US2182004A - Strap tensioning and sealing device - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 5, 1939. Hi J. SPENCER 2,182,004

STRAP TENSiONING AND SEALING DEVICE Filed Aug. 11, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Her/nap Spencer .Dec. 5,1939. 7 4 H. J. SPENCER ,0 STRAP TENSIONING AND SEALING DEVICE F iled Aug. 11, 1957 5Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Herman J. Spencer 6 M M Dec. 5, 1939; H. J SPENCER 2,182,004

' STRAP TENSIONING AND SEALING DEVICE Fi led Aug. 1-1. 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet '3 i9 J56 J51 INVENTOR Herman J. SIDE/7C6!" 6 5, 1939. H. .lv SPENCER STRAP TENSIONING AND SEALING DEVICE Filed Aug. 11, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 5, 1939. I s c 2,182,004

STRAP TENSIONINQ AND SEALING DEVICE Filed Aug. 11, 195? SSheets-Sheet 5 25 Z INVENTOR Herman d. Spencer 9 J1 J6 M' M Patented Dec. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Herman J. Spencer, West View, Pa., assignor to Leechgrip Company, O'Hara Township, Allegheny County, Pa. a corporation oi. Pennsyl- Vania Application August 11,

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to a device for securing together the ends of a metallic reinforcing strip or band which has been passed around a container or package and more particularly to certain improvements in a device of such character such as the one shown and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 23,895, flled May 28, 1935, now Patent Number 2,102,981, dated December 21, 1937. I

While devices of this general character have been known heretofore those with which I am familiar are characterized by certain objectionable features. The purpose of the present invention is to produce a strap fastening device which is characterized by simplicity, relatively low cost of construction, a high degree of effectiveness in operation, and which requires little or no maintenance. Other novel features and advantages of the present invention will be more i specifically pointed out and described in the detailed description ofthe preferred embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in the appended drawings. v

In accordance with my invention, I provide a device having a base and a standard mounted thereon, the base standard carrying the various operating parts. The structure is provided with three operating handles or levers by which all of the necessary operations are carried out. One handle or lever is arranged to actuate rollers for tightening the band or strap around the box or package. A second lever cooperates with the tightening mechanism and is adapted to lower the toothed wheels which are used for tightening the strap down onto thestrap and for raising the wheels after the completion of the strapping operation. This same lever is also so arranged as to operate the feeding mechanism for feeding a clip or seal into appropriate position above the overlapped ends of the strap. This same lever is also arranged so that it canvbe operatively disengaged from .the tightening mechanism and swung in the reverse direction for cooperation with a lever for actuating a shear for cutting ofl the coil end of the strap. The third lever is the forming lever. This lever actuates the mechanism comprising a ram and forming jaws. Operation of the forming lever causes the ram to descend in the standard and as it descends the forming jaws are adapted to bend a fiat clip seal around the overlapping ends of the strap,and continued downward movement of the ram crimps the clip seal and the strap ends so as to form a permanent joint therebetween.

A device of this general character is shown and.

1937, Serial Nb. 158,600

described in my copending application Serial No. 23,895. While the device there shown and described obviates many of the difliculties of the machines known heretofore the device which I provide by my present invention obviates certain difliculties encountered with that machine as well as'in the prior art machines. In the prior art machines the coil end of the strap has ofnecessity been cut or sheared some little distance away from the seal. This leaves a free and exposed strap end which bends upwardly to a slight extent from the end of the seal and presents a hazard to the person handling the bundle, box or package which has been strapped. The straps used are quite thin but they are sufliciently rigid that the free exposed strap end will do substantial damage either to the hands of the person handling the box or bundle or to articles with which it may come in contact. By the present invention I provide a structure which overcomes this difliculty and which permits the cutting of the coil end of the strap at the exact edge of the seal or beneath the seal so that there, is little or no free exposed strap end which may cause damage.

