Packaging machine and method for achieving operational readiness

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging machine (100) for packaging goods with a packaging means (1), in particular a tying machine, comprising a wrapping device (2) for guiding the packaging means (1), such as a cord or thread, around the goods and a first fixing device (3) for holding a packaging means end (4) during a packaging operation, characterized in that a second fixing device (8) arranged in and / or on the packaging machine (100) is provided for fixing the packaging means end (4), preferably manually, wherein the packaging means (1) is arranged in the state of the packaging means end (4) fixed on the second fixing device (8) such that the packaging means (1) can be fed to the first fixing device (3) by the wrapping device (2) in a wrapping movement to make it ready for operation.Furthermore, a method for establishing operational readiness of a packaging machine (100) is specified.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a packaging machine for packaging goods with a packaging means, in particular a tying machine, comprising a wrapping device for guiding the packaging means, such as a cord or thread, around the goods and a first fixing device for holding one end of the packaging means during a packaging operation.

[0002] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for making such a packaging machine operational.

[0003] Packaging machines are used for the automated packaging of various goods with a packaging material. Such a packaging machine can be designed as a tying machine and include a wrapping device for guiding the packaging material, such as cord or thread, around the goods, as well as a knotting device for tying the packaging material. During the packaging process, the packaging material may tear, for example, due to an incorrect setting of process parameters. The packaging machine is then out of service.

[0004] To restore the operational readiness of a lashing machine after a cord break, it has become known to manually insert the broken cord end into a clamping head of the knotter mechanism. However, this is very time-consuming, as the knotter mechanism or clamping head is usually difficult to access and operate manually.

[0005] The present invention therefore aims to design and further develop a packaging machine of the type mentioned above in such a way that it enables a simple and quick restoration of operational readiness after a tear in the packaging material using structurally simple means. Furthermore, a corresponding method for restoring the operational readiness of a packaging machine is to be provided.

[0006] According to the invention, the foregoing problem is solved by a packaging machine having the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 10.

[0007] The packaging machine is characterized in that a second fixing device arranged in and / or on the packaging machine is provided for fixing the end of the packaging material, preferably manually, wherein the packaging material is arranged in the state of the packaging material end fixed on the second fixing device in such a way that the packaging material can be supplied to the first fixing device by the wrapping device in a wrapping movement to establish operational readiness.

[0008] The inventive method for restoring the operational readiness of such a packaging machine, particularly after a tear in the packaging material, comprises the following steps: - Securing, in particular manually securing, the end of the packaging material in the second securing device, and - Feeding the packaging material to the first fixing device by the wrapping device in a wrapping motion to make it ready for operation.

[0009] According to the invention, it has been found that by providing a second fixing device to which the packaging end can be easily secured, the time-consuming process of securing it to the first fixing device can be avoided. Following securing it to the first fixing device, the wrapping movement of the wrapping device is initiated. The packaging material is then automatically fed to the first fixing device, thus restoring the packaging machine to operational readiness. Therefore, operational readiness can be restored quickly and easily after a tear in the packaging material, minimizing the duration of production downtime.Furthermore, this allows for quick and easy operational readiness during the initial loading of the packaging machine with packaging material or after changing a packaging material supply container, for example a spool of thread.

[0010] The term "packaging operation" is to be understood in the broadest sense within the scope of this disclosure and encompasses at least some of the mechanisms of the packaging machine that can be implemented for packaging goods during normal operation. These mechanisms include the wrapping movement of the wrapping device to guide the packaging material around the goods and the holding or retrieval of the packaging material end by the first fixing device. The first fixing device serves, in particular, to hold the packaging material end during the wrapping movement so that packaging material can be drawn from a supply of packaging material by the wrapping device. Furthermore, the first fixing device can be configured to automatically release and retrieve the packaging material.Normal operation can be understood as the operation of the packaging machine with a properly positioned and intact packaging material. Such a packaging operation can also be performed as an idle run, that is, without packaging any goods. With regard to a lacing machine, the packaging operation can include a step of the knotting device, which is designed to knot the packaging material, wherein the end of the packaging material is held or received by a clamping head of the knotting device as the first fixing device.

[0011] The term "packaging material" is to be understood in the broadest sense within the scope of this disclosure and includes binding materials such as cords, threads, ropes, twines and yarns of any material composition, further includes strapping and banding materials such as plastic, paper, textile and metal bands, and includes flat packaging materials such as plastic and metal films, paper and textiles as roll goods.

[0012] The term "packaging end" is to be understood in the broadest sense within the context of this disclosure and refers to a section of the packaging material with a free end, for example, a section of cord with a broken end. The packaging end can, in particular, refer to the packaging material contained in the cord supply.

[0013] The packaging machine can be designed, in particular, as a tying machine for tying goods to a packaging material, preferably a binding agent. The first fixing device can be associated with a knotting device for knotting the packaging material.

[0014] Consequently, the packaging machine and the method according to the invention provide a packaging machine and a method which enables a simple and quick restoration of operational readiness after a tear in the packaging material using structurally simple means.

