JPH024610A - Sealing device for band - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enable the firm fitting of the overlapping portions of a band by having the band equipped with a gripping member for releasably retaining one end portion of the band, a band tensioning member for restricting the band around an article and a seal crimping means comprising a ram movable relative to a stationary plate and the plate. CONSTITUTION: One end portion 14 of a band 13 is disposed on a tool 11 and held by a gripping jaw 15. Excessive bands 13 are rolled around a wheel 19 until a loop 16 is pulled around a package 12. A seal magazine 22 is mounted on the tool 11 and a stack 23 for a band seal 21 is disposed on the overlapping portion of the band 13. Portions 30 and 31 of a sealing element 21 are bent to the direction of the lower portion at an angle of from 70 deg. to 80 deg. from the upper portion 29. A bottom edge 39 of a leading edge seal 25 is disposed on a portion 40 of a stationary plate and the opposite edge 42 on a plate 43. The leading edge seal 25 is pressed by a transfer device 24 from the magazine 22 to a crimping means 26 and the center line of the lower jaw 41 is aligned beneath a ram 27. After the ram 27 is completed in its entire drive process, the seal 21 is sufficiently crimped around the band portions 13 and 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for securing overlapping ends of a band loop, and in particular the securing is effected by a friction seal formed around a portion of the band. Regarding equipment.

To summarize the invention, an apparatus includes a gripping member for releasably holding one end of a band, a band tensioning member for restraining the band about an article, a fixed plate and a movable member with respect to the plate. and seal crimping means including a ram.

the plate has a cavity with a symmetrical profile along a centerline;
the contours provide opposing surfaces such that leading edges of each of the band seal extensions meet at a non-perpendicular angle;
The leading edge slides on the surface and, when forced together by the movable ram, brings the extension into the centerline of the seal until the extension is essentially parallel to the upper portion of the seal with the overlapping portion of the band. Bend it inward. The plate cavity has a bottom surface and two laterally sloped surfaces that include an angle of about 60 degrees.

PRIOR ART AND PROBLEM SOLVED BY THE INVENTION There are a number of fixed and mobile units used to attach the ends of a band placed around a package.

Such units first tighten the band and create a sealed joint at the overlapping ends of the band.The two basic functions of band tensioning and sealing are combined into a single device, or done by a separate device. The latter is usually in the form of a mobile tool.

Whether the tool is a separate or combination device, the function is
Generally, the following is known.

■) Tensioner or pulling section for tightening the loops of the band around the item 2) Sealer or sealing section for securing the overlapping ends of the band after the pulling function is completed The tensioner is equipped with a ratchet bar and rotating gears and by methods involving rotatable ramps and other less known systems, both manual and power driven. The seal is
This is done by metal and non-metallic seals that are crimped around the band, slit and interlocking the band ends, and in the case of non-metallic bands, heating the band sections for fusion welding.

The present invention provides an apparatus for crimping seals around overlapping end portions of bands and improvements in seal shapes used in such apparatus.

The seal is usually folded tightly around the two ends of the band in such a way that it forms a flat upper portion that is somewhat wider on each side than the band in the extended section.
Folded first.

In order to provide a surface that prevents slippage, especially with non-metallic bands, the underside of the seal that contacts the band portion is treated or scored.

In some cases, the forces generated on the band by a tightly formed seal are accommodated, but the addition of a frictional slip resistant surface to the seal is preferred.

The location of the seal extension will vary depending on the type of tool being crimped.

The most common ones have extensions of equal length and are preset less than 90 degrees from the plane of the upper part.

This geometry provides two important aspects regarding the combination tool. First, the seal is such that the end of the extension is
They are stacked in such a way that they overlap the parts near the bend. The overlapping method of stacks allows more seals to be placed in a given space within the tool. This space is provided by means commonly known as a seal magazine.

Seal magazines associated with mobile tools must be kept to a minimum size due to space and balance limitations in such mobile tools. This also means that there is only a limited amount of bands that can be placed around the article before the seal magazine is refilled.

Second, as the band pans down between the extensions,
Alternatively, when positioning the seal at the end of the band, there is no need for exact alignment with the center of the seal.

By presetting the extension at 15 degrees, each seal will overlap sufficiently to provide the maximum number of seals in a given space.

This solves one aspect, but the crimping means
It becomes more complicated.

By presetting the extension at 90 degrees, crimping is easily achieved, but only a partial amount of the seal
Combination tools are not loaded.

For this reason, many systems use means in which the seal extension is preset at approximately 60 degrees from the upper portion and the crimping means of the combination tool includes pivoting jaws.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvement in the securing of overlapping portions of bands placed around an article.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improvement in the means for crimping band seals.

Another measure of the invention is to provide a crimping means without the use of pivoting or rotating jaws.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a band seal arrangement that functions smoothly in such limping means.

The present invention provides trouble-free and inexpensive limping means;
and a seal having a preset extension that functions smoothly in such means.