In accordance with the present invention I also provide a structure in which difficulties in feeding the fiat clip,blank over the overlapping strap ends are overcome. In the structure which I provide the feeding mechanism for feeding the flat clip blanks from the magazine which contains a plurality of them'is actuated by the lever which is used for bringing the tightening wheels into "contact with the overlapping strap ends. The feeding mechanism is of such character that the feeding shuttle and the pawl carried thereby will not be retracted by the feeding mechanism unless the shuttle lever has been actuated to such an extent as to properly position the fiat clip seal over the overlapping ends of the strap. For example, if the feeding shuttle and the pawl carried thereby are only moved throughout a portion of the distance required to completely feed the flat clip blanks, the shuttle will remain in this position until the shuttle lever is moved to a sufficient extent to complete the feeding operation. This is highly advantageous in structures of this character as it precludes any possibility of feeding more than one fiat clip seal to crimping position at any one time and it also prevents jamming of the device.

Another feature of the present invention resides in the provision of positive seal supporting members for supporting the fiat clip seam on the bottom ofthe presser head. In accordance with my invention I provide seal supports for engaging the ends of the fiat clip blank for supporting the blank above the strap ends until the ram and the presser head are lowered onto the overlapping strap ends for the formation of a seal.

Another feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a spring pressed pin extending through the base of the presser head and cooperating with a small hole or recess in the flat clip seal for positively centering the seal so that it will be in proper position when lowered-onto the overlapping strap ends.

For a complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating a present preferred embodiment, although it will be understood that numerous details shown and described may be otherwise embodied without departing from the scope of my broader claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the structure which I provide placed in operative position upon a box about which the strap has been passed;

Figure 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of

the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the structure in Figure 1, a portion of the feeding mechanism being shown in section;

4 Figure 4 is a transverse section taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 2; v

Figure 5 is a longitudinalsectional view taken along the line VV of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along the line V'IVI of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the cutting mechanism;-

Figure 8 is a plan view of the cutting mechanism shown in Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the supports for holding the flat clip seals in position on the base of the presser head;

Figure 10 is a plan view of the joint formed by the device which I provide;

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of the joint shown in Figure 10; and

Figure 12 is a section taken along the line XII--XII of Figure 10.

Referring to the drawings, the device comprises a base 2 having a standard 3 mounted thereon. The standard 3 is .split along a substantially central plane as indicated at 4, for convenience in assembling, into two portions 5 and 6 which are appropriately secured together bymeans of screws l and 8. The portion 6 of the standard is secured to and supported on the base 2. The portion 5 of the standard is carried on the portion 6 in overhanging relation to one edge of the base 2 which is tapered or feathered off at 9 to facilitate the entry of such edge under the meeting ends of a metallic strap or band Hi passed around a box or package H. The tapered edge of the base 2 is,

' slotted at 12 for a purpose which will presently appear.

In use the strap I0 is drawn from a coil l3 and $5 wrapped around the box H and the free end brought back under the portion of the strap extending to the coil as shown in Figure 1. The device is then moved so that the tapered edge of the base 2 enters under the free end of 70 the strap. The coil end of the strap is disposed between a shearing block I5 and the shear I6. The shear I6 is normally upraised so as to permit the strap to be positioned between it and the shearing block, but is reciprocable relative it to the shearing block I5 so as to permit the position over the strap ends.

shearing of the coil end of the strap. This shearing mechanism will be described more in detail later. Keepers l1 and I8 are provided for holding the overlapped ends of the strap in proper position for joining them together. The keepers I! and H! are pivotally mounted on the standard 3. The keeper I 8 is manually operableand the keeper I! is automatically operated bythe mechanism for feeding the flat clip blanks into This operating mechanism will be described more in detail later.

Before shearing the coil end of the strap from that portion which has been passed'around the box II, it is desirable to tighten the strap around the box and to hold it in tension during the for-.

and the enlarged portion is provided with slots 26 which are adapted to cooperate with laterally projecting prongs or fingers 21 at the lower end of the eccentric shaft lever 28. The eccentric portion 29 of the shaft 24 between the en-- larged portion 25 and the standard 23 carry' toothed tightening wheels 30 which are free to rotate relative to the shaft. A ratchet wheel 3| is provided between the toothed wheels 30 and rigidly secured to the wheels 30 by rivets 32.

