GB2101042A

GB2101042A - Strap printing device

Info

Publication number: GB2101042A
Application number: GB08213591A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alfred Arthur Marozzi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-05-12
Filing date: 1982-05-11
Publication date: 1983-01-12
Also published as: DE3218116A1; FR2505735A1

Abstract

A printer (124) powered by the moving surface of a package binding strap (116), imprints information on the strap during its displacement from a storage reel (114) to the wrapping mechanism (144) of a package strapping machine. The strap is guided and held in proper driving contact by a strap guiding and contact pressure roller assembly (122) through which power is transferred from the moving strap to the printer for operation thereof. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Strap printing device This invention relates to the imprinting of information on the strap material utilized in bag or package strapping machines.

According to my prior U.S. patent Nos.

3,662,682 and 4,145,967, automatic printers are disclosed through which information is printed on moving surfaces utilizing a fast drying ink. The disclosure of these patents are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Proper automatic operation of such printers requires powered rotation of a printing wheel at a speed synchronized with that of the moving surface and an ink transfer device through which the transfer of a measured quantity of fast drying ink to the printing wheel is accomplished with minimal exposure of the ink stored in a reservoir associated with the ink transfer device. Because of the automatic operation and use of fast drying ink, the foregoing type of printer would be advantageous for printing of information on the surface of a moving strap associated with bag or package strapping machines.Further, the motion imparted to the strap material by the machine represents a source of power that may be tapped for operation of the printer. However, because of installational problems, the use of the aforementioned type of printer in conjunction with strapping machines was not heretofore thought to be feasible.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a system for printing of information on the binding strap utilized in a package or bag strapping machine in an economical and feasible fashion.

In accordance with the present invention, semiautomatic and automatic types of strapping machines are modified in an economical manner to incorporate a printing system through which information is imprinted on the strap material during operation of the strapping machine. The strap which is intermittently unwound from a storage reel by means of a pulling device associated with a strapping machine, is guided through a contact pressure roller assembly mounted in adjusted angularly spaced relationship to a printer having a printing roller to which ink is transferred by a rotationally powered printing wheel.A friction drive connection to the moving strap is established through the backup roller associated with the contact pressure roller assembly by means of which powered rotation is imparted to the printing wheel and the ink transfer device for operation of the printer at synchronized speeds automatically adjusted to variations in speed of the strap without use of any independent power source or speed synchronizing controls.

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the strap printing system of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a partial side elevational view of the strap printing apparatus within a semiautomatic strapping machine, with the printer shown in dotted line.

Figure 3 is a partial side elevation view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 as viewed from a plane indicated by section line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation view with parts broken away of the printing apparatus shown in Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a partial section view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 5-5 in Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a somewhat simplified side elevation view of a strap printing apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 is an elevation view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6 at right angles thereto.

Figure 8 is a side elevation view of another form of strap printing apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 9 is a top plane view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 8.

Figure 10 is a side elevational view of the strap printing apparatus in another strapping machine installation.

Figure 11 is an end elevation view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 0.

Figure 12 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 10.

Figure 13 is a partial section view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 13-13 in Fig. 10.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, Fig.

1 diagramatically illustrates a strap printing apparatus in accordance with the present invention, generally referred to by reference numeral 10, and shown associated with a bag strapping machine generally referred to by reference numeral 12. The bag strapping machine may be of a type already known which includes a strap storage reel or the like 1 4 from which a binding strap is withdrawn in response to intermittent operation of a strap puller 1 6 drawing the strap through a bag or package wrapper mechanism 1 8. Bag strapping machines of such type wherein measured lengths of strap are intermittently displaced for baggage strapping purposes are marketed by B. H. Bunn Co., Of Alsip, Illinois. Such bag strapping machines are utilized, for example, in the baggage assembly areas of airline terminals.

