MX2007003859A - Bander apparatus and method of using same. - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus for wrapping stacks (114) of web product (116) with wrap web material (112) supplied from a supply roll (176). The apparatus (110) includes a conveyor (118) for supporting and moving the stacks to be wrapped along a conveying path (115), a drive assembly (184) operable to receive wrap material from the supply roll and positively feed the wrap material to the conveying path, and a wrapping assembly (170) for manipulating the wrap material around the stack.; The method includes supporting and moving the stacks to be wrapped along a conveying path, rotating a cutting roll (196), clean cutting the wrap material received from the supply roll to separate a wrap sheet from the wrap material, defining a trailing edge of the wrap sheet, delivering the trailing edge to the conveying path after the wrap sheet is separated from the wrap material, and manipulating the wrap sheet around the stack.

Description

SEALANT APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR USING THE SAME FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatuses and methods for production and packaging of woven products, and more particularly to apparatuses and methods for sealing stacks of woven products. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Seal systems of the prior art, such as the sealing systems 10 of Figures 1-4, generally include feed conveyors 12, which move logs 14 of weft products to a wrapping station 16. Typically , the wrapping station 16 includes a roll 18 of wrapping material 20, which is positioned adjacent to the feed conveyor 12 for supplying wrapping weft material 20 to the wrapping station 16. As shown in Figure 1, the roll 18 typically feeds wrapping material 20 through a cutting assembly 24 and onto a discharge conveyor 26. Conventional cutting assemblies 24 generally include an anvil 30 having an outwardly extending blade blade 32 and an undercut roller 32. rotating cut 34 having blade blade 36 extending outwardly. In operation, the cutting roller 34 is rotated about its axis to intermittently and selectively engage the wrapping material 20 between the blade 36 of the cutting roller 34 and the blade 32 of the anvil 30. During this engagement, the. blades 32, 36 pierce the wrapping material 20, defining a wrapping sheet 38. After being perforated and as shown in Figure 2, the wrapping sheet 38 is typically fed upward towards the wrapping conveyor. discharge 26. The feed conveyor 12 then moves a log 14 through the wrapping station 16 and over the discharge conveyor 12, thereby pinching the leading edge of the wrapping sheet 38 between the leading edge of the log 14 and the discharge conveyor 26. As shown in Figure 2, the leading edges of the wrapping sheet 38 and the trunk 14 are then aligned. Typically, the discharge conveyor 26 continues to remove the wrapping sheet 38 upward and an actuator 40 moves in engagement with the wrapping sheet 38 to tear the wrapping sheet 38 in the perforation. The discharge conveyor 26 continues to pull the wrapping sheet 38 and the trunk 14 forward, aligning the trailing edge of the wrapping sheet 38 and the trailing edge of the trunk 14. Downwardly of wrapping station 16, wrapping sheet 38 it is typically bent up and around the trunk 14. The trunk 14 can then be cut into smaller piles or cuttings of raster product. COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION Some embodiments of the present invention provide a sealing apparatus for wrapping stacks of weft products with wrapping weft material fed from a supply roll. The sealing apparatus generally includes a conveyor for supporting and moving the stacks to be wrapped along a transport path, an operable conduit assembly for receiving wrapping weft material from the supply roll and positively feeding the material of wrapping to the transport route, and a wrapping assembly for manipulating the wrapping weft material around the stack. In some embodiments of the present invention, the sealing apparatus generally includes a conveyor for supporting and moving the batteries which are to be wrapped along a transport path and a rotary cutting roller for clean cutting of the wrapping weft material received from the supply roll to separate a wrapping sheet from the wrapping weft material and define a back edge of the wrapping sheet. The trailing edge is sent to the transport route after the wrapping sheet is separated from the material of the wrapping sheet. The sealing apparatus also includes a wrapping assembly for manipulating the wrapping weft material around the stack. In some modalities, the present invention includes a sealing apparatus for wrapping stacks of weft products with wrapping weft material fed from an unwinding roller about a roller shaft. The sealing apparatus generally includes a conveyor for supporting and moving the stacks to be wrapped along a transport path and an unwinding assembly including an operable mandrel for supporting the supply roller. The unwinding assembly generally includes a supply roller driver relative to the roller axis for unwinding the wrapping web material from the supply roll and supplying the wrapping web material to the transport route. The sealing apparatus also includes a wrapping assembly for manipulating the wrapping weft material around the stack. The invention also provides a method for wrapping stacks of weft products with wrapping weft material fed from a supply roll. The method generally includes supporting and moving the stacks to be wrapped along a transport route, receiving wrapping weft material from the supply roll and positively feeding the stock material. wrapping the transport route with an impeller assembly, and manipulating the wrapping weft material around the stack. In addition, the invention provides a method that generally includes supporting and moving the stacks to be wrapped along a transport path, rotating a cutting roller, clean cutting of the wrapping weave material received from the supply roller for separating a wrapping sheet from the wrapping wrap material, defining a trailing edge of the wrapping sheet, sending the trailing edge to the transport route after the wrapping sheet is separated from the wrapping sheet material, and manipulate the wrapping sheet around the pile. Independent features and independent advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims, and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, the similar reference numerals indicate similar parts: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a prior art sealing apparatus, showing the perforated wrapping weft material being fed to a first stack of raster products; Figure 2 is a schematic view of the sealing apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, showing the leading edge of the perforated wrap weft material aligned with the first stack of weft products; Figure 3 is a schematic view of the sealing apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, showing the perforated wrap weft material fed to a second stack of weft products; Figure 4 is a schematic view of the sealing apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, showing a first wrapping sheet separated from the perforated wrapping weft material; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the sealing apparatus of the present invention; Figure 6 is a schematic view of the sealing apparatus illustrated in Figure 5, showing the cutting rollers cutting the wrapper wrapping material; Figure 7 is a schematic view of the sealing apparatus illustrated in Figure 5, showing the leading edges of the wrapping weft material being fed to the transport route; Figure 8 is a schematic view of the sealing apparatus illustrated in Figure 5, showing the leading edges of the wrapping weft material being fed to adjacent stacks; Figure 9 is a schematic view of the sealing apparatus illustrated in Figure 5, showing the cutting rollers cutting the wrapper wrapping material; Figure 10 is a sectional cross-sectional view taken along that of line 10-10 of Figure 5, showing a guide assembly; Figure 11 is a side view of the guide assembly illustrated in FIG.

