Bundling machine

Abstract

A bundling machine for the production of cost-effective bundles, especially those folded in a fanfold pattern, makes it possible to produce jersey folded as required from tubular jersey without manual effort, which can be pulled onto a tricot machine to cover cuboid-shaped, flat upholstery bodies.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a bundling machine having the features of claim 1.

[0002] Foam seat cushions, pads, or mattresses, ranging from 3 to 25 cm in height and up to 200 x 220 cm in width / length, are often covered with a fine mesh of stretchable cotton or rayon fabric, known as tricot, which is pulled over the foam for protection. In the following, the term 'mattresses' includes cushions and pads.

[0003] EP 136 766 A1 discloses a device for holding a bundle of folded tricot, i.e., a bundle of tricot stockings, for covering a cuboid, flat padding body with tricot material. The device comprises a vertical stand with two stirrup-shaped arms, the mutual spacing of which is variable by means of a power cylinder. The device described in EP 136 766 A1 is intended to simplify the storage, transport, and use of a supply bundle of tricot stockings. EP 136 766 A1 does not contain any technical teachings for producing the supply bundle.

[0004] DE 20 2012 013 140 U1 discloses a supply bundle of a quantity of tubular, elastic tricot material. The supply bundle has a central axis, the quantity is arranged in a ring around the central axis, and the tricot material is folded in a zigzag pattern into several superimposed layers, with the individual layers being located at an increasingly greater distance from the central axis. The individual layers are therefore not staggered one behind the other in the direction of the central axis, but rather stacked transversely to the central axis. DE 20 2012 013 140 U1 does not provide a technical teaching for producing a supply bundle.

[0005] To date, ready-made stock bundles of folded jersey, as disclosed in DE 20 2012 013 140 U1, for example, have been sold in standard lengths. Jersey in the form of ready-made stock bundles is significantly more expensive than jersey in tubular form on a roll. If current demand for jersey differs from the available commercial length in the form of ready-made stock bundles or tubular form, waste is generated. If tubular jersey is used instead of ready-made stock bundles, the jersey must be hand-stretched on tricot machines, which is a laborious and costly process.

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide a bundling machine for producing folded tricot from tubular tricot, with which the disadvantages of the prior art can be overcome.

[0007] According to the invention, a bundling machine for producing folded jersey for jersey making machines from a jersey frame with a roll and a jersey tube rolled up thereon, comprising a frame with at least one central linear guide rail in an axial direction that approximately corresponds to the unwinding direction of the rolled-up jersey tube, at least one jersey guide frame rigidly arranged to the frame in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction with support brackets substantially parallel to the axial direction, mobile sheet metal arms with bundle support surfaces also in a radial direction to the at least one central linear guide rail, wherein the sheet metal arms with bundle support surfaces are radially offset relative to the at least one coaxial jersey guide frame with support brackets such that the sheet metal arms with bundle support surfaces can be guided collision-free past the at least one jersey guide frame with support brackets both in the radial and axial directions,A carriage movable in the axial direction on the at least one linear guide rail, which is connected to the bundle support surfaces via the sheet metal arms, a motor for driving the carriage along the at least one linear guide rail, a control device for a desired number of cycles for the carriage, and a drive in the radial direction for the bundle support surfaces. According to the invention, a bundling machine for producing cost-effective bundles, in particular those folded in a fanfold pattern, is disclosed. This makes it possible to produce tricot from tubular tricot folded as needed without manual effort, which can be mounted on a tricot machine for covering cuboid, flat upholstery bodies.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bundle support surfaces are provided with fixing elements and / or silicone for improved adhesion of the jersey tube to the bundle support surfaces, whereby the fixing elements fix the jersey to be folded in a phase-dependent manner. Fixing elements are assigned to each of the four bundle support surfaces.

