Knotting device and method for knotting a binding agent as well as lacing machine

Abstract

Knotting device (1) for knotting a binding agent arranged in a cinching plane (12) around a material to be tied, comprising a knotting unit (2) with a knotting beak (3) for handling the binding agent and a binding agent feeder (4), wherein the knotting beak (3) is openable and closeable during knot formation, characterized in that the knotting beak (3) is movable between a receiving position (8) arranged outside the cinching plane (12) and a release position (9), wherein the binding agent to be knotted can be fed to the knotting beak (3) in the receiving position (8) by the binding agent feeder (4) and wherein the binding agent knotted with the knotting beak (3) can be released in the release position (9).

Description

The invention relates to a knotter device for knotting a binding agent arranged in a lacing plane around a material to be tied, comprising a knotter unit having a knotter beak serving for handling the binding agent and a binding agent feeder, wherein the knotter beak is openable and closable during knot formation.The present invention also relates to a method for knotting a binding agent arranged in a lacing plane around a material to be tied with such a knotter device. The invention further relates to a lacing machine for lacing a good, having a positioning device for positioning the good, having a wrapping device for guiding the binding agent around the good in the lacing plane and having such a knotter device.Knotter devices of the type in question have been known from practice for years.From the publication DE 29 29 353 A1 a device for knotting a cord guided around a package is known. The device comprises a knotter assembly which has a knotter beak for knotting the cord. The knotter beak can be moved into a lacing plane in which the knotter beak takes over the string and knotts it. The cord is supplied to the knotter beak by a thrower. The formed knot is stripped from the knotter hub by moving the knotter hub back. Such a knotter unit can be arranged below a table top on which the package to be knotted is positioned.The problem with the known devices is that the knotter beak for receiving the binding agent must be positioned in the lacing plane in such a way that sufficient space is provided for other components, such as the launcher. Therefore, the knotter beak must be arranged at a certain distance from the table top or the packing piece, the distance being determined by the dimensions of these components. Since the binding agent is thus knotted and stripped at a comparatively large distance from the package, a considerable loss of binding agent tension can occur, in particular when using non-compliant binding agents, such as binding agents without an elastic plastic content. This may result in too low a binder tension. As a result, the knotted binder can easily slip off or be scraped off the package. In order to overcome this problem, the binding agent is currently guided several times around the package and subsequently knotted. However, this entails increased material use.The object of the present invention is therefore to design and further develop a knotter device of the type mentioned at the beginning in such a way that reliable tying with the least possible loss of binder tension is ensured by simple means of construction. Furthermore, a corresponding method for tying a binding agent and a corresponding tying machine for tying a good are to be specified.According to the invention, the above object is achieved by a knotter device having the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 11. Furthermore, the above object is achieved by a lacing machine having the features of claim 13.According to this, the knotter device is characterized in that the knotter beak is movable between a receiving position arranged outside the lacing plane and a release position, wherein the binder to be knotted can be supplied to the knotter beak in the receiving position by the binder feeder and wherein the binder knotted with the knotter beak can be released in the release position.The method according to the invention for knotting a binding agent arranged in a lacing plane around a product to be tied with such a knotter device comprises the steps:moving the knotter hub from the release position to the receiving position;supplying the binding agent to the knotter beak by the binding agent supplying means;receiving and knotting the binding agent by the knotter label, preferably when the knotter label is arranged in the receiving position and / or while the knotter label moves from the receiving position into the release position;moving the knotter hub from the receiving position to the releasing position; andreleasing the binder in the release position.The lacing machine according to the invention for lacing a good comprises a positioning device for positioning the good, a wrapping device for guiding the binding agent around the good in the lacing plane and a knotter device according to the invention.In a manner according to the invention, it has first been recognized that, by supplying the binding agent to be knotted to the knotter beak in a receiving position arranged outside the lacing plane, a greater flexibility is provided in the arrangement of other components, in particular the binding agent feeder. The positioning of the knotter beak in the release position is thus independent of these components. The knotter beak can be positioned such that the binding agent is positioned in the release position at a very small distance from the material to be tied. This significantly reduces the loss of binder tension, i.e. the binder tension remaining after the knotting is significantly increased. A multiple passing of the material with the binder is not