GB2303609A

GB2303609A - Strapping apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2303609A
Application number: GB9515459A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tony Sandland
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-07-27
Filing date: 1995-07-27
Publication date: 1997-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 2015-07-27
Also published as: GB9515459D0; GB2303609B

Abstract

A strapping apparatus for strapping packages in the horizontal plane comprises a support frame 12; a pair of arms 21, 22, mounted on the support frame substantially parallel to one another and in a substantially horizontal plane defining an area therebetween for accommodating a package for strapping; strap gripping means at the distal end 40 of one of the arms; and strap feed means at the distal end 37 of the other arm supplied by dispensing means 32. Multiple pairs of arms 21, 22 and 23, 24 may be provided. The arms are adjustable for both height and lateral spacing to accommodate different package sizes and strapping requirements. A pre-drape mechanism is provided to accurately position the strapping material prior to installing the package to be strapped, and a corner protection strip support mechanism facilitates the easy insertion of corner protectors during the strapping operation. A package guide mechanism for accurately locating the package in relation to a pre-draped strap and a fully adjustable support bracket for positioning a strapping tool are provided.

Description

STRAPPING APPARATUS The present invention relates to equipment for strapping palleted loads, and in particular for placing strapping around packages in a substantially horizontal plane.

Strapping of packages, in particular palleted loads, is a commonly used technique both to secure loads to a pallet, and to provide additional structural support around the body of a package. There is a substantial number of prior art documents relating thereto.

For example, GB-2266288 shows strapping apparatus which enables strapping material to be quickly and automatically threaded through the cavities of a pallet beneath the package and simultaneously around one side and the top of the package on the pallet. This enables rapid strapping of the package to the pallet by a single operative who is positioned on the other side of the package, by receiving both ends of the strapping material on that side of the package, and joining them using techniques well known in the art. The strapping material then encircles the package in a vertical plane. Such apparatus will generally be described as vertical strapping apparatus.

GB-1454818 shows an automated strapping apparatus which enables strapping of a package in a substantially horizontal plane. An arm carrying a shuttle which pulls strapping material from a dispenser travels around the package in a circle in a horizontal plane, prior to the strapping material being tightened around the package. The shuttle and strapping feed mechanism are height-adjustable to allow the package to be strapped at varying heights above its base.

There are, however, numerous disadvantages with these prior art arrangements. In the case of the horizontal strapping apparatus, although strapping can take place at various heights above the package base, each strap must be applied separately with a consequently high time overhead on strapping each package.

A further significant disadvantage of the described horizontal strapping apparatus is that the equipment is both cumbersome and nonportable and although adaptable to encircle varying sizes of package, for square and reclangular packages in particular, it requires a large working space because the strapping feeder arm describes a full circle.

In contrast with the vertical strapping apparatus referenced above, where gravity and friction ensure that the straps are retained in a vertical plane during the prc-strapping and strapping activities, this is not the case with horizontal strapping apparatus. Sufficient tension must be maintained on the strap as it is passed around the package to ensure that the strapping material is kept in the intended horizontal plane without sag until the strapping operation may be completed by tightening and bonding two strap ends. This is typically achieved by providing a friction feed on a strap feeder mechanism or dispenser as the strapping material is made to encircle the package.Although this principle can be used with the horizontal strapping apparatus referenced above, it relies upon the weight and structural rigidity of the package being sufficient to prevent it moving under the strap tension. When strapping loads of light-weight articles, the tension of the straps can cause the load to shift or topple.

A further problem with strapping packages in the horizontal plane is that of incorporation of corner protection strips. On fragile packages, such as stacks of fruit boxes or cartons, it is common practice to protect the corners of the packages from the strapping material by inserting stiffening corner sections between the package and the strapping material before the strap is tightened. This is a time consuming and rather awkward activity, since the operative must insert these sections at each corner, and ensure that they stay upright and in place during the strapping and strap tightening operations. Typically, the corner protection strips topple out of place during the strapping activity.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome some or all of these various disadvantages.