Figure 10; Figure 12A is a perspective view of the guide assembly illustrated in Figure 10; Figure 12B is a front view of the guide assembly illustrated in FIG.

Figure 10; Figure 12C is a bottom view of the guide assembly illustrated in FIG.

Figure 10; and Figure 12D is a side view of the guide assembly illustrated in FIG.

Figure 10; Before at least one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other constructions and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it should be understood that the phraseology and terminology used here with reference to the orientation element (such as, for example, terms such as "frontal", "above", "below", "above", "below", "towards "up", "down", "upstream", "downstream", etc.) are only used to simplify the description of the present invention, and not only indicate or imply that the referred element must maintain a particular orientation. In addition, terms such as "first" and "second" are used here for purposes of description and do not attempt to indicate or imply relative importance or relative significance. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figure 5 illustrates a sealing apparatus 0 capable of wrapping sheets of wrapping weave material (e.g., wrapping material) 112 around trimmings or stacks 114 of weft product 116. In some embodiments, the sealing apparatus 110 is located downstream of other weft manufacturing and processing apparatuses, such as an interleaver (not shown, but easily understood by those skilled in the art), which bends weft product sheets 116 to form elongated stacks or logs, Y a log saw (not shown, but easily understood by those skilled in the art), which cuts the trunks to form smaller stacks 114. In the illustrated embodiment, stacks 114 include a plurality of interfolded sheets 116, each It has free edges first and second. The sheets 116 of the stacks 114 are arranged so that the adjacent sheets 116 are folded in and oriented opposite the adjacent sheets 116. More specifically, the sheets 116 of the stacks 114 are interfolded, so that the second free edge of a upper sheet 116 is interfolded with the first free edge of an adjacent sheet 116 and so that the second free edge of adjacent sheet 1 6 is interfolded with the first free edge of another additional adjacent sheet 116. In most embodiments, the total of the stacks 114 is arranged in this manner except that the first free edge of the upper sheet 116 of the stack 114 and the second free edge of the lower sheet 116 of the stack 114 are not interspersed with free edges of adjacent sheets 116 While reference is made here to apparatus and methods for wrapping sheets of wrapping material 1 2 around stacks 114 of interleaved sheets of raster product 116, d It is to be understood that the sealing apparatus 110 and the sealing method discussed herein may also or alternatively be used to wrap or bind sheets 114 of the weft product 16, which are not interfolded. As shown in Figures 5-11, the sealing apparatus 110 may include lower and upper feed conveyors 118, 120, which receive batteries 114 from the upstream apparatus and are adapted to move the cells 14 in a downstream direction. along a transport route (represented by arrow 115 in Figures 5 and 6). In other modalities, the sealing apparatus 110 may include only a lower feed conveyor 1 8, which receives the piles 114 from upstream appliances and moves the piles 114 in a downstream direction along a transport route 115. In the embodiment illustrated of Figures 5-11, the lower feed conveyor 118 includes a band 126, which moves in a downstream direction along the transport route 115 around the pulleys 128, and the upper feed conveyor 120 includes a band 130, which also moves in a downstream direction along the transport route 115 around the pulleys 132 at substantially the same speed as the band 126 of the lower feed conveyor 1 8. In other embodiments, one or both of the conveyors of lower and upper feed 118, 120 can be a vacuum belt conveyor, a high friction belt, a pallet conveyor, or any another device suitable for driving the stacks 114 in a downstream direction along the transport path 115. In some embodiments, such as the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5-11, the lower and upper feed conveyors 118, 120 compress or they partially compress the stacks 114 before the stacks 114 are wrapped. In such embodiments, one or both of the lower and upper feed conveyors 118, 20 are angled or inwardly inclined between the respective upstream ends 136, 138 and the downstream ends 140, 142. More specifically, the upward end 138 of the feed conveyor 120 is spaced a first distance above the upstream end 36 of the lower feed conveyor 118 and the downstream end 142 of the top feed conveyor 120 is spaced a second smaller distance on the downstream end 140 of the lower feed conveyor 118. Conform the lower and upper feed conveyors 118, 120, move the batteries 114 in a downstream direction along the transport path 115, the lower and upper feed conveyors 118, 120 apply a force (represented by the dates F, F 'in Figure 6) to the piles 114 for compressing the piles 114 from a first size to a second smaller size (e.g., between approximately 50% and approximately 90% of its uncompressed size). In some preferred embodiments, the piles 114 are compressed to approximately 80% of their uncompressed size. In other embodiments, the piles 114 are compressed or partially compressed prior to entering the sealing apparatus 110. In such embodiments, the lower and upper feed conveyors 118, 120 receive the compressed or partially compressed piles 114 from the upstream apparatuses and apply a compressive force to the stacks 114 to maintain the stacks 114 in a compressed or partially compressed condition. In some such embodiments, the lower and upper feed conveyors 118, 120 are substantially parallel between the respective upstream and downstream ends 136, 138 and 140, 142. In the illustrated embodiment of Figures 5-11, the conveyors of lower and upper feed 118, 120 move the compressed or partially compressed piles 114 in a downstream direction along the transport route 115 