US2146104A - Strap tensioning device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 7, 1939. A. E. ADAMSON STRAP TENSIONING DEVICE .Filed April 5, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ADAMS O N ATTORNEY.

. ANDREW E Feb. 7, 1939. .A. E. ADAMSON STRAP TENSIONING DEVICE Filed April 5, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ANDREW E. ADAMSON M 4,2 M

ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STRAP TENSIONING nnvrcn corporation of Ohio Application April 5, 1937, Serial No.,135,18 7

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a strapping tool and more particularly to a tool for tensioning the strapping material about a box or other object to be bound. The tensioning device is of the positive type and to this end utilizes a rotatable drum or spindle to which is attached an end of the strapping to be wound thereon for tensioning the same. The function of the tensioning tool is to tension the strap or band about the article to be bound and to maintain such tension while overlapped portions are sealed together to permanently maintain the tightness of the band.

Heretofore, in band tighteners of the type under consideration, the practice has been to seal the overlapped portions of the band at a point between the stationary gripping means for one n th h m d he; r ta in dr m to which is attached the other end of the band or at a point adjacent the drum opposite the stationary gripping means. In either mode of use the mechanical feature of the tool are such as to limit the tools adaptability and usefulness. 7

Therefore the primary object of my invention is to provide a strap tensioning device of a typ u ilizi a ro at ble. um. f n in t strap in which overlapped portions of the band are formed adjacent the statiQ JY ipping means opposite the tensioning drum, such overlapped portions receiving the sealing means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strap tensioning device having a gernerally U- shaped frame with a strap gripping means on one leg of the frame and a rotatable drum for receiving an end of the strap on the other leg of the frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strap tensioning device in which the frame is offset with relation to the rotatable drum and the strap gripping means and in which the movable element of the gripping means is l -shaped to allow a reach of the tensioned strap to pass over the gripped end of the strap in close proximity thereto so that a portion of the tensioned strap. adjacent said gripping means may overlie a free extension of the gripped end of the strap.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel strap gripping means particularly useful in combination with other essential elements of a strap tensioningdevice,

These and other objects and advantages of the invention; will become apparent from a consideration of the disclosure and the following detailed specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of theassembled strap tensioning tool;

Figure 2 is a side elevation ofthe same;

Figure3 is a part-cross-sectional View of the tool of Figures 1 and 2 showing the driving and locking pawls in retracted position;

Figure 4is a part sectional view of a modified form of tool showing the driving ear in a modified position; and r Figure 5 is a perspective View of thev grip carins l 7 The tool consists generally of an inverted U- shaped frame l having legs H and I2 and an integral handle portion It. The lower end of the leg II is provided with an integral laterally extending foot to rest on the peripheral surface of a box or: other object to be banded. Immediately above; the attached end of the foot a recess I9 is provided in the vertical wall of the frame. member to receive the vertical portion of the L -shaped gripper which is pivotally carried on the transversely extending bolt 22. As shown more particularly in Figure 5. the bolt 22 is provided, with an eccentric portion 23 so that rotation of the same. results in vertical movement of the gripper A laterally extending portion 2| of the gripper 20 overlies the foot, 16 and is provided onits .lower surfacewith serrations 25 the purpose of which is to engage and hold fast a reach of the strapping material positioned between the foot l6 and the laterally disposed portion 2!.

.Ihe bolt 22 is providedwith a head 26 having thereon a diametrically disposed slot 21 to which may be applied a tool for the rotatable adjustf;

ment ofthe b0111 The nut 28 securely locks the bolt in adjusted position. As shown more particularly in Figure 2, the pivotal axis of the gripper 20 is placed to the right of the center of the gripper and is urged to counter clockwise rotatransversely extending shaft 32 and extends laterally from the side wall of the frame, 10 on the same side thereof as the foot [6. The opposite end of; the shaft 32 carries .a knurled hand wheel 33 for the direct manual rotation of the drum. Centrally disposed within the slot of the frame l and keyed to the shaft 32 is the gear 34 which meshes with a second gear 35 supported by the transversely extending shaft 36. An operating handle 40 having a forked inner end 4| is pivotally attached to the shaft 36 having the ends of the fork portion on opposite sides of the gear 35. Within the forked end there is an operating pawl 42 pivotally mounted on the transversely extending pin 43 and urged to operating position by the spring 44.. Pivotally attached to the frame i0 is the locking pawl 46 carried on the transversely extending shaft 41 and urged to operative position by the spring 48. 1