The eccentric shaft lever is hinged intermediate its length on a hinge pin 33 which is supported by the shear lever 34 more specifically described hereinafter. At its upper end the shaft lever is.bent to cooperate with the cam end 35 of the operating handle 36 which is mounted for rotation about a fulcrum pin 31 carried by the shear lever 34. This arrangement is provided in order to permit the disengagement of the shaft lever from the eccentric shaft so as to permit the shaft lever and the shear lever which carries it to be rotated without rotation of the eccentric shaft. In order to disengage the shaft lever it is merely necessary that the handle 36 be rotated about the fulcrum pin into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 6. As the handle is moved to this position the cam surface of the handle cooperates with the upper end of the shaft lever and rotates the shaft lever about its hinge pin, thereby moving the shaft lever to the position shown in chain lines in Figure 6. In this position the fingers 21 are completely removed from the slots 26 so that rotation of the shearlever and the shaft lever will not result in rotation of the eccentric shaft and the parts carried thereby.

The shaft lever is normally forced to the position shown in solid lines in Figure 6 by a flat steel spring 38 which is secured to the frame 39 of the shear lever. At its lower end the spring is bent inwardly so as to bear against the lower end of the shaft lever and force it into operative relationship with the eccentric shaft.

The shear lever 34 is carried by the eccentric shaft, it being supported on the end of the eccentric shaft by means of a screw 40 which is threaded into the threaded opening 41 in the end of the shaft. The screw 40 is provided with a supporting surface 42 upon which the shear lever is mounted. The shear lever is provided with openings 43 through which the fingers of the shaft lever extend for engagement with the slots in the eccentric shaft.

- The eccentric portion of the shaft 24 also carries ratchet retaining plates 44 on either side of the toothed wheels 38. These ratchet retaining plates are securely connected at their upper ends with a handle 45 which carries a grip 46 on theouter end thereof. An operating pawl 41 is mounted on a pin 48 carried between the ratchet retaining plates. This pawl cooperates with the ratchet wheel 3| for rotation of the ratchet wheel and the toothed band tightening wheels upon movement of the handle 45. The pawl, upon movement of the handle 45 in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in Figure 5, slides over the teeth of the ratchet wheel and upon movementof the lever in a clockwise direction engages the teeth and causes rotation of the wheel. A pawl spring 49 is positioned in a recess 58 in the ratchet lever 45 and cooperates with-the pawl for normally forcing it into engagement with the ratchet teeth.

A pawl 5| is pivotally mounted on a pin 52carried by the standard adjacent the ratchet wheel.

This pawl cooperates with the ratchet wheel so as to prevent rotation of the ratchet wheel in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in Figure 5. The pawl 5| is normally urged into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel by a spring 53, one end of which is supported in a recess 54 in with the over-lapped strap ends positioned there-' below. The toothed wheels ar'e'positioned immediately above a serrated insert 56 overwhich the strap ends pass. As will be apparent, if the toothed wheels 38 have been brought into env,gagement with the overlapping strap ends, the

ratchet lever 45 can be reciprocated and the strap ends tightened around the package or bundle about which the strap is placed.

After adequate tightening has been effected, the handle 36 is moved to the position shown in chain lines in Figure 6 and the shaft lever disengaged from the shaft so that the shear lever maybe rotated for effecting the shearing operation without rotation of the eccentric shaft.

When-the strap has been, tightened around the box as described'above, the free end is ready to be attached permanently to the coil portion of the strap, and the coil portion of the strap sheared from the body of the coil. I utilize a substantially flat rectangular sheet metal clip for effecting the joint between the overlapped strap ends. The clip seals which I use are adapted to have their edges bent around the strap and crimped so as to permanently bind the two ends of strapagainst relative movement.

A supply of the clip blanks 6| is maintained in a magazine 62 mounted on the standard 3. The magazine 62 comprises a, sheet metal channel 63 which is provided with a removable cover 64 to permit the insertion of additional clip blanks 6| therein. A seal retaining member 65 cooperates with the uppermost seal in the magazine. A spring 66 cooperates with the upper end of the magazine and with the retaining member 65 so as to normally force the seals which are in the magazine in a downward direction so that the lowermost one will be in position to be fed over the superposed strap ends.

