APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FLAT ARTICLES

This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to German Patent Application No. 10 2008 029 766.6, which was filed in Germany on Jun. 25, 2008, and which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for packaging, in particular banding, flat articles, such as, for example, envelopes filled by hand or machine, which are handled in groups.

2. Description of the Background Art

EP 1 160 170 A2 and EP 1 731 433 A1 disclose cardboard packages which are stackable in the manner of boxes and can be handled in the same manner. Said cardboard packages have the advantage of being somewhat more space-saving and at the same time lighter both in the empty and in the filled state and of therefore enabling more favourable transport and removal. The cardboard packages are reusable and are therefore environmentally friendly. The environmental friendliness is further improved by the use of cardboard instead of plastic in the production of said packages.

A further possibility for a package for machine-fillable envelopes or envelopes in general is disclosed in EP 1 352 845 B1. According to this solution, a stack of machine-fillable envelopes is surrounded by a flexible plastic film all the way around the short side edges of the machine-fillable envelopes, with two plastic plates for reinforcing the first and final machine-fillable envelopes also being provided in order to increase the stability and to avoid the corners of the envelopes bending over. The operator grasps such a plastic package, lifts it up, slits the film laterally, removes the latter, takes out the plastic plates and disposes thereof separately and places the stack onto a feeding belt to a further processing or handling machine.

The solution disclosed in EP 1 352 845 B1 is associated with the disadvantage of the handling being relatively complicated. The operator has to in each case slit open the film and remove the slit-open film while holding the entire package together with all of the machine-fillable envelopes in his hand above the feeding belt. He therefore only has his two hands available for holding the package and slitting open the film, and he therefore has to exercise considerable skill in order to carry out said operation.

DE 44 43 252 A1 discloses an apparatus for the banding of products. The apparatus for the banding, strapping or the like of products comprises a transport device for the movement forwards and backwards of a banding tape or strapping tape which can be guided around a product and pulled off a stock device. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises a control device for controlling the banding or strapping operation, and at least one first clamping device, a blade device and a connecting device. The connecting device serves to connect regions located one above another of the tape wrapping around the product. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises a packing table on which to place the product, with tapes which are guided around the product forming an overlapping region with an upper material web and a lower material web. There is a frame device which is fastened releasably to the apparatus, or a packing table which can be fastened releasably to the apparatus, and also a frame device and a packing table which can be fastened releasably to the apparatus without a frame device. Within said frame device, the tape is guided around some regions of the product, with it being possible for the apparatus to be operated by means of a control device as a fully automatic machine when the frame device is placed on or when the packing table with the frame device is placed on, and as a semi-automatic machine when the frame device is removed or packing table is placed on without a frame device.

A transportable arrangement of a multiplicity of machine-fillable envelopes lying flat on one another is accommodated in a package. The multiplicity of machine-fillable envelopes lying flat on one another results in the production of a lower side formed by the lower longitudinal edges of the machine-fillable envelopes, which edges are lined up in parallel next to one another, and an upper side which is formed by the upper longitudinal edges of the machine-fillable envelopes, which edges are lined up in parallel next to one another. Two side edges of the machine-fillable envelopes, which side edges are lined up in parallel next to one another, form narrow sides running perpendicularly to the lower side and to the upper side. One end side is formed by an address side of a first machine-fillable envelope of the multiplicity of machine-fillable envelopes; furthermore, another end side is formed by a flap side of a final machine-fillable envelope of the multiplicity thereof. The multiplicity of machine-fillable envelopes is surrounded by a cover body which is composed of a cardboard-type material, entirely or partially surrounds the multiplicity of machine-fillable envelopes on their lower side, their upper side and around the two end sides and leaves them free on the narrow sides. The cover body formed in this manner contains two pressure-resistant, rectangular discs which are arranged on the other parts of the cover body in such a manner that they lie on the two end sides of the multiplicity of machine-fillable envelopes. The two rectangular discs are designed to be relatively stronger than the other parts of the cover body, with the cover body having a tear-open tab which is arranged on one of the end sides 25, 26 of the multiplicity of machine-fillable envelopes, and permits the cover body to be torn open and the cover body to be pulled off the multiplicity of machine-fillable envelopes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus with which flat articles can be packaged in a very substantially automated manner and in which the groups of flat articles are transferred into a transportable arrangement which permits further processing taking place in a very substantially automated manner and minimizes, and ideally entirely eliminates, malfunctions.

Following the solution proposed according to the invention, a packaging unit is proposed which enables a multiplicity of articles, in particular flat articles, such as, for example, machine-fillable envelopes or envelopes serving for other purposes, to be wrapped in a very substantially automated manner, and enables a band to be placed around said multiplicity of flat articles, in particular machine-fillable envelopes, in a very substantially automated manner.