In operation the tool, or the foot l6 thereof, is

placed on the surface of a box or other object to I be banded and a strap 50 having an end extending beyond the foot [6 is positioned between the foot l6 and the gripper 20, wrappedaround the box, passed over the flange 2| and has its other end positioned within a slot 3| of the drum 30. Downward movement of the handle 40 results in rotation of the gear 35 the motion being transmitted through the operating pawl 42. The looking pawl 48 allows counterclockwise rotation of the gear 34 but prevents rotation in the other direction. Therefore, during the upward movement of the operating arm 40 the drum 30 is prevented from moving. After the seal has been made movement of the handle 40 tothe position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 and as shown in Figures 3 causes a portion of the operating pawl 42 to engage an extension 49 on the locking pawl 46 to release the same. Such engagement also results in counterclockwise rotation of the operating pawl 42 against the action of the spring 44 and releases the pawl 42 from engagement with the gear 35. This allows the drum 30 to rotate freely, releasing the tension on the tool and allowing it to be removed. 7

Figure 4 illustrates a modified form of tool in which the operating gear 35 is placed forwardly of the gear 34 instead of rearwardly thereof as shown in Figures 1-3. A modified form of looking pawl 53 is utilized. The pawl 53 is provided wtih a downwardly extending gear engaging portion 54 and an extension 55 to be engaged by a projection 56. The forked end of the handle 40 is in the position shown in Figure 4 to retract the tooth 54 from engagement with the gear 34. In

this position of the handle 40 the operating pawl 42 is moved to operative position by engagement with the stop 58 extending between the forks of the forked end 4| of the handle 40. The operation of the modified form of Figure 4 is identical with that of the first disclosed form except that the change in position of the operating gear 35 results in a path of movement of the handle 40 different from that in the first form. Instead of the movement of the end of the handle 40 being predominately up and down the movement is more horizontal. A singular advantage of the tool of this invention is that it may be used to tension a strap about a wide variety of shapes and sizes of packages. As indicated in Figure 2 it is only necessary that the foot portion ll; be placed on the periphery of the package. This is true inasmuch as the arrangement enables a projected free end of the strap and a tensioned reach of the same to overlap at a point adjacent to but outside of the general confines of the tool.

As many changes could be made in the above described construction without departing from the scope of my invention the specific disclosure should be interpreted as illustrative only and not 'in a literal sense. The invention should be deemed to embrace all within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is: V

1. In a strap tensioning device, the combination of a generally inverted U-shaped frame, a strap gripping device on one leg of said frame, said gripping device comprising a flat member fixed in relation to said frame and a movable gripper having a flat lug overlying said flat member, a strap tensioning member on the other leg tending from said surface, means to rotate said drum to tension a reach of the strap overlying the second mentioned leg of said gripper, the periphery of the drum being substantially tangent with the plane including the upper surface of the foot.

3. A strap tensioning device comprising a unitary elongated frame member having a pair of fixed spaced depending portions adaptedto rest on a box or other object, a handle integral with said member and extending outwardly from one of said portions along the longitudinal axis of said member, said frame being provided with a vertical slot in the portion adjacent said handle, a foot extending laterally from the lower portion of the other of said portions, a recess in the side Wall of the other of said portions above said foot, an L-shaped gripper pivotally mounted in said recess and having a portion thereof overlying said foot, a strap tensioning drum extending from the side wall of the frame portion adjacent the handle and longitudinally aligned with said foot overlying portion of said gripper, said drum being carried by a rotatable shaft extending laterally through said slot, a gear in said slot keyed to said shaft, a second gear in said slot meshing with said first mentioned gear and rotatably supported on a second shaft spanning said slot, an operating handle pivotally 'mounted in said slot, on said second shaft and provided with a driving pawl to engage and rotate said second gear, a holding pawl pivotally mounted in said slot and adaptedto engage said first mentioned gear, and

means including said operating handle to simul taneously disengage both said pawls from their respective gears.

