Patent Publication Number: US-2010107563-A1

Title: Horizontal banding machine

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to automated material handling machines, and more particularly to a banding machine for applying elastic bands onto elongated objects. 
     2. Brief Description of the Related Art 
     Numerous objects in agriculture or industry are combined in bundles and banded using elastic bands for shipping. In various applications the objects such as, for example, broccoli or asparagus are best hold together having a vertical orientation by one worker while another worker applies an elastic band onto the hold objects at a certain distance to one end of the objects depending on the length of the same. Typically, a bottom portion of the objects is then cut off in another processing step following the banding process in order to facilitate packaging and shipping. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,257,934 issued to Swift et al. teaches a banding machine comprising a mechanism for cutting elastic bands from a tubular elastic band stock, which are then disposed on fingers in a gravity assisted fashion for stretching the elastic band and disposing the same onto the objects. The teachings of Swift et al. combine the production of the elastic bands—by cutting the same from the tubular elastic band stock—using a relatively simple mechanism with the mechanism for banding the objects in a single machine. 
     It is desirable to provide a banding machine which produces elastic bands from a tubular elastic band stock and enables provision of the elastic bands and cutting of the objects while the objects are held in a same position. 
     It is also desirable to provide a banding machine which disposes the elastic bands onto the fingers in a gravity assisted fashion where the objects are banded while being held having a vertical orientation for banding in order to facilitate handling of the same. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a banding machine which produces elastic bands from a tubular elastic band stock and enables provision of the elastic bands and cutting of the objects while the objects are held in a same position. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a banding machine which disposes the elastic bands onto the fingers in a gravity assisted fashion where the objects are banded while being held having a vertical orientation for banding in order to facilitate handling of the same. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a horizontal banding machine. The horizontal banding machine comprises an elastic band supply mechanism for providing an elastic band in a gravity assisted fashion. Below the elastic band supply mechanism at least two band holding devices are disposed for: receiving the elastic band from the elastic band supply mechanism; stretching the elastic band for providing a band opening surrounded by the elastic band for accommodating a plurality of objects for banding therein; and, disengaging the elastic band from the holding devices for deploying the elastic band onto the plurality of objects. An actuator coupled to the band holding devices moves the band holding devices between a first position for receiving the elastic band and a second position for disengaging the elastic band. A moving mechanism has the band holding devices and the actuator mounted thereto for moving the band holding devices from a band receiving position, where the elastic band is disposed in a receiving plane oriented substantially horizontal, to a band disengaging position, where the elastic band is disposed in a disengaging plane oriented substantially horizontal. In the disengaging position the band holding devices, the actuator, and the moving mechanism are disposed outside a handling space determined by projecting the band opening along a straight line through the band opening and oriented substantially perpendicular thereto. 
     The advantage of the present invention is that it provides a banding machine which produces elastic bands from a tubular elastic band stock and enables provision of the elastic bands and cutting of the objects while the objects are held in a same position. 
     A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a banding machine which disposes the elastic bands onto the fingers in a gravity assisted fashion while the objects are held having a vertical orientation for banding in order to facilitate handling of the same. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a cross-sectional view from one side of the horizontal banding machine of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional view from top of the horizontal banding machine of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of the horizontal banding machine of one embodiment of the present invention with the moving plate in a disengaging position; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are a perspective views of the horizontal banding machine of one embodiment of the present invention illustrating the mechanism for moving the moving plate; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are top views of the moving plate of the horizontal banding machine of one embodiment of the present invention with the band holding devices in a band disengaging position and in a band receiving position, respectively; 
         FIGS. 3C and 3D  are perspective views of the band holding device of the horizontal banding machine of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are perspective views of the cutting mechanism of the horizontal banding machine of one embodiment of the present invention at different stages of operation; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are perspective views of the band holding devices of the horizontal banding machine of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5C  is a perspective view of the horizontal banding machine of one embodiment of the present invention with the moving plate in a receiving position; 
         FIG. 5D  is a front view of the elastic band supply mechanism of the horizontal banding machine of one embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 5E  is a perspective views of the band holding devices of the horizontal banding machine of one embodiment of the present invention with the band holding devices in a band disengaging position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A to 5E , a horizontal banding machine  100  according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is provided. The horizontal banding machine  100  produces elastic bands from a tubular elastic band stock, disposes an elastic band onto a plurality of objects, and cuts an end portion off the objects while the objects are held in a same position having a substantially vertical orientation. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1A to 1C , the horizontal banding machine  100  comprises a frame structure  1  having in an upper portion mounted thereto an elastic band supply mechanism  3  for providing an elastic band in a gravity assisted fashion. The elastic band supply mechanism  3  receives tubing  5  made of elastic material such as, for example, rubber, but is not limited thereto, from a storage container  7  via tubing roller  2  for guiding the tubing  5  between the storage container  7  and tubing feeder  4 . For example, the tubing  5  is moved a predetermined length and hold using a combination of moving gripper fingers and holding gripper fingers. An elastic band is then produced by cutting a portion of the tubing having the predetermined length using a cutter assembly. It is noted, that a mechanism for moving and cutting the tubing is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,257,934 issued to Swift et al. After cutting, the elastic band is dropped onto band holders. An example process of the elastic band production process is described herein below with reference to  FIG. 5D . The gripper fingers and the cutter assembly are, for example, piston driven which are operated in a pneumatic or hydraulic fashion. Alternatively, the elastic band supply mechanism  5  comprises a mechanism for feeding elastic bands from a stock of a plurality of elastic bands. 