to a wrapping station 146 and to the lower and upper unloading conveyors 154, 156. The conveyor bottom discharge 154 may include a band 160, which moves in a downstream direction at along the transport path 115 around the pulleys 162, and the upper discharge conveyor 156 may include a band 164, which also moves in a downstream direction along the transport path 115 around the pulleys 166 to substantially the same speed of the belt 160 of the lower discharge conveyor 154. In other embodiments, one or both of the lower and upper discharge conveyors 154, 156 may be a vacuum belt, a high friction belt, a pallet conveyor, or any other suitable device for moving the stacks 114 in a downstream direction along the transport path 115. In the illustrated embodiment of Figs. 5-11, the sealing apparatus 110 includes a first wrapping assembly 170 positioned below the wrapping station 146 and a second wrapping assembly 172 positioned on wrapping station 146. In other embodiments, sealing apparatus 110 may include an assembly single wrapping 170 located below the wrapping station 146, or alternatively, the sealing apparatus 110 can include a single wrapping assembly 172 located on the wrapping station 146. In other embodiments, one or more wrapping mounts can be located at other orientations with respect to wrapping station 146. As shown in Figures 5-9, the first wrapping assembly 170 includes a supply of wrapping material 112. In the illustrated embodiment, the wrapping material 112 is wound around a supply roll 176, which is supported on a mandrel or spindle 178. The first wrap assembly 170 may also include an unwind drive assembly (eg, an internal combustion engine, a variable speed motor, a servo motor, a stepper motor, an induction motor, a synchronized reluctance motor, a brushless motor, a brush-type motor, and the like) 180, which selectively rotates the supply roller 176 on the spindle 178 to unwrap the wrapping material 112 from the supply roll 176 and to supply the wrapping material 112 to the wrapping station 146. As explained in greater detail above, the rotation speed of the spindle 178 can be adjusted to control the percentage to which the wrapping material 112 is supplied to the wrapping station 146 and to adjust the outer diameter that changes of the roller 176 as the wrapping material 1 2 has been consumed. The first wrapping assembly 170 may also include a drive assembly 184, which is operable to receive wrapping material 112 from the supply roller 176 and to positively feed the wrapping material 112 toward the transport path 15. In some embodiments, the drive assembly 184 includes withdrawal rollers 186, 188, which are located between supply roller 176 and wrapping station 146. A servo motor or other similar drive (e.g., an internal combustion engine, a variable speed motor , a stepper motor, an induction motor, a synchronized reluctance motor, a brushless motor, a brush-type motor and the like) 190 is located adjacent the rollers 186, 188 and is operable to rotate the rollers 186, 188 in opposite directions on their respective axes for extracting the wrapping material 112 from the supply roller 176 and directing the wrapping material 112 through the cutting assembly 192 and to wrapping station 146. In other embodiments, other conventional driving assemblies for example reversible conveyors, pallet conveyors, vacuum belts, and the like (can be used to receive wrapping material 112 from the roller of supply 176 and to positively feed the wrapping material 112 to the transport route 115). In the illustrated embodiment of Figures 6-9, the cutting assembly 192 includes an anvil 194 and a rotary cutting roller 196 spaced a distance from the anvil 194. Together, the anvil 194 and the cutting roller 196 define a holding point 198. The anvil 194 includes a blade blade 200, which extends towards the cutting roller 196 through at least a portion of the holding point 198. The cutting roller 196 is rotatable about its own axis and includes a blade blade 202 that extends outwardly so that when the cutting roller 196 rotates on its own axis, the blade 202 of the cutting roller 196 is selectively and intermittently aligned with the blade 200 of the anvil 194 for clean cutting of the wrapping sheets 204 from the wrapping material 112. In others embodiments, the cutting assembly 192 may include other cutting elements and cutting sheets that are selectively and intermittently engageable to cut the wrapping sheets 204 from the wrapping material 112. For example, in some In embodiments (not shown), the cutting assembly 192 may include a pair of rotating cutting rollers having outwardly extending blades, which are selectively and intermittently engageable to cut the wrap sheets 204 from the wrapper material 112. As used herein and in the appended claims, the term "clean cut" refers to cuts and methods of cutting that substantially separate two items, against cuts and cutting methods that perforate an item or partially separate the two items. The term "clean cut" as used herein and in the claims that are added does not mean that it implies or dictates that a cut is right or that the cut items do not have strands, tabs, tassels, or threads that extend outward. The rotation speed of the cutting roller 196, the diameter of the cutting roller 196, and the feeding ratio of the wrapping material 112 are selected so that the wrapping sheets 204 are cut to have a size corresponding to the size of the wrapping sheets. stacks 114. More specifically, in some embodiments and as shown in Figs. 6-9, the cutting roller rotation speed 196, the diameter of the cutting roller 196, and the feed ratio of the wrapping material 112 are selected. to provide wrapping sheets 204 having a length measured from a first terminal to a second terminal which is substantially equal to the length of a stack 114 measured between a leading edge and a trailing edge. In these embodiments, the rotation speed of the cutting roller 196, the diameter of the cutting roller 196, and the feeding ratio of the wrapping material 112 can be adjusted to cut smaller or larger wrapping sheets 204 for more wrapping