Taping machine - industrial design proposal
Automatic tape packaging machine.
This page describes a first draft design for packaging at Norske Skog who manufacture paper and ship shrink-wrapped container platforms, each containing 9 rolls of paper, all over Australia. The objective was to replace the current nylon straps which were/are causing problems later in delivery, with adhesive tape. The intent of the draft was to achieve concensus as to method and to facilitate costing and sub-contracting.
The machine has a track which encircles the wrapped pallet at the same point as the present strapper.
Locked to the track is a motorised tape carriage of similar design to those presently in use with the plastic wrap.
A carriage [left] supporting two independently mobile arms can track in and out of the path of the tape carriage.
One of the pivoting telescopic arms has a gripper and cutter, the other a roller.
The taping process is entirely automated except for loading a new 1000m roll of tape which requires human intervention. A sub-program will bring all items to the Home position where a new roll can be inserted and the end of the tape loaded into the gripper jaws.
Major components
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Steel frame secured to floor, braced as necessary;
Tape carriage of steel with swivelling wheel assemblies for cornering;
**Proposed tape head not used. See reasoning. |
Steel track for arms carriage secured to floor;
Arms carriage and pylon with wheel assemblies to lock it to the track;
Click for info on linear actuators. Gripper/Cutter arm pivots through 3 positions defined by mechanical/optical sensors, motion by linear actuator;
Roller arm pivots through 3 positions;
Control supplied by dedicated computer with digital in/out controller card, by stand-alone PLC, or as an add-on to the existing system.
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Process description and illustrations
In order to convey the concept clearly and to test for any "impossible" movements I have shown illustrations rather than straight engineering drawings. Dimensioned drawings for quotation can be prepared from this CAD model once the concept is modified and agreed.
The plastic wrapping has been omitted for clarity.
The illustrations are from three different angles: from the control station; looking down from the top of the paper rolls; looking in from outside; and with an elevation from the roller door.
Click the thumbnails for an enlargement.
During preparation of the images shown here a few minor design faults have become apparent. For consistancy in the image sequences, I have left the faults throughout. Let me know any difficulties you foresee.
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Event Description |
View from control |
View from above |
View from front |
Cart position elevation |
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Tape machine components in Home position, pallet approaches final wrapping stage. |
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Tape machine components in Home position, pallet in first taping position |
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Tape Carriage - home Gripper arm - pivots to its low position pulling the tape with it. |
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Gripper arm - extends to position 3 - about 70mm short of full extension - still gripping the tape. |
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Gripper arm - lifts to middle position, pressing the tape to the underside of the plastic wrapped pallet. (It may necessary to spring load the pressing head to accomadate the irregular surface) |
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Gripper arm - holds tape to surface, jaws still holding tape. Tape carriage - commences tracking, dragging the tape. |
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Tape carriage - continues tracking. Gripper arm - still pressing and holding. |
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Tape carriage - pauses about half way round the track - wherever sufficient tape has adhered to the plastic. Gripper arm - jaws and cutter open |
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Tape carriage - paused. Gripper arm - to full extention, ensuring the piece of tape formerly held in the jaw, is stripped from the jaw and pressed against the plastic. There should be no hanging ends to foul the process. |
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Tape carriage - paused. Gripper arm - pivots to low pos; retracts fully; closes jaw. |
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Tape carriage - paused. Gripper arm - pivots to high pos. |
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Tape carriage - continues tracking. Arms carriage - moves to out of path of tape carriage. |
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Tape carriage - continues tracking. Arms carriage - out. Gripper arm - jaw open; extend to pos 2 - about 65mm to line up with eventual tape position. |
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Tape carriage - reaches Home position and stops. (The carriage can do as many revolutions as necessary) |
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Arms carriage - tracks in. Gripper arm - jaws surround tape. |
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Gripper arm - jaw closes, gripping tape; cutter is open. |
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Gripper arm - paused. Roller arm - pivots to middle position; extends until limit switch (not shown) between roller and backing plate is activated |
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Closer view. |
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Gripper arm - jaw holding tape; cutter closes. (A stiff spring between cutter and jaw will allow the jaw to hold and the cutter to open and close depending on the pressure applied) Roller arm - paused. |
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Gripper arm - jaw holding tape; cutter closed; retracts fully. Roller arm - paused. |
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Gripper arm - holding tape. Roller arm - pivots and extends fully using feedback from the limit switch to press the tape down. |
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The pallet moves to the next taping position and the process then repeats itself. |
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