US1963593A - Electric band tightener - Google Patents

Description

' 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 19, 1934. F P. PRINDLE ELECTRIC BAND TIGHTENER Filed Jan. 18., 1932 nl V vIllll I' @n June19, 1934. `F P; PRINDLE. A 1,963,593 ELECTRIC BAND TIGHTENAER I Filed 112111.18', 1952 v s sheets-sheet 2 a@ /My June 19, 1934.

F. P. PRINDLE 1,963,593

ELECTRIC BAND TIGH'IEIXER SSheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. l, 1952 Patented June 19, 1934 UNITED STATES ELECTRIC BAND TIGHTENER Frank R'Frindle, New Britain, Conn., assignor to The Stanley Works, New Britain, Conn., a oorporation of Connecticut Application .tammy 1s, 193s, sei-n1 No. 587,285

8Claims.

(Cl. 25H1) The present invention relates to tools or de- Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the forward end of vices adapted for use in the application of metal bands or metal straps to boxes, packages, bales,

cargoes, and the like.

An object of the present invention is 'to provide an improved device or tool which may be placed against or on a box, bundle, bale, cargo,

or the like, for example, and gripping the endsl of a metal strap or metal band encircling the box l and which when actuated will automatically draw' the strap taut to a desired and predetermined tension and thus offset the necessity ofguesswork and irregularities in the operation.

. Another object-of the present invention is to u. provide a device or tool of this character which is relatively'simple, compact and light in weight,

which may be vapplied and controlled by hand,-

and which is so constructed that the'metal bands or metal straps may be very easily and quickly n tightened with but little effort or fatigue on the part of the operator.

lAnother object of the present invention is to provide a motor-driven tool with a winding drum so operated by the motor as to draw the band taut to a desired predetermined tension and maintain the band at such tension without increasing the pull thereon until two or more thicknesses of the band may be joined,.secured, and sealed in place.

A further object of the ypresent invention is to provide a metal band or strap applying tool lof thetype having an electric motor and a rotatable band engaging element projecting l.from one side of the tool for quick and easy attachment to an-end of the band, and to provide an improved quickly releasrable grip lock at said side of the tool for anchoring the other end of the metal band so that the bandmaybe quickly andeasily secured at the opposite ends to the tool at one side of the latter.

Other objects will be in part obvious, and in I y part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

' 'Ihe invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,- combination' of i elements and arrangement of partslwhich. will be exempliiied in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application ofwhich will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein'like symbols-refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, A

Fig. 1 is a, side elevation of a metal box strap or band applying tool constructedv according to 'th'e'present invention;

I 1153.2isatopplanviewofthesamo;l

the tool showing the means for engaging the opposite ends of the strap; l

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken through the tool substantially yon me uns 4-'4 or Fig. 1; 60

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section, enlarged, taken through the forward part of the tool substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a detail enlarged horizontal section taken through the anchoring device or clamp for 65 holding one end of the band, the section being taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 'l is a .view looking at the forward end of the worm 25; and K Fig. 8 is a view looking at the rear end of the 70 sleeve 31.

Referring now to the drawings, the tool is shown in the present instance as of the portable type and includes a generally cylindrical motor casing 1o and a housing 11 in une with and secured 75 to the forward end of the casing l0. The housing is generally of rectangular shape and at its rear end has an integral circular plate portion 17 which is secured to the forward end of the motor casing by screws 17. The numeral 12 designates 80 a handle located above and extending longitudinally of the frame composed of the casing 10 and the housing 11. l The handle may be of any suitl able construction and shape, and it is here shown as being provided with a trigger 13 adapted for 85 closing an electric circuit through an electric motor 14 mounted in the motor casing 10. An electric cable 15 is connected to the rear end of the handle, as shown, or may be otherwise led to the motor.

