, the guide plates 43 and the guide plates 50 and 51 are moved away from the end surfaces 4 and 5 of the bale 3 by respective arms 41 and 42, at the same time as the plates 31 and 32 come into abutment with the end surfaces 4 and 5 with a force determined by the com¬ pression springs 25. The plates 31 and 32 are then pressed against the bale, with an adjustable force, by means of the cylinder motor 20. The plates 31 and 32 are held in their end positions, i.e. pressed against the end surfaces 4 and 5 of the bale 3, over a period of sufficient duration for the •binder dispensed from the glue gun 48 to form a strong bond between the flaps 6 and 7 and the underlying wrapper surface, the upper flap 6 and 7 being held pressed against the binder by the plates 31 and 32. The cylinder motor is then pressurized in order to move the carriages 13 and 14 apart, while the cylinder motors 35 and 36 are also pressurized at the same time, in order to swing the plates 31 and 32 back to their starting positions. Packaging of the bale 3 is now complete and the bale can be moved by the conveyor 9 to a further^conveyor 52, which delivers the bale 3 to an outfeed station (not shown) .

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method for packaging a paper pulp bale or like object (3) around which paper wrapping material or some other web-like material is wound, said wrapping mate¬ rial having a greater width than the object (3) to be wrapped such that said wrapping material projects beyond the end surfaces (4, 5) of the object (3), and in which method those parts of the wrapping material which project beyond the end surfaces (4, 5) of the object (3) are folded in against the end surfaces (4, 5) in the form of flaps, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that prior to folding-in the last flap (6, 7) at eac • end surface (4, 5) of the object (3), a binding agent is applied to said flap (6, 7) and/or to a surface against which the flap (6, 7) shall be folded; and in that said flap is then folded-in against said surface and held in an inwardly folded position until the binding agent forms a durable bond between the flap (6, 7) and the surface (4, 5) against which the flap (6, 7) is folded. 2. A method according to Claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d by applying the binding agent while the object (3) moves along a predetermined path (9) and therewith passes on both sides of the binding-agent dispensing devices (48, 49) located in said path. 3. An arrangement for wrapping a paper pulp bale or some like object (3) around which paper wrapping mate¬ rial or some other web-like material is wound, said wrapping material having a greater width than the object (3) so that said material will project beyond the end surfaces (4, 5) of the object (3), said arrangement including folding-in devices for folding those parts of the wrapping material which project beyond the end surfaces (4, 5) of said object in against said end surfaces in the form of flaps, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the folding-in devices are mounted in a stand (10) and include a folding-in means (31, 32) at each end surface (4, 5) of the object (3), said folding-in means being movable by means of drive devices (35-40) between an inactive position and an end position in which said means are in abutment with the end surfaces (4, 5) of the object (3); in that the stand (10) also supports at least one binding agent dispensing device (48, 49), said dispens- ing device or each said dispensing device (48, 49) being intended to apply binding agent to the flap (6, 7) which is intended to be folded last, or to a surface (4, 5) against which said last folded flap (6, 7) is to be folded; and in that control means are provided for controlling the operation of said drive devices (35-40) in a manner such as to hold the folding-in devices (3Ϊ, 32) in their end positions for a period of time suffi¬ cient to enable the binding agent to form a durable bond between the flap (6, 7) and the surface (4, 5) against which the flap (6, 7) is folded. 4. An arrangement according to Claim 3, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the conveyor means (9) is in¬ tended to move the object (3) along a predetermined path, past the dispensing device or devices (48, 49) and the folding-in means (31, 32).

Inventors: STROEMBERG NILS, STROEMBERG, NILS
Applicants: MATFORS HYDRAULSERVICE AB, AB MATFORS HYDRAULSERVICE
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B65B51
IPC codes: B65B49, B65B51