Patent ID: 12214915

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the systems, devices, and methods described herein may be embodied in various forms, the drawings show and the specification describes certain exemplary and non-limiting embodiments. Not all of the components shown in the drawings and described in the specification may be required, and certain implementations may include additional, different, or fewer components. Variations in the arrangement and type of the components; the shapes, sizes, and materials of the components; and the manners of connections of the components may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims. Unless otherwise indicated, any directions referred to in the specification reflect the orientations of the components shown in the corresponding drawings and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. Further, terms that refer to mounting methods, such as mounted, connected, etc., are not intended to be limited to direct mounting methods but should be interpreted broadly to include indirect and operably mounted, connected, and like mounting methods. This specification is intended to be taken as a whole and interpreted in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure and as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

In the Figures, a strapping device for strapping packages is particularly designated10.

InFIGS.1and2, the strapping device10is illustrated in its entirety. It comprises a packing table11, which is provided with rollers or drums12on which a package which is not illustrated is moved through the strapping device10.

InFIGS.1and2, the packing table11has a central rotation device300which as part of the packing table11is also provided with rollers or drums12/312and is located between two non-movable packing table portions13. In other words, the rotation device300is a rotatable portion300of the packing table11between the two spaced-apart stationary portions13of the packing table11. The non-movable packing table portions13are illustrated in a simplified manner for the sake of greater clarity. In a preferred embodiment, they are provided over the entire surface extent thereof with rollers or drums12. However, this is only indicated here for greater clarity by illustrating a few rollers or drums12.

The strapping device10has a pressing plate14which can be moved up and down as a result of vertical posts which are arranged at the side of the packing table11and which are not illustrated for reasons of clarity in order to compress packages which are intended to be strapped, such as, for example, corrugated cardboard, during the strapping operation.

The strapping device10further has a strapping frame which is formed by the pressing plate14, the vertical post which is not illustrated and the packing table11and at least one, but in the embodiment three strapping channels15. Each strapping channel15extends along the pressing plate14, the vertical posts and the packing table11and consequently has a horizontal channel member16, which is arranged in each case in the pressing plate14and in the packing table11, and a vertically orientated channel member17which is arranged on the vertical posts which are not illustrated.

A band feeding device18is arranged at the side of the strapping frame and has in this case two supply bars19via which a strapping band B which is stored in each case on a reel20is supplied to an insertion and closure device21in the pressing plate14. Each insertion and closure device21pushes the strapping band into the strapping channel15so that it is returned along the strapping frame around the package, which is not illustrated, and which is located below the pressing plate14to the insertion and closure device21.

When the strapping band B is pulled back, the strapping band B is pulled out of the channel members16/17and tensioned around the package which is not illustrated.

The strapping device10which is illustrated inFIGS.1and2may as a result of the rotation device300carry out a so-called cross-strapping. To this end, the package with the rotation device300being orientated according toFIG.1with roller axes arranged transversely relative to the passage movement of the package is guided into a strapping region below the pressing plate14. Subsequently, a first strapping is carried out. Then, the rotation device is moved through 90° into the position according toFIG.2. The axes of the rollers312are now orientated parallel with the passage direction of the package through the strapping device10. There now takes place a second strapping operation which is carried out in a manner offset through 90° with respect to the first strapping operation. Subsequently, in a manner not illustrated in greater detail, the rotation device300is moved back through 90° so that it is located in the starting position according toFIG.1. Subsequently, the package leaves the strapping plane and the strapping device10.

FIG.3shows the strapping device10according toFIGS.1and2as a view from above.FIG.4shows a plan view of the packing table11with all the components of the pressing plate14located above the packing table11being omitted. A significant advantage of the present disclosure is the rotation device300which is illustrated inFIGS.1to4, and which is described below in greater detail. Although the strapping device10is one which—as already mentioned above—has a horizontal channel member16in the packing table plane, the rotation device300is moved only in the arrangement plane thereof in the packing table11about the rotation axis thereof. It consequently does not leave the packing table plane.

After the general introduction into the strapping device10according to the present disclosure with reference toFIGS.1to3, the structure of the packing table and the rotation device will now be illustrated with reference toFIGS.4to17.

