Patent EA-002000-B1 (EA)
Title: Packed tapes ae well as methods and assembly for packing said tapes
Inventor: AHM POUL HENRIK
IPC: B31B19/26
Filed: 1999-06-23
Abstract: 1. A packed tape (1) comprising at least one folded tape (2) and a package (3,40) preferably made of plastic sheet, characterised in that the tape (2) is zigzag folded into at least one oblong stack in such a manner that some (2a) of the bendings of the tape flush with the ends of the stack whereas the remaining bendings (2b) are positioned at varying distances therefrom. 2. A packed tape as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the packed tape comprises several stacks arranged in parallel, and that the package is a box, for instance made of cardboard, and that separating sheets are optionally inserted between the stacks. 3. A method of producing a packed, flexible tape comprising a folded tape (2) and a package (3,40), characterised in that the tape (2) is advanced continuously optionally from a tape supply (35) to a packing location where said tape (2) is zigzag folded by virtue of its weight and by means of side lowering means (12,12a, 12') into at least one oblong stack on the bottom (16) of the package (3) formed as a bag or a box in such a manner that some (2a) of the bendings of the tape flush with the ends of the stack and that the remaining bendings (2b) are positioned at varying distances therefrom, and that after the filling of the package (3) the layers of the stack are compressed and the package is closed. 4. A method as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the used side lowering means are formed by substantially vertical, endless, circulating lowering belts (12), the downward courses (12a) of said lowering belts opposing one another and being arranged at the ends of the stack, whereby the zigzagged tape (2) forms bendings (2a) as said downward courses (12a) are tangent to the outermost tape bendings (2a). 5. A method as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the zigzag folding of the tape is carried out by means of at least one tape lowering means (25) pivotally suspended (30) above the packing location, whereby each tape lowering means comprises two co-acting endless circulating belts (26,27) passing the tape downwards therebetween, and whereby the zigzag folding is controlled by the oscillating movement of the tape lowering means (25) in combination with the tape laying speed. 6. A method as claimed in claim 3,4 or 5, where the tape is a germinating tape of for instance two layers of paper, characterised in that the germinating tape is of a width corresponding to maximum 90% of the distance between the walls of the package (3). 7. A method as claimed in one or more of the claims 3 to 6, characterised in that the zigzag folding and the compressing of the tape (2) to be packed is carried out in a compartment defined by the lowering belts (12) and some side guides (15), such as plates or bars, and towards the bottom (16) by a package, such as a bag, placed on an optionally stepwise, laterally displaceable support, whereby after the compressing of the tape the package can be rolled up and closed about the stack at the same time as the compartment is removed. 8. A method as claimed in one or more of the claims 3 to 7, characterised in that the bag (3) used is made of shrink film, and that the package, such as the bag, is subjected to a shrinking after its closing, for instance a hot air shrinking. 9. A method as claimed in one or more of the claims 3 to 8, characterised in that the packing is carried out under vacuum. 10. An assembly for carrying out the method as claimed in one or more of the claims 3 to 9, characterised in that it comprises an upwardly and downwardly open compartment, the opposing ends of which are provided with side lowering means in form of endless circulating belts (12), where the belt courses (12a) facing the interior of the compartment move downwards, said assembly further comprising a frame (22) surrounding the compartment and retaining and optionally distending a package (3,40) about said compartment, as well as a supporting means (18) for the package (3,40), said supporting means being accommodated below the compartment and the frame and being separately adjustable in height and optionally stepwise, laterally displaceable. 11. An assembly for carrying out the method as claimed in one or more of the claims 3 to 10 characterised in that it comprises at least one tape lowering means (25), which is preferably level adjustable and movable in the vertical direction during operation, and which is pivotally arranged about a point (30) of the upper end of said tape lowering means, and which per se comprises two abutting endless circulating belts (26,27), where the opposing belt courses (26a, 27a) run downwards, said assembly further comprising an electronic control unit (34) for controlling the reciprocating movement of the tape lowering means (25) and the adjustment in height and optionally the stepwise, lateral displacement of a supporting means (18). 12. An assembly as claimed in claim 10 or 11, and where the bag (3) is made of shrink film, characterised in that it comprises a compressing means (24) for the stack and a film shrinking equipment, preferably of the hot air or heat radiation type.