The feeding of the clips fromthe magazine to a position over the'strap is effected through rotation of the eccentric shaft 24. A collar 6? is tion of the shuttle lever.

secured to the outer end of the shaft by means of a set screw 68. This collar is provided with a pin 69 adapted to cooperate with a slot 10 in the shuttle lever II which is pivotally mounted on the base 2 by means of a screw 12. The shuttle lever 1| comprises a main body portion 13 and an end portion 14. The end portion I4 is pivotally mounted on a pin 15 extendingthrough openings 16 in depending lugsl'l on the main body por- A spring 18 surrounds one end of the pin 15 and one end abuts against the lug TI and the other end abuts against the end portion 14. By this arrangement the end portion 14 of the shuttle lever may be raised or lowered about the pin 15 anddue to the resilient mounting it will remain in any position to which it is moved. Another feature of this type of mounting for the operating end of the shuttle lever is that it provides an adjustment for the shuttle lever so that it can be adjusted laterally in order to provide for proper feeding of the seals. This is of substantial importance where seals of different sizes are utilized.

The operating end 14 of the shuttle lever is adapted to cooperate with the reciprocable shuttle 19 mounted within a shuttle guard which is positioned under the casing 8| which is mounted on the base of the device. The operating end 14 of the shuttle lever extends through an opening 82 in the adjacent side wall of the casing 8| and through a longitudinal recess 83 in the shuttle guard. It extends into the L-shaped recess 84 in the shuttle so that it will operate the shuttle in both the feeding direction and in the reverse direction. One side of the opening 84 presents a .relatively long cooperating face 85 for v cooperation with the lever 14. The other face of the opening or recess 84 is shorter than the face 85 so as to provide'the L-shaped recess extending through the rear end of the shuttle and to present a shoulder 86 which will not be engaged by the operating lever 14 when it has been moved to its lowermost position. I

In normal non-operating position the parts are as shown in Figure 4, the operating end of the shuttle lever being so positioned that movement thereof in the feeding direction will cause the shuttle 19 to move forward and movement of the operating lever in the'reverse direction will cause it to pass beneath the face 86 of the recess 84.

Actuation of the shuttle is effected by rotation of the eccentric shaft 24. As it is rotated the pin 68 is moved in the operating slot III in the shuttle lever and the operating end of the shuttle lever cooperates with the face 85 and moves the shuttle and the shuttle 'pawl 81 carried thereby forwardly. The shuttle pawl is mounted on a shaft 88 carried by the shuttle and a spring 89 is provided for normally urging the forward end of the pawl in an upward direction. A stop pin 90 is also provided on the shuttle pawl which is adapted to cooperate with the upper end of the shuttle in order to prevent the spring from forcing the forward end of the pawl too far upwardly. As the shuttle and the shuttle pawl are moved forward, the forward end of the pawl passes the end 9| of the shuttle guard and is forced upwardlyv to a suflicient extent to permit the forward end ofthe pawl to engage the lowermost seal in the magazine. Continued movement of the shuttle in a feeding direction will cause the seal 6| to be carried to a position above andto be properly positioned over the overlapped ends of the. stra A resilient spring 92 is mounted on thebase adjacent the magazine for the seals. The outermost end of the spring 92 is secured to the base and the inner end which is positioned adjacent the magazine is bent upwardly as indicated at 93. As the shuttle moves forward in a feeding direction, the operating end 14 of the shuttle lever is in the position indicated in Figure 4. If sumcient movement of the operating lever is not effected to complete the feeding operation and the shuttle lever is moved in the reverse direction, due to the fact that it is in the lower position it will not engage the shoulder 86 of the shuttle and the shuttle itself will not be returned to non-operating position. However, if the shuttle lever is moved through its entire feeding stroke, when it reaches the forward end thereof the spring 92 will raise the operating end of the shuttle lever upwardly to the position where it will engage the shoulder 86 of the shuttle so that upon the return stroke of the shuttle lever the shuttle will be returned to rest position. 7

As the operating end of the shuttle lever is in raised position during the return stroke it is desirable before it reaches the end of the return stroke to force the shuttle lever to the lowered position so that the apparatus will again properly function during the feeding operation. The shuttle guard is provided withfa member 94 having a shoulder 96a. adjacent the end thereof so that at substantially the termination of the return stroke of the shuttle lever the shoulder will cooperate with the shuttle lever to move it downwardly to its lowermost position. As the shuttle lever is moved rearwardly it is in the upper position in which it engages the shoulder 86 of the shuttle. Near the end of the return stroke the lever comes in contact with the inclined shoulder 96a and is cammed to the lower position.

