WO2015136024A1

WO2015136024A1 - Interface for a strapping machine

Info

Publication number: WO2015136024A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/055134
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco BENDER; Reinhard Broghammer; Rainer Ihle; Daniel TREU
Original assignee: Mosca Gmbh
Priority date: 2014-03-12
Filing date: 2015-03-12
Publication date: 2015-09-17
Also published as: ES2680635T3; DE102014103335A1; EP3116786B1; EP3116786A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for strapping objects, comprising the following steps: transporting of an object to a strapping station; forming of at least one loop from a strap (2) around the object by means of a strapping device; connecting the ends of the loop to one another, wherein signals are conducted, via at least one plug connection comprising a plurality of pole pairs, from an external device to the strapping device and/or from the strapping device to an external device. The problem addressed by the invention is to configure the strapping machine for flexible coupling in different environments. Said problem is solved by the following steps: coupling a pole pair with a signal channel of a programmable multi-channel digital control unit; programming the digital control unit to allocate any input signal or output signal to a particular signal channel.

Description

Interface for a strapping machine

description

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a method and a device or system for strapping objects.

STAN D TECHNOLOGY Strapping machines have been tried-and-tested devices for attaching strapped loops, usually made of plastic strapping, to items such as parcels, stacks of magazines, filled crates, etc. The items are usually transported on a conveyor into a tape guide frame. A flat strapping tape is fed to the tape guide channel in the tape guide frame by means of a tape drive. Subsequently, the thus formed band loop is pulled out of the band guide channel and stretched around the object to be strapped. In this state, the formed wall loop is separated from the tape leader, and the two ends of the tape loop are pressed against each other and bonded together. The connection of the loop ends is usually done by welding. The applicant's WO 2008/01 9991 describes such a strapping machine.

The strapping station is located in the region of the strap guide frame, so that the loop formed by the strap guide frame is fixed at a certain position in a certain position around the object in the strapping position. The conveyor usually comprises several components. For example, the strapping machine may include an infeed conveyor, the unrestrained strapping articles transported to Umreifungsstation. Furthermore, the strapping machine may have an outlet conveyor which transports the article away from the strapping station after strapping. Frequently, further conveyor components are arranged upstream of the inlet conveyor and / or behind the outlet conveyor. These further conveying components can be, for example, simple transport rollers on which the object to be strapped is transported in the direction of the fall due to its weight. However, driven roller conveyors or belt conveyors can also be used. In particular, in front of the strapping machine a Stauchtakt- conveyor is often used, which transports items to the infeed conveyor of the strapping machine at predetermined times.

In practice, strapping machines are usually provided with strapping tools, which support both the movement of the object to be strapped and the strapping itself. For example, at least one stop can be provided, against which the object to be strapped is transported. Often two stops are used, which are arranged transversely to the direction of transport plane. When the object is transported against the stop by the conveying device, its front edge is aligned parallel to the plane defined by the stops. For the strapping of objects such as a newspaper stack, a corset holder can be used. This ensures that the objects lie directly on each other when strapping. With compressible objects, even a packing press can be used which expels air or other fillings from the space of the objects to be strapped.

To control the strapping process and the Umreifungshilfsmittel and the conveyor, such strapping machines on a control unit on. The control unit is usually a PLC (programmable logic controller, English: Programmable Logic Controller, PLC). A PLC provides a programmable controller on a digital basis and has been replacing hardwired controllers programmed with their interconnects and electronic components for several years. A PLC has in the inputs, outputs, an operating system and an interface, over which programs can be downloaded to the PLC. In the manufacturing company, the PLC is then programmed so that a basic setting of a machine is realized. Strapping machines with a microcontroller for control are also known, for example from EP 1 059 234 B1.

