US1916940A - Box strapping apparatus - Google Patents

Description

July 4, 1933. E. D. TUBBs 1,916,940

BOX STRAP? ING APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l July 4, 1933. E. D. TUBES BOX STRAPPING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1930 July 4, 1933. E D TUBES 1,916,940

Box STRAPPING APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 m 0 N Swanton July 4, 1933. E. D. TUBBS 39916'940 BOX STRAPPING APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 dbtoz may,

July 49 E33.. E. D. TUBES ,9l6,94

BOX STRAPPING APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1930 5 Sheets--Sheeil 5 attoz una Patented July 4f, 1933 EARL D. TUBES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BOX STRAPIHG APPARATUS Application filed March 5,

This invention relates generally to an apparatus orv device for strapping boXes or bales, or the like, and the improvements are directed to novel and unique means for applying, tensioning, twisting and severing the material, such as wire, used in strapping said boxes.

Primarily, the object of the present invention resides in the provision of a device of the above-mentioned character which is exceedingly compact, relatively light in weight, and which has its exposed operative parts arranged to preclude injury to the operator and which handles the material to be twisted in a manner to prevent bruising the hands of the manipulator of said device.

Another object is the provision of a gripping mechanism adapted to clinch one end of. the wire in a manner to prevent slippage thereof during the tensioning or tightening of said wire around a bale or box, said mechanism being adapted to become more effective as the tension on the wire is increased.

Still another object of the invention is to provide novel automatic drop latch means, directly associated with said gripping mechanism, and adapted to secure the wires in juxtaposition and to maintain the same in this condition during the operation of the tensioning means and the twisting operation. Said latch means also facilitating the freeing of the twisted wire and removal of the device.- from a box or bale.

Still another object is to provide a tension ing or tightening mechanism, including certain operative parts whereby the wire attached thereto is prevented from slipping duringv the tightening operation.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel clamping device, in the form of a star drum, said drum being operatively connected to said tensioning mechanism and adapted to positively maintain an intimate auti-siip relation between the same and the wire.

A. still further object is to provide certain braking means which cooperates with certain rotative parts to prevent the operation thereof prior to the twisting of the wire and during 1930. Serial No. 433,478.

the placement of the wire into the device, said braking means also serving to stop the operation of the device, after the twisting operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel assemblage of parts adapted to be operated to twist the wire after it has been tensioned and suitably applied to a box or bale.

Another aim is to provide periodically operable mechanism, in the form of oscillatory arms, adapted to be operated to bring certain cutting means in proper spaced relation to sever the undesired ends of the twisted wire.

The invention is featured by th-e provision of certain cutting means which are borne by said oscillatory arms and which are adapted to cut off the wire at the terminals of the twisted portion thereof and to snugly bend said cut ends in close proximity to the wire.

Still another aim of the invention is to provide means whereby the twisting operation is continued sufficiently beyond the cutting operation in order that the ends of the wire may be bent up and down, respectively, and arranged in close relation to the uncut portions of the wire.

As will presently appear the invention is further featured by the provision of carrying means whereby a perfect balance may be maintained during the portage of the device and further said device is adapted to handle wire from coils or pre-cut lengths thereof. A subsidiary feature of the invention also is present in the form of a novel form of casing member adapted to completely inclose the operative parts of the device, and which is uniquely formed to render the device eX- ceedingly compact, said casing being readily removable to expose the mechanism of the device and to permit removal or replacement of the parts thereof.

lVith these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel formation, combination, and arrangement of parts, all as will bedescribed more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the mechanism of said device, (slightly enlarged), the casing being sectioned and partly broken away at the right to expose a portion of the tensioning means.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation 0f the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, the casing being sectioned.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the mechanism with the casing removed.

Fig. 7 is a. sectional view taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. G and showing the parts in the positions :assumed just prior to the twisting operation.

Fig. 8 -is `a view like unto Fig. 7, but showing .the positions of certain .parts subsequent to the twisting .and sever-ing operations.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view., slightly enlarged, of the parts destined to twist the wire, .said section being taken substantially on lthe line 9-9 of Fig. 5.

Fig. l`is .an enlarged `side elevation of the rotative element .shown in Fig. 9.

11 is a central sectional view thereof, taken on the .line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

12 is an end elevation of one of the tubular or barrel .members shown in Fig. 9.

13 is a` sectional view of the .rotative element and its cooperating barrel members and diagrammatically illustrating the twisted overlapping ends of the wire and the bent condition of the cut ends thereof.`

Fig. .14 is a face view of vthe star drum showing diagrammatically the condition of' the end of the wire clamped thereby after the tensioning operation.

