NL1021623C2 - Method for manufacturing a sleeve of flowers, and apparatus therefor. - Google Patents

Description

Method for manufacturing a sleeve of flowers, and apparatus therefor

The invention relates to a method for binding a bunched flowers, comprising providing a bunch of flowers, engaging the bunch of flowers, arranging the bunch of flowers in an opened sleeve, engaging the bunched flowers, binding a thread around the sleeve and draining the shed, 10 bound bunch of flowers. The invention also relates to a flower wrapping device for wrapping flowers.

It is. known to cover a bunch of flowers by hand. In addition, it is possible to automate this process. However, the problem here is that the binding of a sleeve of flowers often leads to defects in binding, because the foil protrudes from the sleeve, causing the binder to get stuck. The object of the invention is to provide a method that is less susceptible to malfunctions.

This object is achieved according to the invention by closely fitting the sleeve around the bunch of flowers at least for binding. This reduces one end of the cover around the bunch of flowers. As a result, projecting parts of the foil of the cover are arranged more around the flower, so that there is less chance of the binder getting jammed. The sleeve end will fit more closely with the bunch of flowers contained therein. In addition, the close connection means that the end product is more uniform.

Closely connecting also results in better bound forests.

Preferably, the cover fits closely by pressing.

The end of the cover is thereby reduced by pressing. As a result, the sleeve is deformed in such a way that it lies more closely against the stems of the bunch of flowers, so that the foil of the sleeve does not prevent binding.

In a preferred embodiment, the cover, which is substantially held in a horizontal position, is pressed on. Preferably, the cover is pressed from above. As a result, the pressing cooperates with the force of gravity, as a result of which the flowers are located in the lower side of the sleeve, while the upper side of the sleeve is deformed by the pressing and is suitable for binding.

In a preferred embodiment, the bunch of flowers is brought substantially vertically above an opened, substantially upright cover. This allows the application in the cover to take place by releasing and dropping the flowers into the opened cover. Hereby it is possible to dispense with means for pulling the bunch of flowers through the sleeve.

The bunch of flowers is preferably guided into the opened cover. This prevents damage to the cover when the bunch of flowers is introduced into the cover. The guide can for instance consist of protective measures for the cover edge. Special measures can be taken at the discretion of the skilled person when the bunch of flowers has sharp ends, such as roses.

It is favorable to observe the supply of a bunch of flowers and then to control the engagement of the bunch of flowers. Hereby the execution of the method according to the invention is started at the moment of observing a supplied bunch of flowers. The result of the observation 30 is the control of the cover open process, the subsequent placing of the bunch of flowers and the binding of the peeled flowers.

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It is favorable to supply the bunch of flowers substantially in a horizontal position. This allows the bunches of flowers to be supplied on a horizontal belt and seized to be subsequently placed in the sleeve.

According to a further embodiment, the encased bunches of flowers are discharged in a horizontal position after binding. The horizontal discharge position makes further processing of the encased and bound bunches of flowers possible in an efficient manner.

According to another embodiment, the end of the cover is reduced by folding a portion of the cover. As a result, the sleeve will also fit more closely with the bunch of flowers arranged therein, so that the foil protrudes less and the binding is disturbed less.

The invention also relates to a flower packaging device comprising a frame, a supply device for bunches of flowers, at least one gripping means movably mounted on the frame for gripping a bunch of flowers, sleeve opening means arranged movably on the frame 20 for opening a sleeve for flowers , a binder for winding a wire around a sleeve of flowers, a discharge device for sleeve and bound flowers, drive means for at least one movable part of the flower packaging device and a control device for the drive means. The invention is characterized by a pressing means for pressing the sleeve on at least a part of the bunch of flowers.

As a result, the cover around the flowers is reduced and the binding of the bunch of flowers around the cover is less disturbed by protruding foil of the cover.

The flower packaging device preferably comprises guide means for guiding the bunch of flowers in an opened sleeve. This prevents damage to the '' *, \ '··>' ^ v- yeupenae noess, for example, Iexeiainysnu.uuej. and j \ .umien I consist of protective means for the edge I of the opened cover.

The engaging means is preferably movable to a position where the bunch of flowers can be brought above an opened sleeve. As a result, the arranging of the flowers in the substantially upright sleeve can take place by using gravity when the bunch of flowers arranged above the opened sleeve is released by the gripping means. The gripping means is preferably formed by a pincher. Preferably, the claw comprises a claw pivoting about an axis. Such a hinged claw can be moved quickly away from the engaged bunch of flowers, so that the claw does not get in the way when the bunch of flowers fall into the opened sleeve.

The engaging means is preferably movable to a position in which the sleeve of flowers can be held in a substantially horizontal position. As a result, the pressing of the sleeve bunch of flowers can take place in a horizontal position, wherein the bunch of flowers can be pressed towards one side of the sleeve, preferably the lower side. Instead of pressing, the pressing means can also fold a part of cover around the flower bunch.