trunks. small or larger 114. With respect to the illustrated embodiment of Figs. 5-9, When the blade 202 of the cutting roller 196 and the blade 200 of the anvil 194 are not aligned, as shown in Fig. 7 and 8, the extraction rollers 186, 188 rotate on ^. your own axes and force the wrapping material 1 of wrapper 146 between the down terminal 140 of the lower feed conveyor 118 and the upward terminal 150 of the lower discharge conveyor 154. In some embodiments, the first wrap assembly 170 includes a guide 208 for directing the wrapper material 112. upwards towards the wrapping station 146 between the downward terminal 140 of the conveyor of bottom feed 118 and the upward terminal 150 of the bottom discharge conveyor 154. In the illustrated embodiment of Figures 6-9, the guide 208 is located between the downward terminal 140 of the lower feed conveyor 1 8 and the terminal upwards 150 of the lower discharge conveyor 154. An upper surface 210 of the guide 208 may extend through at least a portion of the distance between the upper surface of the lower feed conveyor 118 and the upper surface of the lower discharge conveyor 154. In FIG. operation, the upper surface 210 of the guide 208 prevents the stacks 114 from becoming blocked or lodged between the lower feed conveyor 8 and the lower discharge conveyor 154 when the stacks 114 move through the wrapping station 146. In the illustrated embodiment of Figures 6-9, the guide 208 includes a lip 2 2, which extends downward from e the upper surface 2 0 towards the cutting assembly 192. As shown in Figures 6-9, at least a portion of the lip 212 may be curved. In operation, when the extraction rollers 186, 188 push the wrapping sheets 204 upwardly between the downward terminal 140 of the lower feed conveyor 118 and the upward terminal 150 of the lower discharge conveyor 154, the front ends of the sheets of wrapping 204 contact the lip 212, which directs the leading edges of the wrapping sheets 204 downward toward the upward terminal 150 of the lower unloading conveyor 154. As mentioned above, in some embodiments, such as the illustrated embodiment of Figure 5-9, of the sealing apparatus 110 includes a second wrapping assembly 172 positioned on and between the downward terminal 142 of the feed conveyor 120 and the upward terminus 152 of the upper discharge conveyor 156. In such embodiments, the second wrapping assembly 172 includes a supply of wrapping material 112. In the illustrated embodiment, the wrapping material 112 is wound around a supply roll 254, which is supported on a mandrel or spindle 226. The second wrapping assembly 170 may also include an unwinder conducting assembly (eg, an internal combustion engine, a variable speed motor, a servo motor, a step motor , an induction motor, a synchronous reluctance motor, a brushless motor, a brush motor, and the like) 228, which selectively rotates the supply roller 224 on the screw 226 to unwrap the casing material 112 from the platen roller. supply 224 and supply the wrapping material 12 to wrapping station 146. As explained in more detail below, the rotation speed of the wick 226 can be adjusted to control the speed at which wrapping material 112 is supplied to the wrapping station 146 and to accommodate the changing outer diameter of the supply roller 224 when the wrapping material 112 is being consumed. The second wrapping assembly 172 may also include a conduit assembly 230, which is operable to receive wrapping material 112 from the supply roll 224 and to positively feed the wrapping material 112 to the transport route 115. In some embodiments , the conduit assembly 230 includes peel rolls 232, 234, which are located between the supply roll 224 and the wrapping station 146. A servo motor or other similar conductor (e.g., an internal combustion engine, a motor of variable speed, stepper motors, induction motors, synchronous reluctance motors, a brushless motor, a motor brush type and similar) 236 is located adjacent the rollers 232, 234 and is operable to rotate the rollers 232, 234 in opposite directions on their respective axes to extract the wrapping material 112 from the supply roller 224 and to direct the wrapping material 112 through a cutting assembly 240 and downward towards the wrapping station 146. In other embodiments, other conventional driving arrangements (eg, reversible conveyors, vane conveyors, vacuum belts, and the like) can be used to receive wrapping material 112 from the supply roller 224 and to positively feed the wrapping material 2 to the transport route 115. In the illustrated embodiment of Figures 6-9, the cutting assembly 240 includes an anvil 242 and a rotary cutting roller 244 spaced a distance from the anvil 242. Together, the anvil 242 and the cutting roller 244 define a fastening point 246. The anvil 242 includes a blade of c uchilla 250, which extends towards the cutting roller 244 through at least a portion of the fastening point 246. The trimming roll 244 is rotatable about its own axis and includes an outwardly extending blade sheet 252, of so that when the cutting roller 244 is rotated about to be spindle, the blade 252 of the cutting roller 244 is selectively and intermittently aligned with the blade 250 of the anvil 242 for clean cutting of the wrapping sheets 256 from the wrapping material 112. In other embodiments, the cutting assembly 240 may include other cutting elements and cutting blades that are selectively and intermittently engageable to cut wrapping sheets 256 from the wrapping material 112. For example, in some embodiments (not shown), the assembly cutting 240 may include a pair of rotating cutting rollers having sheets that extend outwardly, which are selectively and intermittently coupled to cut the wrapping sheets 256 from the wrapping material 112. The rotational speed of the cutting roller 244, the diameter of the cutting roller 244, and the feed ratio of the coating material. Wrapper 112 are selected so that wrapping sheets 256 are cut to have a size corresponding to the size of stacks 114. More specifically, in some embodiments and as shown in Figures 6-9, the roller rotational speed of cutting 