The programming of the inputs and outputs of the interface requires expensive specialists with very detailed knowledge of the control unit. The value ranges of the signals transmitted via the inputs and outputs and their technical significance must be known. The control unit must then be programmed based on this knowledge so that either dependent on specific signal values on a particular input channel of the control unit specific units of the strapping machine are driven or that certain output values of the strapping machine certain output signals via a signal channel of the control unit to a pole pair of the connector be issued. In order for the programming to take place, a special programming environment is additionally required. These programming environments are software packages provided by the manufacturers of the control unit. For example, the company Siemens offers under the name TIA development environment for the machine controls it manufactures. In order to be able to work with these programming environments, too, a very great knowledge of the procedure and the environment is required again. The demands on the computers on which such development environments are very high, so that this expensive equipment must be purchased.

In addition, the programming of an interface or an interface channel intervenes in the actual machine program of the strapping machine. If the interface programming is changed, the machine program no longer corresponds to the series status. Release tests of the machine program are no longer meaningful and the manufacturer's warranty for the strapping machine may expire when changes are made to interface programming. Finally, a changed interface programming is complex in administration. Changed interface software must be stored and managed by machine. It is not easily possible to replace a strapping machine with an individualized interface software with another model of the same series, because it is only in the model that the change of the interface programming has to be understood before it functions completely like the replaced machine. A service technician of the manufacturing company can only change the programming of the PLC or another control unit with the expense and associated risks described above, such that its controls are tailored to the needs of the user and the individual needs of the location where the machine is located is set up, adjusted.

It is desirable to optimize the control of such a strapping machine and the course of such a strapping process, and in particular to increase the flexibility in daily use and the quality of strapping.

OPENING OF THE INVENTION

It is generally proposed to replace the usual PLC of a strapping machine with a microcontroller. Microcontrollers are semiconductor chips which contain a processor and additional components which perform additional peripheral functions. On a microcontroller are usually memory and program memory. It is often referred to as a one-chip system or "system-on-a-chip".

The use of a microcontroller enables a completely new control of the strapping parameters. Strapping machines usually have at least one industrial plug connection via which they are connected to the other components of the machine system in which they are integrated. get connected. The usual industrial connector for strapping machines has between 6 and 36 poles. Each pole pair is assigned to an input signal or an output signal.

The invention relates to a method for strapping objects with the following steps:

Transporting an article to a strapping station,

Forming at least one loop of a strapping band around the object by means of a strapping device,

• connecting the ends of the loop together,

wherein signals are passed from at least one connector having a plurality of pole pairs from an external device to the strapping device and / or from the strapping device to an external device.

The object of the invention is to design the strapping machine for flexible coupling into different environments.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the following steps:

Coupling one pole pair each with a signal channel of a programmable, multichannel digital control unit,

• Programming the digital control unit to assign the input and output signals to the signal channels, wherein any input signal or output signal is assigned to a particular signal channel.

In other words, the fixed wiring within the strapping machine is replaced by free programmability of the different signal channels of the control unit. Until now, the strapping machines were basically equipped with an industrial plug-in connection, which was hardwired inside the machine and whose pole pairs were assigned to fixed signals. According to the method described here, each pole pair of the connector with a signal channel, ie an input channel or an output channel of the control unit coupled (hardwired), but it can be any input signals or output signals of the respective input channels or output channels are assigned by simply reprogramming.

It should be noted that in the method described here, the digital control unit can be programmed to assign a Beliebliche signal to a particular signal channel. It can thus be determined by appropriate programming, which pole pair of the interface is assigned to which signal. The interface programming itself, that is, setting the limit values of the signals transmitted via the interfaces, in which the control unit drives units of the strapping machine to perform certain functions, or the determination of the output signals, which outputs the control unit depending on a detected state of the strapping machine , is not changed in this programming for assignment. The interface programming is done in a conventional way. A multiplicity of different interface signals and their processing by the control unit have been programmed out by the manufacturer in the machine program of the strapping machine and run through the test routines of the manufacturer to be used. So the standard production software of the strapping machine includes the interface programming for all known signals. Extensive programming on site by the user of the machine is no longer necessary.

