Assembly, strap guiding device and method for providing a bulky item with a strap
AssigneeTebulo Industrial Automation B.V.
InventorJohan Spaans
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly for applying a strap around the outer circumferential surface of a bulky item. The assembly includes a binding zone configured to receive the bulky item; a channel defined along a guiding surface of a strap guiding device that surrounds the binding zone and is configured to guide strap material around the bulky item; and a binding apparatus with a binding head for delivering the strap material to the channel and for fastening a first end of the strap material to a second end of the strap material to form the strap. The channel has two channel ends that define an opening through which the binding head can pass. The opening in the channel can be rotated to allow placement of the bulky item into the binding zone.
Claims20
An assembly for applying a strap around an outer circumferential surface of a bulky item, the assembly comprising:
- a binding zone configured to receive the bulky item;
- a strap guiding device with a rotatable channel support supporting a guiding surface, wherein a channel is defined along the guiding surface, the channel surrounding the binding zone and configured to guide a strap material around the bulky item;
- and
- a binding apparatus with a binding head for delivering the strap material to the channel and for fastening a first end of the strap material to a second end of the strap material to form the strap;
- wherein the channel has two channel ends that define an opening formed between the channel ends and the binding head can pass through the opening, wherein the binding apparatus is configured to move the binding head to a first position in alignment with the channel from which the binding head can shoot the strap material into the channel, a second position inside the binding zone to engage the outer circumferential surface of the bulky item where the binding head can fasten the strap, and a third position outside of the binding zone and the opening, and wherein the channel support and the channel rotate around the bulky item to move the opening around the bulky item to a plurality of positions to allow placement of the bulky item into the binding zone and placement of the binding head between the channel ends.
A strap guiding device in combination with a binding apparatus for guiding a strap around an outer circumferential surface of a bulky item, the strap guiding device comprising:
- a channel at least partially circumferentially extending around a binding zone for the bulky item, the channel having two channel ends that define an opening through which a binding head of the binding apparatus can pass, wherein the channel ends provide access for the binding apparatus for guiding a strap through the channel;
- a rotatable channel support supporting a guiding surface, wherein the channel is defined along the guiding surface;
- a frame for rotatably supporting the channel support;
- and
- a drive system for rotating the guiding surface and the channel around a center of a circular path, wherein the channel support and the channel rotate around the bulky item to move the opening around the bulky item from a first position where the bulky item can be placed in the binding zone to a second position where the opening between the channel ends is facing the binding apparatus and allowing the binding head to move through the opening to engage the outer circumferential surface of the bulky item to fasten the strap.
A method for providing a bulky item with a strap, the method comprising:
- arranging a bulky item on a support within a strap guiding device, wherein the strap guiding device comprises:
- a channel at least partially circumferentially extending around a binding zone for the bulky item, the channel having two channel ends that define an opening through which a binding head of a binding apparatus can pass, wherein the channel ends provide access for the binding apparatus for guiding a strap through the channel;
- a rotatable channel support supporting a guiding surface, wherein the channel is defined along the guiding surface;
- a frame for rotatably supporting the channel support;
- and
- a drive system for rotating the guiding surface and the channel around a center of a circular path, wherein the channel support and the channel rotate around the bulky item to move the opening around the bulky item from a first position where the bulky item can be placed in the binding zone to a second position where the opening between the channel ends is facing the binding apparatus;
- controlling the binding apparatus to move the binding head near the opening and arrange the binding head to at least partially enter through the opening between the channel ends;
- spanning the opening with a channel guide segment of the binding apparatus to provide a circumferentially extending channel;
- guiding a strap through the circumferentially extending channel using the binding apparatus;
- receiving a strap end of the strap in the binding head;
- and
- engaging an outer circumferential surface of the bulky item with the binding head and fastening the strap using the binding head.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.