In an embodiment, the packaging unit proposed according to the invention, in which banding tapes which are in particular of tape-shaped design and are produced from cardboard or a thicker paper or the like are used, comprises a feeding region onto which the multiplicity of flat articles to be processed is placed and pushed in laterally in a processing plane of the packaging apparatus proposed according to the invention. A feeding region is understood below as meaning a feeding table, a feeding plane or as a working plane of a handling unit.

In the machine frame of the packaging unit proposed according to the invention, there can be a magazine in which the bands, which are of tape-shaped configuration and are preferably manufactured from a harder, stiffer material, such as, for example, cardboard or multi-layered paper, are stored. Furthermore, an articulated arm of pivotable design is arranged in the machine frame of the packaging unit proposed according to the invention. The pivot point or the pivot bearing of said multi-part articulated arm is located on the side on which the magazine for accommodating the bands is arranged, the magazine being arranged inclined on the machine frame. The in particular multi-part articulated arm is placed by an actuating cylinder, for example a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder or the like, in contact with the inclined lower side of the magazine in which the tape-shaped bands are stored. On that side of the multi-part articulated arm which faces the lower side of the magazine, said articulated arm has vacuum grippers in the form of suction cups or the like. The latter can be acted upon by negative pressure such that, in the state of the multi-part articulated arm in which it is in contact with the lower side of the magazine storing the bands, upon application of a vacuum to the suction cups the lowermost band can be grasped by the in particular multi-part articulated arm and fixed on the upper side thereof. After such a grasping of an in particular tape-shaped band and the pivoting back of the multi-part articulated arm into the processing plane, a precompressed multiplicity of flat articles is pushed on. The latter are in particular machine-fillable envelopes or the like which are transported on edge, i.e. on their lower longitudinal side edge, and, during a lateral pushing-in operation, are pushed onto the band which is arranged on the upper side of the multi-part articulated arm and is essentially present in tape form. Owing to its extended position, the articulated arm is suitable also for fixing the band, which is preferably present in tape form, in an extended position and for ensuring said state even while the precompressed multiplicity of flat articles positioned on edge is pushed on.

The preferably multi-part articulated arm comprises at least two bending points at which individual articulated arm sections can be accommodated pivotably with respect to one another. In order to pivot the at least two sections of the articulated arm which are connected in an articulated manner to one another, actuating cylinders, which may preferably be pneumatic cylinders or electric drives, are formed on said articulated arm, the actuating cylinders causing the generally 90° deflection of the articulated sections which are connected in an articulated manner to one another. Furthermore, the packaging unit proposed according to the invention comprises a glue-application device. The latter comprises one or more band element of tape-shaped design pressed transversely with respect to the multi-part which, in predetermined positions, beads of glue or beads of adhesive can be applied to the band which is preferably present in tape form. The positions at which the respective beads of glue can be applied in the transverse direction to the band preferably present in tape form are dependent on the format of the flat articles to be processed, i.e. dependent on whether the machine-fillable envelopes are DIN A4, DIN A5 formats or smaller formats.

The bands which are stored in the magazine and can be present in tape form are firstly aligned by means of a zero marking placed on one of the side cheeks of the magazine. Said zero marking serves as a reference line for the positioning of the band, which is preferably present in tape form, by the vacuum grippers on that side of the in particular multi-part articulated arm which faces the magazine.

The reference line, i.e. the zero marking, can coincide with a first bending point on the multi-part articulated arm. The packaging unit proposed according to the invention ensures that the flat articles which are to be processed in the packaging plane and are on edge, such as, for example, envelopes or machine-fillable envelopes, are enclosed during the change in position of the articulated arm sections connected to one another in an articulated manner by the band held on the articulated arm sections, and that those regions, which receive the beads of glue, of the band, which is preferably present in tape form, make contact with one another. This takes place by precompressed, flat articles being pushed onto the processing plane by means of a combined lateral slide with a holding-down function. The processing plane is formed by the extending band which is held on the multi-part articulated arm by a number of suction grippers. The precompressed flat articles are now compressed by laterally movable surfaces while the band, which is held in an extended position on the inner side of the multi-part articulated arm, has glue applied to it.

As soon as the precompressed stack of flat articles which is pushed in, i.e. pushed onto the band, is compressed by the surfaces which are movable laterally with respect to one another, the holding-down device is moved out again into its set-back position in the feeding region while the abovementioned application of glue to the inner side of the band which is preferably in tape form takes place.

The packaging unit proposed according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a pressing tool which has two surfaces which are movable relative to each other. The multiplicity of flat articles which are on edge is compressed in the processing plane by said surfaces such that, after the glued sections of the band present in tape form are joined, a compact, transportable arrangement is achieved. The precompressed stacks of flat articles oriented in an on-edge position are preferably provided on the end sides by the operator with stabilizing end plates produced from cardboard. The surfaces, which further compress the precompressed stack of flat articles, move onto said cardboard end plates and, when the multi-part articulated arm is in the extended position, are movable with respect to each other in the processing plane. However, there is also the possibility that the preparation, i.e. precompression of the flat articles including the end plates stiffening the stack, can also be prepared fully automatically, i.e. without an operator being used for the precompression and for inserting the cardboard end plates.