[0015] Advantageously, the wrapping motion can be integrated into a packaging operation. This allows for particularly simple implementation, since after the packaging material end is fixed at the first fixing device, a packaging operation can simply be initiated. During this packaging operation, the wrapping motion is then performed, and the packaging material is fed to the first fixing device to prepare it for operation. This also enables a particularly simple retrofit of the second fixing device on a packaging machine. It is conceivable that, within the framework of the inventive method, no product is packaged during the packaging operation. In other words, the packaging machine can thus perform an idle run, whereby the mechanisms of a packaging operation run as in normal operation, but no product is packaged.

[0016] In a further advantageous manner, a packaging material section encompassing the end of the packaging material, particularly when held by the first fixing device, can be detached by a cutting unit. This prevents goods packaged after being made ready for operation from having a long, free packaging material section. The detached packaging material section can then be easily removed manually.

[0017] It can be advantageous for the first fixing device and / or the knife unit to be part of a knotting unit. The packaging machine can be designed as a tying machine for tying goods to a packaging material, preferably a binding agent, using a knotting unit. The first fixing device can be designed as the clamping head of the knotting unit. By utilizing existing components of a knotting unit, a particularly simple design can be achieved. The second fixing device can then be easily retrofitted to the packaging machine.

[0018] To prevent the packaging material from becoming entangled in or on adjacent components of the packaging machine during the wrapping movement, it may be advantageous for the end of the packaging material to be secured by the second fixing device under a pre-tension of the packaging material.

[0019] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the second fixing device can be arranged on a positioning device of the packaging machine for positioning the goods, in particular on a side surface of the positioning device, or on a component of the wrapping device, or on a knotting device. The advantage of this is that the positioning device is particularly easily accessible to the user. The user typically stands directly at the positioning device during operation to place the goods to be packaged onto it. Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that the second fixing device is arranged on an outside of the packaging machine. This makes the second fixing device particularly accessible, which facilitates securing the end of the packaging material to it.

[0020] It can be advantageous for the second fixing device to have a base body with a slot, in which the packaging end can be secured. This allows for simple and quick securing of the packaging end to the second fixing device. The packaging end can be secured in the slot with one hand. It is conceivable that the slot has a tapered shape, so that the packaging end can be secured particularly securely. Furthermore, the base body can be formed in one piece from a sheet of metal with a bend, in particular where one end of the slot can lie on a line formed by a fold in the bend.

[0021] Advantageously, the second fixing device can be designed as a clamping device. A clamping device that exerts a clamping force on the packaging end makes it particularly easy to secure the packaging end. The clamping device can comprise two clamping elements between which the packaging end can be clamped. The clamping elements can be movable relative to each other, with one or both of these clamping elements being movable. The clamping force can be provided, for example, by the elastic deformability of at least one of the clamping elements or by means of a spring mechanism.

[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment, the second fixing device can be arranged outside the wrapping plane defined by the wrapping movement of the wrapping device. This ensures that a pre-tension of the packaging material is maintained continuously during the wrapping movement. Operational readiness can thus be established with particular reliability, as the packaging material cannot become entangled in or on adjacent components of the packaging machine during the wrapping movement. The wrapping plane can further be defined by the position of the packaging material on the product, whereby the packaging material is guided around the product during normal operation of the packaging machine.

[0023] In a further advantageous way, the procedure can include the following steps: - Separation of a packaging material section encompassing the packaging material end by a knife unit, and - Removal of the detached packaging material section.

[0024] This prevents goods packaged after being made ready for operation from having a long, loose section of packaging material. The detached section of packaging material can easily be removed manually.

[0025] Further advantages and aspects of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are explained below by way of example: In a packaging machine designed as a lacing machine, equipped with a knotter and a clamping head, the lacing process (i.e., the packaging operation) can be initiated. After a thread is secured at the second fixing device, the thread is automatically positioned correctly, clamped at the clamping head, and cut. The clamping head of the knotter acts as the first fixing device. The cut thread section can then be easily removed manually, and the lacing machine is ready for operation again.

[0026] There are now various ways to advantageously elaborate and further develop the teaching of the present invention. For this purpose, reference should be made, on the one hand, to the claims subordinate to claims 1 and 10, and on the other hand, to the following explanation of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawing. In conjunction with the explanation of the preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawing, generally preferred embodiments and further developments of the teaching are also explained. The drawing shows Fig. 1 in a schematic representation with a side view of a packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 in a schematic representation with a front view the packaging machine according to the embodiment in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 in a schematic representation a second fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention and Fig. 4 in a schematic representation steps of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] The Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic representation with different views of a packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] In this embodiment, the packaging machine 100 is designed as a tying machine for tying a product to a packaging material 1. The tying machine 100 comprises a wrapping device 2 for guiding the packaging material 1, such as a cord or thread, around the product and a first fixing device 3 for holding one end 4 of the packaging material during a packaging operation. Furthermore, the tying machine 1 includes a knotter device 5 with a clamping head 6 and a knife unit 7. The clamping head 6 constitutes the first fixing device 3.