In order to place the required interface signals on the I / O pins of the plug connection (pole pair), only a standard PC with a program tool provided by the manufacturer of the strapping machine is required. This tool allows any input or output, ie. each pole pair of the connector to be assigned from the available pool of possible signals that which is fed to the pole pair. The interface programming itself is not done here, since the complete interface program has already been created and stored in the machine program. In the simplest way, the corresponding signal can be assigned to each input or output pole pair via the tool. each

Interface signal corresponds to a specific interface function. The stored interface signals are already all firmly integrated in the machine software and have already been tested with regard to lateral interference and possible other malfunctions.

The on-site personnel (fitter), even the customer, can easily allocate the interface with the most diverse signals individually and adapt the signal assignment on site. Programming knowledge, complex interface software, equipment and knowledge of interface programming are not required. Since the assignment of an already programmed interface program, the machine program is not changed, thereby the reliability and reliability is affected in any way.

The assignment list "pole pair / signal channel to signal" created by this procedure is stored in a non-volatile data memory, so that the assignment to the control unit of the strapping machine can be loaded each time the control unit of the strapping machine is switched on If a strapping machine needs to be replaced then this backup copy can be loaded into the control unit of the replacement machine so that it is equipped with the individual configuration required at the respective site of use.

Should a customer exceptionally have a need for the consideration of a new input signal by the control unit of the strapping machine or need for the generation of a novel Ausgangssig-, the required interface programming can be seated made by the manufacturer of the strapping machine and completely tested. The manufacturer of the strapping machine can document the new interface programming accordingly and then integrate it into a new version of the machine program. At the customer's location then only the new machine program must be loaded into the control unit of the strapping machine (ie an update to be installed) and the new signal can be assigned to the corresponding signal channel. Alternatively, the interface programming exceptionally done at the customer's seat and then added by the manufacturer of the strapping machine in the machine software and installed at the next update on all strapping machines. Here, too, the machine for which an interface was programmed individually can be replaced by a different, other machine on which the update of the machine software is installed and in whose data memory the assignment list "Polpaar to signal "is stored.

According to the invention, the pole pairs are each assigned to a freely selectable signal, which is supplied to a programmable, multi-channel digital control unit or generated by this control unit. At any time, the digital control unit may be programmed to associate a particular input signal or output signal with a particular signal channel. Therefore, only one type of strapping machine to be finished with freely programmable connector to manufacture. There is no need for different wiring within the machine to match specific pole pairs of the connector to given input channels or output channels, according to the customer's requirements. This assignment is taken over by the programming of the programmable control unit.

Such a strapping machine can consequently be used for all applications. At most, different geometric shapes of the connector must be provided so that the strapping machine can be adapted to the respective, used in the various sites Steck¬ plug connections. But this too can a unified interface can be used. The digital control unit can have a standard interface, for example a parallel interface or a serial interface (USB interface), via which signals are transmitted from the industrial plug connection to the control unit or from the control unit from the plug connection. The standard interface of the control unit can then be coupled by an adapter or a connection cable with different connectors, depending on the industrial connector that is used at the place of use of the strapping machine.

The proposed measure has considerable advantages for the manufacturer of the strapping machine. The manufacturer can standardize its production. Only one component can be manufactured individually depending on the location of the machine, namely the adapter or the connecting cable which connects the standard interface of the control unit to the industrial plug connection.

In practice, as mentioned above, a microcontroller can be used as the control unit. A microcontroller can easily be reconfigured via a data interface and can be individually reprogrammed from strapping process to strapping process. However, this is usually not necessary in relation to the configuration of the connector. The connector is usually only once to configure according to the wishes of customers. Once configured, the channel assignment at the customer is no longer changed. Therefore, a programmable logic controller PLC can also be used to configure the assignment of the signal channels to the pole pairs of the plug-in connection. The input channels can, for example, guide at least one of the following signals to the strapping machine:

• a signal indicating that an upstream conveyor unit is active;

A signal indicating that a downstream conveyor is active; • a signal indicating that a parcel will arrive shortly at the strapping machine (pre-parcel notice).

