The present invention relates to an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1.

An apparatus of this type is known from Japanese Patent Application No. 07291211 A. In this apparatus the objects to be bound are either loaded manually from above, or transported longitudinally up to the desired binding place. After being bound the objects are discharged in downward direction by folding down a supporting table.

The object of the present invention is to further improve an apparatus of the kind referred to in the intro¬ duction.

In order to accomplish that objective the apparatus according to the invention is characterized by the features defined in the characterizing portion of claim 1. The said features make it possible to bundle objects by means of adhesive tape in an automated manner, without any risk of the objects being damaged, because the objects do not need to be deflected or dropped when being discharged from the apparatus. According to the invention the objects are bound by means of adhesive tape during their normal ongoing transport, as it were. As a result of this the apparatus can be readily incorporated in an automatic (packaging) line.

The invention also comprises a method for binding objects by means of adhesive tape as defined in claim 7. In an advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention bundling means are mounted on the arm, which assemble the objects against the piece of adhesi¬ ve being held during the movement of the arm. As a result of this feature the bundling and binding of the objects by means of the adhesive tape can take place in one movement of the arm, which obviously leads to an increased speed and a simplified construction.

In a very simple embodiment of the invention the bundling means are provided with a flexible strip, which is preferably spring-loaded and capable of yielding resiliently during movements of the arm. In this manner bundling means are obtained which are as simple as they are effective, and which need not be adjusted and will automatically adapt to the bundle of objects, wherein the strip assembles the objects tightly together as a result of said spring load. Also the mechanism for gripping the free end of the adhesive tape, the mechanism for cutting off a piece of adhesive tape and the mechanism for gripping the newly formed end of the adhesive tape again are according to the invention designed in an advantageous manner. The invention will be explained in more detail hereafter with reference to the drawings, which show embodi¬ ments of the apparatus according to the invention.

Figs. 1 and 2 are a front view and a side view respectively of a first embodiment of the. apparatus for binding flowers by means of adhesive tape in accordance with the invention.

Figs. 3 and 4 are a larger-scale, diagrammatic front view and plan view respectively of the end of the movable arm and the gripping mechanism for the adhesive tape of one embodiment of the apparatus according to the inventi¬ on, which is different from the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figs. 5a-5c are views comparable with Figs. 3 and 4, which illustrate a number of positions of the mechanism for placing and cutting off the adhesive tape.

The drawings show an apparatus which is in particu¬ lar intended for binding a number of stems of a bunch of flowers B, whereby it must be considered, however, that also all kinds of other elongated or different objects can be bound by means of the apparatus, such as vegetables (for example asparagus) , stemmed objects, such as hand tools, or other elongated objects, such as spokes, for example.

Furthermore it would be possible to enclose a single object by adhesive tape.

The apparatus comprises a frame 1 having legs 2 for being placed on a ground surface. A table 3 for supporting the objects to be bound, such as the bunches of flowers, is formed on frame 1. Frame 1 is furthermore provided with a horizontal bracket 4, which extends along a large part of the depth of table 3 and which supports a holder 5 for a roll of adhesive tape 6 as well as a movable arm 7 at its free end. Movable arm 7 is intended to wrap a piece of adhesive tape 8 about the stems of the flowers, and to that end it is capable of pivoting movement about a horizontal pin 9 extending through support 4, whose end remote from arm 7 is in engagement with a transmission mechanism 10, which can cause arm 7 to reciprocate by means of an electric motor 11. This drive and transmission mechanism 10, 11 is known per se, for example from binding apparatus which use an elastic or a string. For this reason this mechanism will not be discussed in more detail. As is apparent from Fig. 1, arm 7 is substantially