[0029] The lacing machine 100 is provided with a second fixing device 8 for manually securing the packaging end 4, wherein the packaging end 4 is arranged in the state fixed at the second fixing device 8 such that the packaging end 4 can be fed to the first fixing device 3, i.e., the clamping head 6, by the wrapping device 2 in a wrapping motion to bring it into operational readiness. The wrapping motion is part of a packaging operation.

[0030] In this embodiment, the second fixing device 8 is designed as a clamping device and is arranged on a side surface of a positioning device of the tying machine 100 (not shown). The positioning device serves to position the material on a work surface. The second fixing device 8 is arranged outside a wrapping plane 9 defined by the wrapping movement of the wrapping device 2.

[0031] A packaging section 10 encompassing the packaging end 4 can be cut off by the knife unit 7 in the state held by the first fixing device 3 or the clamping head 6.

[0032] Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a second fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] The second fixing device 8 has a base body 11 with a slot 12, wherein the packaging end 4 can be fixed in the slot 12. The slot 12 itself is designed such that it has a taper. In other words, the slot 12 tapers from a slot opening 13. The base body 11 is formed in one piece from a metal sheet with a bend 14, wherein a slot end 15 lies on a line formed by a fold 16 of the bend 14.

[0034] Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of the steps of a method according to one embodiment of the present invention. The method can be used, for example, with the method described in the Fig. 1 and Fig. The process is carried out using the 2 lacing machine 100 shown and explained above.

[0035] The method according to the invention can be carried out, in particular, after a tear in the packaging material 1, to restore the operational readiness of the packaging machine 100. In a first step S1, the torn end 4 of the packaging material is manually secured in the second fixing device 8. The securing of the packaging material end 4 can be carried out under a pre-tension of the packaging material 1.

[0036] Then, in step S2, the packaging material end 4 is fed to the first fixing device 3 by the wrapping device 2 in a wrapping motion to prepare it for operation. This can be done, in particular, as part of a normal packaging operation. In a packaging machine 100 designed as a tying machine 100 with a knotter device 5, the packaging material end 4 is fed to the first fixing device 3 and held by it. Subsequently, the packaging material end 4 is cut off – step S3 – by means of a knife unit 7 of the knotter device 5. The cut-off packaging material section 10 can then be removed manually in step S4.

[0037] Regarding further advantageous embodiments of the packaging machine and the method according to the invention, reference is made to the general part of the description and to the attached claims to avoid repetition.

[0038] Finally, it should be expressly pointed out that the exemplary embodiments of the packaging machine and the method according to the invention described above serve only to discuss the claimed teaching, but do not limit it to the exemplary embodiments. Reference symbol list 1 Packaging material 2. Wrapping device 3 first fixing device 4 Packaging end 5 knotter device 6 clamping head 7 knife unit 8 second fixing device 9. Wrapping level 10 Packaging Materials Section 11 Basic shapes 12 slots 13 slot opening 14 bend 15 slot ends 16 fold 100 packaging machines, tying machines S1-S4 Steps of the procedure

Claims

[1] Packaging machine (100) for packaging goods with a packaging means (1), in particular a tying machine, comprising a wrapping device (2) for guiding the packaging means (1), such as a cord or thread, around the goods and a first fixing device (3) for holding a packaging means end (4) during a packaging operation, characterized by , that a second fixing device (8) arranged in and / or on the packaging machine (100) is provided for fixing the packaging end (4), preferably manually, wherein the packaging (1) is arranged in the state of the packaging end (4) fixed on the second fixing device (8) such that the packaging (1) can be supplied to the first fixing device (3) by the wrapping device (2) in a wrapping movement to make it ready for operation. [2] Packaging machine (100) according to claim 1, characterized by that the wrapping motion is part of a packaging operation. [3] Packaging machine (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that a packaging section (10) encompassing the packaging end (4), in particular in the state held by the first fixing device (3), can be separated by a knife unit (7). [4] Packaging machine (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the first fixing device (3) and / or the knife unit (7) are part of a knotting device (5). [5] Packaging machine (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the packaging end (4) can be fixed under a pre-tension of the packaging (1) by the second fixing device (8). [6] Packaging machine (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by, that the second fixing device (8) is arranged on a positioning device of the packaging machine (100) for positioning the goods, in particular on a side surface of the positioning device, or on a component of the wrapping device (2) or on a knotting device (5). [7] Packaging machine (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that the second fixing device (8) has a base body (11) with a slot (12), wherein the packaging end (4) can be fixed in the slot (12). [8] Packaging machine (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that the second fixing device (8) is designed as a clamping device. [9] Packaging machine (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that the second fixing device (8) is arranged outside a wrapping plane (9) described by the wrapping movement of the wrapping device (2). [10] Method for restoring the operational readiness of a packaging machine (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in particular after a tear in the packaging material (1), comprising the steps: - Securing (S1), in particular manually securing, the packaging end (4) in the second securing device (8), and - Feeding (S2) the packaging material (1) to the first fixing device (3) by the wrapping device (2) in a wrapping motion to make it ready for operation. [11] The method according to claim 10 comprising the further steps: - Separation (S3) of a packaging section (10) encompassing the packaging end (4) by a knife unit (7), and - Removal (S4) of the detached packaging material section (10).

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