[0009] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the sheet metal arms with the bundle support surfaces, in a radially extended state, protrude slightly beyond the jersey guide frame to increase tension on the jersey tube for unwinding from a roll of a jersey roll frame and conveying it over the support brackets of the jersey guide frame. The bundle support surfaces are arranged radially inside the support brackets of the jersey guide frame in a radially retracted state, so that the support brackets hold the jersey tube stretched over the support brackets radially inside the support brackets at their bracket sections facing the rear position when the bundle support surfaces are moved from a rear position to a front position. To protect the jersey material, the support brackets are curved.

[0010] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the radially outwardly directed support brackets are each coaxial with the at least one linear guide rail in a front section inclined by approximately 45° to a rear end of the at least one linear guide rail in order to better pull the jersey tube over the support brackets of the jersey guide frame. The respective radially outer sections of the support brackets of the jersey guide frame are directed essentially parallel to the rear end of the at least one linear guide rail for uniform tensions below the tensions applied to the jersey tube at the bundle support surfaces in the radially extended state.

[0011] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the motor is a three-phase motor.

[0012] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the drive of the carriage is a crank drive.

[0013] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the drive is provided with pneumatic cylinders in the radial direction.

[0014] The invention is illustrated below using a non-limiting embodiment. Shown are: Fig. 1 a side view of a bundling machine according to the invention and a roll with a jersey tube rolled up on it, Fig. 2 another side view of the bundling machine according to the invention according to Figur 1 in a first position, Fig. 3 yet another side view of the bundling machine according to the invention from the opposite side of Figur 2 in a second position, Fig. 4 a plan view in the axial direction of the bundling machine according to the invention in the second position, Fig. 5 yet another side view of the bundling machine according to the invention in a third position, Fig. 6 yet another side view of the bundling machine according to the invention in a fourth position, and Fig. 7 another plan view in the axial direction of the bundling machine according to the invention corresponding to the third or fourth position.

[0015] Symmetrical components that are shown multiple times in the drawings have not been numbered multiple times for reasons of clarity.

[0016] Fig. 1 , 2shows a bundling machine 1 for producing bundles of tricot for tricot machines (not shown). In front of the bundling machine 1, a tricot frame 2 with a roll 3 with rolled-up tricot tube 4 is shown. The tricot tube 4 is wound on a paper roll with an inner diameter of approximately 52 mm and supported by a steel tube on two bearing blocks of the tricot frame 2 provided with ball bearings. Tricot tube 4 is unwound a short distance from roll 3, so that a free end of tricot tube 4 is pulled over bundle support surfaces 6 and tricot guide frame 5 of bundling machine 1.

[0017] A carriage 8 of bundling machine 1 is slidably mounted on a central linear guide rail 10. A total of four bundle support surfaces 6 are arranged vertically on the ends of four sheet metal arms 7 of bundling machine 1, each radially offset by 90° and directed outward, which are attached to the carriage 8 coaxially to the linear guide rail 10. Fixing elements 14 for each of the four bundle support surfaces 6 are mounted on the carriage 8 on the side facing the rear end of the linear guide rail 10 with a three-phase motor 11. The three-phase motor 11 is controlled by a control unit with a display 13. The surfaces of the fixing elements 14 directed parallel to the linear guide rail 10 are radially outside the jersey guide frame 5.

[0018] The jersey guide frame 5, with four radially outward-facing support brackets 15, each offset by 90°, is rigidly mounted coaxially to the linear guide rail 10 at a front end of the linear guide rail 10 of the bundling machine 1, facing the jersey frame 2 with roller 3. The radially outward-facing support brackets 15 are each coaxially inclined to the linear guide rail 10 in a front section 16 by approximately 45° to the rear end of the linear guide rail 10, and in their respective radially outer sections 17 are directed parallel to the rear end of the linear guide rail 10.

[0019] The bundle support surfaces 6 have a length parallel to the linear guide rail 10 that corresponds at least to the width of the folds of the jersey to be folded in a fanfold. The length of the support brackets 15 with their respective radially outer sections 17 is greater than the length of the bundle support surfaces 6 parallel to the linear guide rail 10.