The bands stored in the magazine and that can be present in tape form, aligned at the zero marking, can be printed and labelled on the subsequently outwardly facing side by an applicator arranged above the magazine for holding the bands present in tape form. The applicator, accommodated at the upper end of the magazine in the machine frame of the packaging unit proposed according to the invention, can be controlled and programmed by a commercially available PC.

In order to improve the accuracy of the pressing of the multiplicity of flat articles in the pressing tool located in the processing plane of the packaging unit proposed according to the invention, the surfaces producing the prestressing force, i.e. the pressing, are arranged in carriages on a guide rail of a longitudinal support. The longitudinal support with the guide rail for the at least two carriages movable relative to each other preferably extends below the processing plane, with it being possible for the two pressing surfaces which are movable relative to each other and are arranged on the carriages to be of fork-shaped design. The effect which can be achieved by means of a fork-shaped design of the contact pressure surfaces of the carriages below the processing plane is that the preferably multi-part articulated arm which is mounted on a joint dips into the clearance between the individual prongs of the fork of the contact pressure surfaces. Therefore, the effect achieved when removing the band, which is preferably present in tape form, from the lower side of the magazine is that the articulated arm positions the band, which is removed in each case in an extended position and is preferably present in tape form, between the prongs of the fork of the contact pressure surfaces which are movable relative to one another. The contact pressure surfaces, which are, for example, of prong-shaped design, move together without damaging the band present in tape form, since the flat articles which are to be compressed are only made contact with on the outer sides. The contact pressure force, applied by a pneumatic actuating cylinder, is introduced via the thicker cardboard end discs into the precompressed stack of flat articles oriented in an on-edge position.

The working cylinders of the preferably multi-part articulated arm are subsequently activated sequentially such that the band fixed on the inner side of the individual articulated arm sections by means of vacuum grippers is placed around the flat articles in a manner corresponding to the dimensions of the compressed stack of flat articles oriented in an on-edge position. The band present in tape form is provided beforehand at the ends to be joined to each other with at least one bead of glue or bead of adhesive, depending on the format to be processed of the band which is present in particular in tape form. If the band present in tape form is guided by deflection of the individual sections of the multi-part articulated arm around the stack, which is to be provided with the band, of flat articles in an on-edge position, the open ends, which are not yet joined to each other, of the band present in tape form are bent through 90° by at least one pair of wings provided on an articulated arm section. The open ends, which now lie one above another, of the band present in tape form are pressed for a period of time of just a few seconds by a contact surface making contact with that side of the band present in tape form which is to be glued or joined with a cohesive material joint before the stack of flat articles oriented in an on-edge position, which stack is now finished, compressed and provided with the band, is pushed out into a dispenser.

Different formats of flat articles can be processed in the packaging unit proposed according to the invention by means of longer bands which are accommodated in the magazine and are present in tape form. The position of the glue nozzles can likewise be adapted to different positions from which the at least one bead of glue is to be applied, as can the laterally combined slide and holding-down device.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a machine frame of the packaging unit proposed according to an embodiment of the invention with a feeding region and inclined magazine for accommodating bands present in tape form, together with an applicator assigned to the magazine,

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the multi-part articulated arm,

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the preferably multi-part articulated arm, illustrated in FIG. 2, of the packaging unit proposed according to the invention,

FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a first deflected position of the preferably multi-part articulated arm,

FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a second deflected position of the individual articulated arm sections of the multi-part articulated arm,

FIG. 6 shows the components of the glue-application device of the packaging unit proposed according to an embodiment the invention with a plurality of movable glue-application heads at an adjustable distance depending on the format and with a pair of glue nozzles movable laterally with respect to the band to which glue is to be applied and which is present in tape form,

FIG. 7 shows an illustration of the magazine for accommodating the band which is preferably in tape form,

FIG. 8 shows a plan view of the pressing tool for compressing a packet comprising a multiplicity of flat articles prior to the adhesive bonding of the ends of the band winding around said flat articles, and

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the pressing tool according to the illustration in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A perspective view of the essential components of the packaging unit proposed according to the invention can be seen in the illustration according to FIG. 1. The illustration according to FIG. 1 reveals that a packaging unit 10, in particular a banding unit, has a feeding region 12 which comprises a lateral pushing-in means 13 into a processing plane 30. The feeding region is understood below as meaning a feeding table, a feeding plane or else a working plane of a handling unit.