Referring now more in detail to the yaccompanying drawings, wherein .like characters of reference denote similar .parts throughout .the several views, let 1 denote a base, `adapted to support substantially7 all the operative parts of the device, said base being provided with a pair of spaced standards 2 and 3, which are suitably bored to rotatively support a stub shaft v4,the latterhaving a spur gear pinned intermediate the lends thereof as vshown at 6, in Fig. 6. The outer ends of vsaid shaft 4 are each provided with hub '7 and 8, suitably splined thereto as'indicated in Fig. '7, each of 'said hubs being provided with a radial projection', adapted to periodically actuate certain oscillatory 'ar1n's,bearling certain fcntting elements, as will presently appear. Upon inspection of Figs'. .3;an'd 7, it will be noted that said base `l is provided with "an upstanding ear and a block 11, the latter being clearly shown at the extreme left in Figs. Y3 and '6, said ear and block being suitably apertured for the reception of screws 12 and 13 respectively., `which are adapted to serve Lelaeao as pivotal bearings for the ends of the oscillatory arms 14 and 15. Said oscillatory arms are somewhat similar in construction, each being provided with a forwardly di rected block portion 16, (see Figs. 6 and 7) having vertical bores 17 and lateral bores 18, intercommunicating, said vertical bores being adapted to receive cutters 19 and 19a, the former being associated with the oscillatory arm and the latter with the oscillatory .arm 16 as shown in Fig. 3. Said cutters may be adj usted vertically by operating a set screw 2() in each of said blocks 1G, while set screws 21 serve to bind said cutters in their proper adjusted condition.

As shown in Figs. 5 Vand 6, said base 1 is also provided with a block 22 which extends forwardly of the front :edge Vof said base and intermediate the length thereof, and which rises upwardly to define projections 23 and 24 having a space therebetween for the partial reception of said spur gear 5. The details oit-said block 22 will be readily understood upon reference to Fig. `9, wherein it will be noted that the same is provided with bores 25 4and 26, coaxially .arrangedv and leading into .the openingZT which latter receives a rotative element .28 enineshed with spur gear 5, and obviously rotated thereby.

The means for `rotatively supporting said rotative element 2S comprises a pair of tubular elements 29 and 30 which are'hel-d' stationary in the bores 25 and 26 respectively., by means :of set screws-32 and 32a, the inner ends of said elements 29 and 30 extending into recesses 33 and respectively, of .said rotative element 2S. In view of this 4arrangement.said element28 is free to rota-te on the ends of said tubular elements 29 `and 30, the l-atters of course remaining stationary. Upon reference to Fig. 10 it will -be noted that said rotative element 28 is provided with a radial slot which flares outwardly ltoward the periphery of said element, and in Figs. 9 and 1Q it will be observed that Veach of the tubular clementsQQ and are chambered assho- wn yat 36 and 37, while the outer ends of said yelements are slotted as indicated at 3S and 30, the chambers and slots in said tubular elements and the slot 'in said rotative element 2S being .coaxially arranged, and in communication with a longitudinal opening 40 in said block 2Q. As will presently appear, this arrangement permits the entrance of the wire into the respective slots and chambers ot said tubular-elements and said rotative element.4 by wav of said opening 40.

The parts just described include the general mechanism for twisting the overlapping ends of the wire :and it is apparent that the rotation of the spur gear 5 places the said parts in operation. Now it becomes necessary to provide means for rotating said gear 5, and to this end 1 have adopted a crank 41., carried by one yend of the shaft 42, which is journal-led tubular elements 29 and 30, as aforesaid.

Y the same time the hubs 7 and 8, carried by the in the side of the casing 43, as shown at 44, the inner end of said shaft` being rotatively mounted in apertured bearing 45, depending from the top of said casing, while the extremity of said shaft, adjacent said bearing, is provided with a pinion 46, suitably splined thereto, as indicated at 47, in Fig. 4. rlhe splined collar 48, (see Fig. 3) prevents the withdrawal of said shaft 42 during its operation. From the foregoing it is obvious that the manipulation of said crank 41 rotates said pinion 46, the movement of the latter being communicated to spur gear k5, and thence to the rotative element 28 journaled in the stub shaft 4, are rota-ting, and at pre-determined intervals the projections 9 of said hubs will encounter the oscillatoryl arms and 16 and thus bring the cutters 19 and "19a into operative positions. At this time it is briefly pointed out that the rotationvofsaid rotative elementl 28, through the intermediary of the spur gear 5 and pinion 46, creates the twist in the overlapping ends of the wire, while the cutters, operated by the oscillatory j arms, clips off the undesired ends of the wire just subsequent to the twisting operation. The details of said operations will be taken uphereinafter.