FIG.4is a plan view of the packing table11of the strapping device10. This table is divided into a right side and a left side packing table portion13which is non-movable in each case, and which is provided with rollers12, of which only some are shown inFIG.4in order to ensure greater clarity.

Between the non-movable packing table portions13is the rotation device300according to the present disclosure which can be rotated in the packing table plane through at least 90° in the clockwise direction and in the counterclockwise direction.

There is/are arranged in the packing table11, in the embodiment four, but according to the present disclosure at least one, horizontal channel member(s)16, along which the strapping band B is guided through the first non-movable packing table portion13into the rotation device300and onward to the second non-movable packing table portion13in the strapping frame.

Each channel member16in the packing table11is sub-divided into two member portions22which are fixed in position, and which are each arranged in one of the non-movable packing table portions13, and member portions400and500which are connected to the rotation device. The member portions400which are connected to the rotation device are arranged parallel with the roller/drum axis of the rollers312of the rotation device300, the member portions500are arranged transversely relative to the roller/drum axis of the rollers312of the rotation device300. The member portions400or500which are connected to the rotation device can be orientated alternately and in accordance with the rotation position of the rotation device300between the positionally fixed member portion22of the non-movable packing table portions13. Consequently, in the respective rotation position of the rotation device300, a continuous channel member16is provided in the packing table11.

FIG.13shows the rotation device300without the packing table11and only partially illustrated rollers/drums312.

FIG.7shows that the intersecting member portions400and500which are connected to the rotation device divide the contact surface of the rotation device300for a package into individual fields, in which the rollers312are located. A rotary ring314(see alsoFIGS.8and9) which is arranged under the package contact surface is connected via a drive belt315with drive disks316to a drive motor313. The drive belt may be a toothed belt or a chain. By way of the drive belt315, the drive motor313via the rotary ring314can drive the rotation device300about the rotation axis thereof which is not illustrated in greater detail through at least 90° in a counterclockwise direction and in a clockwise direction.

As shown in particular inFIGS.8and9, at the lower side of the rotation device300a roller motor317is arranged inside the rotary ring314. This motor drives a drive shaft318, by way of which, via a system of follower shafts319, the rollers312which are combined by the intersecting member portions400and500in individual fields to form groups can be driven. To this end, the drive shaft318and the follower shaft319carry toothed wheels320which by way of chains which are not illustrated transmit their rotational movement to roller toothed wheels321and consequently ultimately to the rollers312(see alsoFIG.13).

The solution of the present disclosure to produce intersecting member portions400and500which are connected to the rotation device in the region of the rotation device in such a manner that the introduction of the strapping band and also the removal thereof from the member portions400,500is possible without disruption will now be described below:

Each member portion22which is fixed in position in the non-movable packing table portion13has an outlet23which faces the rotation device300(seeFIG.4). These outlets23are all located in a common plane.

FIGS.14and15now show the rotation device300without additional packing table components or an enlarged cut-out according to the cut-out circle XV inFIG.14. The peripheral ring330which delimits the rotation device300has in the region of each end a member portion400,500a recess331, via which the respective member end of the member portions400,500is accessible. The ends of the member portions400,500which are connected to the rotation device, which ends are accessible in each case via the recesses331of the peripheral ring330of the rotation device300, form inlets410,510. The inlets410,510are also all located in a common plane which is not illustrated. The plane of the inlets410,510is identical to the plane of the outlets23of the member portions22which are fixed in position.

It is thus possible to guide the strapping band B from an outlet23through the recess331of the peripheral ring330of the rotation device300to an inlet410,510. The strapping band B can on its way through the strapping channel15in the region of the packing table11or the channel member16thereof be moved initially into the member portion22which is fixed in position and then-depending on the orientation of the rotation device300—via an inlet410or510through the respective member portion400or500which is connected to the rotation device and then into the second member portion22which is fixed in position. A continuous channel member16in the packing table is consequently provided in each position of the rotation device300.

