Knotting apparatus and method for knotting a binding means, and tying machine
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2024836870
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-11-30
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-02
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-05
AI Technical Summary
Existing knotting devices experience significant loss of binding agent tension due to the need to position the knotter's beak at a distance from the package, leading to unreliable tying and increased material usage.
The knotting device features a movable knotting beak that can be positioned between a receiving position outside the tying plane and a release position, allowing for efficient feeding and release of the binding agent close to the material, thereby minimizing tension loss.
This design ensures reliable tying with minimal loss of binding agent tension, reducing the need for multiple recirculations and subsequently lowering material consumption.
Smart Images
Figure DE2024200148_05062025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] KNOTTING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR KNOTTING A BINDING AGENT AND TIE-UP MACHINE
[0002] The invention relates to a knotting device for knotting a binding agent arranged in a binding plane around a material to be tied, comprising a knotting unit with a knotting beak serving to handle the binding agent and a binding agent feeder, wherein the knotting beak can be opened and closed during knot formation.
[0003] The present invention also relates to a method for knotting a binding agent arranged in a binding plane around a product to be tied, using such a knotting device. Furthermore, the invention relates to a tying machine for tying a product, comprising a positioning device for positioning the product, a wrapping device for guiding the binding agent around the product in the binding plane, and such a knotting device.
[0004] Knotting devices of the type in question have been known in practice for years.
[0005] A device for knotting a cord wrapped around a package is previously known from DE 29 29 353 A1. The device comprises a knotting unit with a knotting jaw for knotting the cord. The knotting jaw can be moved into a tying plane, where the knotting jaw receives the cord and knots it. The cord is fed to the knotting jaw by a feeder. The formed knot is removed by moving the knotting jaw backward. Such a knotting unit can be arranged below a tabletop on which the package to be knotted is positioned.
[0006] A problem with the known devices is that the knotter's nose for receiving the binding material must be positioned in the tying plane in such a way that sufficient space is provided for other components, such as the feeder. Therefore, the knotter's nose must be arranged at a certain distance from the table top or the package, whereby the distance is determined by the dimensions of these components. Since the knotting and stripping of the binding material thus takes place at a comparatively large distance from the package, a considerable loss of binding material tension can occur, particularly when using rigid binding materials, such as binding materials without an elastic plastic component. This can result in insufficient binding material tension. As a result, the knotted binding material can easily slip off the package or be stripped off.To address this problem, the binding material is currently wrapped around the package several times and then knotted. However, this entails increased material usage.
[0007] The present invention is therefore based on the object of designing and developing a knotting device of the type mentioned above in such a way that reliable tying with the lowest possible loss of binding agent tension is ensured using simple construction. Furthermore, a corresponding method for knotting a binding agent and a corresponding tying machine for tying a product are to be specified.
[0008] According to the invention, the above object is achieved by a knotting 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 tying machine having the features of claim 13.
[0009] According to this, the knotting device is characterized in that the knotting nose is movable between a receiving position arranged outside the tying plane and a release position, wherein the binding agent to be knotted can be fed to the knotting nose in the receiving position by the binding agent feeder, and wherein the binding agent knotted with the knotting nose can be released in the release position. The method according to the invention for knotting a binding agent arranged in a tying plane around a product to be tied with such a knotting device comprises the steps:
[0010] Moving the knotter beak from the release position to the pick-up position;
[0011] Feeding the binding agent to the knotter’s beak through the binding agent feeder;
[0012] Picking up and knotting the binding agent by the knotter beak, preferably when the knotter beak is arranged in the picking position and / or while the knotter beak moves from the picking position to the release position;
[0013] Moving the knotter jaw from the pick-up position to the release position; and
[0014] Releasing the binder in the release position.
[0015] The tying machine according to the invention for tying a product comprises a positioning device for positioning the product, a wrapping device for guiding the binding means around the product in the tying plane and a knotting device according to the invention.
[0016] In accordance with the invention, it was first recognized that feeding the binding agent to be knotted to the knotter's beak in a receiving position arranged outside the tying plane provides greater flexibility in the arrangement of other components, in particular the binding agent feeder. The positioning of the knotter's beak in the release position is therefore independent of these components. The knotter's beak can be positioned such that the binding agent, in the release position, is positioned at a very short distance from the material to be tied. This significantly reduces the loss of binding agent tension, i.e. the binding agent tension remaining after knotting is significantly increased. Multiple recirculation of the material with the binding agent is not necessary, so the material consumption can be significantly reduced.The term "bounding plane" is to be understood in the broadest sense within the context of the present disclosure and refers to a plane defined by the position of the binding agent guided around the product. The binding agent is thus guided and knotted in a plane around the product.