For example, the output signals supplied to upstream or downstream components or supplied to a plant controller of the plant in which the recirculation machine is integrated may conduct at least one of the following signals:

The strapping device is switched on;

• Package is in strapping device;

• end of the band;

• disturbance of the strapping machine;

• strapping machine in automatic mode;

• strapping machine in manual mode;

• Enema released for new item.

The signals are often binary, so that the application of a voltage to a pole pair usually indicates the first state and the absence of a voltage indicates the second state. In principle, any signals from components of the system in which the strapping machine is arranged can be fed to the control unit of the strapping machine as input signals.

Also, any state or control signals within the strapping machine may be routed outside when these signals are required for the proper operation of the plant.

Furthermore, the development described here relates to a strapping machine for strapping objects, having the following features:

At least one conveying device for transporting an article to a strapping station,

At least one strapping device for forming a loop from a strapping band around the object,

At least one connecting device for connecting the ends of the loop to one another, • at least one connector having a plurality of pole pairs, are passed via the signals from an external device to the strapping device and / or from the strapping device to an external device.

To achieve the above object, the strapping machine may have the following features:

At least one programmable, multi-channel digital control unit, wherein in each case one pole pair of the plug connection is coupled to a respective signal channel of the control unit,

• The digital control unit is programmable such that any input signal or output signal can be assigned to a particular signal channel. As mentioned, the control unit may be a microcontroller.

As mentioned, the control unit may have a standard interface, wherein an adapter is provided with a connector for the standard interface on one side and a part of the connector on the other side.

In practice, at least one conveying unit can be arranged before and / or after the strapping machine, which transports the object to be strapped to the strapping machine or transports it away from the strapping machine.

Practical embodiments will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows a schematic front view of a strapping machine.

Fig. FIG. 2 shows a schematic plan view of a strapping machine which is integrated into a strapping system with an upstream conveyor unit and downstream conveyor unit. Fig. Figure 3 shows a front view of a male part of a typical connector of a strapping machine.

Fig. 4 shows a front view of a female part of a typical connector of a strapping machine.

Fig. 5 shows a tabular representation of the standard assignment of the pole pairs of the plug connection to the signal channels. Fig. 6 shows a modified channel assignment in tabular representation.

Fig. 7 schematically shows an adapter cable between the female part of FIG. 4 and part of a digital serial connector. The in Fig. 1 strapping machine 1 is used for strapping objects 7 with a tape 2, which is withdrawn from a feed device 4 from a supply roll 3 and a tape magazine 5 is supplied. From there, the belt is fed by means of a belt conveyor 6 through a tensioning device 8 to a belt guide channel in a belt guide frame 9, so that the belt forms a loop. The belt is then retracted by the drive of the belt conveyor 6, so that the belt loop closely adjoins the article 7. Now the tensioning device 8 is activated, so that the belt loop is pulled around the object 7 with a predetermined high tension force. Subsequently, the loop beginning is connected to the loop end by means of a closure unit 1 0. The shutter 1 0 is in practice, e.g. from an ultrasonic welding device, which welds the two ends of the formed packing loop together. Such a closure unit is e.g. in EP 1 479 61 1 A2. The closure unit 1 0 welded the film-like plastic material from which the strapping 2 consists.

The conveyor for the article 7 is shown in FIG. 1 not shown. The control unit 1 1 is shown in FIG. 1 schematically shown as attached to the right side box. The control unit 1 1 has a microcontroller, which controls or regulates the functions of all functional elements of the strapping machine 1. On the control unit 1 1 a part 1 2 a connector is arranged, which is formed in the present case as a socket part 1 2 of the connector.