In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve opening means comprise engaging means for engaging the upper edge of the sleeve and air supply means for blowing the sleeve open. By gripping the upper edge I of a cover, they are opened on one side. The air supply means blow the cover loose. This is particularly advantageous when using foil covers. Blowing detaches the adhesive film layers from the sleeve from each other.

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The flower packaging device preferably comprises at least one detecting means for measuring the presence of a bunch of flowers. As a result, the control of the flower packaging device can take place in response to the measurement of the presence of a bunch of flowers, and the entire method can be set in motion.

According to an embodiment the pressing means comprises the binder. By correct adjustment of the binder, the first thread to be arranged around the sleeve can be used as a pressing means, and when the sleeve is sufficiently pressed on, the thread is wound around the sleeve. Use is preferably made of this when the position of the bunch of flowers in the cover is laid down in outline. This can for instance take place by making use of an engaging means, whereby the bunch of flowers is gripped loosely in the sleeve and gravity is used to bring the bunch of flowers into a lower part of the sleeve. When the binder then first engages the upper side of the cover, this upper side can be pressed and tied in the pressed position. This is also possible if the bunch of flowers is not caught in an upright cover, but in a crooked cover. Due to the skew of the cover, the flowers will substantially abut against one side of the cover, as a result of which the position of the flowers in the cover is generally defined. Use can then be made of a binder that works according to the same principle described above.

Preferably the thread of the binder is elastic. This makes it possible to make use of the elastic properties of the wire, as a result of which it is not necessary to steer the binder around the raised bunch of flowers in a very accurate manner. The elastic nature of the wire prevents major deviations in the packaging.

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The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: figure 1 shows a perspective view of the flower packaging device according to the invention, figure 2 shows a perspective view of the flower packaging device according to the embodiment of figure 1, figure 3 a perspective view Figure 1 shows a flower packaging device according to Figure 1, Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a detail of the flower packaging device according to Figure 1, Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a detail of the flower packaging device according to Figure 1, Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a detail of the flower packaging device according to figure 1, and figure 7 shows a perspective view of a detail of the flower packaging device according to figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a flower packaging device 1. A conveyor belt 2 feeds a bunch of flowers 3 in the supply direction 4. The bunches are preferably bound.

The belt moves intermittently or continuously in direction 4. A sensor (not shown) observes that the bunch of flowers 3 has reached the gripper 5. The claw 6 provided with a soft strip 7 pivots around axis 9 as according to arrow 8 and thereby grips bunches of flowers 3 clampingly.

Figure 1 shows the flower packaging device without thereby indicating the frame to which the various parts of the flower packaging device 1 are connected. Also to be seen are a guide means 10 for a bunch of flowers and air supply means 11, cover opening means 12 which can engage and open an individual cover along an upper edge. An example of a cover opening device is described in Dutch patent application 1018277, to which reference is made here and 1021623 7, the content of which is incorporated in this text. The cover opening means 12 are provided with pistons 13 which are provided with air hoses 14 for engaging a cover.

Means for providing / supplying the covers are not shown.

Figure 1 also shows a collection tray 15 for flowers, which can support the stems of the flowers from below. The frame only partially shown is provided with a second engaging means 16, which comprises two claws 17, 18. A conventional binder 19 and a discharge device 20, provided with a conveyor belt 21, are also provided.

The feeding device 2 comprises a number of belts 25 which can be moved substantially around a horizontal position about axis 26 by means of driving means (not shown).

Bunch of flowers 3 is provided with an elastic band 27 that holds the flowers together in a bunch. Such bunches of flowers are generally available at auctions, for example, and as such can be placed individually on the conveyor belt 2.

In Figure 2 the bunch of flowers 3 engaged by the conveyor belt 2 for the engaging means 5 is moved to a vertical position. The claw 6 engages the stems of the bunch of flowers 3. The gripping means 5 is rotatable about axis 28 according to arrow 29. The arm 30 is for this purpose connected to a cylinder 31 which forms the driving means for gripping means 5.

Figure 3 shows the next step in the method for wrapping the bunch of flowers 3. From the position substantially vertically above the cover opening means 12 of the bunch of flowers 3, the gripper 6 is pivoted according to arrow 32, so that the bunch of flowers 3 is released. The bunch of flowers 3 is up along the guide means 10 in the direction of the sleeve 102,123. uc uua uiueuicu j ucwccyu uaaiuij according to arrow 33. The cover opening means engage a cover 34 at the top edge of the cover. The cover 34 is funnel-shaped and comprises a thin, flexible and transparent foil. Pistons 13 engage the top of the funnel-shaped cover 34. The covers are individually provided in a vertical position by the cover engaging device.

The cover opening means pull the top edge of the cover apart, thereby opening the cover 34. A blower 11, connected to an air pump, blows open the rest of the cover.