[0017] According to the invention, the knotter's beak is first moved from the release position to the pick-up position. This movement can occur, for example, along a straight line and / or an arc segment, in particular a circular arc segment, and / or a spline curve. The knotter's beak can be guided accordingly for this purpose. The binding agent is fed to the knotter's beak by the binding agent feeder. This preferably occurs with the knotter's beak arranged in the pick-up position, wherein the pick-up position lies outside the tying plane. Two sections of the binding agent to be knotted are fed to the knotter's beak. The binding agent is then picked up by the knotter's beak and knotted. This can occur, in particular, at least partially while the knotter's beak is moving from the pick-up position to the release position. This can further reduce the loss of binding agent tension and shorten the knotting time.In the release position the binder is released.
[0018] At this point, it should be noted that the steps of the method according to the invention can at least partially take place in parallel.
[0019] In addition to the knotting device and the wrapping device, the tying machine according to the invention comprises a positioning device for positioning the product. Such a positioning device can, for example, comprise a slotted plate on which the product rests or against which the product rests laterally. The slot is arranged in the tying plane and allows the binding agent to be completely wrapped around the product. Furthermore, it is conceivable for the tying machine to have a knife for severing the binding agent after the product has been knotted.
[0020] The positioning device can be arranged, in particular, between the crop and the knotting device. The plate can be a tabletop, for example, with the knotting device arranged below the plate. It is also conceivable for the knotting device to be arranged above or to the side of the positioning device.
[0021] Consequently, the knotting device according to the invention, the method according to the invention and the tying machine according to the invention provide a knotting device, a method and a tying machine according to which reliable tying with the lowest possible loss of binder tension is ensured using structurally simple means.
[0022] Advantageously, the release position can be located in the binding plane. This allows the binding agent, in particular the knot, to be released as close as possible to the material to be tied, further reducing the loss of binding agent tension.
[0023] In a further advantageous manner, the binding agent picked up by the knotter's nose can be arranged at a smaller distance from a positioning plane of the material in the release position compared to the pick-up position. This can significantly increase the space for arranging other components, in particular the binding agent feeder in the pick-up position. The term "positioning plane" is to be understood in the broadest sense within the context of the present disclosure. This can refer to a plane that is arranged orthogonally to the tying plane and a connecting line, wherein the connecting line runs through a point on the material closest to the knotter's nose in the release position and the knotting position. Furthermore, the positioning plane can run through this closest point on the material.The distance between the positioning plane and the clamping jaw 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 the underside of a tabletop on which the item is positioned.
[0024] According to an advantageous development, the knotting unit can comprise a knotting lever, with the knotting nose being arranged in and / or on a tool-side end of the knotting lever. This allows for a particularly simple construction, and the knotting nose can also be easily replaceably attached to the knotting lever.
[0025] It is also conceivable for the knotter lever to be pivotally mounted around a pivot axis located at a bearing-side end of the knotter lever to move the knotter jaw between the pick-up position and the release position. One of the advantages achieved is the particularly simple construction. The knotter lever can, for example, be mounted on a rotating shaft.
[0026] The pivot axis can be arranged parallel to the tying plane, in particular in the tying plane. As a result of the pivoting movement of the knotter lever, the knotter jaw can be easily pivoted from the tying plane into the receiving position. The knotter jaw can be moved along a circular arc segment. This also makes it possible to ensure that the distance of the binding material picked up by the knotter jaw from the positioning plane is smaller in the release position than in the receiving position. It is also conceivable for the knotter lever to be arranged in the release position such that the knotter jaw and the bearing-side end of the knotter lever lie in the tying plane.
[0027] According to an advantageous development, the knotter jaw can be rotatable about a rotational axis during knot formation, wherein the rotational axis of the knotter jaw and the pivot axis of the knotter lever have a common intersection point and are preferably arranged orthogonally to one another. One of the advantages achieved in this way is that a simple and space-saving design of the knotting unit can be provided. The knotter jaw can be firmly connected to the knotter lever at the tool-side end, so that the knotter lever and the knotter jaw can rotate together about the rotational axis. Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the knotter jaw to be rotatably mounted in and / or on the tool-side end of the knotter lever, for example via one or more ball or roller bearings. The rotational axis 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 beak in each of the embodiments described in this disclosure can be opened and closed and can be rotated about a rotation axis.