The Fig. FIG. 2 shows a top view of the strapping machine 1 from FIG. 1, which is integrated in a conveyor system. In the plan view, the tape guide frame 9 and the control unit 1 1 of the strapping machine can be seen schematically. Furthermore, an input conveyor 1 3 of the straightening machine 1 can be seen, which consists of a pair of conveyor belts. The input conveyor 1 3 transports an object 7 on the transport table of the strapping machine 1 aufl lying object in the conveying direction (in Fig. 2 indicated by an arrow on the article 7) to the tape guide frame 9. The input conveyor 1 3 can in alternative designs of more or fewer conveyor belts or conveyor rollers. Accordingly, an output conveyor 14 is provided, which transports the article 7 from the tape guide frame 9 after being strapped on the transport table of the strapping machine. In front of the input conveyor 1 3 is a supply conveyor 1 5, for example, a Stautaktförderer that transports the article 7 to the input conveyor 1 3 of the strapping machine. Similarly, the output conveyor 14 downstream of a discharge conveyor 1 6, which may also be a Stautaktförderer or a plurality of conveyor rollers with a slight slope. The discharge conveyor transports the strapped object 7 away from the strapping machine 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 1 1 is assigned a socket part 1 2 of a plug connection with which a complementary plug part can be connected in order to pass input signals from signal sources located outside the strapping machine 1 to the control unit 1 1 and output signals from the control unit 1 1 to conduct outside of the strapping machine 1 device. Of course, at the strapping machine 1 several parts of connectors for connecting signal lines to the control unit 1 1 may be provided.

Often, a first socket part on the side of the input conveyor 1 3 and a second female part disposed on the side of the output conveyor 14. The socket part 12 of the connector is shown schematically in plan view in FIG. 3 shown. It can be seen that in the illustrated embodiment it has 24 poles or 1 2 pole pairs 21-32. Fig. 4 shows the complementary plug part 1 7, which is connected to the external units and controls of the strapping machine 1 associated devices and equipment, such as the feed conveyor 1 5 and the discharge conveyor 1 6, is connected. The plug part 1 7 also has 12 pairs of poles. Each pole pair 21, 21 '- 32, 32' forms a signal channel. Alternatively, other configurations of the signal channels are possible. Thus, one of the plug poles or the plug housing can lead to an O potential or ground potential. Each individual pole of the female part 1 2 and the male part 1 7 can then form together with the ground potential a pole pair. As a result, the number of channels of the connector is increased. However, signal overlays may result in this case, and the channel separation is not as clean as in the solution described above, in which each two poles form a pole pair for a signal channel.

The Fig. 5 shows an example of a standard assignment of input and output signals to specific pole pairs. The first six pole pairs are assigned to output signals which the control unit 1 1 of the strapping machine 1 forwards to external control devices or signal processing devices. The following output signals can be output, for example, from the control unit:

Switching state of the strapping device on / off;

- presence of a package in the strapping device, which is detected by corresponding sensors of the strapping machine;

- End of the tape reached (yes / no);

- disturbance of the strapping machine (yes / no);

- Operating mode of the strapping machine (automatic mode or manual mode);

- Enema released for a new item (yes / no). The further six pole pairs are assigned to input signals, which are conducted from external devices to the control unit of the strapping machine 1. Such input signals may indicate, for example, the switching state of an upstream or downstream conveyor unit (active or inactive) or also a parcel pre-registration, that is to say the presence of a parcel on the stowage conveyor 1 5 upstream of the strapping machine 1.

The signals mentioned are selected only as examples. A large number of further signals can be forwarded via the pole pairs of the plug connection. In particular, different operating conditions and possible fault signals from additional units of the strapping machine (downholder or pack press or stop) or other external devices can be communicated via the signal channels. Also, the number of input signals may differ from the number of output signals.

The in Fig. 5 assignment is chosen purely arbitrary. It can correspond to a standard assignment which the machine manufacturer originally intended for his strapping machine. However, the assignment of the signals may change over time. Also, different customers have different demands on the strapping machine and use the strapping machine in different manufacturing facilities. This results in different assignments of your plug connection. The manufacturer of a strapping machine is therefore often required to provide deviating from the standard assignment signal assignments on its connectors.

