Multi-belt packaging method using moving beam conveyor belts

Abstract

A multi-strap packaging method using a moving beam conveyor belt is implemented using a controlled multi-strap packaging device, which includes a moving beam conveyor belt and a strapping wrapping machine. The steps are as follows: a heavy object is conveyed to the input station of the moving beam conveyor belt; the moving beam conveyor belt is controlled to move the heavy object to the work station in a step-by-step inter-station manner; the strapping machine performs the first strapping wrapping on the heavy object; the moving beam conveyor belt moves the heavy object at least once in the work station, and the strapping machine continues to perform strapping wrapping on the heavy object again; afterward, the moving beam conveyor belt conveys the strapped heavy object from the work station to the output station in a step-by-step inter-station manner, thereby making the multi-strap operation of heavy objects more efficient.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to the field of object strapping packaging technology, and more particularly to a multi-strap packaging method using a moving beam conveyor belt. [Previous Technology]

[0002] Currently, most methods for strapping and packaging heavy objects such as steel coils utilize strapping and packaging equipment with a moving beam conveyor belt due to the weight of the objects. Existing moving beam conveyor belts use a lifting mechanism and a moving mechanism to move objects in batches in steps. The lifting mechanism raises the entire moving beam (along with the object it carries), and then the moving mechanism drives the entire moving beam forward a certain distance. The lifting mechanism then lowers the moving beam, leaving the object in its original position, and the moving beam returns to its starting position, completing one cycle. By repeating the aforementioned actions, several objects can be moved a fixed distance in steps in batches and at once.

[0003] The multi-strap packaging method currently used in moving beam conveyor belts is shown in Figures 4A to 4E. It sets input station 401 and output station 405 at both ends of the moving path of the moving beam conveyor belt 40 for transporting heavy objects. Strapping machines 50 are set at several work stations 402, 403, and 404 between input station 401 and output station 405. The number of work stations 402, 403, and 404 is determined according to the number of straps to be wrapped around the heavy object 50. For example, heavy objects such as steel coils need to be wrapped with three straps at intervals, that is, three work stations 402, 403, and 404 need to be set in the moving path. The distance L between two adjacent work stations 402, 403, and 404 is equal. A strapping machine 50 is set at each work station 402, 403, and 404. Some strapping machines 50 are offset from the center position according to the spacing of the straps.

[0004] Accordingly, after the day's vehicles and other transport equipment move heavy objects 50 people to the input station 401 of the moving beam conveyor belt 40, each time the controlled moving beam conveyor belt 40 performs a cycle, it will move the moving beam 41 and the heavy objects 50 it carries a certain distance along the conveying direction to the first work station 402. Then, after the first strapping machine 50 set up in the first work station 402 finishes the wrapping and packaging operation of the first strap, the cycle of the moving beam conveyor belt 40 will continue to move the heavy objects 50 to the first work station 402. The object 50 is moved to the second work station 403, where the second strapping machine 50, which is offset from the second work station 403, performs the second strapping wrapping step on another position of the heavy object 50. Similarly, the third strapping wrapping step is performed at the third work station 404. After all the steps are completed, the heavy object 50 is moved to the output station area 405, where a transport vehicle or other conveyor takes away the heavy object 50 that has been wrapped with multiple straps, thus completing the multi-strap wrapping operation of the heavy object.

[0005] In the aforementioned heavy object strapping and packaging technology, although a moving beam conveyor belt is used to transport heavy objects in a step-by-step manner to perform strapping and packaging operations, since the existing moving beam conveyor belt moves a fixed distance in each cycle, only a single strapping is performed on the heavy object at each work station. For heavy objects such as steel coils, where multiple straps are required for secure strapping, the existing heavy object strapping and packaging method requires moving the heavy object to different work stations before and after, where strapping machines with offset settings at different work stations perform the work, so that the multiple straps on the heavy object are arranged at intervals. Since the interval distance of each work station is matched with the distance of each step cycle of the moving beam conveyor belt, only a single strapping can be provided at each work station. Therefore, the time to complete multiple strapping operations for each heavy object is relatively long, resulting in poor work efficiency. [Summary of the Invention]

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a multi-strap packaging equipment and method using a moving beam conveyor belt, which solves the technical problem that in the current strapping packaging technology, the moving beam conveyor belt moves a fixed distance in each cycle, and can only perform single strapping packaging at each work station. Therefore, when heavy objects are fixed with multiple straps, there is poor work efficiency.

