Package making – Methods – With contents treating
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-23
2001-04-03
Kim, Eugene (Department: 3721)
Package making
Methods
With contents treating
C493S411000, C493S414000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209288
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for laying band-like or strip-like material, having a carrying structure and platform, having at least one laying arrangement, which is assigned to the carrying structure and is intended for laying the material, having at least one material-feed means, which is assigned to the laying arrangement, and having at least one receiving means, which is assigned to the platform and is intended for the material which is to be laid by the laying arrangement. The laying arrangement comprises a laying arm, which is assigned to the receiving means, and the platform and the laying arm can be moved at least horizontally, in each case orthogonally with respect to one another and reversibly.
b) Description of the Related Art
Band-like or strip-like material is used in a large number of industrial-processing sectors. In particular, textile sheet-like structures such as woven fabrics, knitted fabrics and nonwovens, but also paper products, natural products, synthetic products or metal products, or composites thereof, for example in the form of sheets, foamed and/or coated and/or fibrous products, are processed further in band form or strip form.
One possible way of preparing the band-like material or strip-like material for further processing involves direct unwinding from a roll. However, rolls constitute a problematic starting material for further processing since it is only with difficulty that small-width bands or strips can be wound on rolls. The narrower and thicker the band-like material or strip-like material, the smaller is the roll cross-section or diameter which can be achieved and handled. Consequently, it is only a short material or strip length which can be unwound from the roll.
Alternatively, or in addition, the band-like or strip-like material is thus introduced or cuttled in a number of layers, in zigzag form, into receiving containers or onto receiving panels, it being possible for a considerably larger number of running meters of material to be accommodated in this case than if the material is wound on rolls. This material-laying or strip-laying process is known as “festooning”, and the associated apparatus is known as a “festooner”, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,140. The apparatus in this document comprises a frame and a platform, which can be moved relative to one another. Specifically, the platform is used as a support for the laid material and, by means of a carriage, is moved back and forth in the transverse direction, beneath a laying arrangement, which is assigned to the frame. The laying arrangement comprises a laying arm, which can be pivoted backwards and forwards essentially in the longitudinal direction, and a material-feed means to the laying arm. The horizontal movement directions of the laying arm and platform are orthogonal with respect to one another. The material-feed means is fastened rigidly on the frame and essentially comprises a rear roller and a front roller, over which the material is directed to the laying arm. The movement of the rollers of the material-feed means and of the pivotable laying arm are realized via a high-outlay mechanism. Provided for this purpose, in addition to a belt drive for rotating the rollers of the material-feed means, are gear wheels which are coupled to said belt drive and are intended for transmitting the rotary movement to a pneumatic drive for the purpose of producing the pivot movement of the laying arm.
The rollers of the material-feed means and the unfolding parts of the laying arm, between which the material is directed to the receiving means, cover only a small application range of band-like or strip-like material. Firstly, the material thickness is predetermined by the small distance between a contact roller and the front roller of the material-feed means and by the distance between the unflexible unfolding parts of the laying arm and, secondly, the material width is predetermined by the distance between guiding side-border regions on the rear roller of the material-feed means and by the width of the unfolding parts of the laying arm. In practice, for precise guidance and laying of the material, the widths of the material, of the rollers of the material-feed means and of the unfolding parts of the laying arm are designed to be identical. If, for example, material of a width which is smaller than the predetermined width were to be laid, then the dimensions of the receiving means will be utilized only to an insufficient extent. Depending on where the material emerges from the laying arrangement, at least some distance would remain in relation to the boundary of the receiving means, which would impair the laying quality and quantity and would result in the laid material slipping. The above indicates that, in the event of the material being changed, the known apparatus has to be equipped with a new material-feed means and with a new laying arm. This requires high outlay in terms of operation and time as well as cost-intensive, skilled operators and also requires the apparatus to be brought to a standstill.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 3,735,554 discloses an apparatus which is intended for laying band-like material and comprises a plurality of frames and a platform which can be moved relative to one another. In the case of the apparatus in question here, rather than executing any horizontal movement, the platform is moved exclusively in the vertical direction. A plurality of packing boxes are arranged on the platform and filled with material, the laying arrangements, which are arranged above the boxes, being arranged on a longitudinally displaceable frame. The laying arrangements merely comprise two rollers. The material, which emerges between the rollers of the laying arrangement, moves freely and in an unguided manner in the space above the boxes, which is disadvantageous as far as precise laying is concerned. The transverse movement, which is orthogonal with respect to the longitudinal movement of the laying arrangement and is necessary in order to utilize the volume of the packing box in the longitudinal and transverse directions for the purpose of laying the material, is realized in that the material-feed means is fitted on a transversely displaceable frame. In this case, the material is retained in a constant position between the two rollers of the laying arrangement and is transported together with the latter and within the packing box correspondingly. Variation of the band width is not possible either in the case of the apparatus in question since the band-feed means thereof comprises guide elements which are spaced apart in a fixed manner with respect to one another, predetermine the material width and the fixed-position material guidance and thus restrict the application range as far as different band or strip widths are concerned. It is thus also possible for a disadvantage to be established here in the sense that, in the event of the material being changed, the known apparatus has to be equipped with new guide elements for the material-feed means. This conversion measure also involves the apparatus being brought to a standstill and requires mechanically skilled, cost-intensive operators.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Taking the apparatus which is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,140 as departure point, the primary object of the invention is to specify an apparatus of the type in question which permits band-like or strip-like material of different width dimensions to be laid, any mechanical conversion of the apparatus being dispensed with. It is also intended to ensure guided laying of the material, using a laying arm, such that, despite different width dimensions, optimum utilization of the dimensions predetermined by a receiving means takes place during the material-laying operation. It is also intended to specify a process which realizes the abovementioned stipulations, in particular using the apparatus according to the invention.
The abovementioned object is achieved in accordance with the invent
Lenk Christian
Rahn Roberto E.
Kim Eugene
Kortec GmbH
Reed Smith LLP
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