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EP-4739586-A1 - DEVICE AND METHOD FOR STRAPPING PALLETIZED PACKAGED GOODS

EP4739586A1EP 4739586 A1EP4739586 A1EP 4739586A1EP-4739586-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for strapping palletized packaged goods (2), at least having a dispensing device (3) for providing a strapping band (4) and a band guiding device (5) for strapping the packaged goods (2) with the strapping band (4). According to the invention, the band guiding device (5) has at least one upper arm (6) and a lower arm (7) for guiding the strapping band (4), the upper arm (6) having an outlet region (6a) for guiding out a band end (4a) of the strapping band (4), the lower arm (7) having an inlet region (7a) for introducing the band end (4a), and the band guiding device (5) having an at least approximately vertical air gap (8) between the outlet region (6a) and the inlet region (7a). Furthermore, a weight element (9) of the band guiding device (5) can be detachably fastened to the strapping band (4) such that the strapping band (4) together with the weight element (9) can be fed to the inlet region (7a) of the lower arm (7) along the air gap (8) under the effect of gravity.

Inventors

  • KIMMERLE, ANDREAS

Assignees

  • Arkistra GmbH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20250723

Claims (20)

  1. 1. Device (1) for strapping palletized goods (2) comprising at least a dispensing device (3) for providing a strapping band (4) and a band guiding device (5) for strapping the goods (2) with the strapping band (4), wherein the band guiding device (5) has at least an upper arm (6) and a lower arm (7) for guiding the strapping band (4), wherein the upper arm (6) has an exit area (6a) for exiting a band end (4a) of the strapping band (4) and the lower arm (7) has an entry area (7a) for inserting the band end (4a), wherein the band guiding device (5) has an at least approximately vertical air gap (8) between the exit area (6a) and the entry area (7a), and wherein a drop body (9) the strapping device (5) can be detachably attached to the strapping band (4) so that the strapping band (4) with the falling body (9) can be guided by gravity along the air path (8) to the entry area (7a) of the lower arm (7).
  2. 2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the upper arm (6) and/or the lower arm (7) is extendable and/or retractable respectively, wherein the upper arm (6) and/or the lower arm (7) is preferably designed as a telescopic arm.
  3. 3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t , that the falling body (9) can be locked into or unlocked from an upper locking device (6b) of the upper arm (6) and/or from a lower locking device (7b) of the lower arm (7).
  4. 4. Device (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized by a return device (10) for returning the falling body (9) from the lower arm (7) in the direction of the upper arm (6), which preferably runs parallel to the air gap (8).
  5. 5. Device (1) according to claim 4, d a d u r c h g e ken n z e i c h n e t , that the return device (10) is designed as a circulating belt and/or circulating chain with at least one driver 10a for the falling body (9).
  6. 6. Device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the upper arm (6), the lower arm (7), the air gap (8) and/or the return device (10) together form an orbit for the falling body (9).
  7. 7. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, d a d u r c h g e ken n z e i c h n e t , that the lower arm (7) is height-adjustable.
  8. 8. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t , that an extension length of the upper arm (6) and/or an extension length of the lower arm (7) is measurable to ensure that the outlet area (6a) and the inlet area (7a) for forming the air gap (8) are aligned at least approximately vertically to each other.
  9. 9. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t , that a sensor (11 b) is provided on the lower arm (7) to detect when the lower arm (7) emerges below the packaged goods (2) during extension.
  10. 10. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, d a d u r c h g e ke n n z e i c h n e t , that an end of the lower arm (7) is inclined upwards and/or downwards.
  11. 11. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, d a d u r c h g e ken n z e i c h n e t , that the falling body (9) is designed as a chain segment.
  12. 12. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11 , d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t , that a strap joining device (13) is provided which is configured to stretch the strapping band (4) tightly around the packaged goods (2) and to join the end of the band (4a) and a section of the band together.
  13. 13. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, d a d u r c h g e ken n z e i c h n e t , that a lever device (14) is provided for lifting and/or pressing down the strapping band (4) or the section of the band to be connected to the end of the band (4a).
  14. 14. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a feed device, preferably at least a pair of feed rollers (15) is provided to unwind the strapping band (4) from the dispensing device (3) and thereby fill a band storage unit (16).
  15. 15. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t , that a control device, preferably at least a pair of control rollers (17) is provided to introduce the strapping band (4) in a controlled manner into the upper arm (6) of the band guide device (5) and/or to pull the strapping band (4) from the upper arm (6) back into the band storage (16).
  16. 16. Device (1) according to claim 15, d a d u r c h g e ke n n z e i c h n e t , that the control device (17) has a motor which can be operated both forwards and backwards.
  17. 17. Device (1) according to claim 15 or 16, characterized by the fact that the tape storage (16) is arranged between the feed device (15) and the control device (17).
  18. 18. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 17, d a d u r c h g e ken n z e i c h n e t , that the device (1) is mobile, preferably has wheels (18) and/or an accumulator (19).
  19. 19. Method for strapping palletized goods (2) with a strapping band (4), which indicates that at least the following steps are provided: (a) the strapping band (4) is pulled at least approximately horizontally over the packaged goods (2), after which (b) the strapping band (4) is dropped laterally past the packaged goods (2) by gravity over an at least approximately vertical air path (8), after which (c) the strapping band (4) is pulled at least approximately horizontally under the packaged goods (2), in particular through a pallet gap (12a), and thereafter (d) the strapping band (4) is stretched tightly around the packaged goods (2), and a strap end (4a) of the strapping band (4) and a section of the strapping band (4) are joined together.
  20. 20. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that The strapping band (4) is pulled over the packaged goods (2) in step (a) by means of an extendable or retractable upper arm (6) of a strap guiding device (5) and/or under the packaged goods (2) in step (c) by means of an extendable or retractable lower arm (7) of a strap guiding device (5).

