SORENSEN, Bente, Bryde (Solbrinken 42 B, Ballerup, DK-2750, DK)
SORENSEN, Bente, Bryde (Solbrinken 42 B, Ballerup, DK-2750, DK)
PATENT CLAIMS
1. A method of packaging a plurality of cut-out packaging blocks (6), of which at least one packaging block (5) having a given surface area is cut in a cutting machine into a plurality of smaller packaging blocks (6) and is transferred to a packaging machine in which the plurality of packaging blocks (6) are packaged, characterized by comprising the following steps:
a) a tool, having the same or smaller dimensions than the packaging block (5) and having a plurality of holding means, is caused to hold all or some of the cut packaging blocks (6, 7) in such a manner that the cut packaging blocks together maintain a surface area which is similar to the cut packaging blocks having not been cut,
b) the cut packaging blocks (6, 7) are transferred from the tool to a packaging machine, in which they are packaged along the outer sides which are disposed perpendicularly to the holding means.
2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the non-cut packaging blocks are arranged in several layers in the cutting machine and are cut into several layered packaging blocks.
3. A method according to claims 1 -2, ch a ra cte rized in that a movable pair of tongs (8) having a long bar and two legs, where the bar has a length which corresponds to the width of the packaging blocks, while the legs have a length which corresponds to the thickness of the packaging blocks, is moved longitudinally across the surface of the cut packaging blocks to a section where it defines and holds a section of a packaging block, such that the tool with holding means is capable of gripping a section of the cut packaging blocks which is disposed at one side of the pair of tongs (8).
4. A method according to claims 1 -3, ch a racte rized in that a pressure plate (1) on the tool is controlled by a robot having a flange which is capable of holding the pressure plate of the tool and of transferring the held packaging blocks from a horizontal position to a vertical position and of moving the plate into a packaging machine.
5. A method according to claims 1 -4, cha racterized in that the packaging machine wraps the outer sides of the cut packaging blocks (6, 7) which are disposed perpendicularly to the pressure plate.
6. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that, after the packaging machine has wrapped the outer sides, the robot releases the pressure plate from the cut packaging blocks (6, 7), following which a final packaging may be established.
7. A method according to claims 1-6, characterized in that the cut packaging blocks which are packaged are polystyrene blocks (flamingo plates).
8. A tool for holding a plurality of packaging blocks (6, 7), which have been cut from a larger packaging block (5) so that the outer dimensions of the cut packaging blocks (6, 7), when they are disposed close to each other, re- main the same as the outer dimensions of the packaging block (5) which is not cut, characterized in that the tool is formed by a pressure plate (1) which is equipped with holding means in the form of needles (4) on its one side, where the number of needles corresponds to or is smaller than the number of the cut packaging blocks.
9. A tool according to claim 8, ch a racte rized in that the needles have a mutual spacing which is such that only one needle (4) may be introduced into each of the cut packaging blocks (6, 7).
10. A tool according to claims 8- 9, ch a ra cte ri zed in that the needles (4) of the tool have a length which is such that the needles are capable of holding two or more layers of cut packaging blocks (6, 7). |
A method of packaging a number of cut-out packaging blocks and a tool for holding cut-out packaging blocks
The invention relates to a method of packaging a plurality of cut-out pack- aging blocks, wherein at least one packaging block having a given surface area is cut in a cutting machine into a plurality of smaller packaging blocks and is transferred to a packaging machine, in which the plurality of packaging blocks are packaged.
The invention moreover relates to a tool for holding packaging blocks which have been cut from a larger packaging block into a plurality of smaller packaging blocks, such that the external dimensions of the cut packaging blocks together remain the same as the external dimensions of the packaging block which is not cut.
The manufacturers, who today cut packaging blocks, such as polystyrene blocks, into smaller pieces in a cutting machine, handle the cut packaging blocks manually when they are to be packaged in bags or the like. This, of course, is a time-consuming and rather costly process, which may be made more efficient if the process could be performed by machine.
Therefore, numerous attempts have been made at automatizing the process, so that the cut packaging blocks might be transferred from the cutting machine to the packaging machine, without the cut packaging blocks being separated from each other.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a method, wherein cut packaging blocks may be transferred rapidly and effectively from a cutting machine to a packaging machine.
The object of the invention is achieved by a method of the type defined in
the introductory portion of claim 1 , which is characterized in that
a) a tool, having the same or smaller dimensions than the packaging block and having a plurality of holding means, is caused to hold all or some of the cut packaging blocks in such a manner that the cut packaging blocks together maintain a surface area which is similar to the cut packaging blocks having not been cut,
b) the cut packaging blocks are transferred from the tool to a packag- ing machine, in which they are packaged along the outer sides which are disposed perpendicularly to the holding means.
In this manner, the cut packaging blocks may be transferred rapidly and safely from the cutting machine to the packaging machine without being separated from each other.
For the packaging of several packaging blocks with great efficiency, it is expedient, as stated in claim 2, that the non-cut packaging blocks are arranged in several layers in the cutting machine and are cut into several, layered packaging blocks.