244, the diameter of the cutting roller 244, and the feeding ratio of the wrapping material 112 are selected to provide wrapping sheets 256 having a length measured from a first terminal to a second terminal which is substantially equal to the length of a stack 114 measured between the leading edge and a trailing edge. In these embodiments, the rotation speed of the cutting roller 244, the diameter of the cutting roller 244, and the feeding ratio of the wrapping material 112 can be adjusted for smaller or larger cuts of the wrapping sheets 256 for wrapping trunks. smaller or larger 114. With respect to the illustrated embodiment of Figures 5-9, when the blade 252 of the cutting roller 244 and the blade 250 of the anvil 242 are not aligned, as shown in Figure 7 and 8 , the extraction rollers 232, 234 rotate about their axes and force the wrapping material 112 downwardly towards the wrapping station 146 between the downward terminal 142 of the upper feed conveyor 120 and the upward terminus 152 of the upper discharge conveyor. 156. In some embodiments, the second wrapping assembly 172 includes a guide 260 for directing the wrapping material 112 downward toward the wrapping station 146 between the downward terminal 142 of the upper feed conveyor 120 and the upward terminal 152 of the upper discharge conveyor 156. In the illustrated embodiment of Figures 6-9, the guide 260 is located between the terminal downwardly 42 of the upper feed conveyor 118 and the upward terminus 152 of the upper discharge conveyor 156. A lower surface 262 of the guide 260 may extend through at least a portion of the distance between the lower surface of the upper feed conveyor 120. and the lower surface of the upper discharge conveyor 156. In operation, the lower surface 262 of the guide 260 prevents the stacks 114 from becoming stuck or lodged between the upper feed conveyor 120 and the upper discharge conveyor 156 when the stacks 14 move through the wrapping station 146. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 5-9, the guide 260 also includes a lip 264, which extends upwardly from the lower surface 262 toward the cutting assembly 240. As shown in Figures 6-9, at least a portion of the lip 262 can be curved. In operation, when the extraction rollers 232, 234 push the wrapping sheets 256 down between the downward terminal 142 of the upper feed conveyor 120 and the upwardly facing terminal 152 of the upper discharge conveyor 156, the leading edges of the sheets wrapper 256 contacts the lip 264, which directs the leading edges of the wrapper sheets 256 downward toward the downstream terminal 152 of the top discharge conveyor 156. In some embodiments, the sealing apparatus 110, also includes a controller 270 , which controls and coordinates the operation of the first and / or second wrapping assemblies 170, 172. For example, in some embodiments, the controller 270 controls and coordinates the operation of the lower and upper feed conveyors 118, 120 and the lower and upper discharge conveyors 154, 156. In such embodiments, the controller 270 ensures that the lower and upper feed conveyors 118, 120 and lower and upper discharge conveyors 154, 156 operate at controlled speeds (between about 6096 cm / min (200 ft / min) and 7010.4 cm / min (230 ft / min). In other embodiments, the sealing apparatus 110 can including a sincrinization band (not shown) which ensures that the lower and upper feed conveyors 118, 120 and the lower and upper discharge conveyors 154, 156 operate at controlled speeds.The controller 270 can also control and coordinate the operation of the cutting rolls 196, 244. In such embodiments, the controller 270 ensures that the cutting rolls 196, 244 rotate at a desired speed to cut the ho wrappers 204, 256 that have a desired length. In addition, in some embodiments, the controller 270 may be programmed to increase or decrease the speed of rotation of the cutting rolls 196, 244 to increase or decrease the length of the wrapping sheets 204, 256 supplied to the wrapping station 146. controller 270 may also control and coordinate the operation of driving assemblies 84, 230 to ensure that sufficient wrapping material 112 is supplied to cutting assemblies 192, 240 respectively. In such embodiments, the controller 270 is operable to selectively increase or decrease the speed of one or both of the driving assemblies 184, 230 to selectively increase or decrease the size of the wrapping sheets 204, 256.

In some embodiments, the controller 270 is operable to adjust the rotation speed of the supply rollers 176, 224. In such embodiments, the first wrapping assembly 170 may include one or more oscillating rollers 274 located between the supply roller 176 and the conduit assembly 184 and the second wrapping assembly 172 may include one or more oscillating rollers 276 located between the supply roller 224 and the conduit assembly 230. In such embodiments, the controller 270 may be in communication with the oscillating rollers 274 , 276 to receive data related to the tension of the wrapping material 112 between the supply roll 176 and the conduit assembly 184 and between the supply roll 224 and the conduit assembly 230. By comparison of the voltage data with the data of pre-programmed voltage, the controller 270 can determine whether the supply rollers 176, 224 are rotating at a rotational speed of Estiated Further, if the supply rollers 176, 224 are not rotating at a desired rotational speed, the controller 270 can be programmed to increase or decrease the rotational speed of the supply rollers 176, 224 to ensure that the wrapping material 112 is continuously supplied to the wrapping station 46. In some embodiments, the controller 270 may also be programmed to increase the rotation speed of the supply rollers 176, 224 in response to the changing diameters of the supply rollers 176, 224 when the material of wrapping 112 is being consumed. In such embodiments, the controller 270 can be programmed to increase the speed of rotation of the supply rollers 176, 224, when the wrapping material 112 is consumed and when the diameters of the supply rollers 176, 224 decrease.

