Package making – Methods – Applying a partial cover
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-15
2001-09-04
Vo, Peter (Department: 3721)
Package making
Methods
Applying a partial cover
C053S228000, C053S370500, C053S389200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282868
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention is in the field of the packaging technology and concerns a method and a device for strapping or wrapping objects, particularly substantially parallelepipedic objects.
Substantially parallelepipedic objects such as, for example, stacks of newspapers or magazines, are strapped with tape and/or are wrapped with foil or paper to hold them together and/or to protect them against damage and dirt.
One of the known methods for producing such strapping comprises conveying the object to be strapped to a strapping position. At the strapping position, the strapping material (tape, foil, paper) is positioned to extend curtain-like perpendicular to the conveying direction and across the conveying path. The strapping material is drawn along with the object to be strapped. Thus, the strapping material is placed against the downstream side of the object and can be closed and separated at the upstream side of the object. Accordingly, the object is strapped substantially parallel to the conveying direction and the strapping material again extends across the conveying path ready for the next strapping operation.
The strapped object is conveyed out of the strapping position in the conveying direction, which is substantially the same as the conveying direction to the strapping position. The completed strapping of the object comprises two points in which two ends of the strapping material are connected together, typically by welding, one point on the upstream side of the object and one point on the downstream side of the object.
For strapping methods as described above, the strapping material (tape for strapping or foil or paper for wrapping) is usually supplied from two supply rolls. One supply roll is positioned on each side of the conveying path on which the objects to be strapped are conveyed to the strapping position and away from the strapping position. For each strapping operation the same amount of strapping material is drawn off each supply roll. Controlled deceleration means are usually provided between the conveying path and the supply rolls for controlled drawing of strapping material from the supply rolls and, in particular, for tensioning the strapping material around the objects to be strapped. Furthermore, intermediate storage means is provided in most cases between the deceleration means and the supply rolls. The intermediate storage means stores strapping material drawn from the rolls such that the supply rolls, which usually have a considerable weight, need not be accelerated and decelerated for each strapping operation. Therefore, the intermediate storage means permits a greater drawing-out speed of the strapping material.
When using the known methods and devices for strapping or wrapping as described above it is inevitable that each completed strapping comprises two connection points. It is also inevitable that strapping material needs to be supplied from two sides of the conveying path. This means that, on two sides of the conveying path, supply means and space for the supply means must be provided. This also means that the free ends of the strapping material, supplied from the two sides, must be connected in a special connecting step before a first strapping operation (e.g. after a change of the supply rolls).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to provide a method for strapping or wrapping objects that removes or minimizes the deficiencies in the art. The inventive method makes it possible to produce strappings or wrappings with only one connection point. The present invention also makes it possible to supply the strapping material from only one side of the conveying path.
The inventive method is to be generally applicable independent of characteristics of the strapping material (width, stiffness etc.).
The inventive method improves upon known strapping or wrapping methods according to which each strapping operation comprises conveying the object to be strapped to the strapping position, at which point the object meets the strapping material extending across the conveying path and draws the strapping material along with it. The strapping material is connected and separated on the upstream side of the object such that, on the one hand, the strapping material surrounds the object and, on the other hand, again forms a curtain for a subsequent strapping operation.
In further accordance with the inventive method, a shifting step is carried out between each two successive strapping steps or between each two groups of successive strapping steps. In each of these shifting steps a predetermined length of the strapping material is actively shifted from a side from which this material is supplied (supply side) across the conveying path and to an opposite side of the conveying path. By suitable control of the shifting steps and of the handling of the strapping material on the side of the conveying path opposite to the supply side strappings with only one or with two connection points are selectively produced.
In further accordance with the present invention, a device for carrying out the inventive method comprises conveying means for conveying objects to be strapped to the strapping position (e.g. conveying belts), supply means for supplying strapping material from the supply side to the strapping position (e.g. supply roll and intermediate storage means) as well as means for positioning the strapping material on the upstream side of the object to be strapped and for connecting and separating the strapping material (e.g. suitably equipped and movable welding heads). Furthermore, controlled means for handling the strapping material are provided on the supply side and on the opposite side of the conveying path, whereby control of the handling means is not the same on the two sides. The handling means, apart from a general guiding function, have the following functions in different phases of the inventive method: deceleration of the strapping material (on both sides of the conveying path), active shifting of the strapping material (at least on one side) and holding the strapping material (at least on the side opposite to the supply side).
Advantageously, the handling means provided on both sides of the conveying path are designed as two functional unities (e.g. pairs of rolls) that are brought into different configurations for different functions by suitable control means. However, it is also possible to provide separate handling means for each function and to activate or deactivate the handling means correspondingly.
The device for carrying out the inventive method further comprises control means for controlling the conveying means, the supply means, the connection/separation means as well as the means for handling the strapping material. Control of the device may be purely time or cycle related or it can be governed at least partly by means of sensor signals.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 29362 (1977-08-01), Reid
patent: 2894363 (1959-07-01), Voogd
patent: 4509314 (1985-04-01), Bozza
patent: 4628668 (1986-12-01), Wildmoser
patent: 4991376 (1991-02-01), Backman
patent: 6085487 (2000-07-01), De Vlaaam
patent: 43 31 351 C1 (1995-03-01), None
patent: 160 347 A2 (1985-05-01), None
patent: 0 160 347 (1985-11-01), None
patent: 612 661 A1 (1993-11-01), None
Desai Hemant M.
Ferag Verpakkingstechniek B.V.
Rankin, Hill Porter & Clark LLP
Vo Peter
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