The magazine 18 which is arranged in an inclined manner is accommodated in the machine frame 16 of the packaging unit 10, with a number of preferably tape-shaped banding tapes 20 being stored lying one above another in the magazine 18. An applicator 22 which can be controlled by a commercially available PC is located above the magazine 18. The applicator 22 is part of a labeller or other printing head, such as, for example, an inkjet printer. When a label which is pre-printed or is printed online is applied, said label can protrude by at least 1 cm or else more over the end of the banding tape 20. Subsequently, after the positioning of the banding tape 20 in a processing plane 30, the label can be folded therearound by means of a folding tool. By this means, the user obtains protection against injury at the sharp cardboard box edge during a subsequent tearing-open operation. With the applicator 22, the bands 20 which are preferably present in tape form are printed on the outer side such that the individual, transportable arrangements can be identified and can be accordingly fed for generally automated further processing. In particular, there is the possibility of applying barcodes to the outer side of the band 20 via the applicator 22 arranged above the magazine 18 such that the individual bands 20 can be identified mechanically.

As can furthermore be gathered from the illustration according to FIG. 1, a zero-line marking 24 is accommodated on the magazine 18. With each new format of flat articles or each new packing size, the configuration of the preferably tape-shaped band 20 changes. However, the zero-line marking 24 is identical for all products. On the basis thereof, stops which are arranged on the magazine 18 are adjusted and an articulated arm 42, which is described in more detail below, contact pressure surfaces 38, 40 and glue-application heads are adjusted relative thereto. The respective, subsequent bending points of the bands can be fixed at said zero-line marking, and different formats of bands 20 can be aligned. The magazine 18 is preferably produced in such a manner that the base thereof is open, and the individual bands 20 which are preferably stored in tape form in the magazine 18 are removed from the lower side via a preferably multi-part articulated arm 42 which is merely indicated in FIG. 1. The in particular multi-part articulated arm 42 is described in more detail with reference to the following figures.

It is furthermore revealed in the illustration according to FIG. 1 that a glue-application apparatus 26 comprising a number of gluing nozzles 32 either individually or in a paired arrangement is accommodated above the processing plane 30 of the packaging unit 10. The glue nozzles 32 are assigned the transverse direction with respect to the bands 20 in the processing plane 30 by an actuating cylinder drive 28 which is assigned to the glue-application device 26. Via the glue nozzles 32, which can be gathered together in an individual arrangement or else in pairs with respect to one another, beads of glue are applied in the transverse direction to the band 20 as soon as the latter, fixed by vacuum grippers 48 on the side facing the lower side of the magazine 18, is transferred into the processing plane 30. The vacuum grippers 48 on the preferably multi-part articulated arm 42 which is merely indicated can be gathered schematically from the perspective illustration in FIG. 1.

A longitudinal support 36 extends below the processing plane 30. A pressing tool which has prong-like pressing surfaces, cf. reference signs 38 and 40, is held on said longitudinal support. The fork-shaped pressing surfaces 38, 40 can be adjusted with respect to one another by an actuating cylinder (not illustrated in FIG. 1) such that a packet of a multiplicity of machine-fillable envelopes which are on edge, which packet is arranged between the fork-shaped pressing surfaces 38, 40, can be compressed and air can escape from the interior of the machine-fillable envelopes or from the flat articles. This compression operation is variable in terms of time and in terms of the level of pressing force. A predeterminable precompression time can take place with a lower pressing force, and subsequently the entire pressing force can be applied in order to reach the actual packing size.

The in particular multi-part articulated arm 42 which is merely indicated perspectively in the illustration according to FIG. 1 is fastened rotatably to a bearing side 34 of the machine frame 16. Bearing point 34 is located in particular at the lower end of the magazine 18 such that, upon corresponding actuation of an actuating cylinder, the articulated arm 42 can be placed with the side having the vacuum grippers 48 against the open lower side of the magazine 18 from where it grasps the band 20, which faces the vacuum grippers 48 and is preferably present in tape form, and transfers it into the processing plane 30.

It can furthermore be gathered from the illustration according to FIG. 1 that the packaging unit 10 is arranged on rollers such that the mobility of said packaging unit within a factory building is ensured. Accordingly, the mobile packaging unit 10 can advantageously be positioned in a variable manner corresponding to the working sequences.

According to the illustration in FIG. 1, both the feeding region 12 and the dispenser 14 are advantageously located on the packaging unit 10 proposed according to the invention at a distance from the floor space of the machine frame 16, which is movable on rollers, of the packaging unit 10. As a result, logistical further processing components, such as, for example, pallets or conveyor belts or the like, can be used in an optimal manner in order to integrate the packaging unit 10 proposed according to the invention.

The articulated arm of the packaging unit 10 proposed according to the invention can be seen in an extended position in the illustration according to FIG. 2.

In the illustration according to FIG. 2, the preferably multi-part articulated arm 42 is illustrated in side view. The articulated arm 42 is moved via an actuating cylinder 44, the abutment of which is indicated by reference sign 50, and is fastened to a fixing point of the machine frame 16 of the packaging unit 10 proposed according to the invention.