In other embodiments, the sealing apparatus 110 may include position sensors (e.g., photo door sensors, position switches, etc.) 280 positioned along the transport path 115 to record the position of the stacks 114. In some of such embodiments, the controller 270 is operable to adjust the operating speed of one or more of the lower and upper feed conveyors 118120, the upper and lower discharge conveyors 154, 156, the unwinder guide assemblies 180, 228, the guide assemblies 184, 230 and the cutting assemblies 192, 240 based on the position data of the logs received from the position sensors 280 to ensure that the wrapping sheets 204, 256 are properly aligned over the lower and upper surface of the stacks 4. The controller 270 can also be programmed to adjust the operating speed of one or more of the feed conveyors lower and upper 118, 120, the lower and upper discharge conveyors 154, 156, the un-winding conduit assemblies 180, 228 the conduit assemblies 184, 230, and the cutting assemblies 192, 240 to accommodate the different sizes of the batteries 114. In some such embodiments, the controller 270 may be programmed to adjust one or more of the above-mentioned operating speeds based on the data of the size of the logs received from the sensors 280. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the sealing apparatus 110 can be operated to cut wrapping sheets 204, 256 having a number of different sizes corresponding to a number of stacks of different sizes. Specifically, the sealing apparatus 110 can be operated to cut wrapping sheets 204, 256 having a length measured between an edge front and a rear edge of 182.88 cm (6 ft) or more. The sealing apparatus 110 of the present invention can also be operated to cut wrapping sheets 204, 256 having a length measured between a leading edge and a trailing edge of 15.24 cm (6 in) or less. In other embodiments, the sealing apparatus 110 can be operated to cut wrapping sheets 204, 256 having still shorter lengths, with a minimum length of the wrapping sheets 204, 256 being limited only by the distance between the driving assemblies 184. , 230 and wrapping station 146. As mentioned before, conventional sealing devices pinch the wrapping sheets between the conveyors and the trunks of the weft products so that the conveyors can extract the wrapping sheets in engagement with the wrapping products. trunks Such conventional sealing apparatuses are capable of pinching sheets of shorter wrappers and are thus unable to wrap relatively small trunks. The sealing apparatus 110 of the present invention can wrap shorter trunks than conventional sealing devices because, among other things, the conduit assemblies 184, 230 positively feed the wrapping sheets 204, 256 towards the wrapping station 146. and therefore do not require longer wrapping sheets 204, 256. Figures 6-9 better illustrate the operation of the sealing apparatus 10 of the present invention. Starting with Figure 6, the lower and upper feed conveyors 118, 120 move the piles 114 along the transport route 115 to the wrapping station 146. In embodiments having wrapping assemblies 70 placed between the feed conveyor. lower 118 and bottom discharge conveyor 154, extraction rollers 186, 188 of the first wrapping assembly 170 direct wrapping material 112 from the supply roll 176 and feed the wrapping material 112 to the cutting assembly 192. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the take-up rollers 186, 188 feed the wrapping material 12 between the anvil 194 and the cutting roller 196 and direct the wrapping material 112 upwards towards the wrapping station 146. In embodiments having a guide 208, the guide 208 also or alternatively directs the leading edge of the material of casing 112 upwardly and laterally to the transport path 115. With reference to Figure 9, when the leading edge of the casing material 12 contacts the upward edge 150 of the lower discharge conveyor 154, the lower feed conveyor 118 moves. a stack 114 through the upper surface 210 of the guide 208 and on the leading edge of the wrapping sheet 204, pinching the leading edge 11 2 of the wrapping material 112 between the lower discharge conveyor 154 and the leading edge of the stack 114. The lower discharge conveyor 154 and the conduit assembly 184 then cooperate to feed the wrapping material 112 through the wrapping station 146 until the blade 202 of the cutting roller 196 rotates in engagement with the blade 200 of the anvil 194 , thus cutting a wrapping sheet 204 from the wrapping material 112. As shown in Figure 9, the lower unloading conveyor 154 continues to feed the wrapping sheet 204 upwardly and along the transport route 115. until the wrapping sheet 204 is placed on the lower surface of the stack 114 with the leading edge of the wrapping sheet 204 aligned with the leading edge of the stack 114 and the trailing edge of the wrapping sheet 204 is aligned with the trailing edge of the stack 114. In embodiments having wrapping assemblies 172 positioned on and between the upper feed conveyor 120 and the upper discharge conveyor 156, the extraction rollers 232, 234 of the second wrapping assembly 172 entrain wrapping material 112 from the supply roll 224 and feed the wrapping material 112 to the cutting assembly 240. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the take-up rolls 232, 234 feed the wrapping material 2 between the anvil 242 and the cutting roller 244 and direct the wrapping material 112 downward towards the wrapping station 146. In embodiments having a guide 260, the guide 260 also or alternatively directs the leading edge of the wrapping material 112 downwardly and laterally to the transport path 15. As shown in Figure 6, when the leading edge of the wrapping material 112 contacts the upwardly facing terminal 152 of the upper unloading conveyor 156, the feed conveyor upper 120 moves a stack 14 through the lower surface 262 of the guide 260 and over the leading edge of the wrapping sheet 256, pinching the edge of the front of the wrapping material 112 between the upper discharge conveyor 156 and the leading edge of the stack 114. The upper discharge conveyor 156 and the conduit assembly 230 then cooperate to feed the wrapping material 112 through the wrapping station 146 until the blade 252 of the cutting roller 244 is rotated in engagement with the blade 250 of the anvil 242 , in this manner by cutting a wrapping sheet 256 from the wrapping material 12.

As shown in Figure 7, the upper discharge conveyor 156 continues to feed the wrapping sheet 256 downwardly toward and along the transport path 115 until the wrapping sheet 256 is placed on the upper surface of the stack 14 with the leading edge of the wrapping sheet 256 aligned with the leading edge of the stack 4 and the trailing edge of the wrapping sheet 204 aligned with the trailing edge of the stack 114. This process is then repeated as many times as necessary to place the wrapping sheets on the upper and / or lower sides of the stacks 114 before the stacks 114 are directed down for further processing of weft and manufacturing apparatus. For example, in some embodiments, the stacks 114 are directed downward toward the frame benders (not shown but readily understood by those skilled in the art) which fold the sides of the lower wrapping sheets 204 up and around at least a portion of the stacks 114 and which fold the sides of the upper wrapping sheets 256 downwardly and around at least a portion of the stacks 114. In some such embodiments, the stacks 114 are further directed downward toward adhesive applicators (also not shown but easily understood by those skilled in the art), which apply adhesive to coat portions of the upper and lower wrapping sheets 204, 256 for attaching the upper and lower wrapping sheets 204, 256 and for tying the wrapping sheets 204, 256 around the stacks 114. In some embodiments, such as the illustrated embodiment of the FIGS. 5 and 10-12D, the sealing apparatus 110 may also include a guide assembly 290, which may be located along the transport route 115 between the lower and upper discharge conveyors 154, 156. In such embodiments, the guide assembly 290 may include a roller 292 and a bypass mechanism 294, which urges the roller 292 outwardly and into the transport path 115. In such embodiments, the roller 292 couples the stacks 114 and aligns the sheets 116 in the stacks 1 4. The rollers 292 can also force the folded sides of the upper wrapping sheets 156 down and around at least a portion of the stacks 114 and can force the folded sides of the lower wrapping sheets 204 up and around of at least a portion of the stacks 4 to form a snug wrap around the stacks 114. In some embodiments, the guide assembly 290 can be located downwardly from the adhesive applicators and operable to press together the adhesive and the sheets of adhesive. wrapping 204, 256. To improve the engagement between the outer surface of the rollers 292 and the stacks 114, or alternatively, between the rollers 292 and the wrapping sheets 204, 256, the The outer surface of the roller 292 can be machined (for example knurled, grooved, and the like). Alternatively or in addition, the outer surface of the roller 292 may be at least partially covered with a high friction coating, such as a rubber coating. Several features of the invention are based on the following claims.