     Disposed below the elastic band supply mechanism  3  is an elastic band deployment mechanism. The elastic band deployment mechanism comprises at least two band holding devices  18 , an actuator  19  coupled to the band holding devices  18 , and a moving mechanism  11  having the band holding devices  18  and the actuator  19  mounted thereto. The band holding devices  18  receive the elastic band from the elastic band supply mechanism  3 , for example, by being dropped onto respective band holders  122  after cutting; stretch the elastic band  13  for providing a band opening  15  surrounded by the elastic band  13  for accommodating a plurality of objects for banding therein; and disengage the elastic band  13  from the band holders  122  for deploying the elastic band  13  onto the plurality of objects. The actuator  19  moves the band holding devices  18  between a first position for receiving the elastic band  13  and a second position for disengaging the elastic band  13 . The moving mechanism  11  moves the band holding devices  18  substantially horizontally from a band receiving position—the elastic band  13  is disposed in a receiving plane oriented substantially horizontal—to a band disengaging position—the elastic band  13  is disposed in a disengaging plane oriented substantially horizontal.  FIGS. 1A and 1B  both illustrate the band holding devices  18  in the band receiving position—indicated by dashed lines—and the band disengaging position. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the moving mechanism  11  linearly moves the band holding devices  18  between the band receiving position and the band disengaging position. Alternatively, the band holding devices  18  are rotated around a pivot mounted to the frame structure  1 , or by a combination of linear and rotational movement. Further alternatively, the band holding devices  18  are additionally moved vertically such that the receiving plane and the disengaging plane are oriented substantially horizontal but are disposed at different vertical levels. 
     In the band disengaging position the band holding devices  18 , the actuator  19  and the moving mechanism  11  are disposed outside a handling space  21  approximately determined by projecting the band opening  15  along a straight line  17  through the band opening  15  and oriented substantially perpendicular to a plane of the band opening  15 . Provision of the handling space  21  enables deployment of a cutting mechanism  160  comprising, for example, a cutting blade  162 , which is movable in a plane located at a predetermined distance to the band holding devices  18  and, for example, oriented substantially parallel to the band opening  15  for cutting the plurality of objects at a predetermined distance to the elastic band  13 . The cutting mechanism  160  is mounted to the moving mechanism  11 . Alternatively, the cutting mechanism  160  is mounted to the frame structure  1 . Optionally, the cutting mechanism  160  comprises an adjustment mechanism for variably placing the cutting blade  162  along a substantially vertical direction for varying the distance between the cutting blade  162  and the band holding devices  18 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1A . The cutting blade  162  is provided, for example, in the form of a straight cutting edge, a toothed cutting edge or a circular saw. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2A , the moving mechanism  11 , preferably, comprises a moving plate  52  which is horizontally movable mounted to the frame  1  such that the moving plate  52  is oriented substantially horizontal in the band receiving position and in the band disengaging position. The horizontal movement is provided along a substantially straight line using, for example, guide rails  50  mounted to the frame structure  1  interacting with respective guides—such as, for example, gliding surfaces or rollers—of the moving plate  52  enabling, for example, gliding or rolling movement therebetween. The horizontal movement of the moving plate  52  is actuated using, for example, one of an off-the-shelf hydraulic and pneumatic piston drive  54 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2B . Alternatively, a gear drive such as, for example, a toothed wheel interacting with a toothed rack or a chain drive is employed. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A to 3D  a preferred embodiment of the moving plate  52 , the band holding devices  18 , and the actuator  19  according to the invention is provided. The moving plate  52  is made, for example, from an aluminum plate having a predetermined thickness to provide sufficient support and stiffness using standard computer controlled processes of cutting, milling and drilling. Optionally, the moving plate  52  is made of a material other than aluminum such as, for example, stainless steel or composite material. The moving plate  52  comprises a moving plate opening  10  which is sufficiently large for accommodating the band opening  15  therein. As shown in  FIG. 3A , the actuator  19  comprises four swing arms  96 . Each swing arm  96  has at a first end portion the band holding device  18  mounted thereto, is rotatably mounted to the moving plate  52  via swing arm rotation pin  12 , and coupled to a piston drive  92  via piston clevis attach bolt  103  at a second opposite end. The piston drive  92  is actuated, for example, in a pneumatic or hydraulic fashion, and provides linear motion to the piston clevis attach bolt  103  resulting in a 10 rotational movement of the swing arm  96  about the swing arm rotation pin  12 . To enable a compact arrangement of the swing arms  96  and the piston drives  92  on the moving plate  11 , the swing arms  96  are, preferably, designed such that the first end portion, the second end portion, and the pivot accommodating the swing arm rotation pin  12  form a triangle. Movement of the piston drive  92  causes the swing arm  96  to rotate about the swing arm rotation pins  12  for  15  moving the band holding devices  18  towards the center of the opening  10  for receiving the elastic band—as illustrated in FIG.  3 B—or opposite for stretching and deploying the elastic band—as illustrated in  FIG. 3A . 
     The swing arms  96  are made, for example, from aluminum plates having a predetermined thickness to provide sufficient support and stiffness using standard computer controlled processes of cutting, milling and drilling. Optionally, the swing arms  96  are made of a material other than aluminum such as, for example, stainless steel or composite material. The swing arms  96  are designed in dependence upon the number of swing arms employed and a given maximum size of the band opening  15  using standard gear engineering technology. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , four swing arms  96  are equally disposed around the opening  10 , but the embodiments of the invention are not limited thereto. Depending on the shape of the band holders  122  and the size and shape of a desired band opening  15 , different numbers—two or more—of swing arms  96  are employed. 
     Alternatively, an electric drive is employed for rotating the swing arms  96 , for example, by replacing the piston drives  92  with toothed gear drives comprising a driven toothed wheel interacting with a toothed surface disposed on a respective section of the swing arms  96 . 
     Further alternatively, the swing arms  96  are actuated using a combined drive, for example, a gear mechanism comprising a ring structure surrounding the moving plate opening  10  and interacting with each of the swing arms  96 , which is driven using, for example, a single piston drive. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3C and 3D , a preferred embodiment of the band holding devices  18  according to the invention is provided. The band holder  122  is mounted to band holder piston rod  120  of band holder piston drive  124 . The band holder piston drive  124  provides linear movement to the band holder  122 . The band holder piston drive  124  is implemented, for example, using an off-the-shelf pneumatic or hydraulic compact piston drive. The band holder  122  comprises a first portion mounted to the band holder piston rod  120 . The first portion of the band holder  122  is oriented substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the band holder piston rod  120  and pointing approximately towards a center of the moving plate opening  10 . A second portion is oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the band holder piston rod  120 . The band holder  122  comprises slightly rounded edges  128  where in contact with the elastic band  13 , as well as a push off clearance groove  130  for accommodating a portion of push off pin  126  therein. The first portion of the band holder  122  comprises an opening for enabling movement of the push off pin  126  therethrough. The push off pin  126 —for example, a stainless steel pin—is welded to push off mount  125 , which is mounted to the band holder piston drive  124 . The elastic band  13  is dropped onto the first portion of the band holder  122  in proximity to the second portion and during stretching the elastic band is in contact with the second portion of the band holder  122 . During receipt and stretching, the band holder piston rod  120  is disposed in an extended position such that the push off pin  126  is placed outside the second portion of the band holder  122  as illustrated in  FIG. 3C . During deployment of the elastic band the band holder piston rod  120  is retracted causing the stationary push off pin  126  to push the elastic band off the second portion of the band holder  122 . The slightly rounded edges  128  are provided to prevent cutting of the elastic band during stretching and deployment. 