necessary, so that the material usage can be significantly reduced.The term "lacing plane" is to be understood in the broadest sense within the scope of the present disclosure and relates to a plane which is described by the position of the binder guided around the material. The binder is thus guided in a plane around the material and is knotted.According to the invention, the knotter beak is first moved from the release position into the receiving position. This movement can take place, for example, along a straight line and / or an arc segment, in particular an arc segment, and / or a spline curve. For this purpose, the knotter label can be correspondingly guided. The binder is supplied to the knotter beak by the binder feeder. This is preferably effected in the case of a knotter beak arranged in the receiving position, wherein the receiving position lies outside the lacing plane. In this case, two sections of the binding agent to be knotted are fed to the knotter beak. The binder is then absorbed by the knotter beak and knotted. This can take place, in particular, at least partially while the knotter beak moves from the receiving position into the release position. This can further reduce the loss of binder tension and reduce the knotting time. In the release position, the binder is released.At this point, it is pointed out that the steps of the method according to the invention can proceed at least partially in parallel in terms of time.The lacing machine according to the invention comprises, in addition to the knotter device and the wrapping device, a positioning device for positioning the good. Such a positioning device can comprise, for example, a slotted plate on which the item rests or on which the item rests laterally. The slot is arranged in the lacing plane and enables complete guiding of the binding agent around the good. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the lacing machine has a knife for severing the binding agent after the knotting of the good.The positioning device can be arranged in particular between the crop and the knotter device. The plate can be, for example, a table top, wherein the knotter device is arranged below the plate. It is also conceivable for the knotter device to be arranged above or laterally of the positioning device.Consequently, with the knotter device according to the invention, the method according to the invention and the lacing machine according to the invention, a knotter device, a method and a lacing machine are provided, according to which reliable lacing with as little loss of binder tension as possible is ensured by means of simple structural means.Advantageously, the release position can be arranged in the lacing plane. As a result, the binding agent, in particular the knot, can be released as close as possible to the material to be tied up and the loss of binding agent tension can be further reduced.In a further advantageous manner, the binding agent accommodated with the knotter beak can be arranged at a smaller distance from a positioning plane of the good in the release position compared to the accommodation position. As a result, the space for arranging other components, in particular the binder feeder in the receiving position, can be significantly increased. The term "positioning plane" is to be understood in the broadest sense within the scope of the present disclosure. This can relate to a plane which is arranged orthogonally to the lacing plane and a connecting straight line, wherein the connecting straight line runs through a point of the good and the knot position which is closest to the knotter beak in the release position. Furthermore, the positioning plane can run through this closest point of the good. The distance between the positioning plane and the clamping beak in the release position can advantageously be less than 5 mm, in particular between 1 mm and 2 mm. The positioning plane can be defined by an underside of a table top on which the item is positioned.According to an advantageous development, the knotter unit can comprise a knotter lever, wherein the knotter beak is arranged in and / or at a tool-side end of the knotter lever. As a result, a particularly simple construction can be provided and the knotter beak can also be easily interchangeably fixed to the knotter lever.It is also conceivable that the knotter lever is mounted for movement of the knotter hub between the receiving position and the release position such that it can be pivoted about a pivot axis arranged at an end of the knotter lever on the bearing side. One of the advantages achieved thereby is the particularly simple construction. The knotter lever can be arranged, for example, on a rotatable shaft.The pivot axis can be arranged parallel to the lacing plane, in particular in the lacing plane. As a result of the pivoting movement of the knotter lever, the knotter beak can thus be pivoted in a simple manner out of the lacing plane into the receiving position. The knotter beak is movable on a circular arc segment. This can also ensure that the distance of the binding agent accommodated with the knotter beak from the positioning plane is smaller in the release position than in the accommodation position. It is also conceivable that the knotter lever is arranged in the release position such that the knotter beak and the bearing-side end of the knotter lever lie in the lacing plane.According to an advantageous development, the knotter beak can be rotatable about an axis of rotation during knot formation, wherein the axis of rotation of the knotter beak and the axis of rotation of the knotter lever have a common point of intersection and are preferably arranged orthogonally to one another. One of the advantages achieved thereby is that a simple and space-saving construction of the knotter unit can be provided. The knotter beak can be firmly connected to the knotter lever at the tool-side end, so that the knotter lever and the knotter beak can be rotated jointly about the axis of rotation. Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the knotter beak to be mounted rotatably in and / or on the tool-side end of the knotter lever, for example via one or more ball or roller bearings. The axis of rotation can coincide with a longitudinal axis of the knotter lever, along which the knotter lever can extend.It should be noted at this point that the knotter label can be opened and closed in each of the embodiments described within the scope of this disclosure and can be rotatable about an axis of rotation.Furthermore, it is conceivable that a drive device is provided for driving the knotter unit and / or the binder feeder, wherein the drive device comprises two intermeshing bevel gears arranged at the bearing-side end of the knotter lever for rotating the knotter hub, wherein one bevel gear is rotatable about the axis of rotation and the other bevel gear is rotatable about the axis of rotation. This makes it possible to provide a particularly simple, reliable and low-maintenance construction. In addition, this allows the knotter hub to rotate about the axis of rotation during the pivoting movement of the knotter lever between the release position and the receiving position.In order to impede the rotation of the knotter hub, it can be expedient for the knotter device to have a locking pin, wherein the locking pin can be displaced into a locking position for hindering the rotation of the knotter hub. The locking bolt engages in a lateral depression in the knotter unit, in particular in the knotter lever.In a further advantageous manner, the drive device can have at least one mechanical positive control for the knotter unit and / or the binder feeder. Such a mechanical positive control is particularly troublefree. The mechanical positive control can be used in particular to control the movement and / or the opening and closing and / or the rotation of the knotter hub. In addition, the drive device can have a rotatable drive wheel, wherein the drive wheel comprises teeth at least partially on the circumferential side, with the aid of which the bevel gears can be driven indirectly or directly in a specific cycle, for example per rotation of the drive wheel. Alternatively, a separate, independent drive for rotating the knotter hub is conceivable. This enables a temporally independent knotting, in particular ending of knot formation, during the movement of the knotter beak, in particular during the pivoting movement of the knotter lever into the release position.To pick up the binding agent, the knotter can open, rotate and close. Advantageously, the knotter beak opens after the two sections of the binding agent to be knotted have been supplied to it by the binding agent feeder in the receiving position, and then rotates 360°. As a result, the two sections to be knotted wrap around the opened knotter beak. Shortly before the end of the rotation or after the rotation, the knotter label can close, wherein the two sections to be knotted are clamped by the knotter label. As a result of the movement of the knotter beak into the release position, the binding agent is knotted and released in the release position.There are now various possibilities for advantageously embodying and developing the teaching of the present invention. For this purpose, reference is made on the one hand to the claims subordinate to claims 1 and 11 and on the other hand to the following explanation of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention on the basis of the drawing. In conjunction with the explanation of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention on the basis of the drawing, preferred embodiments and refinements of the teaching are also generally explained. The drawing shows FIG. 1 shows a schematic, sectional illustration with a first side view of a knotter device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 shows a further schematic, sectional illustration with a first side view of the knotter device according to the embodiment in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration with a second side view of the knotter device according to the embodiment in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 shows a schematic, sectional illustration with a three-dimensional view of the knotter device according to the embodiment in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 shows a further schematic, sectional illustration with a three-dimensional view of the knotter device according to the embodiment in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of steps of a method according to one embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 1 shows a schematic, sectional illustration with a first side view of a knotter device according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2 shows a further schematic, sectional illustration with a first side view of the knotter device according to the embodiment in FIG. 1.The knotter device 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a knotter unit 2 with a knotter label 3 serving for handling the binding agent and a binding agent feeder 4, wherein the knotter label 3 can be opened and closed during knot formation. In addition, the knotter beak 3 is rotatable about an axis of rotation 5 during knot formation. The binder is not shown.The knotter unit 2 comprises a knotter lever 6, wherein the knotter beak 3 is arranged in and at a tool-side end 7 of the knotter lever 6. The knotter beak 3 is thereby firmly connected to the knotter lever 6 at the tool-side end 7, so that the knotter lever 6 and the knotter beak 3 are rotatable about the axis of rotation 5. For moving the