According to one aspect, the present invention provides a strapping apparatus for applying strapping around a package comprising: a support frame; a pair of arms, mounted on the support frame substantially parallel to one another and in a substantially horizontal plane defining an area therebetween for accommodating a package for strapping; strap gripping means at the distal end of one of the arms; strap feed means at the distal end of the other arm; and dispensing means co-operative with the strap feed means to supply strapping material thereto.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective diagram of a horizontal strapping apparatus illustrating the principles of a multi-arm, height- and width- adjustable embodiment; Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective diagram of a three-arm horizontal strapping apparatus illustrating the principles of a corner protection strip retaining mechanism; Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective diagram of a horizontal strapping apparatus illustrating the principles of pre-drape operation; Figure 4 shows a schematic perspective diagram of a horizontal strapping apparatus illustrating an embodiment of a package guiding means incorporating a corner protection strip retaining mechanism; Figure 5 shows a schematic plan view of a part of the apparatus of figure 4; and Figure 6 shows a schematic perspective view of part of a horizontal strapping apparatus illustrating a strapping tool support bracket.

With reference to figure 1, a horizontal strapping apparatus 10 comprises a support frame 12 which includes a pair of feet 14,15 each extending horizontally forward from the lower ends of corresponding upright supports 16,17. At the top of end of each upright support 16,17, overhead fork members 18,19 may be provided which extend in a generally forward direction. These overhead forks may be used to provide vertical strapping apparatus in conjunction with the feet 14,15 in a manner which has already been disclosed in GB-2266288 referenced above. Separation of the upright supports 16,17 is maintained by suitable cross-members extending between upright supports 16,17 and/or the feet 14,15, exemplified in the figure by a rear cross member 20.

Pairs of arms 21,22 and 23,24 extend forward in substantially parallel relation to one another, each pair defining a substantially horizontal planar area therebetween which may accommodate a package to be strapped. Each arm assembly is coupled to the support frame by way of a sliding bracket 25 which is able to be locked into a selected vertical position on a corresponding upright support 16,17 using any convenient mechanism, such as locking pins or bolts 27 passing through holes 26 in the bracket 25 and corresponding upright support 16,17. A plurality of holes 26 may be provided in the upright supports 16,17 at different heights.

A cross-brace 30 between sliding brackets 25 provides a mounting support for a strapping material dispenser in the form of a rotatable roll of strapping material 32. The cross-brace 30 also provides support for the arms 21,22 which are preferably mounted onto opposite ends of the crossbrace 30 by way of sliding brackets (not shown) similar in function to brackets 25. This enables the arms to be slid laterally inwards or outwards, increasing or decreasing the lateral separation w of the arms 21,22. The package width which may be accommodated in the area defined by the arms 21,22 may therefore be increased or decreased.

Strapping material from the dispenser 32 is fed around an appropriate retaining means (not shown in figure 1, but described later) at the proximal end 36 of arm 22, and forward along the arm 22 to a strap feed means (not shown) at the distal end 37 of the arm 22. The strapping material 43,44 is stretched across the gap between the distal ends 37,40 of the pair of arms 21,22 and retained by suitable strap gripping means such as a spring clip or clamp (not shown) provided at the distal end 40 of the arm 21. The strapping material is maintained in tension by a suitable friction feed mechanism which may be provided by the dispenser 32, or by the strap feed means at the distal end 37 of arm 22. Each pair of arms 21,22 and 23,24 may have corresponding arrangements.

In use, a package is slid between the arms 21,22 (and 23,24), overcoming the friction feed of each strap 43,44, until the package is installed in the area defined between each pair of arms 21,22; 23,24. The free ends 46,47 of straps 43,44 may then be pulled across the front of the package, and connected with a portion of the strapping material emerging from the strap feed means at distal end 37 of arm 22 (or 24).

With this arrangement, multiple straps can be placed around a package substantially simultaneously, thereby substantially reducing the time taken. The number of horizontal straps required can be accommodated by an appropriate number of adjustable arm pairs, each with its own strap dispenser.

With reference to figure 2, there is shown a strapping apparatus 110 having a palleted package 100 in position. Most features of this apparatus 110 are common to that which has already been described in connection with figure 1, those features being labelled with reference numerals in which the last two digits are the same as corresponding features in the apparatus of figure 1. It will be noted, however, that such an apparatus may include a wheeled base in the form of wheels or casters 106,107 coupled to each of the feet 114,115, and may also include a handle 155 for manoeuvring the apparatus 110.

During the strapping operation, it is often desirable to install corner protection strips 150 between the pallet corners and the strapping material passed therearound. This spreads the load of the strapping material across a greater length of the corner of the package than simply the width of the strapping material.