[0007] To achieve the aforementioned objective, the present invention proposes a multi-strap packaging method using a moving beam conveyor belt. This method involves using a multi-strap packaging device to perform a packaging operation on heavy objects using multiple straps arranged at intervals. The multi-strap packaging device includes a moving beam conveyor belt and a strapping machine. The moving beam conveyor belt is controllable to generate multiple step-like inter-station movements in a movement path between an input station and an output station, and to generate at least one strap spacing step movement in a work station area between two of the stations. The distance of the spacing step movement corresponds to the distance between two straps and is less than the distance of the inter-station movement. A strapping machine is provided at the work station area. The multi-strap packaging method includes the following steps: conveying a heavy object to be strapped to the input station area of ​​the moving beam conveyor belt; The moving beam conveyor belt moves heavy objects from the input station to the work station in a step-by-step manner, and the strapping machine in the work station performs the first strapping and wrapping of the heavy objects; the moving beam conveyor belt moves the heavy objects at least once in the work station, and the strapping machine continues to wrap and wrap the heavy objects again at different positions; the moving beam conveyor belt moves the strapped and wrapped heavy objects from the work station to the output station in a step-by-step manner; and the heavy objects with multiple straps wrapped are removed from the output station.

[0008] The aforementioned multi-strap packaging method using a moving beam conveyor belt mainly utilizes the controllable long-distance step-like station interval movement of the moving beam conveyor belt to move heavy objects between the input station area and the work station area, as well as between the work station area and the output station area. It can also control the movement of the strap spacing of the heavy objects in the work station area in a small step-like strap spacing step mode. Combined with the strapping machine configured in the work station area to wrap and fix the heavy objects with straps, the heavy objects can be packaged with multiple straps in the same work station area. This reduces the number of strapping machines and shortens the movement distance of the objects when performing multi-strap packaging, thereby effectively reducing the operation time of multi-strap wrapping and packaging and improving operation efficiency.

[0009] The present invention utilizes a multi-strap packaging method with a moving beam conveyor belt. Furthermore, a position sensor is installed at each predetermined stop position of the heavy object configured in the moving path. The combination of the position sensor and the control device can accurately control the moving position of the heavy object, thereby accurately controlling the position and spacing of the straps wrapped around the heavy object.

[0010] The present invention utilizes a multi-strap packaging method for a moving beam conveyor belt. A distance sensor is installed at the position where the moving beam of the moving beam is lifted and moved a predetermined distance, and a lifting sensor is installed at the position where the moving beam is lowered. The distance sensor and the lifting sensor are used in conjunction with the time-delay program built into a control device of the moving conveyor belt to precisely control the position of the moving beam carrying heavy objects and accurately control the position and spacing of the straps wrapped around the heavy objects, and can reduce the number of sensors.

Implementation Method

[0011] As shown in Figure 1A, the multi-strap packaging method of the present invention using a moving beam conveyor belt is performed using a multi-strap packaging device, which is used to bind multiple straps at intervals to a heavy object 20. The multi-strap packaging device includes a moving beam conveyor belt 10 and a strapping machine 30, both of which are controlled by a control device.

[0012] As described above, the moving beam conveyor belt 10 is planned to have an object movement path. The two opposite ends of the object movement path are an input station area 101A and an output station area 103A, respectively. A work station area 102A is set between the input station area 101A and the output station area 103A. The work station area 102A is equipped with a strapping machine 30. The work station area 102A is planned to have a plurality of strapping stations 1021, 1022, and 1023. The distance between two adjacent strapping stations 1021, 1022, and 1023 is a strapping spacing step S. The distance of the strapping spacing step S corresponds to the distance between two straps and is less than the distance P between two adjacent stations 101A, 102A, and 103A. In addition, as shown in Figures 2A and 3A, an additional station area can be added between the input station area 101A and the output station area 103A as a buffer station area along the object's movement path.