knotter hub 3 between a receiving position 8 and a release position 9, the knotter lever 6 is mounted pivotably about a pivot axis 11 arranged at a bearing-side end 10 of the knotter lever 6. The pivot axis 11 is arranged in the lacing plane 12.The axis of rotation 5 of the knotter hub 3 and the pivot axis 11 of the knotter lever 6 have a common point of intersection 13 and are arranged orthogonally to one another. In addition, the axis of rotation 5 coincides with a longitudinal axis 14 of the knotter lever 6, along which the knotter lever 6 extends.In FIG. 1, the knotter beak 3 is arranged substantially in the release position 9, wherein the release position 9 lies in the lacing plane 12. It is conceivable for the knotter lever 6 to pivot slightly further in the clockwise direction, so that the knotted binding agent strips off the knotter beak 3 in the lacing plane 12. In FIG. 2, the knotter beak 3 is arranged in the receiving position 8. It can be seen here that the binding agent accommodated with the knotter beak 3 is arranged in the release position 9 at a smaller distance 15 from a positioning plane 16 of the good compared to the accommodation position 8. The positioning plane 16 is defined here by a table top 17 on which the material to be linked can be positioned.The binding agent to be knotted can be supplied to the knotter beak 3 in the receiving position 8 by the binding agent feeder 4. In the release position 9, the binder knotted to the knotter beak 3 can be released.To impede the rotation of the knotter hub 3, the knotter device 1 has a locking bolt 18, wherein the locking bolt 18 can be displaced into a locking position. In the locked position, the locking bolt 18 engages in a lateral depression 19 in the knotter lever 6. Both in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2, the locking bolt 18 is arranged in the locking position.The knotter device 1 also has a drive device 20 for driving the knotter unit 2 and the binder feeder 4, wherein the drive device 20 comprises two intermeshing bevel gears 21', 21" arranged on the bearing-side end 10 of the knotter lever 6 for rotating the knotter hub 3. One bevel gear 21' can be rotated about the axis of rotation 5 and the other bevel gear 21" can be rotated about the pivot axis 11. Thus, the rotation of the knotter hub 3 about the axis of rotation 5 can take place during the pivoting movement of the knotter lever 6 between the release position 9 and the receiving position 8.Furthermore, the drive device 20 comprises at least one mechanical positive control 22 for the knotter unit 2 and the binder feeder 4. the drive device 20 has a drive wheel 23 rotatable in the clockwise direction, wherein the drive wheel 23 comprises teeth 24 partially on the circumferential side. With the aid of the teeth 24, the bevel gears 21', 21" can be driven per rotation of the drive wheel 23. As a result, the rotation of the knotter hub 3 can be controlled. Furthermore, the drive wheel 23 comprises a protrusion 25 on the circumference, which may interact with a guide roller 26 of a knife unit 27 for severing the binding agent after the knotting. A pivoting movement of the knife unit 27 is thereby controlled. The pivoting movement of the knotter unit 2 about the pivot axis 11 can likewise be controlled by the mechanical positive control 22.FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration with a second side view of the knotter device according to the embodiment in FIG. 1.The lacing plane 12 is arranged parallel to the viewing plane. In particular, the structural configuration of the drive device 20 can be seen from FIG. 3. The bevel gears 21', 21" are at an angle of 90° with respect to one another, one bevel gear 21' being arranged at the bearing-side end of the knotter lever. The other bevel gear 21" is arranged on a rotatable shaft 28 which extends along the pivot axis 11.On the shaft 28 there is also arranged a gearwheel 29 which interacts with the teeth 24 arranged on the circumference of the drive wheel 23 and thus drives the shaft 28. As a result of the rotation of the shaft 28 thus started, the bevel gears 21', 21" are driven and the knotter lever 6 and the knotter beak 3 rotate.FIG. 4 shows a schematic, sectional illustration with a three-dimensional view of the knotter device according to the embodiment in FIG. 1.FIG. 5 shows a further schematic, sectional illustration with a three-dimensional view of the knotter device according to the embodiment in FIG. 1.In FIG. 4, the knotter beak 3 is arranged in the release position 9 and in FIG. 5, the knotter beak 3 is arranged in the receiving position 8. The knotter lever 6 is partially arranged in a jacket body 30 and is mounted rotatably about the axis of rotation 5 at two bearing points 31', 31" in the jacket body 30. The locking bolt 18 is also displaceably mounted on the casing body 30. The jacket body 30 is not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of steps of a method according to one embodiment of the present invention.In a first step S 1, the knotter label 3 is first moved from the release position 9 into the receiving position 8. The binder is supplied to the knotter beak 3 by the binder feeder 4 in step S2. This takes place in the case of a knotter beak 3 arranged in the receiving position 8, wherein the receiving position 8 lies outside the lacing plane 12. In this case, two sections of the binding agent to be knotted are fed to the knotter beak 3. Subsequently, in steps S 3 and S 4, the binder is absorbed and knotted by the knotter label 3 by opening, rotating, and closing. This can take place, in particular, at least partially in order to reduce the knotting time and the loss of binder tension, while the knotter beak 3 moves from the receiving position 8 into the release position 9 in step S 5. Finally, in step S 6, the