Placement of these corner strips 150 is made considerably easier by the provision of corner protection strip retaining or engagement means exemplified by support clips 156,157, as shown at the proximal end 136 of arm 122 and correspondingly on arm 123. Support clips may be provided on other pairs of arms. Support clips may also be provided at the distal end 137 of each arm if this is desired, although it will be appreciated that the advantage to be gained here is less than that afforded by the proximal end support clips, as the strips 150 at the front corners of the package can be inserted after insertion of the package 100 into the strapping apparatus.

In use, the corner protection strips are placed in the clips prior to insertion of the package 100 into the strapping apparatus 110, necessitating the feeding of strapping around the inside faces of arms 122, 123 prior to insertion of the package. Thus, the corner strip support clips are most advantageously used in conjunction with a strapping material pre-drape mechanism such as that which will now be described with reference to figure 3.

Figure 3 shows a strapping apparatus 210, in which features which have reference numerals of which the last two digits are the same as features in figures 1 and 2 are functionally similar or the same, and will not be discussed further.

A pre-drape support means exemplified by pre-drape support bracket 260 is fixed to the proximal end 236 of arm 222 and in a corresponding position on arm 223. This enables the strapping material to be pre-draped around the periphery of the area defined by arms 222, 223 before receiving the package for strapping.

As more clearly illustrated in the inset rear view of pre-drape support bracket 260. the bracket comprises a peg 261 around which strap 243 may be passed. which peg is rigidly affixed to a support 262.

Support 262 is connected to the arm 222 by way of a spring loaded pin 263,264 which passes through oversized hole or holes 265 in the arm 222.

The support 262 and spring loaded pin 263,264 are thereby adapted to allow release of the retained strapping material by the pin 263 being pulled through the arm 222 against the spring 264 bias, and deflecting downwards as a result of oversized hole or holes 265 in known manner.

It will be understood that a number of other suitable mechanical arrangements could readily be provided to fulfill the function of releasing a retained strap upon application of a sufficient tension on the strap 243.

Another feature of an embodiment of the strapping apparatus according to the present invention which is illustrated in particular in figure 3 includes a concealed strap feed wherein strapping material 243 is fed from a dispenser 232 located at the base of the support frame 212 up to a pair of guide rollers 270,271 mounted behind the apparatus and into the proximal end 236 of a hollow section arm 222. The strapping material is fed forward through the arm 222 section to the strap feed means 272 at the distal end 237 of the arm. In this arrangement, the dispenser reels 232 which are typically large and heavy items may readily be exchanged from a position conveniently low down on the back of the apparatus. In addition, the dispenser automatically accommodates raising and lowering of the arms 222,223.

Figure 3 also shows a slightly different arrangement for attaching the arms 222, 223 to the support frame 212. Sliding collars 225 run up and down upright supports 216,217 and may be tightened by grub screw or the like (not shown). The arm assemblies may also be counterbalanced by various mechanical arrangements such as a weight and pulley (not shown) coupled to a wire 275, for easy and safe height adjustment of arms 222,223.

A strapping apparatus 310 illustrating the combined use of a predrape mechanism and corner protection strip support clips, together with a package guiding means is shown in figures 4 and 5. A guide arm 380 is mounted onto the inside face of arm 322 by way of spring loaded pins 381 thereby allowing outward lateral movement toward the arm 322 upon pressure from a package 300 inserted into the strapping apparatus. The guide arm preferably includes a fish tail leading end 382 to further assist the guiding of a package into the appropriate space between arms 322,323.

At the other end of the guide arm 380 is an integrally formed support clip 356 which comprises a recessed corner section 383 terminated with a spring element 384 (eg. a leaf spring) which bears against a corner protection strip 350 inserted therein. The spring loaded pins 381 maintain sufficient lateral separation of the arm 322 and the guide arm 380 to ensure that the strapping material 343 which has been pre-draped around the pre-drape support bracket 360 is not trapped or snagged by the package 300 as it is pushed into place. This feature also facilitates easy pulling of the pre-draped strap around the inside edges of the arms 322,323 if more strap is required to reach across the front of the package 300, prior to tensioning the both ends of the strap to release the predraped strap. As seen in figure 4, the pre-drape support brackets 360 are situated sufficiently below the horizontal plane occupied by guide arms 380 to ensure correct release of the strap around the package.

