Method and Apparatus For Banding Rolls With Paper

Abstract

A method and apparatus for banding rolls of bags is disclosed. It can include a bag machine and/or a winder as the source of rolls. The bander includes multiple banding stations. The source of rolls provides rolls at a faster rate than any banding station can apply bands. By selectively using each banding station the bander can have the same throughput as the source of rolls of bags.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A bander for rolls of bags comprising:
 a source of a plurality of rolls of bags;   a first banding station including a first cradle and a first band applicator disposed to receive a first source of bands and apply a first band to a first roll in the first cradle;   a second banding station including a second cradle and a second band applicator disposed to receive a second source of bands and apply a second band to a second roll in the second cradle; and   a roll diverter positioned to receive the plurality of rolls of bags from the source of rolls of bags, and to selectively direct the plurality of rolls of bags into the first banding station and the second banding station, wherein any particular roll is diverted into only one of the first banding station and the second banding station, and wherein the plurality of rolls of bags includes a first group of bags diverted into the first banding station and the plurality of rolls of bags includes a second group of bags diverted into the second banding station;   wherein a roll path includes a source of rolls of bags, followed by the roll diverter, followed by the first banding station and the second banding station.   
     
     
         2 . The bander of  claim 1 , wherein the bander includes a plurality of additional banding stations, each additional banding station including an additional cradle and an additional band applicator disposed to receive an additional source of bands and apply an additional band to an additional roll in the additional cradle, and wherein the roll diverter is further positioned to direct the plurality of rolls of bags into the plurality of additional banding stations, and wherein the roll path further includes the plurality of additional banding stations. 
     
     
         3 . The bander of  claim 1 :
 wherein the first band applicator includes a first liquid applicator that extends in the cross direction a portion of the first band, disposed to apply liquid to only a first part of the first band in the cross direction, and to not apply liquid to a second part of the first band in the cross direction; and   wherein the second band applicator includes a second liquid applicator that extends in the cross direction a portion of the second band, disposed to apply liquid to only a third part of the second band in the cross direction, and to not apply liquid to a fourth part of the second band in the cross direction.   
     
     
         4 . The bander of  claim 1 , wherein the first band applicator includes a first vacuum conveyor disposed to convey the first band and wherein the second band applicator includes a second vacuum conveyor disposed to convey the second band. 
     
     
         5 . The bander of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second banding stations each include at least one mandrel disposed to hold the at least one of the plurality of rolls. 
     
     
         6 . The bander of  claim 5 , wherein the first banding station includes a first source of air disposed to direct the first band and wherein the second banding station includes a second source of air disposed to direct the second band. 
     
     
         7 . The bander of  claim 6 , wherein the first band applicator includes a first plurality of flexible fingers disposed to guide the first band, and wherein the second band applicator includes a second plurality of flexible fingers disposed to guide the second band. 
     
     
         8 . The bander of  claim 1 , wherein the source provides the plurality of rolls of bags at a first given rate, and wherein the bander includes a plurality of additional banding stations, each additional banding station including an additional cradle and an additional band applicator disposed to receive an additional source of bands and apply an additional band to an additional roll in the additional cradle, and wherein the roll diverter is further positioned to direct the plurality of rolls of bags into the plurality of additional banding stations, and wherein the roll path further includes the plurality of additional banding stations, and wherein each of the first, second and plurality of additional banding stations operates at a second given rate, and wherein the ratio of the first given rate to the second given rate is less than the number of banding stations. 
     
     
         9 . A machine for winding and banding rolls of bags comprising:
 source of a plurality of bags;   a winder, disposed to receive the bags and wind them into a plurality of rolls of bags;   a plurality of banding stations, each including a cradle disposed to receive at least one roll of the plurality of rolls of bags, and including a band applicator, disposed to receive a plurality bands and apply one of the plurality of bands to the at least one roll in the cradle;   a roll diverter positioned to receive the plurality of rolls of bags from the winder, and to selectively direct the plurality of rolls of bags into a one of the plurality of banding stations, and wherein the plurality of rolls of bags includes a first group of bags diverted into a first one of the plurality of banding stations and the plurality of rolls of bags includes a second group of bags diverted into a second one of the plurality of banding stations;   wherein a roll path includes the source of the plurality of bags, followed by the winder, followed by the roll diverter, followed by the first banding station and the second banding station.   
     
     
         10 . The machine of  claim 9 , wherein the source of the plurality of bags is a bag making machine. 
     
     
         11 . The machine of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of banding stations each includes a liquid applicator disposed to apply liquid to part of the one of the plurality of bands. 
     
     
         12 . The machine of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of banding stations each includes a vacuum conveyor disposed to convey the one of the plurality of bands to the cradle. 
     
     
         13 . The machine of  claim 12 , wherein each banding stations includes at least one mandrel disposed to hold the at least one roll. 
     
     
         14 . The machine of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of banding stations includes a source of air disposed to direct the one of the plurality bands into the cradle. 
     
     
         15 . The machine of  claim 13 , wherein the band applicator includes a plurality of flexible fingers disposed to guide the one of the plurality bands about the at least one roll in the cradle. 
     
     
         16 . The machine of  claim 13 , wherein the winder winds the plurality of rolls of bags at a first given rate, and wherein the a plurality of banding stations operate at a second given rate, and wherein the ratio of the first given rate to the second given rate is less than the number of banding stations. 
     
     
         17 . The machine of  claim 13 , wherein the winder includes two winding stations. 
     
     
         18 . A method for banding rolls of bags comprising:
 receiving a plurality of rolls of bags;   selectively directing a first group of the plurality of rolls of bags into a first of a plurality of banding stations;   selectively directing additional groups of the plurality of rolls of bags into additional banding stations of the plurality of banding stations, wherein the directing is done sequentially so that each banding station receives a one of the plurality of roll of bags before any given banding stations receives a second of the plurality of roll of bags;   cradling each roll of bags from each group of rolls of bags in the respective banding station, and applying a band to each roll.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising receiving a plurality of bags, and wherein receiving a plurality of rolls of bags includes winding rolls of bags from the plurality of bags. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein winding rolls of bags includes first directing a portion of the plurality of bags to a first winder, then directing a portion of the plurality of bags to a second winder, and repeating, and further includes winding the bags in a first direction using the first winder, and winding the bags in a second direction using the second winder, and wherein selectively directing includes directing at least partially based on whether a given roll was wound in the first direction or the second direction. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein receiving a plurality of bags includes forming bags from film. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein winding rolls of bags from the plurality of bags is performed at a first given rate, and wherein each of the a plurality of banding stations operate at a second given rate, and wherein the ratio of the first given rate to the second given rate is less than the number of banding stations. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein applying a band includes applying liquid to the band. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein applying a band further includes applying suction to the band to convey the band. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein applying a band further includes directing air to the band.