Description

Device and method for strapping palletized packages The present application claims priority from German patent application No. 10 2024 121 263.2, the contents of which are incorporated herein in full by reference. The invention relates to a device for strapping palletized goods. The invention further relates to a method for strapping palletized goods with a strapping band. For storage and/or transport, goods, merchandise, and/or building materials (hereinafter also referred to as "packaged goods") are frequently packed on pallets. Pallets can be advantageously stacked and moved as needed using pallet jacks or forklifts. A preferred method for securing the items on the pallets is strapping. Boxes, cartons and/or packages can also be closed or tied using strapping tape. One challenge when strapping goods arranged on pallets is that the strapping band must pass through a gap or space between the goods and the floor on which the goods and pallet are standing. The strapping band should then be guided around the goods with minimal, ideally no, manual effort. Various strapping devices are known from the prior art. Previously known stationary solutions, especially those suitable for large packages, are mostly bulky and inflexible in terms of their positioning and application, but they do enable fast and automated strapping. In the prior art, fully automatic, stationary strapping systems are particularly well-known, in which the goods are fed in by means of a conveyor belt. The belt guide, which guides the strapping band around the goods, is usually designed as a channel that surrounds the goods. The strapping band is then shot through the channel from the band roll and subsequently tensioned, welded, and cut fully automatically. From EP 0 725 005 B1, a stationary strapping device is known in which the strapping band is shot around the packaged goods. The strapping band moves with the assistance of compressed air along at least one air path, i.e., it is not guided in a channel in certain sections. The strapping device known from EP 0 725 005 B1 is not suitable for strapping pallets. Stationary strapping devices known from the prior art enable fast and reliable strapping of packaged goods, but they are not mobile and can therefore only be used for specific applications. Furthermore, due to the rigid channel, stationary strapping devices are not universally applicable enough. In addition, the channel under the pallet must be closed, which requires considerable space. With mobile solutions, the strapping band must be guided around the package at least partially manually; that is, a closed loop cannot be formed around the package without further intervention or solely by the strapping device. Problems can arise particularly if the package is so tall that the operator can no longer easily reach the top. A particularly advantageous mobile device for guiding a strapping band around packaged goods is known from EP 1 053 941 B1. A particularly advantageous further development of this device, which enables a higher strapping speed and optimizes the determination of the deflection point, is known from EP 3 877 267 B1. EP 1 053 941 B1 describes a device for strapping or rebundling a palletized load, comprising a strap guide and at least one clamping device arranged at the front end of the strap guide for clamping an initial section or a front end of the strapping band. EP 1 053 941 B1 and the further development according to EP 3 877 267 B1 feature a back-stiffening chain, a guide carriage, a deflection unit, and a length-limiting band, which interact in such a way that the strapping band can be guided under the pallet, then deflected by approximately 90° and thus moved almost vertically upwards, and after reaching the top of the pallet, is deflected again and returned by a substantially vertical movement. After the strapping guide has wrapped the strapping band around the packaged goods, the front end of the strapping band is tensioned with a section of the strapping band that is still connected to the remaining portion on the spool and then preferably welded. The welding device is connected to the strapping device via a guide. Behind the weld, the strapping is cut, thus severing the connection to the remaining strapping on the roll. The resulting exposed end of the strap can then be used for another strapping operation. The aforementioned devices, known from the prior art, have proven to be very advantageous, particularly for enabling mobile strapping of packaged goods and reducing manual work. to minimize activities. The aforementioned devices can be used to advantage, especially with comparatively tall packages. The mobile strapping devices known from EP 1 053 941 B1 and EP 3 877 265 B1 enable advantageous mobile strapping, significantly reducing manual labor, such as walking around the pallet, bending, and/or manually joining the strap ends, compared to other mobile solutions. Furthermore, compared to other mobile strapp