' The motor casing, by preference, is of cylindrical construction, and has at its rear enti a cap 16. The cap at its lower portion isflattened out so as to provide a foot or rest 16. A train of'gears 18 is located in the motor casing between the motor 95 and a driven, shaft 19 which, as shown in Fig.

5, has a bearing in a bushing 20 iitted in a boss or nose 21 projecting forwardly from the front wallv of the motor casing. Suitable thrust bearings 22 are provided between the forward end of 100l the boss and a head 23 formed on the shaft. The shaft extends forwardlyv in parallelism with the motor shaft and through the upper rear portion of the housing l1. About this shaft is a driving worm 25 having recessed flanges 26and 2'1 at its 105 opposite ends. The ange 2'!4 embraces a bearing- 28 mounted on the shaft 19 for supporting the rear end of the worm, and the bearing 28 is also adapted to take up rearward end thrusts imposedv -uponthcworm As|howninng.7.thefront ilo nange 26 is provided with a number of separate pockets 29, and these pockets are adapted to partially receive balls 30. Surrounding the forward end of the shaft and mounted for sliding movement thereon but keyed against turning movement relative thereto is a sleeve 31 having in its rear face arcuate grooves 31', as shown most clearly in Fig. 8. In the present instance, the forward end of the shaft is squared, and the sleeve 31 has a corresponding opening through which the shaft extends. The sleeve 31 is rotatably supported by a bushing 66 having a driving fit in the forward end of the housing. This sleeve 31 constitutes a clutch member, and is normally urged towards the worm by a spring 32 surrounding the forward end of the shaft and backed up by an adjusting nut 33 threaded or otherwise suitably secured upon the forward extremity of the shaft 19. The spring 32 is adjusted so that there is a driving relation between the sleeve and the worm until the strap is drawn about the box under the desired tension and then, owing to the shape of the grooves 31', the sleeve may rotate relative to the worm without further driving the worm but at the same time holding the worm against retrograde rotation.

The housing 11 carries a transverse shaft 34 to which is keyed or otherwise fixed a worm wheel 35 which meshes With the worm 25. The transversely extending shaft 34 carries upon one end a metal strap or band winding drum 36. This drum 36 may have a bearing at its inner end in the side of the housing 11, as shown in Fig. 4. The other end of the shaft has a bearing in a bushing 35 which is driven into an opening in the other wall of the housing. A thrust plate 34 is secured to the shaft. The drum 36 projects laterally from the tool and is provided with rounded or otherwise suitably constructed peripheral or exterior surfaces upon which the diametrically extending slots 37 for receiving the free end of the band so as to anchor the free end upon the drum to tension the band when the drum is turned.. It will be noted that the slots 37 open from the outer end of the frame so that the band may be interlocked with the drum by an edgewise movement of the band. 'Ihis admits of easy positioning of the band on the drum and the removal of the band when required.

A plate 38 is secured to the bottom of the forward end of the housing 11 and has a lip 38' in line with the projecting end of the drum 36 so as to guide the overlapping ends of the band as the latter is drawn taut by the drum. This plate 38 also constitutes a foot or rest.

The housing is also provided with a lip or clamp plate 39 spaced rearwardly of, but in line with, the lip 38. Arranged above the lip 39 is a transverse shaft 40 mounted in a bushing 41. This shaft has a non-circular section 42 'at the remote side of the tool and over which section is interlockingly engaged a spring holding plate 43 having an outturning lug 44 against which is seated one end of a coiled spring 45. The spring is mounted upon an outward projection of the shaft, and the other end ofthe spring engages against the plate portion 17 of the housing; thus the shaft is normally urged clockwise, having reference to Figs. 1 and 3. The opposite end of the shaft 40 is provided with a non-circular portion 47 upon which is mounted a release lever 48.