FIG.5shows an enlarged cut-out according to the cut-out circle V inFIG.4. In this Figure, the transition region between a non-movable packing table portion13and the rotation device300is again illustrated to an enlarged scale. The outlets23of the member portions22of each channel member16which are fixed in position are arranged with respect to the inlets410of the member portions400which are orientated accordingly with the member portions22in this illustration.

FIG.6is a vertical section according to the line of section VI-VI inFIG.5through the member portion400which is connected to the rotation device. This illustration shows again that the outlets23are located in the same plane as the inlets410.

FIG.10is an enlarged cut-out of the rotation device according to the cut-out circle X inFIG.4. The member portions400and500are again arranged between the rollers312at that location.

FIG.11is a sectioned illustration along the line of section XI-XI inFIG.10,FIG.12is a sectioned illustration along the line of section XII-XII inFIG.10. InitiallyFIG.11shows that the member portion400which is parallel with the roller axis is located over the entire longitudinal extent thereof through the rotation device300in one and the same plane, that is to say, in the plane of the inlets410,510and the outlets23. This is also shown inFIG.6. Furthermore, the member portion400which is connected to the rotation device, that is to say, the member portion400which is axially parallel with the rollers, extends through the rotation device300preferably in an integral manner. It is not sub-divided into individual segments.

As can be seen inFIG.10andFIG.12, the second member portion500of the rotation device300which is orientated orthogonally with respect to the roller axes is constructed differently. It is sub-divided into individual member segments511which are separated from each other in the region K of intersecting member portions400,500. Between the individual member segments511, in the regions K a spacing in the band passage direction of approximately a band width is provided.FIG.12further shows that the member portions500are arranged in a plane above the member portions400. The member segment511′ which is close to the inlet rises from the common plane of the inlets410/510and23into the arrangement plane of the member portion500. The member segment511′ which is close to the inlet consequently moves the incoming strapping band with a corresponding orientation with the respective outlet23from the common arrangement plane of the outlets23and inlets410/510into the arrangement plane of the member portion500. The member portion500with the member segments511thereof consequently spans the member portions400which are connected to the rotation device in a substantially bridge-like manner.

With reference toFIGS.16and17, the strapping band removal from the member portion400is shown in an intersection region K with the member portion500. As can also be seen in the remaining Figures, but is not designated therein, the member portions400have band channel flaps420. In the same manner, the member portions500or the member segments511thereof also have band channel flaps520. The respective band channel flaps close in the closed state the strapping channel or the respective member portions400,500or segments511in the direction of the strapping frame interior. In this manner, it is ensured that the strapping band which is enclosed in the strapping channel15along the strapping frame is not discharged from the strapping channel15.

When the strapping band is pulled back in order to tension the strapping band B around the package, the strapping B is pulled out of the strapping channel15with the resiliently loaded flaps420being opened.FIG.17shows the member portion400with open band channel flaps420, from which the strapping B is discharged and is pulled through the intermediate space Z between the member segments511of the member portion500. InFIG.17, the member portion400has been cut away in order to clearly show the flap opening. The dual T-profile which is located between the band channel flaps420forms, on the one hand, the band channel base and, on the other hand, serves to retain the band channel flaps420.

InFIG.17, the intermediate space Z is smaller in terms of its width than the band width. However, this is only for the purposes of illustration in order to illustrate the strapping band in a sufficiently visible manner. In fact, the intermediate space Z may have at least a width which corresponds to the band width in order to prevent damage to the strapping band B when pulled out of the intermediate space Z.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

10Strapping device11Packing table12Roller/drum13Non-movable packing table portion14Pressing plateStrapping channel16Horizontal channel member17Vertical channel member18Band feeding device19Supply bar connected to the rotation device20Reel21Insertion and closure device22Member portion of16which is fixed in position23Outlet of22300Rotation device312Roller/drum313Drive motor314Rotary ring315Drive belt316Drive disk317Roller motor318Drive shaft319Follower shaft320Gear321Roller gear330Peripheral ring331Recess400Member portion which is connected to the rotation device410Inlet420Band channel flap500Member portion which is connected to the rotation device510Inlet511Member segment520Band channel flapK Intersection region of400and500B Strapping/strapping bandZ Intermediate space