Such a different signal assignment is shown for example in FIG. 6 shown. Whereas in FIG. 5, the signal A was assigned to the first pole pair and the signal B, etc., to the second pole pair, is shown in FIG. 6, the first pole pair, the signal L, the second pole pair associated with the signal E. The assignment to the third pole pair and fourth pole pair corresponds to the assignment in FIG. 5 (output signal C or output signal D). The fifth Pole pair is assigned to signal B. The assignment to the sixth, seventh, ninth, tenth and eleventh pole pair again corresponds to the assignment from FIG. 5. The eighth pole pair is assigned to the signal A. The twelfth pole pair is assigned to signal H.

This signal assignment is selected as desired and can be changed as required. According to the invention, the signal assignment of the control unit 1 1 is programmable. This is achieved in particular by using a microcontroller, but is also possible by means of a configurable and programmable PLC. As explained above, this assignment, which can be changed at the point of use of the strapping machine, does not relate to the interface programming itself, but solely to the assignment of a specific signal to a specific signal channel of the control unit 11. Thus, the machine program of the strapping machine provided by the manufacturer is not affected by the reprogramming of the signal assignment, and the control unit applies to each of the individual signal channels an interface program created and tested by the manufacturer.

The change of the signal assignment is easy to perform at the place of use of the strapping machine. The person on site, usually a fitter, is informed about which input signals and output signals are to be available via the plug connections of the strapping machine concerned. From the available pool, he can select the desired signal and assign it to the desired pole pair of the connector. The order is semi-graphic via selection lists by means of a software tool running on a PC connected to the machine. In this tool, the available pole pairs / signal channels are displayed in the selection list. In a column entitled "Signal", a pop-up window can be opened for each pair of poles, in which the corresponding signals can be selected, depending on whether it is an input signal channel or output signal channel.

The output signals can be assigned to many pole pairs. Due to their uniqueness, the input signals can only be assigned once. If an input signal is already assigned to a pole pair, it will no longer be available for another pole pair in the pop-up window.

The signal functions associated with the signals and further parameters are programmed and stored in the machine program or the machine software. This programming has been tested and approved by the manufacturer of the strapping machine. This programming can not be changed by the signal mapping software tool. This ensures that the signal processing takes place according to the programming developed and tested by the manufacturer. All programmed signal functions are displayed in the pop-up window. If a new signal functions from the manufacturer e.g. If it is programmed at the request of a customer, it can be included in an update after the test and the release so that it is displayed in the pop-up window for the signal assignment after the machine software update has been imported.

In practice, the number of pole pairs / signal channels may be greater than the number of signals used. In this case, not every signal channel is assigned a signal. In most cases, however, the pole pairs / signal channels are limited and the number of different programmed _ signals is much larger than the available pole pairs / signal channels. In this case, the signal variants required for the specific strapping process must be selected from the programmed signals and assigned to corresponding pole pairs / signal channels. In this way, the strapping machine can be adapted to the respective needs of the respective needs and a erforderl I number of signals to the signal channels of the control unit 1 1 are connected.

In the present invention, it is also possible to arrange the customer requests corresponding, different connectors on the strapping machine 1. For this purpose, the socket part 1 2 of the strapping machine 1 via a signal cable 1 8 with a digital interface, such as a USB interface 1 9, the control unit 1 1 are connected. In addition, a signal processor 20, which converts the signals of the different pole pairs of the female part 1 2 into the signals of the digital interface 19, can be arranged between the female part 1 2 and the digital interface 1 9. The signal processor can also be integrated in the housing of the female part 12 or the digital interface 1 9.

The digital interface 1 9, for example, a USB interface can be connected to a more complementary digital interface of the control unit 1 1. In this way, with a uniform design of the strapping machine 1 and its control unit 1 1 any number of connectors can be readily realized. It is only necessary to select the suitable adapter arrangement with the suitable part of a plug connection and to connect it to the control unit 11 via the digital interface 19.