It can furthermore be seen in the illustration according to FIG. 2 that the upper side of the preferably multi-part articulated arm 42 has a number of vacuum grippers 48 which can be designed, for example, as suction cups or suction plates or the like. The vacuum grippers 48, in particular designed as suckers which are provided on the multi-part articulated arm 42, are preferably formed by bellows and are arranged in such a manner that, after the bellows has contracted, the band 20 comes to lie somewhat below the processing plane 30. This avoids a collision between the band 20 and the pushed-on stack of flat articles oriented in an on-edge position. Starting from its articulated arm bearing 46, the in particular multi-part articulated arm 42 comprises a first articulated arm section 52 on which a first working cylinder 64 is held. By means of the first working cylinder 64, which may be a hydraulic or a pneumatic cylinder, a further, second articulated arm section 56 is deflected about a first bending point 54. A further, third articulated arm section 60 is coupled at a second bending point 58 to the second articulated arm section 56 which can be actuated by means of the first working cylinder 64. A further, second working cylinder 66 is located on the third articulated arm section 60. The third articulated arm section 60 can be moved via said working cylinder 66 about the second bending point 58 relative to the second articulated arm section 56.

According to the side view in FIG. 2, in the region of the vacuum grippers 48, the in particular multi-part articulated arm 42 comprises a first pair of wings 68 and a second pair of wings 70. With the pairs of wings 68 and 70, a section of the band 20 preferably present in tape form is raised during the initial bending of the articulated arm 42, which has a plurality of articulated sections, and, after the final bending of the multi-part articulated arm 42 has taken place, the open end of the preferably tape-shaped band 20 is folded over downwards before the ends, which lie one above another, of the band 20 present in tape form are adhesively bonded.

It can moreover be seen from the illustration according to FIG. 2 that a stop surface 62 is formed above the articulated arm bearing 46 of the in particular multi-part articulated arm 42. When the actuating cylinder 44 is acted upon or actuated, the multi-part articulated arm 46, which is fastened below the magazine 18 in the machine frame 16 of the packaging unit 10, is moved about a pivoting path 72, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2.

It can be seen from the plan view, illustrated in FIG. 3, of the in particular multi-part articulated arm 42 that the upper side of the latter in the extended state has a plurality of vacuum grippers 48. While two vacuum grippers 48 which have a relatively large diameter are arranged on the first articulated arm section 52 and on the third articulated arm section 30, a pair of vacuum grippers 48 is located on the central, i.e. second, articulated arm section 56. The suction plates or suction grippers of said vacuum grippers have somewhat smaller dimensions with regard to their diameter than the vacuum grippers 48 which are accommodated on the first articulated arm section 52 and the third articulated arm section 60. By means of the spaced-apart, individual vacuum grippers 48 on the second articulated arm section 56, lateral stabilization of the band 20 present in tape form as it is being pulled out of the downwardly open chamber of the magazine 18 arranged in an inclined manner in the machine frame 16 is possible. The vacuum grippers 48 are formed in particular by bellows which are arranged in such a manner that, after the bellows has contracted, the band 20 lies somewhat below the processing plane 30, thus avoiding a collision between a precompressed stack of flat articles oriented in an on-edge position with the side edge of the band 20 as said stack is being pushed on laterally.

It is moreover revealed in the plan view according to FIG. 3 that the in particular multi-part articulated arm 42 has an extendable pressing surface 62. Pressing surface 62, which is actuated via a cylinder, extends when the open ends, which can each be provided with at least one bead of glue, are adhesively bonded to one another in order to produce the band. The bonding point is pressed together by means of the extendable pressing surface 62.

Operating positions of the in particular multi-part articulated arm 42 which is illustrated in side view and in plan view in FIGS. 2 and 3 can be seen in a schematic manner from the illustration according to FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 shows that the multi-part articulated arm 42, which is illustrated in its extended position 74 in FIG. 3, is transferred into a first in-contact position 76. For this purpose, the at least one working cylinder 64, which is flange-mounted on the first articulated arm section 52, is actuated such that the second articulated arm section 56 passes into a 90° deflection about the first bending point 54 relative to the first articulated arm section 52 which is in a horizontal position. As a result, the pair of vacuum grippers 48 arranged on the upper side of the second articulated arm section 56 is adjusted into its vertical position. As before, the third articulated arm section 60 is in its starting position, i.e. runs parallel to the second articulated arm section 56, which has already been deflected, such that the first in-contact position 76 is provided essentially by means of an L shape of the articulated arm 52.

FIG. 5 shows a further, second in-contact position of the in particular multi-part articulated arm 42 according to FIGS. 2 and 3.