[0013] As described above, the moving beam conveyor belt 10 can be controlled to generate long-distance step-like station interval movement and small-step type strap spacing stride S movement along the movement path. Basically, the moving beam conveyor belt 10 includes a lifting mechanism and a moving mechanism that can drive the lifting mechanism forward and backward. The lifting mechanism includes a moving beam 11 that can be lifted and lowered, and the moving beam 11 carries and conveys heavy objects 20. The strapping machine 30 can be controlled to perform strapping winding operations. The moving beam conveyor belt 10 and the strapping machine 30 can be selected from existing products, and their specific composition and structure will not be described in detail here.

[0014] To enable the moving beam conveyor belt 10 to move precisely and controllably between stations along its growth distance and with small, incremental strides, a position sensor is installed at each station along the object movement path of the moving beam conveyor belt 10. These position sensors are electrically connected to the control device. The position detection by the position sensors, combined with the control device's control of the moving beam conveyor belt 10, allows it to precisely carry heavy objects 20 to a predetermined position. Alternatively, sensors can be installed at specific locations in conjunction with the control device to perform precise position control.

[0015] The multi-strap packaging method includes the following steps: conveying a heavy object to be strapped to the input station of the moving beam conveyor belt; the moving beam conveyor belt moving the heavy object from the input station to the work station in a step-by-step station-interval movement manner, and the strapping machine in the work station performing the first strapping wrapping of the heavy object; the moving beam conveyor belt driving the heavy object at least once in the work station, and the strapping machine continuing to strap and wrap the heavy object again at different positions; the moving beam conveyor belt conveying the strapped heavy object 20 from the work station to the output station in a step-by-step station-interval movement manner; and the step of removing the multi-strap packaged heavy object from the output station.

[0016] Based on the aforementioned inventive concept of the multi-strapped packaging method, the following further illustrates the multi-strapped packaging method of the present invention with several specific embodiments, wherein:

[0017] As shown in Figure 1, the first embodiment utilizes a multi-strap packaging device with a moving beam conveyor belt to transport heavy objects 20 (e.g., steel coils) and wrap them with three packaging straps. The distance between any two adjacent straps is S (i.e., strap spacing stride). Three stations are arranged sequentially in the object's movement path (from left to right in the diagram). The first station 101A is the input station, the third station 103A is the output station, and the second station 102A is the work station where the strapping machine 30 is located. The second station 102A (work station) has three strapping stations 1021, 1022, and 1023. The second strapping station 1022 is located at the center point of the second station 102A (work station) (i.e., the second strapping station). Station 1022), the distance from the center point of the first station area 101A (input station area) to the center point of the second station area 102A (work station area) is P, the distance from the output station area to the work station area (midpoint distance) is P, the distance between every two adjacent strapping stations 1021, 1022, 1023 corresponds to the distance S between two adjacent strappings. Under the condition that P is greater than S, the distance from the first station area 101A (input station area) to the first strapping station 1021 is (PS), and the distance from the third station area 103A (output station area) to the third strapping station 1023 is also (PS). In the first embodiment, the moving beam 11 of the controlled moving beam conveyor belt 10 carries the heavy object 20 and performs small step movements of step-by-step movement between stations (PS) and the step distance between two strapping intervals (S). The execution steps are as follows:

[0018] A heavy object 20 is transported to the first station area 101A (input station area) by means of an overhead crane or other handling equipment, wherein the heavy object 20 is placed in the first station area 101A (input station area).

[0019] After being lifted by the controlled moving beam conveyor belt 10, the heavy object 20 is moved (PS) a distance in a station-to-station movement manner, so that the heavy object 20 is moved and transported from the first station area 101A (input station area) to the first binding station 1021 of the second station area 102A (work station area) equipped with a binding machine 30. After the heavy object 20 is put down, the binding machine 30 performs the first binding action on the heavy object 20 located at the first binding station 1021.