The strapping associated with the bag strapping machine 12, as shown in Fig. 1, is detoured from its normal path through the strap printing apparatus 10 in order to record, code, mark or imprint information such as date, department, etc., on the strap material being utilized for package or bag strapping purposes. The strapping is drawn along a path 20 through a pressure contact roller device 22 of the printing apparatus before it is engaged by a printer 24 through which the strap is actually imprinted. The kinetic energy of the strap during movement is transferred through drive means 26 to the strap printer 24 for operation thereof in an efficient manner with energy conservation and simplified operational synchronization.

The printer 24 is utilized in accordance with the present invention is of a type disclosed in my prior U.S. patent No. 3,662, 682 issued May 16, 1972. This type of printer is shown in greater detail in Fig. 4. supported by fixed hanger brackets 30 in an angularly adjusted position on a support shaft 32 within the housing 34 of a semiautomatic type of bag strapping machine manufactured by the B. H.

Bunn Co. aforementioned. The pressure contact roller device 22 is also supported in common with the printer on the support shaft 32 in an angularly related position as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Strapping 36 from the strap storage of the bag strapping machine is threaded through the pressure contact roller device 22 and is held in operative contact with the printing wheel 38 associated with the printer 24. The strapping 36 extends from the pressure contact device about an idler roller assembly 40 fixed within the machine from which the strapping extends through a strap guide assembly 42 positioned within an opening of the machine housing 34. The strap is directed by the guide assembly 42 externally of the machine housing for baggage wrapping purposes under the pull of the strap puller as aforementioned.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 in particular, the pressure contact roller device 22 includes a pair of support arms 44 suspended from the same support shaft 32 supporting the support arm 39 for the printing wheel 38 in fixed adjusted angular positions to mount a neoprene covered backup roller 46 and the printing wheel in proper operative relationship to each other. The backup roller 46 is rotatably mounted by a roller shaft 48 carried between the support arms 44 in parallel spaced relationship to a second roller shaft 50 on which a pressure roller 52 is rotatably mounted. A guide roller 54 is also mounted between the support arms 44 of smaller diameter than the rollers 52 and 46. The strapping 36 is threaded about the rollers 54, 52 and 46 as shown.Proper tension may be applied to the strapping after it is threaded about the rollers by angular adjustment of one of the roller shafts ecentrically mounted between the support arms 44, such as roller shaft 50 which is held locked in an adjusted position by means of an adjustment set screw 56. Strap or belt tension adjusting means of such type are already well-known so that further details in connection therewith are omited. It will therefore be appreciated that displacement of the strapping will produce rotation of the backup roller 46 holding the strapping in rolling contact with the periphery of the printing wheel 38 of the printer 24.

The printing apparatus as aforementioned Is of the type which includes a powered ink transfer device 58 as more clearly seen in Fig.

4. The ink transfer device 58 is also disclosed in detail in my prior U.S. patent No.

3,662,682, aforementioned. Ink is derived from an ink storing cartridge 60 carried by the ink transfer device 58, the ink storing cartridge being of the type disclosed in my prior U. S. patent No. 4,145,967 issued March 27, 1 979. Thus, a prolonged supply of fast drying ink may be transferred to the printing wheel for imprinting onto the strapping through type on the periphery of the printing wheel 38 in rolling contact with the ink transfer wheel 62 associated with the ink transfer device 58. For proper operation of the printer 24, a rotational friction drive of the printing wheel 38 is effected by pressure contact with backup roller 46 for operation in proper synchronized relation to movement of the strapping 36.

Fig. 6 illustrates schematically another embodiment of the invention in which the printer 24 and an associated pressure contact roller device 22' are mounted in operative relationship to but externally of a bag strapping machine of the automatic type. The printer 24 and pressure contact roller 22' are accordingly mounted on a base plate 62 by means of support bracket plates 64. The support arm 39 for the printing wheel 38 is supported in proper angular position by the support shaft 66 secured to the brackets 64 in order to position the printing wheel in contact with the strapping 36 entrained about a backup roller 46' rotatably supported on the roller shaft 48'.The roller shaft 48' may be eccentrically mounted between the support brackets 64 by adjustable eccentric bearing assemblies 68 shown in Fig. 7 in order to enable adjustment of the position of backup roller 46' to obtain proper contact between the strapping and the printing wheel 38 and a pressure roller 72.