The gripping mechanism, referred to in the objects of the invention, is mounted to rotate in the block 11, located at the left end of the base 1, in Figs. 3 and 6, said mechanism including a stub shaft 49, rotatively mounted in said block 11, one end of said shaft 49 being suitably affixed to head 50, carrying on operative lever 51, there being a ypinned collar 52 atliXed to said -shaft 49 at the other side of said block 11 to maintain the parts in positive fixed relation. In said Fig. 3 it will be noted that said head 5() is provided with a shoulder 53 which abuts the stop pin 54, carried by said block 11 to limit the movement of said head. Said head 56 is further provided with a diametric bore 55, for the reception of a pointed pin 56 which is adjustable vertically by operating the set screw 57 and which is bound in its proper adjusted position by means of another setscrew 58. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, said block 11 is provided with a ledge 59 for the reception of one strand vof the wire to be twisted and in order to preclude the chances of unduewear, I propose to insert a wear pin 59a in said block, said pin being held in place by means of a set screw 60.

The automatic drop latch means referred to, comprises a latch member 6l, which is pivotally supported between the ears 62 rising from said base 1, (see Figs. 4 and 6), as indicated at 63, the forward or head portion of said latch 61 being undercut, as shown at 64, to present a. vertical surface extending in spacedparallel relation to the face of said block 11 to maintain the wires in juxtaposed relation during the twisting operation. It will be noted 'that a laterally directed pin 65 extends across the upper rear edge of said latch 61, (see Fig. 6), and it is obvious that as the lever 51, of said gripping mechanism, is moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3, said pin 65 is caused to bear against the edge of said-latch 61 and cause the head portion to rise to permit the ref7 afiiXed tor one end and a hub portion 7 Oy of an operating lever 71 at its other end, said hub portion 7 O being free to rotate on said spindle 68. Interposed between said hub portion and anl adjacent end face of said block 66 is a ratchet wheel 72 which is splined to said spindle 68. The purpose of said tensioning means is 'to tighten the wire that has previously been passed around a box or bale and as one end of the wire is clamped in the star drum 69, it becomes necessary to impartv rotative movement to said drum by way of said spindle 68, but as the operating lever is adapted to be oscillated it becomes necessary to provide means for rotating said spindle when said vlever is operated in one direction and for holding said spindle in a state of quiesc'ence when said lever is raised from the position shown in Fig. 3 to a point for the commencen'ient of its working or downward stroke. endk it is proposed to provide spring-pressed dogs 73 and 74, the former being slidably arranged in a housing 75, preferably cast integral with said lever 71, while the latter is slidably arranged in a bored standard 76, see Figs. 2, 3 and 7. An inspection of said Fig. 3 will instantly reveal that when the lever' 71 is elevated, said spring-pressed dog 73 rides over the teeth in said ratchet wheel 72 and as said hub portion 70 of said lever 71 is free to rotate on said spindle, no motion is imparted to the latter. During this operation said spring-pressed dog 74 intimately abuts said teeth of ratchet wheel 72 and holds the same stationary. l/Vhen the lever 71 is lowered the dog 73 engages the teeth of the ratchet wheeland rotates the latter and the stardrum aliiXed to said spindle 68.

The braking means referred to comprises a lever 77, pivotally supported by the side of the casing 43, as indicated at 78, the upper end of said lever extending through a slot 79 in said casing, (see Fig. 2), where it is bent to lie adjacent the handle 80, (see Fig. 4), for convenient operation. The other end To this 'TIO Lso

