Package making – Apparatus for contraction of cover by stretching or shrinking
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-02
2001-08-21
Lazarus, Ira S. (Department: 3721)
Package making
Apparatus for contraction of cover by stretching or shrinking
C053S399000, C053S441000, C053S588000, C053S211000, C242S614000, C242S614000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276116
ABSTRACT:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an arrangement for changing a film roll in a wrapping machine. The invention relates also to a method for changing a film roll in a wrapping machine. Furthermore, the present invention relates to film distributing means. Also, the present invention relates to an arrangement for locating crank means in a wrapping machine.
As is well known, for wrapping of pieces, such as pallet loads and cylindrical paper rolls, wrapping devices known per se are used, which perform the wrapping by means of a wrapping film, preferably a thin and transparent stretch film made of plastic. One known wrapping device for wrapping a pallet load brought by a conveyor is presented in publication EP 0 220 712 A1, in which a film roll is arranged in film distribution means which are further arranged to be rotated around a pallet load by means of a crank. The film distribution means with the film roll are further arranged movable in the vertical direction along the handwheel to wrap the whole mantle surface of the piece. However, the presented device is not suitable for continuous production, because the film roll must always be manually changed in the film distribution means when the film roll runs out and the end of the film must be manually fixed to a locking device in a stationary position.
Furthermore, wrapping devices have been developed in which several film rolls are provided in a cassette and the change of a film roll is arranged to be automatic. One such device is presented in patent publication FI-78433, to which corresponds patent publication U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,891. In the presented embodiment, film rolls which are arranged vertically in a cassette and which also comprise a short pin for attachment, are transferred from the cassette by a horizontal movement by means of a transfer carriage to a film distribution carriage. The film distribution carriage is also provided with a set of press rolls arranged to be closed and opened against a set of stretching pulleys. The film is introduced between the sets of rolls by means of a special transfer device which grips the end of the film and brings in into a separate locking means. A film distribution carriage suitable for automatic change is also known from patent publication FI-81539, to which corresponds patent publication WO 90/06261. Problems are involved particularly in bringing and locating the film roll into the film distribution carriage as well as in arranging the bearings of the rotating film roll.
Nevertheless, there are some considerable problems in automatic wrapping devices, caused e.g. by the complexity of the operation of the devices and delays particularly in connection with the film change. Delays increase the time taken in wrapping and disturb the other steps of the production. In the device according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,891, delays are particularly caused by transferring the film roll by means of a transfer carriage and entering the end of the film in a locking means. Another function which is critical in view of reliability is entering the end of the film into the locking means by means of a separate transfer device. Fixing the end of the film in the cassette holder in a reliable way, detaching it from the holder by means of the transfer device, and holding, as well as fixing into the locking means and detaching from the transfer device are very difficult to arrange and lead to complex apparatuses to be controlled. Detachment of the end of the film during the change of the film roll will cause an error situation which causes the operation of the whole wrapping apparatus to discontinue and disturbs production.
It is an aim of the present invention to present a considerable improvement to the prior art to eliminate the above-described drawbacks and particularly to make a more reliable operation of wrapping devices possible particularly in continuous, uninterrupted and even unmanned production. With the operations according to the invention, delays can be reduced, and furthermore, risks of malfunction and stoppage are reduced in comparison with prior art technology.
Several considerable advantages are achieved with the invention, to increase the reliability of the devices and also to decrease the costs or delays caused by maintenance and tie-up. In particular, it is possible to totally eliminate several precise positionings in the transfer of the film roll. By means of the invention, it is possible to abandon a transfer carriage to transfer the film roll from a cassette to the carriage. A significant advantage in view of the reliability is that it is possible to reduce the handling of the end of the film and the related transfer devices. Thanks to the invention, the control of wrapping devices is facilitated and also the manufacturing and implementation costs can be reduced.
The invention makes it possible to simplify the handling of film rolls in all steps to a considerable extent. Furthermore, the invention has the particular advantage that the bearings of the film roll can be arranged by simple means in the axle of the film roll, wherein bearings for rotation do not need to be arranged in the means for fixing the film roll. By using a roll axle, a steady, firm construction is obtained, in which it is possible to arrange several different film roll sizes and film roll qualities. Another advantage is that by means of the invention, also the design, dimensioning and use of the roll axle can be changed, if necessary, for each film roll. A particular advantage is obtained in that the fixing means in the roll axle can be utilized also in the other steps of the production, in the handling and transportation of film rolls. In the film distribution means, it is possible to apply e.g. a control roll presented in patent publication EP 0 519 909 B1, preferably a brake roll pressed against the film roll, whose operation is based on the use of eddy currents.
A particular advantage is obtained with means whereby the crank means are positioned and through which it is at the same time possible to lead the required pressurized medium e.g. to the film distribution means. By arranging the film distribution means to operate in the presented manner, pressurized medium is only needed for the change of he film roll, wherein also said means are switched on. In this way, a simpler, lighter and more reliable construction is obtained. Nevertheless, precise positioning is possible at the same time with simple means, which facilitates the control of the wrapping device and reduces the number of sensing means needed.
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Annila Pasi
Isomäki Matti-Pekka
Lehtineva Juha
Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz
Desai Hermant M.
Lazarus Ira S.
Pesmel Oy
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