[0028] Furthermore, it is conceivable to provide a drive device for driving the knotting unit and / or the binding agent feeder. The drive device comprises two intermeshing bevel gears arranged at the bearing-side end of the knotting lever for rotating the knotting jaw. One bevel gear is rotatable about the rotation axis and the other bevel gear is rotatable about the pivot axis. This allows for a particularly simple, reliable, and low-maintenance design. Furthermore, the rotation of the knotting jaw about the rotation axis can occur during the pivoting movement of the knotting lever between the release position and the pick-up position.
[0029] To prevent the rotation of the knotter's nose, it may be advantageous for the knotting device to have a locking pin, which can be moved into a locking position to prevent the rotation of the knotter's nose. The locking pin engages in a lateral recess in the knotter unit, particularly in the knotter lever.
[0030] In a further advantageous manner, the drive device can have at least one mechanical positive control for the knotting unit and / or the binding agent feeder. Such a mechanical positive control is particularly resistant to failure. The mechanical positive control can, in particular, control the movement and / or the opening and closing and / or the rotation of the knotting beak. Furthermore, the drive device can have a rotatable drive wheel, wherein the drive wheel comprises teeth at least partially on its circumference, by means of which the bevel gears can be driven directly or indirectly in a specific cycle, for example, with each rotation of the drive wheel. Alternatively, a separate, independent drive for rotating the knotting beak is conceivable.This enables time-independent knotting, in particular termination of knot formation, during the movement of the knotter beak, in particular during the pivoting movement of the knotter lever into the release position.
[0031] To pick up the binding material, the knotter's jaw can open, rotate, and close. Advantageously, the knotter's jaw opens after the two sections of binding material to be knotted have been fed to it by the binding material feeder in the pick-up position, and then rotates 360°. This causes the two sections to be knotted to wrap around the opened knotter's jaw. Shortly before the end of the rotation or after the rotation, the knotter's jaw can close, with the two sections to be knotted being clamped by the knotter's jaw. As a result of the knotter's jaw moving into the release position, the binding material is knotted and released in the release position.
[0032] 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 embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings. In conjunction with the explanation of the preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings, generally preferred embodiments and developments of the teaching are also explained. The drawings show:
[0033] Fig. 1 shows a schematic, sectional view with a first side view of a knotting device according to an embodiment of the present invention,
[0034] Fig. 2 in a further schematic, sectional representation with a first side view of the knotting device according to the embodiment in Fig. 1 ,
[0035] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation with a second side view of the knotting device according to the embodiment in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 shows a schematic, sectional representation with a spatial view of the knotting device according to the embodiment in Fig. 1,
[0036] Fig. 5 in a further schematic, sectional representation with a spatial view of the knotting device according to the embodiment in Fig. 1 and
[0037] Fig. 6 shows in a schematic representation steps of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0038] Fig. 1 shows a schematic, sectional representation with a first side view of a knotting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0039] Fig. 2 shows in a further schematic, sectional representation with a first side view the knotting device according to the embodiment in Fig. 1 .
[0040] The knotting device 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a knotting unit 2 with a knotting jaw 3 used for handling the binding agent and a binding agent feeder 4, wherein the knotting jaw 3 can be opened and closed during knot formation. Furthermore, the knotting jaw 3 can be rotated about a rotation axis 5 during knot formation. The binding agent is not shown.
[0041] The knotter unit 2 comprises a knotter lever 6, wherein the knotter nose 3 is arranged in and on a tool-side end 7 of the knotter lever 6. The knotter nose 3 is fixedly connected to the knotter lever 6 at the tool-side end 7, so that the knotter lever 6 and the knotter nose 3 are rotatable about the rotation axis 5. To move the knotter nose 3 between a receiving position 8 and a release position 9, the knotter lever 6 is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis 11 arranged on a bearing-side end 10 of the knotter lever 6. The pivot axis 11 is arranged in the tying plane 12. The rotation axis 5 of the knotter nose 3 and the pivot axis 11 of the knotter lever 6 have a common intersection point 13 and are arranged orthogonally to one another. In addition, the rotation axis 5 coincides with a longitudinal axis 14 of the knotting lever 6, along which the knotting lever 6 extends.
