Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor – With bending – folding – winding – or wrapping means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-27
2002-02-12
Aftergut, Jeff H. (Department: 1733)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor
With bending, folding, winding, or wrapping means
C156S468000, C156S483000, C053S135200, C053S586000, C047S00101T
Reexamination Certificate
active
06345659
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a method and a device for binding together one or more stalks, such as flower stems and branches, with the aid of a binding material, with a further object being bound in during the binding operation, the stalks being placed next to or against a part of the binding material which is essentially stationary during the binding operation, while a further part of the binding material is wrapped around the stalks.
A method and device of this kind are known, inter alia, from the laid-open specification NL 9202212. In the known method and device, objects, such as cut flowers, are simultaneously bound together and provided with a label. With the aid of binding material, the objects are joined in a binding region on a support. The binding material extends from one end of a binding member, which is positioned above the support and the other end of which is attached such that it can rotate, as far as a knotting mechanism, which is positioned beneath the support. The labels are fed to the binding region still attached to one another. The labels are provided with a serrated cutout. When the objects are being bound together, the binding member swings partially around the objects, thus passing through the plane of the support. In so doing, the binding material is pulled, in the region of the end of the binding member, into the serrated cutout provided in the label. When the binding material is pulled taut, the label is pulled off the following labels along a tear line.
Since the labels are joined to that section of the binding material which passes the support, there is a risk that, when the binding material is pulled against the label, the label or even a series of labels will be pulled through the support in the binding region. This may make it necessary to stop the binding installation.
Moreover, in the method according to the prior art there is a risk of the label being damaged by the relatively high force with which the binding material is pulled against the label.
The object of the present invention is to provide a method with which, while stalks, such as flower stems and branches, are being bound together, further objects can be bound in with the said stalks, without the method having the drawbacks of the method and the device in accordance with the prior art.
This object is achieved in that the further object is placed next to or against the stationary part on the same side as the stalks, preferably before the stalks are placed against or next to the stationary part.
It is advantageous here for the said further object to be placed next to or against the said stationary part of the binding material on an essentially planar support, the binding material being wrapped around the stalks during a binding operation with the said binding material being brought into engagement on that side of the further object which faces away from the stalks.
The effect of these measures is that during the binding operation the further object is supported by the stalks which are to be bound when a force is exerted on the further object by the binding material. The binding does not entail any risk of the further object being pulled through the support. Moreover, the risk of the further object being damaged during the binding operation decreases. In other words: this measure also allows the binding of further objects which are relatively susceptible to damage.
In the method and the device in accordance with the laid-open specification NL 9202212, the further objects (labels) are moved towards the binding region while they are still attached to one another. The first of a series of labels is always joined to the binding material, and this label is pulled off the following labels. This pulling-off operation requires a relatively high force, entailing the risk of a label or a series of labels at the binding region being pulled through the support. This may make it necessary to stop the binding installation. Moreover, a faulty tear line between the front label and the following labels will only come to light at the delivery location during the binding operation. If the front label cannot be pulled off the following labels, there is no longer any time to intervene in order to prevent the binding installation from having to be shut down.
It is therefore desirable for the said further object to be fed individually, with the aid of feed means, until it is close to or next to the said binding material.
This has the advantage that the further objects can be fed separately from one another, for example one by one. Owing to the feed means, it is no longer necessary for the further objects to be pushed forwards by following further objects.
Furthermore, in the method and the device in accordance with the abovementioned Dutch laid-open specification 9202212, the labels are joined to the binding material form-fit, only relatively insecurely. This means that the label itself will have to be relatively stiff in order to ensure a good join between the labels and the binding material. Soft, flat or thin labels, with a relatively low to very limited stiffness, cannot be joined to a binding material using the method in accordance with the laid-open specification. Moreover, the labels have to be positioned accurately in order to ensure a join between the labels and the binding material.
It is therefore possible according to the invention for the binding material to be elastic.
It is also possible according to the invention for the said binding material to be an adhesive tape, which is preferably bound around the stalk-like objects with the adhesive side facing towards the stalk-like objects, the further object preferably being adhesively joined to the stationary part of the binding material.
These measures allow the further object to be pressed against the stalks by the elastic action of the elastic or to be adhesively joined to the stalks by the adhesive action of the adhesive tape. When positioning the further object, there is a certain margin when placing the said object on the binding location. By using elastic, it is sufficient for the binding material to be wrapped around the further object. When using adhesive tape, it is sufficient for the further objects to contact the binding material. It is not necessary for the binding material to engage on the further object at a specific location.
Moreover, the further object is not joined to the binding material in a precise position. As a result, the limitations placed on the shape and material of the further object are much reduced by comparison with the method according to the prior art. Even relatively thin, soft and delicate objects can be bound by this measure.
A further advantage when using adhesive tape is that the adhesive agents which are present on the binding material can be used both to join the stalks and to fix on the further object. This means that the same adhesive agent can be used to perform two functions.
Furthermore, it is possible according to the present invention for the said further object to be pressed against the binding material from a delivery location, preferably to be pressed against the adhesive side of the said adhesive tape with the aid of compressed air.
As a result, the further object is moved mechanically towards the binding material, resulting in a certain level of joining between the further object and the binding material as a result of the adhesive agent present on the binding material. To achieve a successful binding operation, it is sufficient to manipulate the binding material with the further object attached to it.
By using compressed air, it is not necessary for the attachment means to have moving mechanical components. Using the compressed air, the further object which is positioned at the correct spot can be bound to the binding material in an efficient and reliable manner. Even in the absence of adhesive agents, for example if elastic is used, the further object can still be pressed against the binding material by means of the compressed air before the stalks are placed next to it.
Furthermore, the po
Groenewoud Ewald
Herman Paul Thomas Dirk
Huijsmans Joseph Anton Johannes
Molenaar Willem Herman
Aftergut Jeff H.
Pokon & Chrysal B.V.
Young & Thompson
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