U.S. patent application number 10/265502 was filed with the patent office on 2003-05-22 for packing procedure and machine for putting into practice thereof.
Invention is credited to Mir, Alex Mas.
Application Number | 20030093973 10/265502 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8244219 |
Filed Date | 2003-05-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030093973 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mir, Alex Mas |
May 22, 2003 |
Packing procedure and machine for putting into practice thereof
Abstract
A process for pallet packaging includes steps of maintaining the
pallet stationary, and subjecting a spool supplying the packing
film to a movement around the pallet of rectangular trajectory,
whereby in each cycle or turn of the spool four segments of
rectilinear displacement are defined therefor related one to
another through orthogonal inflections, and whereby the pressure of
the film is maintained constant throughout the wrapping, avoiding
risks of the same being torn. The spool is mounted on a headstock
in association directly or indirectly with the free extremity of
the multiple articulated arm of a robot, with an operating program
developed for the aforementioned movements.
Inventors: |
Mir, Alex Mas; (Girona,
ES) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KATTEN MUCHIN ZAVIS ROSENMAN
575 MADISON AVENUE
NEW YORK
NY
10022-2585
US
|
Family ID: |
8244219 |
Appl. No.: |
10/265502 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10265502 |
Sep 23, 2002 |
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PCT/ES00/00103 |
Mar 23, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
53/399 ; 53/441;
53/556 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 11/025 20130101;
B65B 2210/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/399 ; 53/441;
53/556 |
International
Class: |
B65B 013/04; B65B
053/00 |
Claims
1.- Procedure for packing, which being specially conceived to
provide a pallet with its load with a wrapping based on plastic
foil or film which suitably stabilises said load during subsequent
handling of the pallet during transportation thereof and being of
the type in which the pallet with its load is maintained stationary
during the packing, consisting in subjecting the headstock (4)
supporting the spool (2) of the film to a cyclic motion of
trajectory parallel to the outline of the pallet (1), that is
having a rectangular trajectory, in which consequently are defined
in each cycle four segments of rectilinear displacement, related to
each other by orthogonal inflections, is characterised in that the
headstock (4) bearing the support for the spool (2) of the film is
supported and manipulated by means of a robot (6) provided with a
multiple and articulated arm (7), extremity of the headstock which
can be submitted to a vertical movement and another gyratory in
order to adapt to the pallet, all this such that the exit tension
of the film (5) from said headstock proves constant throughout the
packing and the tension also is constant with which said film is
adapted both to the faces and practically to the edges of the
pallet-load assembly, there being no lack of uniformity of
stretching and tension in the film which could produce tearing
therein.
2.- Machine for the putting into practice of the procedure of the
first claim, of the type of those which incorporate a base on which
the pallet stands, like for example a bed of rollers which permit
the delivery and removal thereof, base on which the pallet is
maintained stationary during the packing in order that a headstock
feeding plastic film (5) from a spool be displaced around said
pallet, characterised in that as means for supporting and
manipulating the aforementioned headstock (4) a robot (6) is
employed, with a program developed for the movements of the packing
operation, provided with a multiple and articulated arm (7) to
which said headstock (4) is directly or indirectly attached.
3.- Machine, in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that the
articulated arm (7) of the robot (6) is terminated in a vertical
guide rail (9) for the displacement of the spool-bearing headstock
(4), in such a manner that whilst the robot (6) provides said
headstock (4) with the annular motion around the pallet (1), the
vertical displacement of the headstock for the helical wrapping of
the film (5) is achieved by the displacement of said headstock (4)
on the aforementioned guide rail (9).
4.- Machine, in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that the
articulated arm (7) of the robot (6) provides the spool-bearing
headstock (4) with both the motion around the pallet (1) and its
displacement in the vertical direction.
5.- Machine, in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that the
spool-bearing headstock (4) is provided with means for tilting (10)
which permit it to adopt an inclined disposition for the wrapping
of the "fifth face" or top base of the pallet (1) with its
load.
6.- Machine, in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that the
headstock (4) supplier of the film (5) incorporates, for the
pre-stretching thereof, between the pertinent spool (2) and the
exit roller (11) towards the pallet (1), a further two rollers (12)
motor-driven and substantially close to each other, with distinct
and adjustable speeds.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of PCT/ES00/00103 filed
Mar. 23, 2002.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a new packing procedure,
with the clear objective of providing a pallet with its load with a
wrapping based on plastic foil or film, which suitably stabilises
said load during subsequent handling of the pallet and/or protects
it from dust and water, procedure which has been specially
conceived in order to improve the packing conditions, specifically
by avoiding tears in the plastic film and permitting a higher
operational speed, with the consequent enhancement in the
performance of the packing machine, with considerable stretching of
the film and consequent saving therein.