of said lever 77 is` provided with` a projection 81 which is normally engaged Within an opening 82 of said spur gear 5, the engage.- ment being positive injview of the spring 83 having one end affixed to said lever, above its pivotal point, while its other extremity is an chored to a side wall of the casing 43 as indicated at 84 in Fig. 3. lVhen the projection 81 is entered into said opening 82, the device is inoperative and hence it is necessary to remove the aforesaid engagement'before the handle 41 may be rotated. Vhen the proj ection has been removed said gear 5 may be rotated and the projection glides along the face thereof, but when the opening once more registers with said projection, the renewed engagement automatically stops the machine. Reference will be made to this featurev hereinafter. f I f In using the device, the same is placed on a box or bale and one end of the wire is placed on the ledge 59 after the handle 51 of the head 50 has been slightly elevated, 'and as pointed out hereinbefore, said elevation of said handle also raises the head of latch 61 so that the end portion of the wire may be expeditiously handled. `When the handle is released it drops downwardly and the pointed pin 56 abuts the end portion of the wire and at the same time the latch is dropped to the position shown in Fig. 4. The wire is now inserted through the opening 4() of the block 22 and into the radial slots of the barrels Q9 and 30 and ofthe rotativeelement 27. The wire is then carried around the boX or bale, then beneath the cutaway portion in latch 61, thence into the slots in said barrels and rotative element 9.7 and finally caught behind the projections- S5 of said star drum 69, as shown in Fig. 1. 1 1 rl`he star drum 69, hereinbefore referred to, isunique in construction, and is'provided with a plurality of projections 85, which are arranged to define a plurality of peripheral openings 86, (see Fig. 6) for the rinsertion of the wire as pointed out hereinbefore. In practice the end of the wire (see Fig. 1f) is passed through convenient openings with its end protruding as shown, while the end portion of said wire abuts the faces of the contiguous projections and is clamped thereto during the tensioning operation about to be described.

As pointed out hereinbefore,-said lever -71 is adapted to impart an intermittent oscillatory movement to said spindle 68 and its affixed star drum 69 and it will be,v remembered that said lever was free to be elevated without affecting the ratchet wheel and that the lowering of said lever imparted the necessary movement. fHence, when the end portion of the wire is caught between the projections 85 of said star drum 69, as aforesaid, the lever 71 is elevated until the detent71a, (see Fig. 2)- abuts the face portion 87 of the extension 8S of said standard v76, (see Figs. 2 and 7), said spring-pressedv dog 73 riding over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 72. The aforesaid engagement between the detent 71a and the face portion 87 limits the elevated position of said lever and as the same is lowered the dog 73 engages the ratchet wheel, rotating the star drum 69 and exerting a pull on t-he wire in the latter. rFhe lever 71 is again elevated, but the ratchet wheel is locked from rotation in view of the engagement by the springpressed dog 74 and when the lever is again lowered the ycontinued rotation of the star drum further. pulls on the wire and binds the enveloping portion' thereof around the boX. The aforesaidfoperation is continued until suiicienttension is secured. f

Upon inspection of Figs. 2 and 7 it. will be noted that the upper portion of said extension S8 is beveled, as indicated at 89 to afford a restingiplace for said lever 71 when the samejis in' the-position illustrated. It is also pointed `out that as the star drum is rotated the end portion of the wire shown in Fig. l'encounters the projection or knob 90 which bends oversaid end portion and as the rot-ation continues thev end portion contacts another knob 91 and is 'positioned as shown in Figlll. .This arrangement firmly clamps the wire and the bending of the ends'thereof prevents injury to the operators hands.

During the tensioning operation the pull exerted on the end of the wire placed under the pointed pin 56, of the gripping mechanism, causes said pin to `dig deeper into the wire and thus the 'same is firmly vclamped in that the greater the pull on thewire by the tensioning means, the greater the gripping action attending the pull. l

At present the twisting operation is about to begin and it will be observed that the wire is properly tensionedl around the box or bale and that the overlapping ends ofsaid wire are arranged in two-strand relation within the slots of said barrels 29 and 30 and the radial slot of said'rotative element Q7. In other words, the overlapping ends of the wire are in juxtaposition within said slots and await the operation of the crank 41 to twist the overlapping ends and shear oil the undesired portions ofthe wire.

The lever 77 is operated to free the projection 8l from the opening 32 thus freeing the spur gear5 and permitting its rotation when the crank 4l is turned. of said gear 5 is in the directionv of the arrows in Figs. 7 and 8, and this movement is imparted to said rotative element 2S in whose slot 35 the wire is positionedin a two strand, juxtaposed relation. It will beremembered that the wireis similarly positioned in the slots 38 and 39 of said barrels y29 and 30 and as this latter arrangement in said slots remains constant lduring the twisting operation, it is obvious that the torque applied to The rotation the wire is due to the rotation of said-'element 28 andthe slots 38 and 39, in which slots the ends of the wire are clinched. The num# ber of twists to be imparted to the wire may be varied in accordance with the pre-determined ratio between the gears 5 and 28, but in the present instance said gear 5 makes one completerevolution during the twisting operation. During the twisting operation', the projections 9 carried by hubs 7 and 8 swing through the recesses 92 in the oscillatory arms 14 and 15, see Fig. 8), the rollers 93 establishing peripheral contact with the hubs 8 and 7. Eventually the projections 9 approach the rollers 93 and as they contact the same, said oscillatory arms 14 and 15 are rocked to the position indicated in Fig. 8, and the cutters descend to clip olf the undesired ends of the wire, the cutter 19 cutting oil the end held by the gripping mechanism,

while the cutter 19a clips od the end engaged in the star drum. After the projections 9 have operated the oscillatory arms, as aforesaid, and are back to the position shown in Fig. 7, the rotative member 28 turns slightly and twists the ends of the cut wire, one up and one down, as shown in Fig. 13, and by this time the projection 81 in said lever 77 enters the opening 82 in said gear 5 and stops the machine.

