EP1386840A1

EP1386840A1 - A device for tying objects, in particular for Easter Eggs to be tied with adhesive tape

Info

Publication number: EP1386840A1
Application number: EP03017257A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Oreste Mussini
Original assignee: Nepal Srl
Current assignee: Nepal Srl
Priority date: 2002-08-01
Filing date: 2003-07-30
Publication date: 2004-02-04

Abstract

A device for tying objects, in particular for Easter egg packages to be tied with adhesive tape, is characterised in that it comprises:

first means (9, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19) so shaped as to apply an adhesive tape to a predetermined tying area (3) of the package;
second means (4, 5) so shaped at to cause the adhesive tape to be wound about said predetermined area;
third means (13) for cutting the adhesive tape.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for tying objects, in particular for Easter eggs to be tied with adhesive tape.
Devices for packaging or wrapping objects are known, in particular for Easter eggs, and in particular a carrousel device is known with a central disk with diaphragms (technically also called iris) serving the purpose of pinching the package of the egg above the egg itself to allow its subsequent tying.
However, tying is accomplished by a manual procedure or by very complex, costly devices.
An object of the present invention is to make available a device for tying objects and in particular for tying Easter egg with adhesive tape, which is particularly simple and economical.
A further object is to make said device extremely reliable and long-lasting, with no need for particular maintenance.
Said objects are fully achieved by the device of the present invention, which is characterised by the contents of the claims set out below and in particular in that it comprises:

first means so shaped as to apply an adhesive tape to a predetermined tying area of the package;
second means so shaped at to cause the adhesive tape to be wound about said predetermined area;
third means for cutting the adhesive tape.

The first means preferably comprise a pair of arms actuated by related actuators, which arms are provided with fork-shaped elements to grip the package or wrapping of the object, and to one of said arms are associated adhesive tape distributor means comprising for instance a reel about which is wound the adhesive tape, one or more sliding rollers for the adhesive tape and an applicator.
The second means preferably comprise a motorised rotating structure provided with pliers for gripping the object and make it rotate integrally with the structure in such a way that during rotation the object drives the adhesive tape about the tying area.
The third means preferably comprise a blade associated to one of the arms and actuated automatically by the opening motion of the two arms after the application of the adhesive tape.
This and other characteristics shall become more readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, illustrated purely by way of non limiting example in the accompanying drawing tables in which:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a detail of the device in the configuration with the arms open;
Figure 2 shows a plan view of a detail of the device in the configuration with the arms closed;
Figure 3 shows a side view of the device;
Figure 4 shows a plan view of a detail of the device in the configuration with the arms in the opening and cutting phase;
Figure 5 shows a side view of a detail of the cutting blade.