Claims (56)

1. CLAIMS 1. A sealing apparatus for wrapping piles of weft products with wrapping weft material supplied from a supply roll, the sealing apparatus comprising: a conveyor for supporting and moving the piles to be wrapped along a route Of transport; an operable driving assembly for receiving wrapping weft material from a supply roll and positively feeding the wrapping material to the transport path; and a wrapping assembly for manipulating the wrapping weft material around the stack. The sealing apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that the driving assembly includes a pair of drive rollers driven by at least one servo motor. 3. The sealing apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a controller in communication with the servo motor and operable to determine the length of the wrap weave material positively feeds the transport path based on the rotations of the servo motor. 4. The sealing apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that the driving assembly is positioned between the transport path and the supply roller. The sealing apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that the wrapping weft material includes a leading edge and the stack includes a leading edge, the operable driving assembly for positively conducting the leading edge of the weft wrapping material in the transport route and in alignment with the leading edge of the pile. 6. The sealing apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a controller in communication with the driving assembly, the controller Operable to control the position of the leading edge by controlled adjustment of the driving assembly. 7. The sealing apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a sensor in the transport path, the controller in communication with the sensor and operable to determine the position of the leading edge of the stack. The sealing apparatus of claim 7, characterized in that the conveyor moves the stack at a speed, and wherein the controller is operable to adjust the driving assembly to substantially align the leading edge of the wrapping weft material with the edge Front of the stack in the transport path based on the position of the leading edge of the stack and the speed of the conveyor. The sealing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rotary cutting roller for clean cutting of the wrapping weft material received from the conduit assembly to separate a wrapping sheet from the wrapping weft material and defining an edge rear of the wrapping sheet, the trailing edge sent to the transport route after the wrapping sheet is separated from the wrapping weft material. 10. A sealing apparatus for wrapping stacks of weft products with wrapping weft material supplied from a supply roll, the sealing apparatus comprising: a conveyor for supporting and moving the stacks to be wrapped along a path of transport; a rotary cutting roller for clean cutting of the wrapping weft material received from the supply roll to separate a wrapping sheet from the wrapping weft material and defining a trailing edge of the wrapping sheet, the trailing edge sent to the route of transport after the wrapping sheet is separated from the material of the wrapping sheet; and a wrapping assembly for manipulating the wrapping weft material around the stack. The sealing apparatus of claim 10, characterized in that the cutting roller is rotated by a servo motor. The sealing apparatus of claim 11 further comprises a controller in communication with the servo motor and operable to determine the location of the trailing edge of the wrapping sheet and a leading edge of the wrapping material of the wrapping when the roller Cut separates the wrapping sheet from the wrapping wrap material. 13. The sealing apparatus of claim 10, characterized in that the cutting roller is placed between the transport route and the supply roller. The sealing apparatus of claim 10, characterized in that the stack includes a length and the wrapping sheet includes a length, the length of the wrapping sheet material being approximately equal to the length of the stack. 15. The sealing apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a conductive assembly operable to receive wrapping weave material from the supply roll and positively feed the wrapping material towards the cutting roll. 16. The sealing apparatus of claim 15, characterized in that the cutting roller is positioned between the driving assembly and the transport route. 17. The sealing apparatus of claim 10, characterized in that the wrapping sheet is entrained in the transport route after the cutting roller separates the wrapping sheet from the wrapping wrapping material. The sealing apparatus of claim 17, characterized in that the wrapping sheet includes a compressed upstream portion between the stack and the conveyor in the transport route, the movement of the stack and the conveyor that detaches the trailing edge of the container. wrapping sheet on the transport route. The sealing apparatus of claim 10, characterized in that the cutting roller includes a blade, and characterized in that the sealing apparatus further comprises a stationary anvil blade positioned to selectively contact the blade of the cutting roller in order to separate the wrapping sheet of the wrapping wrap material. 20. A sealing apparatus for wrapping stacks of weft products with wrapping weft material supplied with a rotating unwinding roller about a roller axis, the sealing apparatus comprising: a conveyor for supporting and moving the stacks to be wrapped along a transport route; an unwinding assembly including a mandrel operable to support the supply roller, the unwinding assembly including a supply roller motor for rotating the mandrel and positively driving the rotation of the supply roller around the roller axis to unwind the material from the roller. wrapping frame of the supply roller and supplying the wrapping web material to the transport route; an operable driving assembly for receiving wrapping material from the supply roll; and a wrapping assembly for manipulating the wrapping weft material around the stack. 21. The sealing apparatus of claim 20, characterized in that the supply roller guide assembly is a servo motor. 22. The sealing apparatus of claim 20, characterized in that the unwinding assembly includes a dancer roller in contact with the wrapping weft material to be unwrapped from the supply roll, the dancer roller movable in response to a tension of the stock material. wrapping wrap. 23. The sealing apparatus of claim 22, characterized in that it further comprises a controller in communication with the dancer roller and the supply roller motor, the controller operable to adjust the speed of rotation of the unwinding roller motor based on the movement of the dancer roller. 24. The sealing apparatus of claim 20, characterized in that the conduit assembly includes extraction rollers driven by at least one servo motor. 25. The sealing apparatus of claim 24, characterized in that it further comprises a controller in communication with the driving assembly, the operable controller for calculating a feeding rate of wrapping weft material moving through the driving assembly. 26. The sealing apparatus of claim 25, characterized in that the controller is in communication with the supply assembly of the supply roller, the operable controller for calculating the approximate diameter of the supply roller based on the rotation of the roller driving assembly. of supply and the feeding ratio of the envelope material of the envelope. 