[0020] The carriage 8 with the bundle support surfaces 6 is mounted so as to slide in the axial direction on the linear guide rail 10 relative to the frame 9 of the bundling machine 1 and is driven via a crank drive 12 by the three-phase motor 11 mounted on the frame 9 of the bundling machine 1 at the rear end of the linear guide rail 10. Rotation of the three-phase motor 11 is converted by the crank drive 12 into linear movement for the carriage 8.

[0021] Fig. 3 , 4 : The radially directed bundle support surfaces 6 on the sheet metal arms 7 are each rotated by an angle of approximately 45° relative to the four support brackets of the jersey guide frame 5, which are each offset by 90°, so that the bundle support surfaces 6 on the four jersey guide frames 5 rigidly mounted on the frame 9 are rotated from a radially inner position ( Fig. 2 ) to a radially outer position ( Fig. 3 , 4) and can also be moved collision-free in the axial direction past the outward-facing support brackets 15, 17. The bundle support surfaces 6 on the sheet metal arms 7 are synchronously movable radially to the linear guide rail 10 against fixing elements 14 by pneumatic cylinders via connecting rods 18.

[0022] In the radially inner position, the bundle support surfaces 6 are radially closer to the linear guide rail 10 than the support brackets 15, 17 of the four jersey guide frames 5 rigidly mounted on the frame 9. In the radially outer position, the bundle support surfaces 6 are radially further spaced from the linear guide rail 10 than the respective radially outer sections of the support brackets 17 of the four jersey guide frames 5 rigidly mounted on the frame 9.

[0023] In a method for producing folded jersey from tubular jersey, the jersey tube 4 is pulled from the roll 3 onto the jersey guide frame 5 over the support brackets 15 and their outer sections 17 parallel to the linear guide rail 10 and thus also over the bundle support surfaces 6. When the jersey tube is pulled on, the bundle support surfaces 6 on the sheet metal arms 7 are synchronously pushed radially outwards to the linear guide rail 10 against the fixing elements 14 by pneumatically driven connecting rods 18 (see Fig. 4 ), so that the jersey tube 4 is fixed on the total of four bundle support surfaces 6 when the sheet metal arms 7 with the bundle support surfaces 6 are extended in the radial direction into their radially outer position. In the extended state, the bundle support surfaces 6 on the sheet metal arms 7 protrude slightly beyond the jersey guide frame 5 in the radial direction and thus tension the jersey tube 4 somewhat more than the jersey guide frame 5 with the support brackets 15. The bundle support surfaces 6 are coated with silicone or similar to ensure the adhesion of the jersey tube 4 to the bundle support surfaces 6.

[0024] The desired number of cycles for the carriage 8 can be set via display 13, and the three-phase motor 11 can be started as soon as the jersey tube 4 is properly secured along the entire length of the four bundle support surfaces 6. The carriage 8, with the jersey tube 4 secured, is moved on the radially outwardly extended bundle support surfaces 6 on the linear guide rails 10 by means of the crank drive 12 to its turning point at the rear end of the linear guide rail 10, and in doing so continues to pull the jersey tube 4 over the jersey guide frame 5.

[0025] Fig. 5: Having reached the rear turning point of crank mechanism 12, the bundle support surfaces 6 are retracted into their radially inner position via the connecting rods 18, and the jersey tube 4 is then tensioned more around the four outer sections 17 of the support brackets 15 of the jersey guide frame 5, each offset by 90°, and somewhat less around the total of four bundle support surfaces 6, on which a layer of jersey tube 4 continues to be firmly arranged over the length of the bundle support surfaces 6. The carriage 8 moves forward from the rear turning point and moves the bundle support surfaces 6 with the layer of jersey tube 4 tensioned thereon under the jersey guide frame 5 to the front turning point of crank mechanism 12.When the bundle support surfaces 6 with the jersey tube 4 move radially forward within the support brackets 15 of the jersey guide frame 5, the jersey tube 4 remains hanging on the outer sections 17 of the support brackets 15 and until the bundle support surfaces 6 have reached the front turning point, a further layer of the bundle to be folded in a Leporello fold extends from the rear edges of the outer sections 17 of the support brackets 15 to the front ends of the bundle support surfaces 6.