The jaws used to fold the extension around the underside of the band are fixed within the mobile tool. The surfaces of the jaws are shaped such that the extension contacts a slope or radius in the jaws and is then forced inwardly by a force applied to the upper portion of the seal. This force is due to the ram operated by the cam and handle means. With the extension at 90 degrees, of course less force is required by the ram, but this negates the advantage of the stack. The simplicity of the chin and ram is that the extension part is 7
When preset at angles less than 0 degrees, the invention therefore limits seal configurations to those having extensions of equal length, and each extension extending between 70 degrees and 70 degrees from the plane of the upper section. Preset to 80 degrees.

These and other advantages will become apparent from the description and accompanying drawings.

EXAMPLE Referring first to FIG. 1, one type of combination strap tool 11 is shown located on top of a package 12 which is held closed by a band 13.

One end 14 of the band 13 is placed on the tool 11;
It is then held by gripping jaws 15.

The band 13 is made into a loop 16 around the package 12 and slipped onto the tool 11, lying on the bottom plate 17 and overlapping the end 14. Band 13 is also inserted into slot 18 in pulling wheel 19. Hand lever 20 is operated in a ratcheting motion to rotate wheel 19 in a counterclockwise direction. The excess band 13 is wrapped around the wheel 19 until the loop 16 is pulled tightly around the package 12.

Having completed the tensioning function, the tool 11 is shifted to the means for fixing the overlapping part of the sealing element 21 and the band 13, while at the same time continuing to maintain tension in the loop 16. The method of shifting to the fixing means is performed manually by the operator or automatically within the tool. There is also a second lever for actuating the locking means completely independently of the tensioning means. The seal magazine 22 is
A stack 23 of seals 21 attached to the tool 11
is positioned above the overlapping portion of the band 13. The transfer device 24 is actuated to slide the tip seal 25 from the seal stack 23 in the longitudinal direction of the band 13 . The seal 25 is attached to a ram portion 27 of the crimping means 26.
is slid into the seal crimping means 26 under the
The next seal 28 is then moved into position in preparation for the next loop. Crimping means 26 moves ram 27 and seal 25 downwardly over the overlapping portion of band 13 and firmly clamps seal 25, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

Tool 11 is one of many embodiments for placing and pulling a band around a package as described.

The power means may be motor driven or various combinations of gears and pneumatic components. The scope of the invention lies within the means of tightening the seal around the overlapping portions of the bands, and is not limited to the type or style of tooling used.

2 and 6 thus show the seal stack 23 in the seal magazine 22 and the sealing element 21. FIG. Element 21 is made from a single piece of material and, when molded, has an upper portion 29 and two downwardly extending portions 30 and 31.
to form. The upper portion 29 is generally the "seal length"
two parallel edges 32 in two directions known as
and 32a.

The first extension 30 is created by bending the material along a line 33 perpendicular to the edges 32 and 32a in a clockwise direction when viewed in FIG. Another extension 31 is also created by bending the material in a counterclockwise direction along a line 34 perpendicular to edges 32 and 32a, so that line 34 is parallel to line 33. The parts 30 and 31, like the upper part 29, are also limited in one direction by edges 32 and 32a. 1st part 30
is limited in the other direction by an edge 35 parallel to line 33, and portion 31 is likewise limited by an edge 36 parallel to line 34. For this reason, the three parts 2
9. All of 30 and 31 have a rectangular shape, and portions 30 and 3 are of the same size and are bent downwardly from upper portion 29 at 70 to 80 degrees.

As seen in FIG. 2, the seals 21 are interleaved with each other, allowing more seals in the magazine 22 than if sections 30 and 31 were perpendicular to the upper section 29.

The magazine 22 has a front wall 37 and a rear wall 38, and has a seal 2
1 is held along the centerline of the crimping means 26. The bottom edge 39 of the tip seal 25 rests on a portion 40 of a fixed plate defining a lower jaw 41 and the opposite edge 42 rests on a plate 43 attached to the magazine wall 37.
It will be posted on.

The plate 43 has one edge 44 bent upwards and the jaw 41 has a tapered edge 45 to allow easy entry of the band 13. The end 14 held by the gripping jaws 15 is supported by a surface 46 and lower jaws 41
and the crimping surface 4 of the lower jaw 41
Hold the band 13 at a distance above the cavity defining 7. After the loop 16 is placed around the package 12, the band 13 overlaps the end 14 and also overlaps the surface 4.
It is located above 7.

The transfer device 24 transfers the crimping means 2 from the magazine 22.
6, press the tip seal 25, as shown in Figure 3.
The centerline of the lower jaw 41 is aligned below the ram 27.

As ram 27 moves toward jaws 41, seal 21 is also moved downwardly until edges 39 and 41 contact crimping surface 47. Surface 47 has a symmetrical shape about the centerline of jaw 41.

The cavity of jaw 41 is best described as having two angled surfaces, with an included angle of no more than 60 degrees, and a flat horizontal lower surface 49 that intersects surfaces 48 and 48a.

At both intersections there is a radius 50 to provide a smooth continuous surface 47 on which the sealing edges 39 and 42 slide.