U-shaped. A support 12 projects from the free end of arm 7, which support functions to support a flexible strip 13, which serves as a bundling means for pressing the stems of a bunch of flowers being supplied closely against the already tensioned piece of adhesive tape 8, so that the adhesive tape can be wrapped tightly about the stems, thus forming a properly bound bunch of flowers. Support 12 is laterally mounted on arm 7, spaced by some distance therefrom, so that flexible strip 13 will not be in the way of adhesive tape 8 or of the mechanism for gripping and cutting off said adhesive tape. Strip 13 is wound on a spring-loaded reel 14 at its end remote from support 12, so that it is biassed to remain taut and is capable of adjusting to the movements of arm 7. As can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, a mechanism 15 for gripping the free end of adhesive tape 8 is mounted under table 3, which mechanism co-operates with elements at the

free end of arm 7. Fig. 3 shows a slightly different mecha¬ nism 15, the elements at the free end of arm 7 are illustra¬ ted on a larger scale.

Figs. 3 and 4 show the end of movable arm 7 co- operating with mechanism 15 for wrapping adhesive tape 8 about a bunch of flowers B. Guide elements 16 and 17 are formed on arm 7, against which adhesive tape 8 will be positioned when the arm is moved downward. A freely rotata- ble pressure roller 18 is present at the free end of arm 7. Said pressure roller is mounted on a slide 24 which is capable of movement within said arm, whereby said slide is biassed by a spring 23 in a direction towards the free end of said arm. Directly adjacent to pressure roller 18 is a cutting element 19 in the shape of a sharp knife, which is secured to a fixed part of the arm in such a manner as to be slightly adjustable in longitudinal direction. A detaching element 20 is mounted at a small distance from cutting element 19, which detaching element is capable of detaching the piece of adhesive tape 8 wrapped about bunch of flowers B from mechanism 15. A pressure element 21 is mounted adjacent to detaching element 20, at a small distance therefrom, which pressure element will be positioned against an edge 22 of table 3 with its free end upon movement of arm 7, thus pressing the sticky sides of adhesive tape 8 toge- ther as closely to the stems of bunch of flowers B as possible so as to close the adhesive tape loop. Since arm 7 must be capable of moving further once pressure element 21 is positioned against edge 22 of table 3, pressure element 21 is movably guided within arm 7 and biassed towards the outside, in the direction of edge 22, by means of a spring 25.

Mechanism 15 is provided with a gripping element in the shape of a gripping roller 26 and a pin 27, which acts as a counter element, between which adhesive tape 8 can be clamped. Gripping roller 26 is mounted on a shaft 26', it is fitted with a slip coupling 28 comprising friction discs 29, and with a pawl coupling 30 which acts in one direction, for

effecting movements yet to be described hereafter. Pin 27 is guided parallel to table 3 by means of a guide 31, and it is biassed to engage gripping roller 26 by means of a spring 32. A double control disc 33 is fixedly mounted on pin 27 of gripping roller 26. Said control disc 33 is capable of pushing pin 27 away from gripping roller 26 so as to place a new piece of adhesive tape between the two. A connecting link 35 is secured against rotation on a pin 34 of control disc 33, which connecting link 35 is connected to a lever 39 which is capable of pivoting movement about a pin 36, said lever being fitted with a cam follower 40. Said cam follower is controlled by cam 41 (Fig. 5) of a cam wheel 42.

The operation of the apparatus according to the invention will now be explained in more detail with referen- ce to the drawings, in particular to Fig. 5 thereof.

If the apparatus forms part of an automatic line for forming bunches of flowers, said bunches of flowers will be supplied in a direction parallel to the table and perpen¬ dicularly to pivot pin 9 of arm 7, whilst the bunches of flowers are positioned parallel to pin 9 of arm 7 and the stems lie in the plane of arm 7. In the starting position, that is the upwardly pivoted position of arm 7, the free end of adhesive tape 8 is stretched between mechanism 15 and roll 6 of adhesive tape, running via the end of arm 7 and a guide 37 (see Fig. 1) thereby. A bunch of flowers is sup¬ plied from the left, seen in Fig. 1, and may be detected by a sensor. The bunch of flowers is moved into engagement with the sticky side of the adhesive tape, during which movement adhesive tape 8 is already wrapped about the front side of the stems to a small extent (not shown) . In this position arm 7 is pivoted downwards by means of electric motor 11 and transmission mechanism 10, and, if bundling means are provided, flexible strip 13 will be the first to come into contact with the side of the bunch of flowers that faces away from adhesive tape 8, so that the flowers are moved together tightly between adhesive tape 8 and strip 13, which are each stretched approximately halfway about bunch of

flowers B, as a result of which the stems of the bunch are held closely together and can subsequently be held tightly together by means of adhesive tape 8.