In the second deflected position, illustrated in FIG. 5, of the multi-part articulated arm, the third articulated arm section 60 is also transferred by a corresponding actuation of its at least one working cylinder 66 into the deflected position, i.e. is deflected via the second bending point 58 between the second articulated arm section 56 and the third articulated arm section 60. As a result, the multi-part articulated arm 42 adopts a position essentially indicated by a U according to the illustration in FIG. 5. When the multi-part articulated arm 42 according to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 is transferred from the extended position 74 into the first in-contact position 76 according to FIG. 4 and subsequently into the third in-contact position 78 according to FIG. 5, a band which is fixed and held by the vacuum grippers 48 and is present in tape form undergoes a deflection, i.e. a bending, at the edges respectively located in the region of the bending points 54 and 58. By means of the pairs of wings 68 and 70 on the in particular multi-part articulated arm 42, in the U position the open end of the band 20 is placed entirely around the compressed stack of flat articles oriented in an on-edge position. In this context, the first pair of wings 68 serves to raise the band through 90° and the second pair of wings 70 serves to subsequently fold over the open end of the band 20 likewise through 90°.

Instead of the vacuum grippers 48 illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 and the positions thereof on the multi-part articulated arm 42, the vacuum grippers 48 can also be arranged at different positions than the positions illustrated in the drawings; it is solely of importance that the band 20 which is fixed by the vacuum grippers 48, is held on the upper side of the multi-part articulated arm 42 and is in tape form remains fixed in a mechanically stable manner in its extended position 74 on the upper side of the multi-part articulated arm 42 and said fixing can also be retained in the processing plane 30 according to the illustration in FIG. 1, in which a preassembled, packet-type stack of flat articles is pushed by the lateral pushing-in means 13 laterally onto the processing plane 30.

FIG. 6 shows that the packaging unit 10 proposed according to the invention has a glue-application apparatus 26 which is movable relative to the bands 20 fixed in an extended position 74. The glue-application device 26 comprises, for example, a pair of glue nozzles 84 and at least one individual glue nozzle 82. Both the individual glue nozzle 82 and the pair 84 of glue nozzles is movable along a transverse support 88 corresponding to a direction of movement 90 of the glue-application device 26. For this purpose, an actuating cylinder 28 can be provided in the transverse support 88—even though it is not illustrated in FIG. 6. The glue nozzles 82 and 84 are supplied via suitably designed connecting lines 86 which, if necessary, can also be heated in order to vary the viscosity of the adhesive to be applied, whether it be glue, adhesive or the like, within the optimum limits for the particular processing operation.

FIG. 7 shows an illustration of the magazine 18 which is accommodated in the machine frame 16 and is fitted there in an inclined manner. The articulated arm bearing 46, which is illustrated best in FIGS. 2 and 3, of the in particular multi-part articulated arm 42 is located at the lower end of said magazine.

It can be seen from the illustration according to FIG. 7 that the magazine 18 is essentially bounded by an upper and a lower transverse support and side cheeks 96 are formed on two mutually opposite transverse supports which run parallel to each other. Reference sign 94 denotes adjustable stops which are located within the magazine 18 at the lower end of the trough-shaped depression which is bounded by the two mutually opposite side cheeks 96. The base of the magazine 18 is open. The base of the magazine 18 is formed by the tape-shaped bands 20 which are in each case stored therein and rest with their edge regions on holders denoted by reference sign 92. Holders 98 are likewise located in the upper region of the magazine 18, which holders can be adjusted upwards or downwards in the vertical direction in accordance with the makeup of the bands 20 which are to be processed and are present in particular in tape form such that the band located in each case at the bottom and bands 20 in tape form which are stacked on said band cannot protrude into the working region of the packaging unit 10 proposed according to the invention.

Owing to the fact that the magazine 18 has an essentially open base surface, when the multi-part articulated arm 42 is pivoted upwards about the articulated arm bearing 46 thereof, the band 20 which is in each case located at the bottom, is fixed by holders 92 and 98 and is present in tape form can be grasped, upon actuation of the vacuum grippers 46, and removed from the magazine 18 and, when the in particular multi-part articulated arm 42 is pivoted downwards, can be transferred into the processing plane 30 of the packaging unit 10. In the processing plane 30, said band 20 which is grasped by the multi-part articulated arm 42 and is present in tape form is then present in an extended position 74.

A pressing tool can be seen on a larger scale from the illustrations according to FIGS. 8 and 9.

In the perspective overall illustration of the packaging unit 10 according to FIG. 1, a longitudinal support 36, which is only illustrated rudimentarily, runs below the processing plane 30 in which the multi-part articulated arm 42 in its offset position is essentially in an extended position 74. A guide rail extending parallel to the multi-part articulated arm 42 runs on the upper side of said longitudinal support 36. This is made apparent in FIGS. 8 and 9 by reference sign 100. The stop and pressing surfaces 38, 40, which can be seen in the illustration in FIGS. 8 and 9 and partially also in the illustration according to FIG. 1, are guided on said guide rail 102. Said pressing surfaces 38, 40 are preferably spaced-apart prongs of a fork such that sufficient space remains between the individual prongs for the multi-part articulated arm 42 to be able to be pivoted about its articulated arm bearing 46 from its extended position 74 in the processing plane 30 into a position in contact with the lower side of the magazine 18, and vice versa. Therefore, when the multi-part articulated arm 42 is pivoted away about its articulated arm bearing 46, a sucked-up band 20 which is grasped by the vacuum grippers 48 of the multi-part articulated arm 42 can be positioned into the processing plane 30 and, when the multi-part articulated arm 42 is pivoted downwards into the processing plane 30, moves between the prongs which constitute the two pressing surfaces 38, 40 which are movable relative to each other.