[0026] Having reached the front turning point, the connecting rods 18 move the bundle support surfaces 6 radially outwards again over the jersey guide frame 5 and again tension the jersey tube 4 more tightly on the bundle support surfaces 6 than on the jersey guide frame 5. In addition, the fixing elements 14 hold the two layers of the jersey tube 4 folded during a working stroke on each of the four bundle support surfaces 6. The distance between the rear and front turning point determines the width of the layers deposited on the jersey guide frame 5 and bundle support surfaces 6. In particular, the distance between the rear and front turning point is equal to twice the width of the layers deposited on the jersey guide frame 5.

[0027] From the front turning point, the carriage 8 moves backwards again as often as necessary and, with the radially extended bundle support surfaces 6, pulls further jersey tube 4 over the jersey guide frame 5 with the four support brackets 15, 17, each offset by 90°, and the bundle support surfaces 6, in order to radially retract the bundle support surfaces 6 again at the rear turning point with a further layer of jersey tube 4 placed over the layers already placed, then move forwards again under the support surfaces 15, 17 of the jersey guide frame 5 in order to deposit a further layer of jersey tube 4 onto the bundle support surfaces 6. This cycle is repeated until the bundle deposited on the bundle support surfaces 6 has reached the number of layers of jersey tube 4 set on the display.

[0028] Once the desired number of layers has been reached, the bundling machine 1 moves the carriage 8 with the radially retracted bundle support surfaces 6 to the front turning point. A signal light (not shown) indicates that the bundle is fully folded and can be removed from the bundling machine 1 after being separated from the tricot tube 4, e.g., with scissors (not shown). The free end of the tricot tube 4 is folded over the bundle and a lock (not shown) of the tricot guide frame 5 is released. The tricot bundle now only lies on the four bundle support surfaces 6 of the carriage 8. Released fixing elements on the bundle support surfaces 6 allow the finished bundle to be removed from the bundle support surfaces 6, for example, for direct use on a tricot machine or for storage. The bundle can be pulled directly onto a filling machine, which moves foam cores into a cover, tricot or bag, or onto a tricot machine.

Claims

1. Bundling machine (1) for producing bundles of jersey, which is supplied as a jersey tube (4), said bundling machine (1) comprising: - a frame (9) with at least one linear guide rail (10) in an axial direction, - a jersey guide frame (5) rigidly arranged on the at least one linear guide rail (10) with support brackets (15, 17) in the radial and axial direction to the at least one linear guide rail (10), - sheet metal arms (7) with bundle support surfaces (6) mobile in the radial direction, wherein the sheet metal arms (7) with bundle support surfaces (6) are rotated relative to the jersey guide frame (5) with support brackets (15, 17) such that the sheet metal arms (7) with bundle support surfaces (6) can be guided collision-free past the jersey guide frame (5) with support brackets (15, 17), - a carriage (8) movable in the axial direction on the at least one linear guide rail (10), which carriage is movable via the mobile Sheet metal arms (7) are connected to the bundle support surfaces (6),- a motor (11) for driving the carriage (8) along the at least one linear guide rail (10) and a control device for a desired number of cycles for the carriage (8), and - a drive in the radial direction for the bundle support surfaces (5)., 2. Bundling machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the bundle support surfaces (6) are provided with fixing elements (14) and / or with silicone.

3. Bundling machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bundle support surfaces (6) project radially slightly beyond the jersey guide frame (5) in a radially extended state and are arranged radially within the jersey guide frame (5) in a radially retracted state.

4. Bundling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe radially outwardly directed support brackets (15) are each coaxial with the at least one linear guide rail (10) in a front section (16) inclined by approximately 45° to a rear end of the at least one linear guide rail (10) and in their respective radially outer sections (17) are directed parallel to the rear end of the at least one linear guide rail (10).

5. Bundling machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the motor (11) is a three-phase motor.

6. Bundling machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive of the carriage (8) is a crank drive (12).

7. Bundling machine (1) according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the drive in the radial direction for the bundle support surfaces (6) is provided with pneumatic cylinders.

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