The shuttle lever, the shuttle and the operating mechanism just described, are arranged in this way so that if the shuttle is not moved completely through the feeding stroke movement of the shuttle lever to the left as shown in Figurei will not move the shuttle back to a position where it can engage and move forward another fiat' clipblank upon further movement of the shuttle lever in the feeding direction. If the parts were not constructed-and arranged in this man-- ner, one flat clip blank could be fed only part way toward {the sealing mechanism and another flat clip blank could also be fed forward and jamming of the ma hi would result. As the parts are arranged ifl; gflat clip blank is only fed through a portion of the feeding stroke due to incomplete movement of the shuttle the move ment of the shuttle lever through the return stroke will not return the shuttle. Before any additional clip can be fed into position beneath the sealing mechanism the one which has been partially moved forward will have to be moved through the complete feeding stroke. As the parts are arranged the shuttle lever will not return the shuttle to a position where it can pick up an additional flat clip seal until the feeding stroke has been completed. Feeding mechanism of this character is advantageous as it precludes any possibility of jamming and also precludes any possibility of more than one clip seal being fed over the superposed strap ends at any one time.

After the strap has been tightened in the manner heretofore described, it is desirable to cut the coil end of the strap from the remainder thereof. In accordance with my invention I provide a cutting or shearing device which is movable so that it can be moved to a position beneath the bending and crimping mechanism and eifect the shearing adjacent the edge of the seal ficiently close to the edge of the seal that an insufficient amount of free strap end will be left or beneath the edge of the seal or at least sufexposed to do any damage. The shear or cutting .tions of the shear mechanism are mounted on the base 2 of the device and are movably secured thereto by means of the shear frame pin 91. Thetop shear I6 is provided with a shearing edge 98 which is adapted to cooperate with the shearing block. The top shear is fulcrumed on the shear frame by a pin 99 for movement relative to the cutting block. The shear operating lever 85 is pivotally mounted on the shear frame by the fulcrum pin I00. A spring Illl is provided for normally urging the top shear upwardly out of cutting position. Asecond spring I62 is provided for normally urging the shear frame and the parts described above toward shearing position,- one end of the spring I02 cooperating with an abutment on the base 2 and the other end thereof cooperating with the shear frame.

The shear operating lever extends forwardly of the standard so as to cooperate with the shear lever 34. After the strap has been appropriately tightened the eccentric shaft lever is disengaged from the eccentric shaft in the manner described heretofore and the shear lever 34 is rotated about the eccentric shaft and in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5 to the position indicated in chain lines in Figure 1. By virtue of the fact that the shear lever comes in direct engagement with the shear operating lever 95 further movement of the shear lever will-depress the shear operating lever 95 thereby forcing the top shear downwardly for shearing the coil end of the strap from the remaining portion thereof.

The top shear I6 extends horizontally to a position beneath the vertically reciprocable sealing mechanism including the ram, the bending and crimping jaws, and the seal supports to be described hereinafter. The upper surface of this top shear is beveled as at I03 so as to permit this extension of the shearing edge beneath the vertically reciprocable mechanism. When this mechanism is lowered the seal support [.40 strikes the beveled surface and continued downward movement of this mechanism cams the entire shearingmechanism to one side against the pressure of the spring I 02 which normally urges the shear frame to the cutting position in which the upper shear extends beneath the vertically reciprocable mechanism. Upon raising and bending the crimping mechanism upon completion of the bending and crimping operation the shear mechanism is again automatically returned to shearing position by the spring I02.