Such adjusting facilities are per se wellknown. The strapping is entrained about-the printing wheel 46' and a guide roller 54' also rotatably mounted by roller shaft 70 between the support brackets 64. The pressure roller 72 rotatably mounted by the support brackets holds the strapping in contact with the backup roller. The strapping extends from the guide roller 54 about an idler 74 to the wrapping mechanism.

As shown in Fig. 7, gearing 28 associated with the present invention, drivingly interconnects the backup roller with the printing wheel 38 and the powered ink transfer device 58. Thus, the printing wheel and the ink transfer device may be rotated at the proper speeds and in precise synchronization with the movement of the strapping under control of the pulling device associated with the bag strapping machine.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate yet another type of pressure contact device for strap printing by printer 24 fixedly mounted by its support arm 39 between support frame members 76 fixed in place by brackets 78. The support frame members are interconnected by a tie rod 80 on which a guide roller 81 supports strapping 36a which extends toward guide roller 82.

The strapping extends from guide roller 82 between a pressure roller 84 and a backup roller 86. The rollers are mounted by the support frame for rotation about shafts 88 and 90 fixed relative to each other to establish proper friction drive between the backup roller and the neoprene drive bearers 92 on the printing wheel 38. Strapping 36b and 36c may be drawn from different directions onto the guide roller 82 as shown.

A strap printing apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, generally referred to by reference numeral 110, is shown in Figs. 10-1 3 associated with a strapping machine 11 2.

The strapping machine is of a type already known which includes a strap storage reel 114 from which a binding strap 11 6 is withdrawn in response to operation of the machine 112.

The strapping 116 as shown in Fig. 10 is threaded through the strap printing apparatus 110 in order to record, code, mark or imprint information such as date, department, etc., on the strap material. The strapping is drawn through a pressure contact roller assembly 1 22 of the printing apparatus before it is engaged by a printer 1 24 through which the strap is actually imprinted. The kinetic energy of the strap during movement is transferred through gearing 1 26 to the strap printer 1 24 for operation thereof in an efficient manner with energy conservation and simplified operational synchronization.

The printer 1 24 is pivotally supported in an angularly adjusted position between parallel spaced side plates 1 30 fixed to and extending vertically from a pair of horizontal mounting angle bars 1 32. The bars 1 32 are mounted on support bars 1 34 that extend horizontally above the strap reel 114 from a vertical post structure 1 36 which rotatably mounts the reel above a machine base 1 38 as shown in Fig.

10. Strapping 11 6 from the strap reel threaded through the pressure contact roller assembly 1 22 is held in operative contact with the printing wheel 1 38 associated with the printer 1 24. The strapping 11 6 extends from the pressure contact assembly to a brake pulley 140 of the machine from which the strapping is drawn about a strap guide 1 42 into the wrapping mehanism 1 44.

The pressure contact roller assembly 1 22 includes an idler roller 1 46 on a shaft 148 rotatably mounted between side plates 1 30.

The ends of shaft 148 are received in notches 1 50 formed in the angle bars 1 32. A backup roller 1 52 is also rotatably mounted by a roller shaft between the side plates 1 30 in parallel spaced relationship to a pressure roller 1 54. A guide strap shaft 1 56 is also mounted between the side plates, with ends received in angle bar notches. The strapping 11 6 is threaded about the rollers 1 46 and 1 52 as shown.Proper tension may be applied to the strapping after it is threaded about the rollers by the pressure roller 1 54 eccentrically mounted between the side plates for adjustment by shaft lever 1 57 to press the strapping into contact with the backup roller 1 52 with an adjustable pressure. It will therefore be appreciated that displacement of the strapping will produce rotation of the backup roller 1 52 holding the strapping in rolling contact with the periphery of the printing wheel 1 38 of the printer 1 24.