. The lever 48 extends upwardly along the operating side of the tool and is provided with an abutment shoulder 49 adapted to contact with an adjustable stop 50 which may be in the form of a cap screw and a shim or washer 5I beneath the head of the screw. The screw 50 is carried by the plate 17. The upper end of the lever 48 extends to a desired height and is offset forwardly so as to lie closely adjacent to the forward end of the handle 12 and is provided with an inwardly extending ange 52 providing a broad surface against which pressure may be exerted for swinging the lever 48 forwardly and turning the shaft 40 against the tension of the spring 45 and the band.

The shaft 40 is provided, beyond the noncircular section 47, with an eccentric or cam portion 53 upon which is pivoted a presser foot or clamp 54 extending downwardly toward and registering with the plate 39. The latter end of the presser foot 54 is provided with band gripping teeth 55 which are inclined in a general forward direction and adapted to grip the band and bind it against the plate 39. The clamp 54 is inclined forwardly from the eccentric 53 and the latter is so spaced with respect to the plate 39 that when the operating lever 48 is in the normal position shown in Fig. l the teeth 55 may engage that plate. The clamping member 54 is normally urged downwardly and rearwardly by a spring 56 interposed between the front of the pressure plate and a stud 57 projecting from the housing 11. The backward swinging movement of the presser foot 54 is limited by a stop 58 projecting forwardly from the lower end of a bracket 59 secured to the face of the plate 1'7 by screws 60 or the like. A shim or spacer 61 maybe placed between the plate 17 and the bracket 59 to properly locate the shoulder 58 with respect to the frame and the lower edge portion of the clamping member 54. The turning of the shaft 40 in a counterclockwise direction is adapted to lift the clamping member 54 from the plate 39,

as shown in Fig. 3 and the stop 58 limits the rearward swinging of the clamping member 54 under action of the spring 56 and guides the clamping member 54 toward the plate 39 when the clamping member is again lowered. With this arrangement, when it is desired to secure one end of the strap to the tool by means of the clamp 54, it is merely necessary to bring the strap to a position above the plate 39 land then move the strap edgewise towards the tool while at the. same time giving it a slight forward movement. In this operation, the strap will move the clamping member upwardly and forwardly a sufficient distance to permit insertion of the strap between the plate 39 and the member 54. Now, when the strap is tensioned, the tendency is to pull that end of the strap which is clamped in place rearwardly, thereby causing the teeth 55 to bite into the strap and hold it very tightly. When it is desired to release the strap, it is merely necessary to move the lever 48 forwardly, a step which does not require much 135 force owing to the manner in which the clamping member is mounted. By providing a proper number of shims 51 and 61 or changing the thickness of the shims,'the setting and operation of the clamp may be readily adjusted.

For the purpose of reinforcing the connection between the housing 11 and the motor casing, a dowel or cross pin 63 is secured transversely through the rear end of the housing and through arecessed or grooved portion of the boss 21 so as to rmly hold these parts together. With this arangement, some of the strain is taken off the integral fiange or plate 1'?, thus guarding against breakage or cracking of that plate.

In operation, a metal strap or wire is engaged 150 about a box, a bale, a bundle or the like and one end S of the strap (see Fig. 3) is inserted between the plate 39 'and the clamp 54 by an edgewise lateral movement, as previously described. The extreme portion of this strap end extends over and forwardly of the lip 38'. 'I'he other end S of the strap is brought over the lip 38' in overlapping relation to the strap end S and is engaged in one of the slots 3'7 of the drum 36. The strap ends may have been threaded through a seal (not shown) positioned forwardly of the lip 38. The operator now operates the switch trigger 13 so as to start the motor 14 and the shaft 19 with its clutch sleeve 31. 'I'he clutch sleeve, through the balls 30,. turns the worm and rotates the drum shaft 34 through its worm gear 35. Thus, the

drum 3S is turned so as to wind the free end of the strap thereon and draw the strap under tension about the package or box. When the band is drawn taut to the desired tension, the clutch sleeve 31 is retracted against vthe tension of the spring 32 so that the drum shaft 34 is not further driven even though the motor 14 may continue to operate.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not'in a limiting sense.