As is furthermore revealed in the illustrations according to FIGS. 8 and 9, the contact pressure surfaces 38 and 40 which are represented by prongs are held on carriages 102 and 104 which are movable relative to each other by means of an actuating cylinder 106. After a packet-type stack of machine-fillable envelopes which are oriented on edge are pushed onto a band 20 serving as a base and the individual articulated sections 46 and 60 of the articulated arm are deflected and accordingly the multiplicity of flat articles have the band 20 which is present in tape form wrapped around them, the machine-fillable envelopes, so as to mention an example of flat articles, which have the band 20 wrapped around them and are on edge, are compressed by means of the pressing tool illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. For this purpose, a cardboard wall or a surface manufactured from another stiffer material is preferably located at the ends of the packet of machine-fillable envelopes which is to be compressed such that the axial force which is exerted during the compression of the packet of a multiplicity of machine-fillable envelopes and is produced in the actuating cylinder 106 does not result in the flat articles being damaged. Upon actuation of the actuating cylinder 106, the pressing surfaces 38, 40 move relative to each other such that trapped air, whether in the interior of the machine-fillable envelopes, whether between the individual envelopes standing on edge next to one another, is squeezed out and the stack is compressed before the open ends of the bands 20 are adhesively bonded. Since this takes place mechanically, an essentially fatigue-free operation of the packaging unit 10 proposed according to the invention is ensured.

The packaging operation will be described again and explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 which have been described in detail above:

First of all, the packet-type stacks of machine-fillable envelopes, which are supplied in on-edge form, to be processed in each case are passed by the operator of the packaging unit 10 proposed according to the invention to the feeding region 12 and manually compressed. In accordance with experience, the operator always places the flat articles, such as, for example, envelopes, in a preferred direction into the combined slide 11. The later user places the compressed block of flat articles, such as, for example, envelopes, which is provided with the band 20 into a magazine of an envelope-filling machine. It has to be ensured here that the closure flap of the envelopes—so as to mention a customary example—is always positioned unambiguously.

The in particular multi-part articulated arm 42 is subsequently pivoted up in the pivoting direction 72 onto the lower side of the magazine 18 storing the bands 20 present in tape form. The vacuum grippers 46 which face the lower side of the magazine 18 are acted upon with negative pressure such that the respectively lowermost of the bands 20 which are present in tape form in the magazine 18 and are stored there is grasped and transferred in an extended position 74 into the processing plane 30 during the downwards pivoting movement of the multi-part articulated arm 42. When the band 20 present in tape form is grasped, it is ensured that the zero reference line 24 thereof comes to lie on one of the bending points 54, 58 of the multi-part articulated arm 42.

After the band 20, which is present in tape form and is fixed in an extended position 74 by the vacuum grippers 48, lies in the processing plane 30, the preassembled packet of machine-fillable envelopes or flat articles or the like present in an on-edge position is pushed in laterally. Said preassembled group present in packet form is pushed onto the inner side of the band 20 present in tape form. In this case, the respectively outermost end sides of said preassembled packet are each located opposite the first pressing surface 38 and the second pressing surface 40 between which the articulated arm 42, which is in an extended position 74, is located in an extended position 74 as before.

At the upper end, i.e. at the end facing the applicator 22, the band 20, which is provided on its outer side with a barcode or with a writing zone or with a label by the applicator 22, can be prepared by the glue-application device 26 in the transverse direction corresponding to the path of movement of the glue nozzles 82, 84. The label can be applied protruding over the end of the glued band 20 such that the operator is protected from a cardboard box turning out to have a sharp edge.

The band 20, which is present in tape form and is in an extended position 74, is positioned somewhat below the processing plane 30 by the vacuum grippers 48 which are provided with a bellows. This avoids that, during the subsequent, lateral pushing-on of the precompressed stack via the combined slide and holding-down device 11, a collision of said stack with the edge of the tape 20 is prevented.

Subsequently, the precompressed packet of flat articles oriented in an on-edge position, such as, for example, envelopes, is compressed by the contact pressure surfaces 38, 40, with it being possible for the pressing force in a first substep to be smaller than at the end of the compression. The forces which occur during the compression and are produced by the contact pressure surfaces 38 and 40 are absorbed via reinforced end plates at the ends of the packet-type stack.