[0003] The new procedure permits the wrapping of four or five faces
indifferently, utilising a single spool of film.
[0004] The invention concerns also the machine for putting the
procedure mentioned into practice.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] At the present time there are two basic solutions for the
packing of a pallet with its load, both of which are based on
winding over said assembly an adequately tightened plastic foil or
film, in such a manner that the pallet's load, generally made up of
separate elements, is perfectly bound in itself and to the actual
pallet, in order to ensure the stability of the assembly in
subsequent handling during transport.
[0006] One such solution consists in mounting the pallet with its
load on a rotating platform, whilst the film-feeding spool is
arranged laterally with respect to the pallet and is subjected to a
vertical displacement movement, so that the plastic foil is wound
helicoidally over the outside surface of the load whilst the pallet
turns.
[0007] The fundamental problem with this solution lies in that, in
the initial phase of packing, that is when the load is not secured,
the centrifugal force produced by the rotary movement of the pallet
causes the same to tend to be displaced in a radial direction and
to fall, which substantially limits the speed at which the pallet
is turned and consequently the working rate of the machine.
[0008] Machines of this type are reflected, for example, in the
European Patents with application number 91401689.4 and
92401863.3.
[0009] The other solution consists in maintaining the pallet
stationary during packing, in order to avoid the problems with
centrifugal force of which mention was made above, it being the
film-feeding spool which describes a planetary movement around the
pallet, at the same time as it simultaneously undergoes an
alternating motion in the vertical direction, as for example occurs
in the machines reflected in the European Patent with application
number 90402027.8 or the PCT with publication number WO
90/06261.
[0010] This second type of machine, structurally much more complex
than the first type, and consequently much more expensive, and
which due to its large turning circle produces high inertial forces
because of the weight of the moving elements, which make necessary
a large reinforced framework. It also presents as a fundamental
problem, which is also applicable to the case of the machines of
the first type, a serious risk of tearing the film as the pulling
motion of said film is in both cases circular and constant, meaning
that "tugging" occurs is said film in correspondence with the
folding the latter undergoes on reaching the corners or upright
edges of the load, in such a manner that in correspondence with
said edges extra straining and stretching are produced which are
the effects that produce the risk of tearing which has just been
mentioned.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The packing procedure which the invention proposes,
applicable to a packing machine of the second type of those
mentioned above, that is of those in which the pallet with its load
is maintained steady during the packing, resolves in a fully
satisfactory manner the aforementioned problems in the different
aspects stated.
[0012] To this end and in more specific terms, the procedure of the
invention consists in subjecting the headstock of the film spool to
a cyclic motion around the pallet with its load, but with the
special particularity that said headstock describes a trajectory
always parallel to the outline of the pallet. More specifically, in
each cycle or turn of the spool around the pallet, four segments of
perfectly rectilinear displacement are defined, parallel to the
four faces of the pallet, related to each other through orthogonal
inflections, in correspondence with the upright edges of said
pallet, that is, in contrast to the circumferential trajectory of
the headstock in the classic procedure, with the procedure of the
invention said headstock describes a rectangular trajectory, all of
this such that the exit tension on the film from the aforementioned
headstock remains constant during the entire packing and the
tension is also constant with which said film is applied both to
the faces and to the edges of the pallet-load assembly, there being
no uniform stretching and tensions in the film tending to provoke
tears therein.
[0013] Complementarily, both for achieving the putting into
practice of the procedure mentioned, and for avoiding the problems
of conventional packing machines, inherent in the high inertia
produced by the motion thereof, the machine on which the object of
the invention is also centred, incorporates, in a lateral
disposition with respect to the zone of stationary positioning of
the pallet, a robot provided with an articulated arm to which is
directly or indirectly joined the headstock carrying the
film-feeding spool, said robot coming with a program which permits
it to describe the cyclic movement of rectangular trajectory at
constant speed of which mention has been made above.
[0014] The robot itself can also supply the spool-bearing headstock
with the necessary movement of vertical displacement, in order that
the wrapping of the film take place helicoidally, or this vertical
movement can be achieved by the coupling to the extremity of the
articulated arm of the robot of a vertical guide rail on which the
spool-bearing headstock in turn shall be displaced. The employment
of one system or another, or the combination of both, depends on
the maximum height of the pallet to be wrapped.
[0015] Provision has also been made for the spool-bearing headstock
to include a means of tilting which permits it to adopt an inclined
position, in the uppermost location, for the wrapping of the top
face of the load formed on the pallet, that is for what is commonly
termed as wrapping of the "fifth face".
