Banding a Stack of Products Which are to be Stacked

Abstract

A method and to a device for banding a stack of products which are to be stacked. A band is unwound from a store roll of a band machine and a loop is formed for the stack of products which is to be stacked, by a band insertion/withdrawal unit. After the free end of the band is fixed in a return device and the band is pulled to the stack of products which is to be stacked, the free end is stuck or welded and the pulled loop is cut. In a program-controlled, continuous process and prior to changing the band, the end of the band of a first band roll is detected and the remainder of the band is retracted. Then, the band threaded into the band store of a second complete band roll is inserted into the band insertion/withdrawal unit ( 39 ) and the band continuous with delay. The end of the totally automatic band exchange is optically and/or acoustically displayed and the roll can change without pressure.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . A method of banding a stack of articles wherein a band is unwound from a reel, with a band store, of a banding machine, a loop for the stack of articles is formed by means of a band-insertion/band-retraction unit and, once the free band end has been 5 clamped in place in a return movement, is drawn against the stack of articles, the free end is adhesively bonded or welded and the secured loop is severed characterized in that for each of a first and a second band real a separate band store is provided and in that in a program-controlled, continuous procedure, prior to a band changeover, the end of the band from the first band reel is detected, the remainder of the band is retracted, the band threaded into the band store of the second, complete band reel is pushed into the bandinsertion/band-retraction unit, and the banding operation is continued without delay. 
   
   
       12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the end is detected in a sensor-controlled manner and the advancement of the band from the first band reel is stopped. 
   
   
       13 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein at least one final loop is still formed once the end of a band has been detected. 
   
   
       14 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein a reference sensor switches on a distance-measuring system with a co-running rotary-transducer roller, which measuring system measures a predetermined band length. 
   
   
       15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the distance-measuring system, for the purpose of forming the first loop with the band following the band changeover, adds a single special length (x) which corresponds to the distance between the reference sensor of the distance-measuring system and the welding and cutting unit. 
   
   
       16 . A banding machine for banding a stack of articles with a band, the banding machine has band reserves, a band-insertion/band-retraction unit, a welding and cutting unit and a band guide in the region of the stack of articles, wherein the banding machine, is actuated in a program-controlled manner, and comprises a first and a second band reel each with a band store, each of the two band stores being followed by a band channel, and these band channels, converging in a V-shaped or radial manner in the direction of a common guide-roller pair, have means for advancing the band to the driving roller of the band-advancement/band-retraction unit and for retracting the band into the relevant band channel. 
   
   
       17 . The banding machine as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein a sensor for detecting the end of the band is arranged in the region of the band store of the first and of the second band reels, preferably such that the length of the band from the relevant sensor to the welding and cutting unit is greater than the loop which is to be formed around the stack of articles which is to be bound. 
   
   
       18 . The banding machine as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the band channels are designed as a two-sided slideway or a roller conveyer, also with driving rollers, or as a belt guide. 
   
   
       19 . The banding machine as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein a sensor which initiates the end of the operation for retracting the remainder of the band is arranged in the region of the band channels. 
   
   
       20 . The banding machine as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein a reference sensor, preferably a photocell, for band insertion is installed between the band-insertion/band-retraction unit and the welding and cutting unit, and a rotary-transducer roller of the distance-measuring system is installed upstream of the band-insertion/band-retraction unit, as seen in the running direction of the band.