The device may be removed from the box or bale by elevating the handle 51 of the gripe ping mechanism which throws out the piece ot wire gripped beneath the pin 56 and as the elevation of said handle also'raises the latch 61, the device may be readily 'removed from said box, thus leaving the wire in proper twisted relation therearound. When wire is taken from a coil the handle 51 `is not raised after the wire has been placed around the boX or bale. The machine is taken away from the wire leaving the wire from the coil under the gripping pin 56 and before the machine is taken away the latch 61 is raised with the v linger and the machine is pushed away from the wire leaving the end thereof from the coil under the pin 56 operated by handle 51.

The operator places the device on anotherk boX or bale, raises the handle 51 and then pulls the wire around said boX, pullsthe handle 51 that holds the pin 56 to slight pinch the wire and then the end of the wire that has been brought around the box back in the star drum 69 in the slot or opening 86.

When the star drum starts to tighten the wire it pulls the pin 56 against the stop pin 54 cutting an indentation into the wire during the tightening thereof. The end oi the wire is placed around the box brought up to the device again and slid underneath the latch 61.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, each of the oscillatory arms is provided with a spring 94 which extends from each of said arms to a pin 95 rising from each of the standards 2 and 3. Said springs serve to return said oscillatory arms to their normal positions, shown in Fig.-7, after the passage oit' the projections 9.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the crank41 is position-ed a good distance from the side ot the casing to allow a clear space and to prevent the handle 96 from striking the box' or bale. Said lhandle 96 is preferably `covered with rubber or other resilient material and thevcarrying handle 80 also has'a cov ering of rubber as indicated at 97 in Figs. 4 and 5, a large stud screw 98 passing between th-e lugs 99 and 100. As shown in Fig. l a clear space is provided below the carrying handle 80 when the device is to be transported. In Fig. 14 the dotted lines 101 indicate that the knobs 90 and 91 may be undercut to receive the end portion of the wire.

It will, of course, be understood that the barrels and their associated parts may be substituted for others oi varying dimensions when diierent sizes of wire are to be twisted.

The casing 43, hereinbcfore referred to, is constructed of light-weight material and presents an open bottom whereby the same may be inserted over the mechanism, the bottom edge being provided with flanges, as indicated at 102, in Figs. 8 and 4 for the reception of a series ot screws 103 whereby said casingmay be secured to the base 1. When the casing is inserted over the mechanism, the lever 77 is retracted to pass over the gear 5 until it registers with the opening 82 in said gear 5. The rear portion or" said cas ing is inset as shown at 104 and is further recessed as shown at 105 to lit over the pillow block 66. The front portion of said casing also recessed, as shown at 106 to lit over the star drum 69, and as shown in Fig. 1 the medial front portion is slotted at 107 and 108 to permit the movement of the oscillatory arms 14 and 15, the slot 108 is continued laterally, as indicated at 109 to expose the major portion of the gripping mechanism and the latch.

From the foregoing it is apparent that l have developed a device which is compact and which may be readily transportedL for applying and aixing the wire straps to a box or bale. ln View oi the provision of the novel gripping mechanism, and the star drum, associated with the tensioning means the overlapping ends ot the wire are main tained in proper two-strand relation within the twisting means and in view of the cooperation existing between the said gripping mechanism and the latch means, the devic may be bodily removed from the box after the twisting and severing operations.

lVhile the present is a disclosure of the preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that the invention is hot limo: Ud

r. v Us) ited thereto, as various changes in the minor details of construction, proportion, and arrangement of arts may be resorted to withto increase the clamping action of said gripping mechanism as .the tension is increased, means for twisting the wire, rotative means for operating saidv twisting means, cutters operable by said rotative means and adapted f to sever the free ends Vof the twisted wire and latch means operated by said gripping mechanism to permit the removal of the wire from'the twisting means. y f

In testimony whereof I `aiiX my signature.

EARL D. TUBES.

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