Note that the pre-drape support bracket may be mounted on the arm 323 (figure 4), or on a rear support member 390 thereof (figure 5). Note also that guide arms 380 may be provided in corresponding positions on feet 314,315. For further control of the placement of a package into the strapping apparatus 310, rear pallet stops may be provided, for example as a cross-member 389 (figure 4) and/or as a block 389a protruding from the inner face of rear support member 390 (figure 5).

A further aspect of the strapping operation is the final coupling of the strap ends at the front of the package 300. This is normally a manual operation using a crimp tool and strap tensioner or the like well known in the art. Such tools are required each time strap ends are linked, and it is inconvenient to continually be picking up and putting down such a tool between operations. With reference to figure 6, the strapping tool may be affixed to the front of the strapping apparatus 410 onto a tool support bracket 491 which is attached by a hinge 492 to a swivelling support arm 493. Swivelling support arm 493 is attached to a support post, upstanding from the leading edge of foot 415, by an arm clamp 494 adapted to be positionable at any appropriate height up and down a support post 495.

The strapping tool (not shown) which is mounted onto tool support bracket 491 may therefore be swivelled into position in front of a package being strapped, near to a proximal end 440 of arm 423 and may also be swung clear of the package accommodating area for loading and unloading of packages into or out of the strapping apparatus.

An alternative form of a tool support bracket is shown in figure 3.

In this arrangement, the support bracket 291 is mounted by way of a hinge rod 292 to a swivelling support arm 293. Swivelling support arm 293 is attached to a support bar 295 extending across the top of the apparatus by way of a clamp 294 which enables the support arm to both rotate in the horizontal plane, and to extend outwardly from the support bar. The tool support bracket may thereby be swung into place for a strapping operation, and swung clear of the package accommodating area for loading and unloading.

Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, it will be evident to one skilled in the art that various modifications and adaptations may be made to the embodiments described which will fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Strapping apparatus for applying strapping around a package comprising: a support frame; a pair of arms, mounted on the support frame substantially parallel to one another and in a substantially horizontal plane defining an area therebetween for accommodating a package for strapping; strap gripping means at the distal end of one of the arms; strap feed means at the distal end of the other arm; and dispensing means co-operative with the strap feed means to supply strapping material thereto.

2. Strapping apparatus according to claim 1 in which the support frame carries a second pair of arms substantially similar to the first pair of arms, in alignment therewith but situated at a different height.

3. Strapping apparatus according to claim 1 in which the support frame carries multiple pairs of arms substantially similar to the first pair of arms, in alignment therewith but each pair situated at a different height.

4. Strapping apparatus according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 in which the support frame includes arm height adjustment means adapted to vary the height of each pair of arms.

5. Strapping apparatus according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 in which the support frame includes arm separation adjustment means adapted to vary the horizontal distance of separation of each arm in said pair.

6. Strapping equipment according to any preceding claim further including strapping material pre-drape means adapted to retain a length of the strapping material against the length of each arm.

7. Strapping equipment according to claim 6 in which the pre-drape means includes strap retaining means adapted to release the retained strap upon exertion of a predetermined level of tension on said strap.

8. Strapping equipment according to claim 7 in which the strap retaining means includes a peg which is spring-biased to an upright position and displaceable against the bias toward a horizontal position.

9. Strapping equipment according to claim 7 or claim 8 in which strap retaining means are positioned at the proximal end of each arm.

10. Strapping apparatus according to any preceding claim further including corner protection strip engagement means adapted to retain a corner protection strip in a substantially upright position adjacent to the proximal end of an arm.

11. Strapping apparatus according to claim 10 including a plurality of corner protection strip engagement means each corresponding to respective corner of the package accommodating area.

12. Strapping apparatus according to any preceding claim further including spring loaded package guiding means adapted to guide a package into the package accommodating area without collision with the arms.

13. Strapping apparatus according to claim 12 dependent from claim 10 in which the corner protection strip engagement means are integrally formed with and at an end of said spring loaded package guiding means.

14. Strapping apparatus according to claim 12 dependent from claim 6 in which the length strapping material retained by said pre-drape means lies outside an area defined by the spring loaded package guiding means and displaced from the plane of said area defined by the spring loaded package guiding means.

15. Strapping apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.