With reference to the figures, the number 1 designates an object whose wrapping or packaging 2 must be tied in correspondence with a tying area 3. The object, in the illustrated case, is an Easter egg to be tied above the upper end, but it can also be another type of object whose wrapping needs to be tied. However, the present description is referred, in non limiting fashion, to an Easter egg.
Preliminary use is made of a wrapping apparatus, for instance of the kind described above and provided with carrousel with diaphragms to pinch the wrapping of the egg in correspondence with the area to be subsequently tied.
The egg is maintained in position by a motorised rotating structure 4 provided with pliers 5 for retaining the eggs, actuated by a pneumatic cylinder 6 or by any other suitable actuator.
The rotating structure 4 is set in rotation about its own vertical axis 7 by means of a motorisation 8 (for instance of the type having 0.25 HP of power).
A pair of arms 9 or grinders, actuated by appropriate actuators, preferably constituted by pneumatic cylinders 11, are provided to apply an adhesive tape 10 (whose adhesive part is designated by the reference letter A in Figure 2) to the tying area 3.
Each arm 9 is provided with a fork shaped element 12, also called jaw, and having the function of winding itself about the wrapping.
A first arm 9a is provided with a blade 13 equipped with an abutment or pin 14 and destined to rotate about a fulcrum 15 and to be brought back into the resting position by an elastic element 16 constituted by a spring.
To a second arm 9b is associated a reel 17 of the adhesive tape 10, at least a sliding roller 18, in the illustrated case, two rollers are present) and an applicator 19.
The applicator 19 is constituted by a lever mechanism 20 with return spring 21 associated to the arm 9b.
To the arm 9b is also associated a projection 22 destined to interact with the pin 14 during the opening of the arms and the cutting of the adhesive tape.
The reel 17 with the rollers 18 and the applicator 19 constitute means for distributing the adhesive tape.
The arms 9 with the related pneumatic cylinders 11, the elements 12 and the means for distributing the adhesive tape constitute first means for applying the adhesive tape in a predetermined tying area 3.
The rotating structure 4 constitutes second means for winding the adhesive tape about the tying area.
The blade 13 constitutes third means for cutting the adhesive tape.
The tip of the blade 13, as shown in Figure 5, is forked to allow, during the cutting, the folding of a portion of the adhesive tape onto itself in such a way as to cause the two adhesive parts to match, thereby facilitating the subsequent unwinding of the tape itself when opening the package.
Essentially, in addition to cutting the adhesive tape, the blade automatically folds it back in the longitudinal direction as a consequence of the original forked shape.
As to the operation of the device, the egg is initially held by the rotating structure 4 and the arms 9 are open as in Figure 1. The arms 9 are then closed onto the tying area as in Figure 2, in such a way that a free portion 23 of the adhesive tape is automatically applied to the wrapping of the egg in the tying area. At this point the rotating structure 4 is set in rotation in the direction indicated by the arrow 24 in such a way that the adhesive tape starts winding about the tying area, effecting the tying itself.
After the adhesive tape has completed one or more turns about the egg, the rotating structure 4 is stopped and the opening of the arms starts as in Figure 4. During said opening, the projection 22 pushes the pin 14 and hence the blade 13 against the adhesive tape 10 until it cuts it and at the moment of the cut the applicator 19 returns in position against the roller 18 (during the winding, the lever mechanism 20 tends to move towards the blade, detaching itself from the roller 18).
The further opening of the arms 9 causes the projection 22 to overtake the pin 14 and hence the blade 13 to return to the resting position, under the action of the spring 16.
The device of the present invention therefore allows an easy application of an adhesive tape to the Easter egg, allowing the tying of its wrapping.
Said device is preferably applicable to a known wrapping apparatus.
The device is particularly simple and economical, it is easily constructed and it requires no particular maintenance.
The device finds its preferred application for Easter eggs but it can also be applied more in general to the tying of any objects with adhesive tapes.

Claims

A device for tying objects, in particular for Easter egg packages to be tied with adhesive tape, characterised in that it comprises:

first means (9, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19) so shaped as to apply an adhesive tape (10) to a predetermined tying area (3) of the package;

second means (4, 5) so shaped at to cause the adhesive tape to be wound about said predetermined area;

third means (13) for cutting the adhesive tape.
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first means comprise a pair of arms (9a, 9b) actuated by related actuators (11), which arms are provided with fork-shaped elements (12) to envelop the package or wrapping of the object, and to one (9b) of said arms are associated adhesive tape distributor means (17, 18, 19).
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tape distributor means comprise a reel (17) about which is wound the adhesive tape (10), one or more sliding rollers (18) for the adhesive tape and an applicator (19).
A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the applicator (19) is pre-loaded by a spring (21).
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the actuators are pneumatic cylinders (11).
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second means comprise a motorised rotating structure (4) provided with pliers (5) for gripping the object and make it rotate integrally with the structure in such a way that during the rotation the object drives the adhesive band (10) about the tying area (3).
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third means comprise a blade (13) associated to one of the arms (9a) and actuated automatically by the opening movement of the two arms (9a, 9b) after the application of the adhesive tape (10).
A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the blade (13) is connected to an elastic element (16) which allows its automatic return to the resting position after the cut and is provided with an abutment or pin (14) which during the opening of the arms is thrust towards the cutting area by the arm (9b) whereon the blade is not mounted.
A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the blade (13) is a forked blade.