The upper edges 51 and 51a are the outermost edges 39 and 42 of the seal 21.
This ensures that the seal 21 is crimped when the ram 27 is powered downwards.

As ram 27 continues its downward power stroke, as shown in FIG. 4, the force of seal 21 at bend lines 33 and 34 is transmitted along portions 30 and 3I to inclined surfaces 48 and 48a. Ru.

Because the portion 30 is positioned at an angle away from perpendicular to the sloped surface 48, as the edge 42 slides along the sloped surface 48, there is a force vector that causes the portion 30 to bend inward toward the centerline of the seal. The opposite seal portion 31 similarly bends inward.

The overlapping portion of band 13 is supported on lower surface 49 by top portion 46 so that edges 39 and 42 slide beneath band portion 14.

The sealing portions 30 and 31 do not remain flat during bending, but tend to assume an arcuate shape over time.

As shown in FIG. 5, after ram 27 has completed its full power stroke, seal 21 is fully crimped around overlapping band portions 13 and 14 between ram 27 and jaws 41.

To this end, the band portion is squeezed between the sealing portions 29, 30 and 31 to provide a frictional locking means. After the entire crimp has been carried out, the free portion of the band 13 is cut near the end of the seal 21 by cutting means 52. Ram 27 is lifted and gripping jaws 15 are released to move tool 11 to the next position. To provide a strong friction seal, the inner surface of the seal is coated or knurled, which is very important when using non-metallic bands.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been described, it is understood that various modifications may be made and come within the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.

The main features and aspects of the invention are as follows.

1. A device for securing a band around an article so that two overlapping portions of the band are held together, the device releasably holding one end of the band. a band tensioning means for restraining the band about the article; a seal crimping means movable between an open position and a closed position; and adapted to hold a series of band seals. a magazine having a crimping mechanism, means for transferring the seals from the series one at a time to a position within the crimping means, and power means for operating the grasping, crimping, pulling and transferring means. and the crimping means further comprises a fixed plate, a movable ram spaced from the plate for providing the open position, and a movable ram for forcing the ram toward the plate for providing the closed position. and a means for moving the plate, the plate having a cavity having a symmetrical profile along a centerline, the profile providing a surface against which the leading edge of the extension of the seal contacts at a non-perpendicular angle. the leading edge slides on the surface and when forced into engagement by the ram causes the extension to bend inwardly toward the centerline of the seal; A device characterized in that, when in the closed position, the band is essentially parallel to the upper part of the seal with the overlapping part.

2. The device of item 1, wherein the cavity has a bottom surface and two laterally sloped surfaces, the sloped surfaces comprising an angle of about 60 degrees.

3. an eleventh second and third portion, all of the portions having a flat rectangular shape;
the first and third portions have a second common portion, the first and second common surfaces are parallel, and the second and third portions are parallel to the first portion; The eleventh second and third portions are integrally rotated in opposite directions about the corresponding common side surface at an angle of 70 degrees to 80 degrees from
or a sealing element for fixing the overlapping parts of the bands used in the device described in 2.

4. The above 3 in which the second and third rectangular portions are equal in size.
Sealing elements as described in .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an article having a band applied by an apparatus including seal crimping means according to the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view of seals stacked in a seal magazine along line A--A of FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the relationship between the seal and jaw arrangement along line B--B of FIG. 1 when the crimping means is in the open position; FIG. 4 is the same view as FIG. 3, except that the crimping means are partially closed; FIG. 5 is the same view as FIG. 3, except that the crimping means are fully closed. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a seal according to the invention. 13...Band 21-...Band seal 27...Ram 30.31...Expansion 41...Fixing plate 48.481...Laterally inclined surface 49...Bottom surface h FIG , 2

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. An apparatus for securing a band around an article so that two overlapping portions of the band are held together, comprising:
The device includes gripping means for releasably holding one end of the band, band tensioning means for restraining the band about the article, and movable between open and closed positions. seal crimping means, a magazine adapted to hold a series of band seals, means for transferring the seals one at a time from the series to a position within the crimping means, and the grasping and crimping , comprising in combination power means for operating the pulling and transport means, the crimping means further comprising a fixed plate, a movable ram spaced from the plate providing the open position, and a movable ram spaced from the plate for providing the open position; and means for forcing the ram towards the plate to provide a position.
the plate has a cavity with a symmetrical profile along a centerline;
The contour provides a surface that the leading edge of the seal extension contacts at a non-vertical angle, the leading edge sliding on the surface and causing the center of the seal to slide when forcefully engaged by the ram. bending the extension inward towards a line, the extension being essentially parallel to the upper part of the seal with the overlapping part of the band whenever the crimping means is in the closed position; A device characterized by: 2. a first, a second and a third portion, all of which have a flat rectangular shape;
the first and third portions have a second common portion, the first and second common surfaces are parallel, and the second and third portions are parallel to the first portion; 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third portions are integrally rotated in opposite directions about the corresponding common side surface at an angle of 70 degrees to 80 degrees from . A sealing element for fixing the overlapping parts of the bands used.