The title of this application, Electric band tightener, and the preamble of the claims, In a box strap tightening-device, are used for convenience only, it being understood, of course, that the device may be used as a tightener for tensioning metal about boxes, bales, bundles, cargo, or the like.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim as my invention:

1. A box strap tightening device comprising a casing having at its forward end a forwardly extending boss, a housing having a plate portion at its rear end secured to the forward end of said casing, said housing also having an opening closely receiving said boss, the Awall of said open-- ing and the external wall of said boss having complementary grooves forming an opening for a cross pin, a cross pin in said opening formed by said grooves, a motor in said casing, a shaft connected to said motor and extending through said boss, a winding drum journalled in said housing, and a connection between said shaft and drum.

2. A box strap tightening device comprising a casing, a housing secured to the forward end of said casing, a motor within said casing, a shaft journaled in and extending longitudinally of said housing, a driving connection between said shaft and motor, a ltransverse shaft journaled in said housing and having a winding drum at one end, a worm wheel within said housing and on said transverse shaft, a worm. about and adapted to rotate relative to said longitudinally extending shaft and meshing withl said worm wheel, asieeve adapted to slide on but rotatable with said longitudinally extending shaft and `opposed to one end of said worm, a ball clutch between said worm and sleeve, a spring about said shaft and normally urging said sleeve towards said worm, and a nut backing up said spring and adjustably mounted on the forward end of said longitudinally extending shaft. y

3. In a box strap applying tool, a framehaving a projecting lip, a shaft journaled in the frame and having an eccentric portion located above said lip, a clamping member journaled on said eccentric portion and adapted to normally cooperate with said lip to clamp a strap in place, a spring associated with said shaft and normally turning the same in a direction to engage said clamping member with said lip, a second spring4 normally urging said clamping member in a direction opposite to that in which said rst spring rotates said shaft, and an operating lever connected to said shaftfor turning the same in a direction to raise the clamping member from the strap. v

4. In a box strap applying tool, a frame having a projecting lip, a shaft journaled in the frame and having an eccentric portion above said lip, a clamping member freely pivoted on said eccentric portion and cooperating with said lip, said clamping member, when in operative position, being forwardly inclined, a spring normally turning said shaft in a direction to bring the clamping member into operative relation to said lip,

a second spring engaging said clamping memshaft for turning the same in a direction to raise said clamping member from the lip.

5. In a box strap applying tool,a frame having a projecting lip, a shaft journaled in the frame and having an eccentric portion above said lip, a Vclamping member freely pivoted on said eccentric portion and having a toothed surface adapted to cooperate with said lip to clamp a strap therebetween, said clamping member. when in clamping position being inclined forwardly with respect to said shaft, a guide carried by said frame rearwardly of said clamping member and against which, the clamping member is adaptedto engage when the same is raised, a spring associated with said shaft and normally-turning the guide behind said clamping member and against,

which said clamping member is adapted to engage when the same is raised, means for adjusting said guide relative to the clamping member, a spring associated with the shaft and normally turning the same in a direction to engage the clamping member withV the lip, a second spring normally urging the clamping member towards the guide, an operating lever fixed to the shaft, and an adjustable abutment for limiting the extent of movement of said operating lever.

'7. A box strap tightening device, comprising a motor, a drive shaft connected to said motor, a driven shaft, a worm wheel fixed to said driven shaft, a winding drum fixed to said driven shaft, a worm'about and adapted to rotate relative to saiddriveshaft andmeshingatalltimeswiththe worm wheel a yieldable driving connection between said worm and said drive shaft. said worm being held against longitudinal movement on said drive shaft, whereby the worm wheel and drum will be held against retrograde movement when the driving connection between the drive shaft and worm is broken.

8. A portable self-contained power operated box strap tightening device, comprising a motor casing, a housing secured to the forward end of, and in line with, said casing, a handle on the top of said casing and extending longitudinally thereof, a motor within said casing, a drive shaft connected to said motor and disposed within

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