binder is released in the release position 9.With regard to further advantageous embodiments of the knotter device according to the invention, the method according to the invention and the lacing machine according to the invention, reference is made to the general part of the description and to the appended claims in order to avoid repetitions.Finally, it should be expressly pointed out that the above-described exemplary embodiments of the knotter device according to the invention, of the method according to the invention and of the lacing machine according to the invention serve merely for the discussion of the claimed teaching, but do not restrict it to the exemplary embodiments.List of reference characters1 Knotter device 2 knotter unit 3 knotter beak 4 binder feeder 5 rotation axis 6 knotter lever 7 tool-side end of knotter lever 8 receiving position 9 release position 10 bearing-side end of knotter lever 11 pivot axis 12 lacing plane 13 intersection point 14 longitudinal axis of knotter lever 15 distance 16 positioning plane 17 table top 18 locking bolt 19 depression 20 drive device 21', 21'' bevel gear 22 mechanical positive control 23 drive wheel 24 teeth 25 elevation 26 guide roller 27 knife unit 28 shaft 29 gearwheel 30 casing body 31', 31'' bearing pointReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 29 29 353 A1

[0004]

Claims

Knotter device (1) for knotting a binding agent arranged in a lacing plane (12) around a material to be tied, comprising a knotter unit (2) with a knotter label (3) serving for handling the binding agent and a binding agent feeder (4), wherein the knotter label (3) can be opened and closed during knot formation, characterized in that the knotter label (3) can be moved between a receiving position (8) arranged outside the lacing plane (12) and a release position (9), wherein the binding agent to be knotted can be fed to the knotter label (3) in the receiving position (8) by the binding agent feeder (4) and wherein the binding agent knotted with the knotter label (3) can be released in the release position (9).Knotter device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the release position (9) is arranged in the lacing plane (12).Knotter device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the binding agent accommodated with the knotter beak (3) is arranged in the release position (9) at a smaller distance (15) from a positioning plane (16) of the good compared to the accommodation position (8).Knotter device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the knotter unit (2) comprises a knotter lever (6), wherein the knotter beak (3) is arranged in and / or at a tool-side end (7) of the knotter lever (6).Knotter device (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that the knotter lever (6) is mounted pivotably about a pivot axis (11) arranged at a bearing-side end (10) of the knotter lever (6) for moving the knotter beak (3) between the receiving position (8) and the release position (9).Knotter device (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the pivot axis (11) is arranged parallel to the lacing plane (12), in particular in the lacing plane (12).Knotter device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the knotter beak (3) is rotatable about an axis of rotation (5) during knot formation, wherein the axis of rotation (5) of the knotter beak (3) and the pivot axis (11) of the knotter lever (6) have a common point of intersection (13) and are preferably arranged orthogonally to one another.Knotter device (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that a drive device (20) is provided for driving the knotter unit (2) and / or the binder feeder (4), wherein the drive device (20) comprises two intermeshing bevel gears (21', 21") arranged at the bearing-side end (10) of the knotter lever (6) for rotating the knotter hub (3), wherein the one bevel gear (21') is rotatable about the axis of rotation (5) and the other bevel gear (21") is rotatable about the axis of rotation (11).Knotter device (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the knotter unit (2) has a locking pin (18), wherein the locking pin (18) can be displaced into a locking position for preventing the rotation of the knotter hub (3), wherein the locking pin (18) engages into a lateral depression (19) in the knotter unit (2), in particular in the knotter lever (6).Knotter device (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the drive device (20) has at least one mechanical positive control (22) for the knotter unit (2) and / or the binder feeder (4).Method for knotting a binding agent arranged in a lacing plane (12) around a product to be tied with a knotter device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, comprising the steps of: - moving (S1) the knotter beak (3) from the release position (9) into the receiving position (8); - feeding (S2) the binding agent to the knotter beak (3) by the binding agent feeder (4); - receiving (S3) and knotting (S4) the binding agent by the knotter beak (3), preferably when the knotter beak (3) is arranged in the receiving position (8) and / or while the knotter beak (3) moves from the receiving position (8) into the release position (9); moving (S5) the knotter hub (3) from the receiving position (8) into the release position (9); and releasing (S6) the binding agent in the release position (9).Method according to claim 11, characterised in that the knotter label (3) opens, rotates and closes to receive the binding agent.Lacing machine for lacing a good, having a positioning device for positioning the good, having a wrapping device for guiding the binding agent around the good in the lacing plane (12) and having a knotter device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 10.

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