In the event that a very large packaging block has been cut, but should desirably be packaged in smaller sections, it is advantageous, as stated in claim 3, that a movable pair of tongs having a bar and two legs, where the bar has a length which corresponds to the width of the packaging blocks, while the legs have a length which corresponds to the thickness of the packaging blocks, is moved longitudinally across the surface of the cut packaging blocks to a section where it defines and holds a section of a packaging block, such that the tool with its needles is capable of gripping a section which is disposed at one side of the pair of tongs.
In this manner, it is additionally ensured that the cut packaging blocks in the section which is not to be transferred to the packaging machine in the first instance, are not displaced from each other.
In connection with the actual packaging along the circumference of the cut packaging blocks, it is expedient, as stated in claim 4, that a pressure plate on the tool is controlled by a robot having a flange which is capable of holding the pressure plate of the tool and of transferring the held packaging blocks from a horizontal position to a vertical position and of moving the plate into a packaging machine, and, as stated in claim 5, that the packaging machine wraps the outer sides of the cut packaging blocks which are disposed perpendicularly to the pressure plate.
In addition, the method is expedient, as stated in claim 6, in that, after the packaging machine has wrapped the outer sides, the robot releases the pressure plate from the cut packaging blocks, following which a final packaging may be established.
Finally, as stated in claim 7, the method is extremely useful in connection with cut packaging blocks which are polystyrene blocks (flamingo plates).
As mentioned, the invention also relates to a tool.
As stated in claim 8, this tool is characterized in that the tool is formed by a pressure plate which is equipped with holding means in the form of needles on its one side, where the number of needles corresponds to or is smaller than the number of the cut packaging blocks.
In a practical implementation of the invention, it is expedient, as stated in claim 9, that the needles have a mutual spacing which is such that only one needle may be introduced into each of the cut packaging blocks.
When, as stated in claim 10, the needles of the tool have a length which is such that the needles are capable of holding two or more layers of cut packaging blocks, packaging of a larger number of cut packaging blocks may be performed in one operation.
The invention will now be explained more fully with reference to the drawing, in which
fig. 1 shows a set-up, where a robot is equipped with a tool accord- ing to the invention,
fig. 2 shows a packaging block, where parts thereof have been affected by the tool according to the invention,
fig. 3 shows a robot for securing the tool according to the invention, while
fig. 4 shows a packaging machine for complete or partial packaging of cut packaging blocks.
In fig. 1 , the numeral 1 designates a pressure plate which is held by a flange 3 of a robot 2.
This robot is shown more clearly in an embodiment in fig. 3.
A plurality of holding means in the form of needles 4 are arranged on the lower side of the pressure plate 1 , said needles having been passed through a packaging block 5, as shown in the figure, which may be a polystyrene block, also known under the designation a flamingo block.
As will be explained in connection with fig. 2, the packaging block 5 is cut in
a cutting machine (not shown) into a plurality of smaller, cut packaging blocks, which are designated 6 in fig. 2.
A cut packaging block is designated 7 in the figure and has a marking 7a, which has been created in that a needle 4 from the pressure plate 1 has been passed through the packaging block.
Further, fig. 2 shows three layers of cut packaging blocks which are divided into two sections 9, 10 by a movable pair of tongs 8, where the first section 9 has been affected by the needles 4 of the pressure plate 1 , while the second section 10 is ready to be affected subsequently by the needles 4 of the pressure plate 1.
As will be seen, the pair of tongs 8 is adapted to grip and hold a single row of the cut packaging blocks which adjoin the first section 9.
It will then be explained how a working process of a packaging block proceeds:
With the pair of tongs 8 in the shown position, a robot 2 having a suction cup 3, which holds the pressure plate 1 , moves the pressure plate 1 , which has needles 4, to the first section 9, where the needles are caused to penetrate into and hold the cut packaging blocks.
Then, the held, cut packaging blocks are lifted by the robot 2 and are moved to a packaging machine, where the sides of the packaging block which are perpendicular to the surface of the pressure plate 1 , are packaged along their entire circumference, which is defined by said sides, such that the cut packaging blocks 6 are held tightly to each other and thus can- not be displaced from each other.
The robot 2 can then release the pressure plate from the cut packaging blocks, now held together, of the first section 9.
The process is repeated, in that the pair of tongs 8 is moved to the left in fig. 2, so that the pair of tongs is again caused to engage a row of cut packaging blocks which adjoin the first section now defined.
Fig. 4 shows a packaging machine which, although it is not part of the present invention, contributes to the understanding of the principles of the in- vention.
As has been described previously, the robot 2 moves the cut packaging blocks into a packaging machine. In the packaging machine, the robot 2 moves the held, cut packaging blocks into the packaging machine, so that the packaging blocks are oriented in a direction which is perpendicular to the direction which the needles 4 had before they were introduced into the packaging blocks.
Inside the packaging machine, there is a roll of sheet 11 from which a web of sheet 12 may be pulled by means of a movable, circular ring 13 and wrap the sides of the cut packaging blocks which are disposed perpendicularly to the surfaces of the pressure plate, said roll of sheet being fixed relative to the ring 13, and such that the web of sheet 12 may pulled from the roll of sheet 11 during the movement of the ring 13.
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