[0020] Next, within the same second station area 102A (work station area), the heavy object 20 is moved by the moving beam conveyor belt 10 in two small-step movements with a strap spacing of S. After each strap spacing of S moves the heavy object 20, the strapping machine 30 performs a second and third strapping action on the heavy object 20 that has been moved to the second strapping station 1022 and the third strapping station 1023. In this way, three straps with a spacing of S can be wrapped around the heavy object 20. At this time, the heavy object 20 has been moved a total distance of P+S. That is, after completing the three straps, the center point of the heavy object 20 is shifted in the direction to the position of the center point of the second station area 102A (work station area) + S distance (i.e., the third strapping station).

[0021] While the heavy object 20 is being moved to the second strapping station 1022 for the second strapping packaging, a new heavy object 20 can be input into the first station area 101A (input station area). Thus, the heavy object 20, which has been lifted by the moving beam conveyor belt 10 and completed with three strapping packaging, is moved from the third strapping station 1023 to the third station area 103A (output station area) by a step-by-step inter-station movement (PS) distance, and is then moved to the first station area 101A (output station area). The heavy object 20, after being wrapped with three straps, is moved out by a transport vehicle. Simultaneously, a new heavy object 20, originally located in the input station area 101A, is also transported to the first strapping station 1021 in the work station area 102A using a step-by-step (PS) movement distance, to continue the strapping operation for the new heavy object. Thus, by controlling the moving beam of the moving beam conveyor belt 10 to carry the heavy object 20 through small, incremental movements of the step-by-step (PS) movement distance and the stride distance (S) between two strapping intervals, the multi-strap wrapping operation of the heavy object 20 can be continuously and automatically performed.

[0022] As shown in Figures 2A to 2H, in the second embodiment, a multi-strap packaging device with a moving beam conveyor belt 10 is used to transport heavy objects 20 and wraps three packaging straps. When the distance between two adjacent straps is S, in order to increase work efficiency by transporting multiple heavy objects 20 at one time, in the second embodiment, five stations are set in a forward sequence (from left to right in the figure) in the object movement path of the moving beam conveyor belt 10. The first station 101B is the input station, the fifth station 105B is the output station, the third station 103B is the work station with the strapping machine 30, the second station 102B is the first buffer station and also serves as the input station, and the fourth station 104B is the second buffer station and also serves as the output station.

[0023] As described above, the distance between any two adjacent station areas is P. Three strapping stations 1031, 1032, and 1033 are set in the third station area 103B (work station area). The second strapping station 1032 is located at the midpoint of the third station area 103B (work station area). The distance between any two adjacent strapping stations 1031, 1032, and 1033 corresponds to the distance S between two adjacent straps. Under the condition that P is greater than S, the second embodiment controls the moving beam 11 of the moving beam conveyor belt 10 to carry the heavy object 20 and perform small-step movement in the first stage with a step-by-step movement distance (PS) and a two-strap spacing step distance (S), and in the second stage with a step-by-step movement distance (P-2S) and a two-strap spacing step distance (S). The specific implementation steps are as follows:

[0024] Initially, two heavy objects 20 (e.g., steel coils) are placed in the first station area 101B (input station area) and the second station area 102B (first buffer station area) of the moving beam conveyor belt 10, respectively.

[0025] The entire moving beam 11 and several heavy objects 20 on it are lifted by the controlled moving beam conveyor belt 10 and moved a distance of step-by-step (PS) between stations, so that the first heavy object 20 located in the second station 102B (first buffer station) is moved to the first binding station 1031 in the third station 103B (work station), and the binding machine 30 located in the third station 103B (work station) performs the first binding on the first heavy object 20 at the position of the third station 103B. In addition, the second heavy object 20 located in the first station 101B (input station) is simultaneously moved to the second station 102B (first buffer station).

[0026] Next, within the same third station area 103B (work station area), the heavy object 20 is moved twice by the moving beam conveyor belt 10 using small step-by-step strapping distances of S. After each step-by-step movement of the heavy object 20, the strapping machine 30 located in the third station area 103B (work station area) performs a second and third strapping action on the first heavy object 30 that has been successively transported to the second strapping station 1032 and the third strapping station 1033. In this way, three straps with a spacing of S can be wrapped around the first heavy object 20. At this time, the heavy object 20 has been moved a total distance of (P+S), which is the position where the center point of the heavy object 20 located in the third station area 103B (work station area) is shifted forward to the position of the center point of the third station area 103B (work station area) (second strapping station 1032) + S. The state of other stations is the same.