The next processing step is the actuation of the at least one working cylinder 64 which is held on the first articulated arm section 52 which is in a horizontal position. As a result, the second articulated arm section 76 is raised through 90° about the first bending point 54. This constitutes a “short” side of the band 20 which forms the preassembled stack of flat articles, such as, for example, machine-fillable envelopes. When the second articulated arm section 56 is raised about the first bending point 54, a corresponding bending of the band 20 through 900 takes place analogously to the 90° deflection of the second articulated arm section 56. Since said band remains fixed to the upper side of the second articulated arm section 56 by the pair of vacuum grippers 46, said section of the band 20 follows the deflecting movement of the second articulated arm section 56 through 90° about the first bending point 54 (cf. also the illustration according to FIG. 4).

It can be seen from the illustration according to FIG. 5 that, in order to transfer the band 20 which is present in tape form, the upper side of a stack of a packet-type number of machine-fillable envelopes present in an on-edge position is transferred the third articulated arm section 60 about the second bending point 58 by actuation of at least one second working cylinder 66. As a result, the multi-part articulated arm 42, according to the illustration in FIG. 5, takes up its second in-contact position 78 corresponding to a U shape. In said position, the stack of machine-fillable envelopes present on edge is enclosed on three sides by the articulated arm sections 52, 56, 60 of the multi-part articulated arm 42. This means that the band 20, the individual sections of which follow the pivoting operations during the pivoting movement of the articulated arm sections 56 and 60, surrounds the packet-type stack of machine-fillable envelopes on three sides. If the multi-part articulated arm 42 is in the U position illustrated in FIG. 5, then, via laterally arranged folding tools, in this case the second pair of wings 70, the end of the band 20 preferably present in tape form is placed completely through 90° around the formed and compressed stack or block of flat articles oriented in an on-edge position, such as, for example, around a block of envelopes, which is to be provided with the band 20.

It is revealed from the illustration according to FIGS. 2 and 3 that the articulated arm 42 has the movable pressing surface 62 on its open side (cf. FIG. 5). Said pressing surface 62 extends in order to press together the mutually overlapping, open ends of the band present in tape form, which ends are provided with at least one bead of glue or bead of adhesive, during the bonding operation such that the required bonding force is rapidly produced.

By means of the movable pressing surface 62 which is acted upon via a dedicated actuating cylinder, those sections of the band 20 present in tape form which have the beads of glue or beads of adhesive are pressed against each other, thus resulting in a cohesive material joint between the mutually overlapping, open ends of the band 20 present in tape form, which ends are provided with beads of glue.

Before those sections of the band 20 which are provided with beads of glue are pressed together, the packet-type stack of machine-fillable envelopes or other flat articles which has the band 20 wrapped around it on three sides is compressed. This position of the preferably multi-part articulated arm 42 can best be seen in FIG. 5.

The actuating cylinder 106, which is best illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, pulls the prong-shaped pressing surfaces 38, 40 towards each other such that air remaining in the flat articles, for example machine-fillable envelopes, or air enclosed between the individual flat articles, for example machine-fillable envelopes, is pressed out of the packet-type stack.

Finally, cardboard surfaces placed on the end sides of the packet-type stack are acted upon in such a manner that damage to the respectively outer machine-fillable envelopes oriented by the address zone side or the flap side are not damaged.

After the air is pressed out of the flat articles, such as, for example, machine-fillable envelopes, the open ends of the band 20 can be adhesively bonded by means of the stop surfaces 62. Until the bonding connection, the beads of adhesive of which can also run offset with respect to one another, is cured, the stop surface 62 is pressed against the stack for a number of seconds, with it being leant against the packet-type stack of a multiplicity of machine-fillable envelopes or flat articles, which stack is enclosed by the band 20. In this case, the second articulated arm section 56 which is deflected about the first bending point 54 by the at least one first working cylinder 64 forms the abutment for the axial force caused by the pressurization of the stop surface 62 during the pressing operation after the adhesive bonding.

The packaging unit 10 proposed according to the invention is moreover distinguished in that it brings about the possibility of adaptation to the particular format of the stack to be processed or of the flat articles to be processed, such as, for example, envelopes, cardboard box bases or the like. The first possibility which should be mentioned is that of adjusting the positions of the vacuum grippers 46, which are preferably formed by a bellows, and of the pairs of wings 68, 70 with respect to the packet length. By the possibility of adjustment thereof, the location at which the ends of the band 20 present in tape form are folded over in each case through 90° can be adapted to the particular format of the flat article or stacked packet to be processed. Furthermore, there is the possibility of modifying the packaging unit proposed according to the invention with respect to adjustability with regard to the packet height by replacing the articulated arm section 56 or the separation thereof at a separating point. If a higher packet shape, i.e. a greater sectional length of the articulated arm section 56 is desired, the latter can be interchanged with just a few actions such that a higher packet height can be wrapped around by a band 20 which is advantageously fixed on the inner side by means of the vacuum grippers 48 of the multi-part articulated arm 42.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FLAT ARTICLES

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CPC

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Priority Claims (1)