HIGH-SPEED BALING MACHINE

Abstract

 A high-speed wrapping machine that includes an entry roller section (11); a pallet (6) wrapping platform (1); an exit roller section (12); and at least one spool carriage (55) for wrapping film that can move vertically on a corresponding support arm (5) of the spool carriage (55) that is a notably vertical position, and this arm is linked at its bottom end to a rotating element (2) with respect to the pallet (6) deposited on the platform (1), which is operationally suitable to allow the rotation of the spool carriage (55) around the pallet (6) and to allow the vertical movement thereof. Said rotating element (2), such as a bearing or similar device, is moved by a motor (4) using a drive belt (3).

Description

Purpose of the invention.

[0001] This invention refers to a high-speed wrapping machine consisting of arms that rotate around a platform where a pallet or package is deposited for subsequent wrapping with plastic film.

Background of the invention.

[0002] Currently, high-speed wrapping machines using plastic film or similar material consist of a structure installed over a wrapping platform, with the platform positioned between an entry section of rollers and an exit section of rollers for the pallets or packages to be wrapped.

[0003] On high-speed wrapping machines, the arms that support the spool carriages are what rotate around the platform where the load to be wrapped is deposited, thereby providing better performance than wrapping machines on which the arm is static and on which it is the platform with the pallet or load that is rotated while the plastic film is applied around it.

[0004] These high-speed wrapping machines, meaning the ones with rotating arms, generally consist of a gantry equipped with legs or supports, large central gears for motorised movement, and one or more arms or columns arranged in cantilever with respect to the upper zone of the gantry and oriented towards the bottom zone. Each one of these arms has a plastic film spool carriage that can move vertically.

[0005] These machines have the inconvenience that, when the spool carriage is at the bottom part of the corresponding arm or column, there is a serious risk of hooking the pallet or load to be wrapped, thereby twisting the arms and subsequently destroying the machine.

[0006] Moreover, the size and volume of the wrapping machine is notorious due to the existence of the upper gantry, such that it exceeds a height of three and a half metres and a span of four metres, thus requiring considerable free height for installation. This volume also complicates the disassembly task at the shop that manufactures the machine and complicates subsequent positioning on trucks and containers to transport it to the customer's facilities.

[0007] These high-speed wrapping machines also present serious problems for maintenance technicians, given that most of the drive mechanisms are located in the upper zone of the gantry so that it is difficult to access and repair the same; given that they involve occupational risks; and given that they frequently require the use of cranes and elevators for disassembly and repair.

Description of the invention

[0008] The high-speed wrapping machine of this invention includes a series of technical particulars that allow simpler, stronger and more reliable construction, in addition to a notable reduction of the wrapping machine's total volume, thereby providing optimised operation and performance that is remarkably greater than known high-speed wrapping machines.

[0009] On the wrapping machine of this invention, the arm fastening and drive elements are located in the zone below the wrapping machine, thereby simultaneously providing easy access for assembly and maintenance, a notable reduction of the wrapping machine's volume by eliminating gantries or drive support structures, and greater ease of transport on trucks or in containers. Moreover, the spool carriage arms are not suspended on a cantilever, wherefore they are stronger.

[0010] This wrapping machine presents at least one arm that holds a spool carriage and that rotates around the wrapping platform. This arm is linked at the bottom end to an element that rotates with respect to the platform designed to support a pallet with the load to be wrapped. The minimum height of the wrapping machine is therefore notably less than that of wrapping machines equipped with a gantry or upper structure.

[0011] The rotating element can be on a bearing or any other element that allows the rotation of the arm or arms, and the rotation movement of the arms is driven by a motor and the corresponding transmission, also positioned at the bottom part of the wrapping machine.

[0012] In order to allow the combined rotational and vertical movement of the spool carriages, the holder arm or arms have been designed to be telescopic, preferably consisting of a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder.

[0013] All the mechanisms can be controlled automatically by an electrical panel or programmable controller for stand-alone operation.

Description of the figures.

[0014] To complement the description that is being made and in order to facilitate an understanding of the invention's characteristics, a set of drawings has been attached to this descriptive report. These drawings represent the following, as an example but not a limitation of the invention:

Figure 1 shows a schematic elevation view of the high-speed wrapping machine.

Figure 2 shows a ground view of the wrapping machine.

Figure 3 shows an elevation view of one of the arms, cross-sectioned by a vertical plane to allow observation of the interior cylinder.

Figure 4 shows a ground view of an arm, where the telescopic assembly of the elements or profiles that make up the same can be observed.

Preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0015] As it can be observed in the referenced figures, the wrapping machine includes a platform (1) for receiving the pallet (6) with the load to be wrapped, and this platform (1) is positioned between an entry roller section (11) and an exit roller section (12) of the pallet (6).

[0016] A rotating element (2) such as a bearing is located underneath the platform (1), positioned exteriorly with respect to the support legs (13) of the platform (1) to prevent interference during rotation.

[0017] This rotating element (2) has a throat for installing a belt (3) driven by an electric motor (4), thereby providing the belt with silent and vibration-free operation.

[0018] In turn, the rotating element (2) is prolonged laterally on two supports, which are diametrically opposed, on which the bottom ends of the arms (5) are fastened.

[0019] Each arm (5) includes various telescopic sections (51, 52, 53) that are guided vertically for correct extension and retraction when driven by a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder (54).

[0020] The last section (53) of the arm (5) supports a spool carriage (55) that moves vertically by extension or retraction of the telescopic sections (51, 52, 53) of the arm (5).

[0021] All the mechanical elements, such as the pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders (54) and the motor (4) are controlled by an electrical panel or programmable controller (not represented).

[0022] Finally, it should be highlighted in the embodiment shown that the wrapper has two spool carriage arms, although it can have additional or fewer arms, depending on the desired performance. If a greater number of arms are equipped, they will be distributed uniformly around the periphery of the wrapping machine, as in the example shown, so that balance is maintained when the arms rotate.

[0023] Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention, as well as an example of the preferred embodiment, it is hereby recorded for the appropriate purposes that the materials, shape, size and layout of the described elements can be modified, as long as it does not mean an alteration of the essential characteristics of the invention that are claimed below.

Claims

1. A high-speed wrapping machine that includes an entry roller section (11); a platform (6) (1) for static positioning of a pallet (6) with the load to be wrapped; an exit roller section (12); and at least one vertical arm that has an associated spool carriage (55); characterised because the arms (5) are joined at their bottom end to a rotating element (2) that is installed around the static platform (1) and that is operationally suitable to allow the rotation of the spool carriage (55) around the load positioned on said platform (1).

2. A wrapping machine in accordance with claim 1, characterised because the rotating element (2) in charge of supporting the arms (5) is a bearing positioned underneath the platform (1) of the wrapping machine.

3. A wrapping machine in accordance with claim 1, characterised because the rotating element (2) is related to a drive motor (4) by a transmission element.

4. A wrapping machine in accordance with claim 3, characterised because the transmission element is a belt (3).

5. A wrapping machine in accordance with claim 1, characterised because the arm (5) includes several sections (51, 52, 53) that are installed telescopically.

6. A wrapping machine in accordance with claims 1 and 5, characterised because each arm (5) includes a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder (54) for elevation and descent in the vertical direction of the spool carriage (55) associated with the same.

7. A wrapping machine in accordance with claim 1, characterised because the motor (4) and the cylinder (54) of the arm (5) are controlled by an electrical panel.

Drawing