[0027] Next, the controlled moving beam conveyor belt 10 lifts the entire moving beam 11 and the heavy objects 20 on it by moving a distance of step station interval (P-2S), so that the first heavy object 20, which was originally located at the third strap station 1033 in the third station area 103B (work station area), is moved to the fourth station area 104B (second buffer station area), and the second heavy object 20, which was originally located at the second station area 102B (first buffer station area), is moved to the first strap station 1031 in the third station area 103B (work station area). At this time, the center point of the second heavy object 20 located in the third station area (work station area 103B) is reversed to a position -S distance from the center point of the third station area 103B (work station area) (second strap station 1032).

[0028] Continuing within the same third station area 103B (work station area), the heavy object 20 is moved twice by the moving beam conveyor belt 10 with a small step distance of S. After each small step of the heavy object 20 is moved with a strap spacing of S, the strapping machine 30 performs a second and a third strapping action on the second heavy object 20 that has been moved to the second strapping station 1032 and the third strapping station 1033. In this way, three straps with a spacing of S can be wrapped around the second heavy object 20. That is, the heavy object 20 located at the third strapping station 1033 of the third station area 103B (work station area) is shifted forward to the center point of the third station area 103B (work station area) (i.e., the second strapping station 1032) at a distance (+S). The heavy objects 20 in other stations are also shifted forward at a distance (+S).

[0029] As described above, when the moving beam conveyor belt 10 moves the second heavy object 20 to the second binding station 1032 of the third station area 103B (work station area) by the first binding spacing step distance S, the two new heavy objects 20 are moved to the first station area 101B (input station area) and the second station area 102B (first buffer station area) respectively by the overhead crane and other handling equipment. On the other hand, the two heavy objects 20 that have been transported to the fifth station area 105B (output station area) and the fourth station 104B (second buffer station area) and completed binding and packaging are removed by another handling equipment.

[0030] By using the moving beam 11 of the aforementioned control beam conveyor belt 10 to carry heavy objects 20, the first stage of step-by-step movement between stations (PS) and the step distance between two straps (S) is performed in small steps, and the second stage of step-by-step movement between stations (P-2S) and the step distance between two straps (S) is performed in small steps, the strapping and packaging operations of other heavy objects 20 can be automatically and continuously performed.

[0031] In order to further achieve the purpose of automated and precise control, the moving beam conveyor belt used in this invention may be further equipped with sensors with electrical connection control devices at each station area and strapping station, etc., to confirm whether the moving beam of the moving beam conveyor belt carrying heavy objects has indeed reached the designated position.

[0032] Furthermore, if the strap spacing step distance S of the moving beam conveyor belt is short, that is, when the strap spacing on heavy objects is short, in order to avoid interference between the sensor positions configured at each corresponding strap station, in an embodiment of the present invention, a distance sensor is installed at the position of the moving beam's lifting movement distance (P-2S) of the moving beam of the moving beam conveyor belt, and a lifting sensor is installed at the position where the moving beam is lowered. The distance sensor is used in conjunction with the time-delay program built into the control device to confirm the position of the moving beam, thereby reducing the number of sensors configured on the moving beam conveyor belt. The time-delay control program is prior art, and its specific technical content will not be described in detail here.

[0033] As described above, the time T for the moving beam's stride distance S is measured and set beforehand. When the moving beam conveyor belt moves a distance (PS) between step stations, the distance sensor installed at position (P-2S) is triggered, and the time switch program in the control device is started and timed. After time T has elapsed, it is known that the moving beam has reached position (PS), and the moving beam is controlled to be lowered until the lifting sensor is triggered to stop the moving beam. In this way, only one distance sensor is needed, and the same number of time switches (TimeDelay) are added according to the number of small steps to achieve the function of controlling the movement of the moving beam between step stations and the stride distance of the small steps. Similarly, when the moving beam conveyor belt controls the stride distance S of the moving beam's small steps, after the moving beam conveyor belt disengages from the lifting sensor, time T represents the distance (S) that has been moved. Therefore, this moving beam conveyor belt can be precisely controlled to perform position control such as long-distance step-by-step movement between stations and small-step movement of strap spacing and stride, and to complete automated multi-strap packaging operations.