Fig. 5a shows that the free end of arm 7 has reached mechanism 15 and that adhesive tape 8 is wrapped entirely about the stems of bunch of flowers B. The sticky side of adhesive tape 8 is directed inwards at the stems of the bunch of flowers, so that the sticky sides are in contact with each other when the lips of adhesive tape 8 are moved together. Pin 27 is pressed firmly against roller 26 by spring 32, so that the free end of adhesive tape is still being gripped securely. In the meantime roller 18 at the free end of the arm has come into engagement with gripping roller 26. In Fig. 5b arm 7 has pivoted further, as a result of which pressure element 21 has been positioned against edge 22 of table 3, and consequently adhesive tape 8 is wrapped tightly round bunch of flowers B (an additional lip cause the adhesive tape to surround the stems tightly) , with the sticky sides of the projecting lips of adhesive tape 8 being firmly pressed together. Pressure roller 18 of arm 7 is pressed inwardly with respect to the arm as a result of its abutment against gripping roller 26. Cam 41 of cam wheel 42 has reached the cam follower and the lever has already pivoted about pin 36, as a result of which control disc 33 has been rotated via link 35, pushing pin 27 away from roller 26, as a result of which the end of adhesive tape 8, which surrounds bunch of flowers B in the shape of a loop, will be detached. Roller 26 has not rotated during this rotation of shaft 26' as a result of its engagement with adhesive tape 8 and pressure roller 18.

In Fig. 5c knife 19 has cut through adhesive tape 8, whilst detaching element 20 presses the two adhesive tape ends present above pin 27 in forward direction, as a result of which the piece of adhesive tape 8 that previously stuck to gripping roller 26 is pulled away from said gripping roller 26. Cam wheel 42 has rotated so far that cam follower

40 is now positioned on the top of cam 41. Gripping roller 26 will not start to rotate until the adhesive tape has been cut through, during the last part of the forward stroke of control disc 3, because of the presence of the two friction discs 29 of slip coupling 28.

When the apparatus continues its movement, lever 39 will be moved back again as a result of cam follower 40 passing cam 41. Shaft 26' (with control disc 33) will be rotated back again and the pawl coupling 30 now causes gripping roller to be rotated along with shaft 26'. Adhesive tape 8, which is clamped down between pressure roller 18 and gripping roller 26, will then be carried along, and the moment pin 27 is released again by control disc 33, adhesive tape 8 will be wrapped about the circumference of gripping roller 26 so far that it will be clamped between pin 27 and the gripping roller when pin 27 is moved into engagement with roller 26 again. When arm 7 moves back to its starting position again, a new piece of adhesive tape will be stret¬ ched in the path of a next bunch of flowers after the bunch of flowers just bound has been discharged in a direction in line with the direction in which it was supplied, whereby a pressure element 38 causes a trailing adhesive tape flag to be pressed down to adhere to the part of the adhesive tape that is wrapped about the stems. From the foregoing it will be apparent that the invention provides a binding method and a binding apparatus which are remarkable for their simplicity and reliable operation, their suitability for automatisation and their suitability for products which are easily damaged. Of course several modifications to the embodiment are possible. Thus the bundling means may be configured other than as a strip, they may for example have a fixed shape for partially surrounding the objects, depending on the objects to be bound. Furthermore it is possible to leave out the bundling means, if it can be ensured by any other means that a tightly bound bundle of objects is obtained.