4. A strap tensioning device comprising a unitary elongated frame member having a pair of fixed spaced depending portions adapted to rest on a box or other object to be bound, a handle connected with said member, a foot extending laterally from the lower end of one of said portions, an L-shaped gripper pivoted to the side wall of said portion and having aportion overlying said foot, a rotatable strap tensioning drum extending from the side Wall of the other of said portions on the same side as said foot, and means.

to rotate said drum'whereby a reach of the strap extending above said foot may be tensioned,said reach overlying another portion of said strap engaged between said foot and said gripper.

5. A strap tensioning device comprising'a unitary elongated frame member having a pair of fixed spaced depending portions adapted to rest on a box or other object to be bound, means adjacent the lower end of one of said portions to grip a portion of the binding strap adjacent one end thereof, a rotatable drum adjacent the lower end of the other of said portions to tension said strap by winding up the other end thereof, a handle secured to said frame member, an operating handle to rotate said drum pivoted on said frame member, both said handles extending above the lower ends of said depending portions.

6. A strap tensioning device comprising a unitary elongated frame member having a laterally extending foot adjacent one end thereof and a handle extending outwardly from the other end thereof, a movable strap gripping device having a flat portion overlying said foot whereby a reach of the strap may be gripped between said foot and said flat portion and a second reach of said strap may overlie said first mentioned reach in close proximity thereto, a rotatable drum on the side of said frame member between said foot and said handle adapted to receive the end of the said overlying reach of said strap, said drum being carried by a shaft extending into said frame member, means keyed to said shaft to rotate the same, and a lever having a grip portion pivotally mounted on said frame to actuate said means, said grip portion being movable in a plane including said handle.

'7. A strap tensioning device comprising a unitary elongated frame member having a plane surfaced side and a foot extending laterally from the bottom of one end of said side, a handle extending outwardly from the other end of said member, a recess in said side above said foot, an L-shaped gripper having one leg pivotally mounted within said recess and the other leg overlying said foot whereby a reach of the strap may be gripped between said foot and said fiat portion and a second reach of said strap may overlie said first mentioned reach in close proximity thereto, a rotatable drum adjacent said side and carried by a shaft extending into said frame member, means on said shaft to rotate the same, and a lever having a grip portion pivotally mounted on said frame above said handle to actuate said means, said grip portion being movable in a plane including said handle.

8. A strap tensioning device comprising a unitary elongated frame member having a pair of spaced depending portions adapted to respectively support a strap gripping device and a rotatable drum for tensioning said strap, said depending portions having side surfaces lying in a common plane, said gripping device comprising a foot extending outwardly from the side surface of one of said depending portions at the lower end thereof, a recess in said side surface above said foot, an L-shaped gripper having one leg pivotally mounted in said recess and the other leg overlying said foot whereby a reach of the strap may be gripped between said foot and said overlying leg of said gripper and a second reach of said strap may overlie said first mentioned reach in close proximity thereto, a handle on said frame at the end opposite said gripping device, and means to rotate said drum comprising a lever pivoted on said frame member in operative relation to said handle.

9. A strap tensioning device comprising a unitary elongated frame member having a laterally extending foot adjacent one end thereof and a handle extending outwardly from the other end thereof, an L-shaped gripper having one leg pivotally mounted on the side surface above said foot and the other leg overlying said foot, a strap tensioning drum extending from the side Wall of said frame on the same side thereof as said foot, said drum being positioned between said foot and said handle, a vertical slot in said frame adjacent said drum, said drum being carried on a shaft spanning said slot, a member within said slot keyed to said shaft, and means to rotate said member comprising a lever pivoted to said frame in operative relation to said handle.

10. A strap tensioning device comprising a unitary elongated frame member having a laterally extending foot adjacent one end thereof and a handle extending outwardly from the other end thereof, a movable gripper having a fiat portion thereof overlying said foot, a rotatable strap tightening drum mounted on the same side of said frame as said foot and having its lower peripheral portion substantially longitudinally aligned with said flat portion of the gripper, said drum being positioned between said foot and said handle, a vertical slot in said frame member adjacent said drum, said drum being carried by a

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