The features of the invention disclosed in the accompanying description, in the drawings and in the claims may be essential both individually and in any desired combinations for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments. It can be varied within the scope of the claims and taking into account the knowledge of the person skilled in the art. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 strapping machine

2 band

3 supply roll

4 retraction device

5 tape magazine

6 belt conveyor

7 Subject

8 clamping device

9 tape guide frame Strapping head

control unit

female connector

infeed conveyor

output conveyor

infeed conveyor

removing conveyor

plug part

signal cable

digital interface

signal processor

, 21 'first pole pair

, 22 'second pole pair

, 23 'third pole pair

24 'fourth pole pair

, 25 'fifth pole pair

, 26 'sixth pole pair

, 27 'seventh pole pair

'28' eighth pole pair

, 29 'ninth pole pair

, 30 'tenth pole pair

, 31 'eleventh pole pair

'32' twelfth pole pair

* * * * * * *

Claims

claims

1 . Method for strapping objects, comprising the following steps:

Transporting an article to a strapping station,

Forming at least one loop of a strapping band (2) around the object by means of a strapping device,

• connecting the ends of the loop together,

wherein signals are passed from an external device to the strapping device and / or from the strapping device to an external device via at least one plug connection with a plurality of pole pairs (21-32, 21'-32 '),

characterized by the following steps:

Coupling in each case one pole pair (21 -32, 21 '-32') each having a signal channel of a programmable, multi-channel digital control unit (1 1),

• Programming the digital control unit (1 1) for assigning the input and output signals to the signal channels, wherein any input signal or output signal is assigned to a particular signal channel.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that as a control unit (1 1) a microcontroller is used.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the input signals comprise at least one of the following signals:

• upstream feed unit is active,

• downstream conveyor unit is active,

• Prepackage.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the output signals comprise at least one of the following signals:

• Strapping device switched on;

• Package is in strapping device;

• end of the band; Disturbance of the strapping machine (1);

• strapping machine (1) in automatic mode;

• strapping machine (1) in manual mode;

• Enema for new item (7) given.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the programs for processing the possible input signals and output signals are implemented by the control unit in a machine program of the strapping machine and in that assigning the arbitrary input signal or output signal to a particular signal channel assigning a particular Program for signal processing to the particular signal channel comprises.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the programs for processing the possible input signals and output signals are tested by the control unit at the seat of the manufacturer of the strapping machine.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an assignment list with the assignment of the signal channels to the associated signals is stored in a nonvolatile data memory of the control unit and is loaded when the control unit is switched on.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that a copy of the assignment list is created and loaded in an exchange of the strapping machine in the non-volatile data memory of a structurally identical, new strapping machine.

9. Strapping machine for strapping objects, having the following features:

At least one conveying device for transporting an article (7) of a strapping station,

At least one strapping device for forming a loop from a strapping band (2) around the object (7), At least one connecting device for connecting the ends of the loop to one another,

• at least one connector having a plurality of pole pairs (21-32, 21 '- 32'), via which signals are conducted from an external device to the conditioning device and / or from the strapping device to an external device,

characterized by the following features:

• at least one programmable, multi-channel digital control unit (1 1), wherein in each case a pole pair (21 -32, 21 '-32') of the connector is coupled to a respective signal channel of the control unit (1 1)

• the digital control unit (1 1) is programmable so that any input signal or output signal can be assigned to a particular signal channel.

1 0. A strapping machine according to claim 9, characterized in that as a control unit (1 1) is a microcontroller.

1 1. Strapping machine according to claim 9 or 1 0, characterized in that the control unit (1 1) has a standard interface and that it has an adapter with a connection for the standard interface and a part of the connector.

1 2. A strapping machine according to any one of claims 9 to 1 1, characterized in that its control unit (1 1) has a non-volatile data memory for storing a assignment liste with the assignment of the signal channels to the associated signals.

1 3. Umreifungssystem with a strapping machine (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that before and / or after the strapping machine, at least one conveyor unit is arranged.