27. The sealing apparatus of claim 26, characterized in that the controller provides a warning to indicate when the supply roll is in need of replacement. 28. The sealing apparatus of claim 26, characterized in that the controller finely adjusts the speed of the supply roller motor based on the approximate calculation of the diameter of the supply roll. 29. A method for wrapping piles of weft products with wrapping weft material supplied from a supply roll, the method comprising: support and movement of the piles to be wrapped along a transport route; receiving the wrapping material from the wrapping of a supply and feed roll positively from the wrapping weft material to the transport route with a driving assembly; and handling the wrapping material of the wrapper around the stack. 30. The method of claim 29, characterized in that the positive feeding of the wrapping material includes driving a pair of withdrawal rollers with at least one servo motor. 31. The method of claim 30, characterized in that it further comprises the determination of the length of the wrapping web material that positively feeds the transport path based on the rotation of the servo motor. 32. The method of claim 29, characterized in that it further comprises the placement of the driving assembly between the transport path and the supply roller. 33. The method of claim 29, characterized in that it further comprises positively driving a leading edge of the weft material. of wrapping within the transport path and within the alignment with a leading edge of the stack. 34. The method of claim 33, characterized in that it further comprises control of the placement of the leading edge by controlled adjustment of the driving assembly. 35. The method of claim 34, characterized in that it further comprises detection by sensors of the position of the leading edge of the stack. 36. The method of claim 35, characterized in that it further comprises adjusting the driving assembly to substantially align the leading edge of the wrapping material of the sheath with the leading edge of the stack in the transport route based on the position of the edge. front and the speed of the conveyor. 37. The method of claim 29, characterized in that it further comprises the rotation of a cutting roller for clean cutting of the wrapping material of the envelope received from a conducting assembly, the separation of a wrapping sheet from the wrapping material of wrapping, and defining a back edge of the wrapping sheet. 38. The method of claim 29, characterized in that it further comprises sending the trailing edge towards the transport path after the wrapping sheet is separated from the wrapping sheet material. 39. A method for wrapping piles of weft products with wrapping weft material supplied from a supply roll, the method comprising: supporting and moving the piles which will be wrapped along a transport route; the rotation of a cutting roller; the clean cut of the material wrapping of the envelope received from the supply roll to separate a wrapping sheet from the wrapping wrap material; the definition of a trailing edge of the wrapping sheet; sending the trailing edge to the transport route after the wrapping sheet has been separated from the material of the wrapping sheet; and the manipulation of the wrapping sheet around the stack. 40. The method of claim 39, characterized in that the rotation of the cutting roller includes rotation of the cutting roller by a servo motor. 41. The method of claim 40, characterized in that it further comprises determining the location of the trailing edge of the wrapping sheet and a leading edge of the wrapping weft material when the cutting roller separates the wrapping sheet from the wrapping material of the wrapping sheet. envelope. 42. The method of claim 39, characterized in that it further comprises the placement of the cutting roller between the transport route and the supply roller 43. The method of claim 39, characterized in that the length of the wrapping sheet is The method of claim 39, characterized in that it further comprises receiving the wrapping weft material from the supply roll and positively feeding the wrapping material to the cutting roll with a furthermore, the method of claim 44, characterized in that it further comprises the positioning of the cutting roller between the driving assembly and the transport route. 46. The method of claim 39, further characterized in that it comprises removing the wrapping sheet within the transport route after the cutting roller separates the wrapping sheet from the wrapping wrapping material. 47. The method of claim 46, characterized in that it further comprises compressing an upstream portion of the wrapping sheet between the stack and the conveyor in the transport route, moving the stack and conveyor, and attracting the trailing edge of the conveyor. the wrapping sheet inside the transport route. 48. The method of claim 39, further comprising selectively contacting a blade of the cutting roller with a stationary anvil blade to separate the wrapping sheet from the wrapping wrap material. 49. A method for wrapping piles of weft products with wrapping weft material supplied with a rotating unwinding roller about a roller axis, the method comprising: support and movement of the piles to be wrapped along a path Of transport; supply roller support with a mandrel; rotation of the mandrel with an unwinding roller driving assembly; the positive conduction of the rotation of the supply roller around the axis of the roller; the unwinding of the wrapping material from the wrapping of the supply roller; the supply of the wrapper material of the wrapper to attract the rolls of the supply roll; the driving of the extraction rollers; the supply of wrapper material from the wrapper to the conveyor path of withdrawal rolls; and handling the wrapping material of the wrapper around the stack. 50. The method of claim 49, characterized in that the rotation of the mandrel includes rotation of the mandrel with a servo motor. 51. The method of claim 49, characterized in that it further comprises contacting the wrapping material of the wrapping that will be unwrapped from the supply roll with a dancer roll, and the movement of the wobble roll in response to tension in the wrapping material. wrapping of the envelope. 52. The method of claim 51, characterized in that it further comprises adjusting the speed of rotation of the unrolled roller based on the movement of the oscillating roller. 53. The method of claim 49, characterized in that it further comprises calculating a feeding ratio of the wrapping web material moving through the extraction rollers based on the rotation of the extraction rollers. 54. The method of claim 53, characterized in that it further comprises the calculation of the approximate diameter of the supply roll based on the rotation of the supply roll and the feeding rate of the wrapping material of the wrapper. 55. The method of claim 54, characterized in that it further comprises the provision of a warning to indicate when it is necessary to replace the supply roller. 56. The method of claim 54, characterized in that it further comprises fine adjustment of the speed of the supply roll based on the approximate diameter of the supply roll.