The printing apparatus as aforementioned is of the type which includes a powered ink transfer device 1 58 disclosed in detail in my prior U. S. patent No. 3,662,682, aforementioned. Ink is derived from an ink storing cartridge 1 60 carried by the ink transfer device 158, the ink storing cartridge being of the type disclosed in my prior U. S. patent No. 4,145,967 aforementioned. Thus, a prolonged supply of fast drying ink may be transferred to the printing wheel for imprinting onto the strapping through type on the periphery of the printing wheel 1 38 in rolling contact with the ink transfer roll 1 62 associated with the ink transfer device 1 58. For proper operation of the printer 124, a printing wheel 1 38 is geared by gearing 1 26 to the backup roller and ink transfer device 1 58 in synchronized relation to movement of the strapping 116.

Claims

1. In combination with a strapping machine having a strap storage, a wrapping mechanism and means for intermittently pulling measured lengths of strap through the wrapping mechanism from the strap storage, means for imprinting information on the strap, comprising a printer having a printing roller, an ink storage device and ink transfer means for transferring ink from the ink storage device to the printing roller, means for supporting the printer in operative relation to the strap extending between the strap storage and the wrapping mechanism, and contact pressure means holding the strap in operative contact with the printing roller for rendering the printer operative in response to displacement of the strap by the pulling means of the strapp ing machine.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said contact pressure means includes a bac kup roller and a guide roller about which the strap is entrained, and roller support means mounting the backup and guide rollers in operative relation to the printing roller for engagement of the strap between the backup and printing rollers.

3. The combination of claim 2 including positive drive means drivingly interconnecting the backup roller with both the printing roller and the ink transfer means.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said printer and the contact pressure means are enclosed with the strapping machine in a common housing.

5. The combination of claim 2 wherein said printer and the contact pressure means are mounted externally of the machine.

6. The combination of claim 2 wherein said supporting means includes a common support shaft on which the printer and the contact pressure means are supported in angularly related positions.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said supporting means includes a common support shaft on which the printer and the contact pressure means are supported in angularly related positions.

8. In combination with a strapping machine, means for imprinting information on a strap being displaced through the machine, comprising a printer, means for supporting the printer in operative relation to the strap, roller means for guiding and holding the strap in said operative relation to the printer during displacement of the strap, and drive means for rendering the printer operative in response to said displacement of the strap.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said supporting means includes a common support shaft on which the printer and the roller means are supported in angularly related positions.

1 0. In combination with a strapping machine having a strap storage, and means for pulling a strap from the strap storage, means for imprinting information on the strap, comprising a printer having a printing roller, an ink storage device and ink transfer means for transferring ink from the ink storage device to the printing roller, a backup roller in frictional contact with the printing roller, means for supporting the printer in operative relation to the strap extending from the strap storage about the backup roller, and contact pressure means holding the strap in engagement with the backup roller for rendering the printer operative in response to said pulling of the strap.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said contact pressure means includes a guide about which the strap is entrained, pressure roller means for holding the strap in contact with the backup roller and roller support means mounting the backup and pressure roller means in operative relation to the printing roller for movement of the strap in contact between the backup and printing rollers.

1 2. The combination of claim 11 including positive drive means drivingly interconnecting the backup roller, the printing roller and the ink transfer means.

1 3. The combination of claim 10 including positive drive means drivingly interconnecting the backup roller, the printing roller and the ink transfer means.

14. In combination with a strapping machine having a strap storage, a wrapping mechanism and means for intermittently pulling measured lengths of strap through the wrapping mechansim from the strap storage, a device for printing information on the strap constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.