Patent GB-1379197-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for automatically banding packages with plastics tape
IPC: B65B13/18
Filed: 1973-05-18
Abstract: 1379197 Apparatus for banding packages ERAPA AG 18 May 1973 [19 May 1972] 23943/73 Heading B8C Apparatus, for automatically banding packages with plastics tape 1 which is fed from supply up to a stop in an annular channel, not shown, surrounding a space for receiving a package to be bonded, comprises two pairs of tapeadvancing and tape-retracting rollers 2, 3 and 4, 5 respectively having respective driving rollers 2, 4 and counterpressure rollers 3, 5, the driving rollers 2, 4 being mounted on a rocker assembly comprising two swingable frames 6, 7 joined by a link 8 so that, in first and second positions of the assembly 6, 7, the rollers 2 and 4 co-operate respectively with their counterpressure rollers 3 and 5 and are drivable by a first motor 37 to respectively advance the leading end of the tape up to said stop where it is held fast, and retract the tape to apply an initial high tension thereto. A second phase-shift control motor 44, having a slower nominal rate of rotation than the first motor 37, is adapted to apply a final lower tension to the initially-tensioned tape. The assembly is urged by a spring 30 into the first position, the second position being attained by energizing a solenoid 31 to swing the assembly about the shafts 9, 10 by means of a rod 32 and lever 33, Fig. 1. The drive rollers 2, 4 are mounted upon associated swivel shafts 17, 20 journalled respectively between pairs of plates 11, 12 and 15, 16 which form the frames 6, 7 and which are pivoted to the shafts journalled in two parallel mounting plates 23, 24 which are attached to the machine frame, not shown, and in which are also mounted the shafts 25, 26 of the counterpressure rollers 3, 5. Cog wheels 18, 19 connect the driving roller 2 with the swivel shaft 9, a cog wheel 34, freely mounted adjacent one end of the shaft 10 and engaging a cog-wheel 35 mounted on the shaft 9, being connected to a V-belt pulley 36 driven by the motor 37 and a V-belt, not shown. The motor 37, which is used to advance, and by re-tracting, initially to tension, the tape has the relatively high rate of rotation. The cog wheel 34 is also connected, via a sleeve 38 and the pulley 36 to one side of an electromagnetic clutch 39 having a torquelimiter and having its other side fixed to the swivel shaft 10 its stator being fixed, at 41, to the machine by a link 40. Cog wheels 21, 22 connect the shafts 10, 20. A chain sprocket 42, with an overrunning clutch 43 and mounted on the other end of the shaft 10 is driven by the second motor 44 to produce the final tape tension. A tachometer 46, connected by a belt and pulley 45, to this end of the swivel shaft 10, is adapted to switch the motor 37 off when, during the initial tensioning, it has a null reading, and switch the motor 44 on to apply the final tensioning force. The driving rollers 2, 4 are adapted to co-operate with their respective counter pressure rollers 3, 5 with toggle actions. In operation, with the solenoid 31 de-energized the higher speed motor 37 is switched on to drive the roller 2, via the pulley 36 cog wheels 34, 35, shaft 9, cog wheels 19, 18, and the shaft 17 and feed the tape 1 around the channel until the free end of the tape engages the stop and is clamped thereat. Thereafter the electromagnet 31 is energized so that the driving roller 2 is retracted, and the driving roller 4 advanced to co-operate drivingly with the roller 5, drive being imparted to the roller 4 in the opposite direction, via the pulley 36, the electromagnetic clutch 39, which is energized, the shaft 10, cogs 22, 21 and the shaft 20, to retract the tape at the higher rate and initially tension it. After a predetermined tension, limited by the adjustable torque-limiting electromagnetic clutch 39, has been applied to the tape, the corresponding null reading of the tachometer 46 causes the motors 47, 44 to be switched off, and on, respectively so that the tape-tensioning is completed at the lower speed, and higher torque application of tensioning force. After the required tapetension has been acquired the tape is sealed, and cut, whereupon the apparatus is again operated to lead a fresh length of tape round the channel and up to the stop ready for banding the next package.