     Optionally, the second portion of the band holder  122  is widened such that a sufficiently large band opening  15  is provided when using only two band holding devices  18 . 
     Alternatively, the band holder  122  is fixedly mounted while the push off pin  126  is movable relative thereto. 
     In a preferred embodiment a cutting mechanism is mounted to the bottom surface of the moving plate  11 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . The cutting mechanism comprises a cutting blade  162  which is mounted to a first end portion of cutting swing arm  164 . The cutting swing arm  164  is rotatable mounted to the moving plate  52  via cutting swing arm rotation pin  166 , and coupled to a cutting piston drive  168  via piston clevis attach bolt  170  at a second opposite end. The cutting piston drive  168  is actuated, for example, in a pneumatic or hydraulic fashion, and provides linear motion to the piston clevis attach bolt  170  resulting in a rotational movement of the cutting swing arm  164  about the cutting swing arm rotation pin  166 . To enable a compact arrangement of the cutting swing arm  164  and the cutting piston drives  168  on the moving plate  52 , the swing arm  164  is designed such that the first end portion, the second end portion, and the pivot accommodating the cutting swing arm rotation pin  166  form a triangle. Movement of the cutting piston drive  168  causes the cutting swing arm  164  to rotate about the cutting swing arm rotation pin  166  for rotationally moving the cutting blade  162  across the moving plate opening  10 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4B . Rapid movement of the cutting blade  162 , actuated by the cutting piston drive  168 , enables cutting of the objects while being held in place by a worker due to inertia of the objects. To ensure movement of the cutting blade  162  in a plane oriented substantially parallel to the moving plate  52 , a guide such as, for example, a guide ring structure  172  surrounding the moving plate opening  10  is mounted to the bottom surface of the moving plate  52  at a predetermined distance thereto. Optionally, a holding mechanism is provided for abutting the objects during the cutting process. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5A to 5E , operation of the preferred embodiment of the horizontal banding machine  100  according to the invention is described herein below.  FIG. 5A  illustrates the banding machine  100  after deployment of the elastic band. The band holding devices  18 —still in the deployment position—are then moved to the band receiving position with the second portion of the band holders  122  being disposed in close proximity to each other, as illustrated in  FIG. 5B . The moving plate  52  is then moved horizontally to the elastic band receiving position below the band supply mechanism  3 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5C  and the band holder piston rod  120  is then moved in an extended position as illustrated in  FIG. 3C . 
     The rubber tubing  5  is moved a predetermined length using moving gripper fingers  150  and then held using, for example, a stopper piston  152  having a rubber or plastic end that pushes the rubber tubing against the inside wall of the tube  4  to temporarily prevent movement of the rubber tubing  5 , for example, to prevent the rubber tubing  5  from being pulled back into the storage container. Using cutter assembly  154  a portion of the tubing  5  having the predetermined length is then cut off producing the elastic band  13 , which is then dropped onto the band holders  122 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5D . 
     After receipt of the elastic band, the moving plate  52  is horizontally moved into the band disengaging position while the band holding devices  18  are moved outward to the elastic band deployment position providing a sufficiently large band opening  15  for banding, as illustrated in  FIG. 5E . After deployment of the elastic band, for example, as described herein above with reference to  FIGS. 3C and 3D , the cutting blade  162  is rotationally moved for cutting the objects and the moving plate  52  is then in the position as illustrated in  FIG. 5A . 
     The  FIGS. 5A to 5E  illustrate a sequence of snapshots of the operation of the banding machine  100 . The various movements of the components are, for example, combined such that the horizontal movement of the moving plate  52  and the movement of the band holding devices  18  are executed in a simultaneous fashion. Alternatively, the various movements are executed successively. As described herein above, the various movements are or may be actuated using pneumatic, hydraulic, electric and/or electro-pneumatic drives, which are controlled using a control system made of standard off-the-shelf components for controlling the pneumatic (or hydraulic, electric and/or electro-pneumatic ) action in combination with a processor. 
     The present invention has been described herein with regard to preferred embodiments. However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described herein.