[0034] Based on the inventive concept of the second embodiment execution mode shown in FIG2, the present invention can be further extended to the third embodiment shown in FIG3. As shown in FIG3A to FIG3K, five stations are arranged sequentially in the forward direction (from left to right in the diagram) in the object movement path of the moving beam conveyor belt 10. With the first station 101C as the input station and the fifth station 105C as the output station, the work station with the strapping machine is changed to the fourth station 104C. The second station 102C and the third station 103C are respectively the first... The buffer station area and the second buffer station area also serve as the input station area. The distance between any two adjacent station areas is P. Three strapping stations 1041, 1042, and 1043 are set in the fourth station area 104C (work station area). The second strapping station 1042 is located at the midpoint of the fourth station area 104C (work station area). The distance between any two adjacent strapping stations 1041, 1042, and 1043 corresponds to the distance S between two adjacent straps. When P is greater than S, the execution method is roughly similar to that of the second embodiment, and the execution steps are deduced by analogy.

[0035] The difference between the third embodiment and the second embodiment is that in the third embodiment, a heavy object 20 is placed in the center of each of the first station area 101C to the third station area 103C. The moving beam 11 of the moving beam conveyor belt 10 is controlled to carry the heavy object 20 to perform small step movements in the first stage, which is a step-by-step movement distance (PS) and a step distance (S) between two straps. In the second stage, small step movements are performed in the second stage, which is a step-by-step movement distance (P-2S) and a step distance (S) between two straps. In the third stage, small step movements are performed in the third stage, which is a step-by-step movement distance (P-2S) and a step distance (S) between two straps. This cycle is repeated. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0036] Figures 1A to 1E are schematic flowcharts of a first embodiment of the multi-strap packaging device of the present invention. Figures 2A to 2H are schematic flowcharts of a second embodiment of the multi-strap packaging method of the present invention. Figures 3A to 3K are schematic flowcharts of a third embodiment of the multi-strap packaging method of the present invention. Figures 4A to 4E are schematic flowcharts of conventional multi-strap packaging methods.

Claims

1. A multi-strap packaging method using a moving beam conveyor belt, comprising a multi-strap packaging device including a moving beam conveyor belt and a strapping machine, wherein the moving beam conveyor belt is controllable to generate multiple step-by-step inter-station movements in an object movement path between an input station and an output station, and to generate at least one strap spacing step movement in a work station area between two of the stations, wherein the distance of the spacing step movement corresponds to the distance between two straps and is less than the distance of the inter-station movement, and the strapping machine is provided at the work station area; the multi-strap packaging method includes the following steps: conveying a heavy object to be strapped to the input station area of ​​the moving beam conveyor belt; the moving beam conveyor belt moving the heavy object from the input station area to the work station area in a step-by-step inter-station movement manner, and the strapping machine at the work station area performing the first strap wrapping packaging of the heavy object; The moving beam conveyor belt moves the heavy object at least once at the work station area, and the strapping machine continues to strap and wrap the heavy object again at different positions; the moving beam conveyor belt transports the strapped heavy object from the work station area to the output station area in a step-by-step inter-station movement manner; and the moving beam conveyor belt removes the heavy object with multiple straps from the output station area.

2. The multi-belt packaging method using a moving beam conveyor belt as described in claim 1, wherein, It utilizes a distance sensor installed at the position where the moving beam of the moving beam is lifted and moved a predetermined distance, and a lifting sensor installed at the position where the moving beam is lowered. The distance sensor and the lifting sensor are used in conjunction with the time control of the built-in time switch program in a control device that controls the moving conveyor belt to control the position of the moving beam carrying heavy objects.

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