System and machine for strapping articles

Abstract

A system for feeding articles into a processing machine via a feeding railway, the system further comprising: a supply railway intersecting the feeding railway at a crossroads; a supply stand at the end of the supply railway and a crossroads stand at the crossroads, the stands being adapted to receive a pallet with an article in a position bridging the railways; a supply carriage adapted to pass freely under a pallet received in any of the stands, to take it from the stand and to move it to another stand; and a feeding carriage adapted to pass freely under a pallet received in the crossroads stand, to take it from the stand and feed it into the processing machine.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to means for strapping articles, in particular to automated transport systems for feeding articles into a strapping machine. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Packaging of glass sheets is a labor-consuming job. Typically, stacks of glass sheets are transported by forklift trucks from the production line to a packaging area where they are manually encased in wooden cases or frames. The cases are then manually strapped in tensioned strap loops by means of hand-held devices providing controlled tension and bonding of the straps. The process is time-consuming, the positioning and the tensioning of the straps are not always accurate and uniform. [0003] Automated strapping machines are used in other areas of mass-production such as building blocks, bricks, slabs or tiles. Such machines, for example SIGNODE® vertical or horizontal strapping machines, automatically feed the strap from a wheel along a closed frame to form a loop, then pos...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0025] the arrangement is simple, modular and allows adding more components by simply extending the railway or building more crossroads.

[0026] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a strapping machine for strapping articles by placing a strap about an article, tensioning and bonding the strap in a closed loop lying substantially in one strapping plane. The article has a first and a second transverse axes and dimensions in the strapping plane. The machine comprises a first carriage carrying a strapping head, adapted to move along the first axis and to transport operatively the strapping head from an initial position remote from the surface of the article to a first contact position with the surface, so that the strap can be tensioned about articles with varying first dimension.

[0028] The machine may further comprise a third carriage movable in the strapping plane and adapted to transport a portion of the strap from an initial position remote from the surface of the article to a third contact position with the surface, thereby ensuring more precise positioning of the strap on the article.

[0031] The strapping machine of the present invention provides for rapid and reliable strapping of articles along a contour with two variable dimensions (width and height) without any adjustment. The positioning of the contour along the third dimension (length) of the article may be provided by the motion of the transport carriage, so in fact the strapping machine is capable of operatively strapping any sequence of articles with all three dimensions varying from article to article. Moreover, a single article with varying contours of strapping along its length may be strapped as well, for example a stepped shape or tapered shape.

[0035] Furthermore, the outer appearance of the accurately strapped articles is more aesthetic and commercially appealing.

[0036] The usage of the feeding system of the present invention with the strapping machine of the present invention is especially advantageous. The feeding carriage provides accurate positioning of the article, about 5 mm, so that the article can be strapped directly on the carriage, without further adjustment with respect to the strapping machine. This is important for sensitive, fragile and slippery objects such as glass sheets.

Problems solved by technology

Packaging of glass sheets is a labor-consuming job.

The process is time-consuming, the positioning and the tensioning of the straps are not always accurate and uniform.

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