[0016] Finally and in accordance with another of the
characteristics of the invention, it has also been foreseen that
between the film-feeding spool and the guide roller through which
said film is channelled to the pallet, two rollers are mounted for
pre-stretching the film, both motor-driven, in such a manner that
the stretching is produced by means of different velocities in one
and the other roller and over a very short segment or path, it
being moreover possible to graduate or vary at will the desired
degree of stretching by means of the appropriate relative velocity
between the two rollers, adapting it specifically to the quality or
characteristics of the film with which one is working.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] To complete the description being made and for the purpose
of assisting in a better understanding of the characteristics of
the invention, in accordance with a preferred practical embodiment
thereof, attached hereto as an integral part of said description,
is a set of drawings in which, by way of illustration and not
restrictively, the following is shown:
[0018] FIG. 1.- Shows a schematic top plan representation of a
packing machine, in which, through the presentation of various
positions for the headstock supplying the plastic film, the
essential nature of the procedure of the invention can be
appreciated.
[0019] FIG. 2.- Shows, according to a general perspective, a
specific practical embodiment of the schematic machine of the
previous figure.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0020] In the light of the foregoing figures, and more specifically
FIG. 1 it can be seen how, in accordance with the procedure of the
invention, the pallet (1), with its load is maintained stationary,
whilst the spool (2) furnishing the film is the element which is
displaced around the pallet (1), but doing so with a rectangular
trajectory (3) according to the section of the pallet (1), in such
a manner that the headstock (4) bearing the aforementioned spool
(2) describes around the pallet (1) a trajectory in which four
rectilinear segments are described, parallel and close to the
respective faces of the pallet (1), related to each other through
orthogonal folds in correspondence with the upright edges of the
pallet (1), and more specifically with the load positioned
thereon.
[0021] In this manner it is achieved that the instantaneous
velocity of the spool (2) is constant over the entire surface of
the pallet (1), with the exception of the very short spans
corresponding to the inflections of said trajectory in
correspondence with the upright edges of the pallet, whereby the
tension in the plastic film (5) is likewise constant and uniform,
permitting a higher working speed, without the risk of tearing the
film (5) in question.
[0022] This special mobility of the spool (2), and more
specifically of the headstock (4) upon which the spool (2) is
mounted, is achieved with the collaboration of a robot (6) provided
with a multiple and articulated arm (7), to the free extremity (8)
of which is fastened the headstock (4), in such a manner that with
the assistance of a duly developed program for said robot (6), the
aforementioned movements of the headstock (4) are achieved around
the pallet (1).
[0023] The robot (6) can produce exclusively the circumferential
movement of the headstock (4) around the pallet (1), following the
rectangular trajectory of which mention has been made previously,
in such a manner that said headstock (4) is not directly mounted on
the extremity of the multiple arm (7) of the robot, but instead
said headstock (4) is mounted on vertical guide rails (9), as can
be seen in FIG. 2, which are in association with the extremity of
the multiple arm (7) of the robot, in a such a manner that the
necessary motion of the spool (2), for the helical wrapping of the
film (5) is produced by means of displacement of the headstock (4)
on the guide rails (9), whilst the latter, driven by the robot (6),
describe the rectangular trajectory (3) or, as in the case of FIG.
1 the headstock (4) can be directly fastened to the free extremity
(8) of the multiple arm (7) of the robot, in which case said robot
(6) must provide simultaneously the headstock with both movements,
the annular movement (3) around the pallet (1) and the parallel and
complementary vertical displacement of said headstock (4).
[0024] In any case, provision has been made so that the spool (2)
may be mounted on the headstock (4) with interposition of a
gyratory disc (10) which permits the spool (2) to take up a
vertical disposition, corresponding to the lateral wrapping of the
pallet (1) with its load, that shown in FIG. 1, or to adopt a
suitably inclined disposition, as shown in FIG. 2, for the wrapping
of the top base defined by the load of the pallet (1).
[0025] In both cases provision is also made between the spool (2)
that feeds the film and the delivery roller (11), that is the piece
which suitably channels it towards the pallet (1), for a pair of
stretching drums or rollers (12) to be fitted, both motor-driven,
substantially close to one another, as is shown in FIG. 1 and
having distinct and adjustable speeds, in order to permit, in turn,
the degree of stretching in the film to be regulated as a function
of the characteristics thereof. In this sense and for example when
the film is of poor quality, provided in origin with some small
hole, when the stretching takes place said hole logically grows, it
being possible that it extend in an uncontrolled manner with the
conventional systems to the point where the film tears, whilst the
rollers (12) of the invention, by determining a very short
stretching space, do not grant sufficient time for the "expansion"
of said holes, thereby limiting considerably the risk of
tearing.
* * * * *