[0042] In Fig. 1, the knotter beak 3 is essentially arranged in the release position 9, wherein the release position 9 lies in the tying plane 12. It is conceivable that the knotter lever 6 pivots slightly further clockwise so that the knotted binding material is stripped off the knotter beak 3 in the tying plane 12. In Fig. 2, the knotter beak 3 is arranged in the receiving position 8. It can be seen that the binding material picked up by the knotter beak 3 is arranged at a smaller distance 15 from a positioning plane 16 of the material in the release position 9 compared to the receiving position 8. The positioning plane 16 is defined here by a table plate 17 on which the material to be knotted can be positioned.
[0043] The binding material to be knotted can be fed to the knotter's beak 3 in the receiving position 8 by the binding material feeder 4. In the release position 9, the binding material knotted with the knotter's beak 3 can be released.
[0044] To prevent the rotation of the knotter's nose 3, the knotting device 1 has a locking pin 18, which can be moved into a locking position. In the locking position, the locking pin 18 engages in a lateral recess 19 in the knotter lever 6. In both Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the locking pin 18 is arranged in the locking position.
[0045] The knotting device 1 also has a drive device 20 for driving the knotting unit 2 and the binding agent feeder 4, wherein the drive device 20 comprises two intermeshing bevel gears 21', 21" arranged on the bearing-side end 10 of the knotting lever 6 for rotating the knotting beak 3. One bevel gear 21' is rotatable about the rotation axis 5 and the other bevel gear 21" is rotatable about the pivot axis 11. Thus, the rotation of the knotting beak 3 about the rotation axis 5 can take place during the pivoting movement of the knotting lever 6 between the release position 9 and the receiving position 8.
[0046] Furthermore, the drive device 20 comprises at least one mechanical positive control 22 for the knotting unit 2 and the binding material feeder 4. The drive device 20 has a drive wheel 23 that can be rotated clockwise, wherein the drive wheel 23 partially comprises teeth 24 on its circumference. With the aid of the teeth 24, the bevel gears 21 21 " can be driven with each rotation of the drive wheel 23. This allows the rotation of the knotter beak 3 to be controlled. Furthermore, the drive wheel 23 comprises a raised portion 25 on its circumference, which can interact with a guide roller 26 of a blade unit 27 for severing the binding material after knotting. This controls a pivoting movement of the blade unit 27. The pivoting movement of the knotting unit 2 about the pivot axis 11 can also be controlled by the mechanical positive control 22.
[0047] Fig. 3 shows in a schematic representation with a second side view the knotting device according to the embodiment in Fig. 1 .
[0048] The binding plane 12 is arranged parallel to the viewing plane. The structural design of the drive device 20 is particularly evident in Fig. 3. The bevel gears 21', 21" are arranged at an angle of 90° to each other, with 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.
[0049] Also arranged on the shaft 28 is a gear 29, which interacts with the teeth 24 arranged circumferentially on the drive wheel 23 and thus drives the shaft 28. As a result of the resulting rotation of the shaft 28, the bevel gears 21', 21" are driven, and the knotter lever 6 and the knotter beak 3 rotate.
[0050] Fig. 4 shows a schematic, sectional illustration with a spatial view of the knotting device according to the embodiment in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 shows a further schematic, sectional illustration with a spatial view of the knotting device according to the embodiment in Fig. 1.
[0051] 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 casing body 30 and is rotatably mounted about the rotation axis 5 at two bearing points 31 31 " in the casing body 30. The locking pin 18 is also displaceably mounted on the casing body 30. The casing body 30 is not shown in Figures 1 to 3.
[0052] Fig. 6 shows in a schematic representation steps of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0053] In a first step S1, the knotter beak 3 is first moved from the release position 9 to the pick-up position 8. The binding agent is fed to the knotter beak 3 by the binding agent feeder 4 in step S2. This takes place with the knotter beak 3 arranged in the pick-up position 8, wherein the pick-up position 8 lies outside the tying plane 12. Two sections of the binding agent to be knotted are fed to the knotter beak 3. Subsequently, in steps S3 and S4, the binding agent is picked up and knotted by the knotter beak 3 by opening, rotating, and closing. In order to reduce the knotting time and the loss of binding agent tension, this can in particular be done at least partially while the knotter beak 3 moves from the pick-up position 8 to the release position 9 in step S5. Finally, in step S6, the binding agent is released in the release position 9.
[0054] With regard to further advantageous embodiments of the knotting device according to the invention, the method according to the invention and the tying machine according to the invention, reference is made to the general part of the description and to the appended claims in order to avoid repetition.