The upper edge of the cover 34 is protected by further guide means 35, 36, which prevent damage to the top of the cover by the bunch of flowers to be introduced according to arrow 33. In the embodiment according to Figure 3, the guide means 35, 36 are formed by valves 35, 36 which can be hingedly arranged over the edge of the cover 34. Such a protective measure makes it possible to arrange the bunch of flowers in the cover within 20 certain tolerance limits, for example with regard to the size of the forest and direction of the stems / forest.

The bunch of flowers 3 is introduced vertically into the sleeve 34, the stems of the flowers being located at the bottom. These are supported by the carrier 15 in the form of a half-open container. This bin is connected to the frame (not shown).

Figure 4 shows a next step in the method, wherein parts of the cover open device are not shown. A second engaging means 16 rotatably mounted on the frame can pivot about axis 40 according to arrow 41. The bunch of flowers 3 received in the sleeve 34 is substantially vertically on the trough 15. The claws 17, 18 are pivoted such that the bushed bunch flowers 3 is grasped 'S Ö 7' ', 4 .....

9 over the cover and around the stems. Engaging means clamp the claws 17, 18 over the sleeve 34.

Figure 5 shows the next step in the method in which irrelevant elements for this method in step 5 have been omitted.

The engaging means 16 is pivoted in the direction of arrow 42 about axis 40 and has brought the engaged bunch of flowers 3 with cover 34 into a substantially horizontal position. The bunch of flowers with cover is removed from the holder 15 because, for example, the tray 15 moves downward after engagement. Another possibility is that gripping means 16 first lifts the flowers vertically upwards from the tray.

The bunch of flowers 3 still gripped by claws 17 and 18 has now been brought into the vicinity of binder 19. This is a conventional binder which comprises an amount of elastic thread 43 around a roll 44. The binder 19 further comprises a knotter (not shown) and drive means for the winding arm 45. The binder 19 is pivotally mounted on the frame according to arrow 46. As a result of the pivoting movement, the wire 43 can be brought underneath the raised bunch of flowers 3.

Figure 6 shows a further detail of the method according to the invention. In the vicinity of the engaging means 16, a cylinder 47 is provided with a movable press 48. Together, the cylinder and the press form the pressing means. Before and / or during the winding, the sleeve 34 is pressed onto the flowers 3 by the printer 48. As a result, the foil of the sleeve 34 will deform and fit more closely around the flowers 3. This has advantages for binding the raised bunch of flowers, since the thread 43 can be arranged tighter and more evenly around the cover. According to the embodiment of Figure 6, the pressing means 47, 48 is placed directly behind the gripping means 16 and the pressing means according to arrow 49 presses the sleeve downwards onto the bunch of flowers 3 held horizontally.

During or before pressing, the binder 19 is pivoted to a position where the wire 43 engages around a portion of the sleeve 34 provided with a bunch of flowers 3. According to the embodiment of Figure 6, the wire engages on the underside of the sleeve 34. The winding arc 45 will rotate and move in the direction of arrow 49 and thereby wrap the wire 43 around the sleeve. The wire will be tied by means of a knoter (not shown), whereby the set bunch of flowers 3 is tied.

A conventional binder is provided with a knotter which is substantially in the middle of the binder. The bunch of flowers is positioned such that it is positioned relative to the knotters below. As a result, the knotter is located at the top of the raised bunch of flowers, where the pressing means is arranged. The pressing means prevents the foil from getting away from the knotter, so that the binder will not get stuck. The binder 20 is preferably pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis. The gripping means for the raised bunch of flowers is preferably pivotable about a horizontal axis which is substantially parallel to the horizontal axis of the binder. This gripping means is preferably formed by two claws. This makes the knotter of the binder positionable above the bunch of flowers, where the pressing means is located.

The binder pivots substantially in the same vertical plane as the plane between the claws 17, 18 of the engaging means. As a result, the knotter can always be brought above the bunch of flowers 3, as a result of which the device will not block.

The bound bunch of flowers 3 is placed on the discharge belt 21 of the discharge device 20 by 10Γ according to figure 7. 11 opening the claws 17 and 18 of engaging means 16 according to arrows 50 and 51. The movements are carried out by drive means (not shown). Opening the claws 17, 18 results in the bunch of flowers falling on the belt 21 as a result of gravity 52. The belt 21 is provided with shots 53 which separate the bound and cover flowers. The belt 21 moves intermittently and discharges the flowers according to arrow 54. The control device which controls the method shown is not shown.

In addition, observers can be provided on the various components that can detect the presence of a bunch of flowers and / or a sleeve of flowers, so that a next step of the method can be carried out and controlled. For example, the presence of a bunch of flowers 3 in the engaging means 5 may cause the cover opening means to keep a cover ready in an open position.

With the device shown, it is possible to cover and bind bunches of flowers at high speed. Speeds of 30 to 40 and even 50 peeled bunches of flowers per minute can be achieved with the device.

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