[0055] Finally, it should be expressly pointed out that the above-described embodiments of the knotting device according to the invention, the method according to the invention and the tying machine according to the invention serve only to explain the claimed teaching, but do not limit it to the embodiments.
[0056] List of reference symbols
[0057] 1 knotting device
[0058] 2 knotting unit
[0059] 3 Knotted Beak
[0060] 4 Bindern feeder
[0061] 5 Rotation axis
[0062] 6 knotter levers
[0063] 7 Tool-side end of the knotter lever
[0064] 8 Recording position
[0065] 9 Release position
[0066] 10 Bearing end of the knotter lever
[0067] 11 Swivel axis
[0068] 12 confinement level
[0069] 13 Intersection
[0070] 14 Longitudinal axis of the knotter lever
[0071] 15 distance
[0072] 16 Positioning level
[0073] 17 Table top
[0074] 18 locking bolts
[0075] 19 Deepening
[0076] 20 drive device ', 21" bevel gear
[0077] 22 Mechanical forced control
[0078] 23 Drive wheel
[0079] 24 teeth
[0080] 25 Survey
[0081] 26 Leadership role
[0082] 27 Knife unit
[0083] 28 Wave
[0084] 29 gear
[0085] 30 shell body ', 31" bearing point
Claims
Claims 1. A knotting device (1) for knotting a binding agent arranged in a binding plane (12) around a material to be tied, comprising a knotting unit (2) with a knotting beak (3) serving to handle the binding agent and a binding agent feeder (4), wherein the knotting beak (3) can be opened and closed during knot formation, characterized in that the knotting beak (3) can be moved between a receiving position (8) arranged outside the binding 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).
2. Knotting device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the release position (9) is arranged in the binding plane (12).
3. Knotting device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the binding agent picked up by the knotting beak (3) is arranged in the release position (9) at a smaller distance (15) from a positioning plane (16) of the material compared to the pick-up position (8).
4. Knotting device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the knotting unit (2) comprises a knotting lever (6), wherein the knotting beak (3) is arranged in and / or on a tool-side end (7) of the knotting lever (6).
5. Knotting device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the knotting lever (6) is pivotally mounted for moving the knotting beak (3) between the receiving position (8) and the release position (9) about a pivot axis (11) arranged at a bearing-side end (10) of the knotting lever (6).
6. Knotting device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the pivot axis (11) is arranged parallel to the binding plane (12), in particular in the binding plane (12).
7. Knotting device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the knotting beak (3) is rotatable about a rotation axis (5) during knot formation, wherein the rotation axis (5) of the knotting beak (3) and the pivot axis (11) of the knotting lever (6) have a common intersection point (13) and are preferably arranged orthogonally to one another.
8. Knotting device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that a drive device (20) is provided for driving the knotting unit (2) and / or the binding agent feeder (4), wherein the drive device (20) comprises two intermeshing bevel gears (21', 21") arranged on the bearing-side end (10) of the knotting lever (6) for rotating the knotting beak (3), wherein one bevel gear (21') is rotatable about the rotation axis (5) and the other bevel gear (21") is rotatable about the pivot axis (11).
9. Knotting device (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the knotting unit (2) has a locking pin (18), wherein the locking pin (18) is displaceable into a locking position for hindering the rotation of the knotting beak (3), wherein the locking pin (18) engages in a lateral recess (19) in the knotting unit (2), in particular in the knotting lever (6).
10. Knotting device (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the drive device (20) has at least one mechanical positive control (22) for the knotting unit (2) and / or the binding agent feeder (4).
11. A method for knotting a binding means arranged in a binding plane (12) around a material to be tied with a knotting device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, comprising the steps: Moving (S1) the knotter beak (3) from the release position (9) to the pick-up position (8); Feeding (S2) the binding agent to the knotter beak (3) through the binding agent feeder (4); Picking up (S3) and knotting (S4) the binding agent by the knotter beak (3), preferably when the knotter beak (3) is arranged in the pick-up position (8) and / or while the knotter beak (3) moved from the receiving position (8) to the release position (9); Moving (S5) the knotter beak (3) from the receiving position (8) to the release position (9); and Release (S6) of the binder in the release position (9).
12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the knotter beak (3) opens, rotates and closes to receive the binding agent.
13. Tying machine for tying a product, comprising a positioning device for positioning the product, a wrapping device for guiding the binding means around the product in the tying plane (12), and a knotting device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10.