The mechanism for pressing the seal 8!, which has been appropriately fed by the feeding mechanism, down on the strap and for bending and crimping it and the overlapping strap ends includes a ram I04 which is reciprocable inxsuitable guides formed in the standard'3. The ram is reciprocated in the standard by means or a forming lever I 05 pivotally mounted at I06 on the standard. The forming lever I05 is provided with a slot IIJ'I cooperating witha pin I08 carried by a ram operating link I69 which is pivotally mounted 'at H0 to the standard. This operating link, in turn, is provided with a slot I H in which a ram pin H2 is mounted. The ram wardly extending side plates H4 are provided the seal supports.

on each end of each of the forming or bending jaws. The side plates are provided with openings II5 to receive the main operating pin H6. These plates are also provided with overlapping slots II'I adapted to receive the operating pin H8 which extends through an opening H9 in the ram. The main operating pin I I6 also extends through a longitudinally extending slot I in the ram. The main operating pin H6 at each end extends beyond the side plates to the forming jaws, and these ends cooperate with guides HI and stop members I22.

The bending and crimping mechanism also includes a presser head I which is generally U- shaped having a bottom portion I3I and side members I32. The side members are provided with slots I33 to receive the main operating pin H6 and with slots I34 for receiving the inwardly projecting portion of the ram stop guide so that .when the presser head has been moved'downwardly to a sufiicient extent to be brought into contact with the overlapping strap ends further downward movement thereof will be prevented.

The ram is provided with a longitudinally extending recess I35 which is adapted toreceive a spring I36, the lower end of which bears against the presser head thereby normallyholding the ram in up-raised position. At the lower end the ram is provided with hardened tips I31 which, upon lowering of the ram, come in contact with the seal and the overlapping strap ends and crimp the seal and the strap ends as indicated at I38 in Figures 10, 11 and 12., The presser head is provided with slots I39 to permit the hardened tips of the ram to pass therethrough and contact the seal.

Seal supports I40 made of fiat spring steel are also associated with the bending and crimping mechanism and reciprocated therewith. A seal support is mounted on each side of the presser head and extends downwardly around the lower end thereof, a horizontal tip being provided at the lower end of each seal support in order to receive and support a seal which is fed by the feeding mechanism into position above the overlapping strap ends and below the presser head. Each seal support is provided with an opening I4I adapted to receive the main operating pin H6. These opening or slots I M extend longitudinally of the seal supports so as to permit the operating pin H6 to move relative to the seal supports upon the completion of the stroke of An opening I42 is also provided in each of the seal supports to receive the llaitlerally projecting finger of theram stop guide It is highly desirable that the seals fed into position below the'presser head and above the superposed strap ends shall be accurately positioned. The seal supports will, of course, aid in properly positioning the seals but in order to assure the proper positioning of the seals I propose to utilize seals which are provided with a center hole or recess I43 which will cooperate with a spring pressed pin I44 extending through the bottom of the presser head. A spring I45 is provided in the recess I35 in the ram for pressing the pin I44.downwardly through the opening in the presser head at all times. A shoulder I46 is provided on the pin for preventing it from passing completely through theopening in the presser head. The holes I43 in the seals serve another useful purpose. These holes can be used for proper stacking and shipping of the seals.

An adjustable stop pin I50 is mounted on the standard for limiting the movement of the forming lever I05.

As pointed out-heretofore, keepers I1 and I8 are provided for properly alining the strap ends during operation of the device. The keeper I8 is operable manually and the keeper I1 is automatically actuated by a pin I5I carried by the shuttle lever II. This pin I5I reciprocates in a slot I52 in the keeper II.

In the operation of the device just described,-

the strap I0 is first disposed about the box I I. The shear lever 34 and the eccentric shaft lever 28 are rotated by the handle 36 in a counterclockwise direction from the position marked I shown in solid lines to the position marked III shown in chain lines. During this period of time the handle 36 extends at right angles to the levers and by reason of the movement of the eccentric shaft lever, the toothed wheels 30 are brought into firm engagement with the overlapping strap ends. The tightening lever 45 is then raised to the position shown in chain lines and is reciprocated between that position and the position shown in solid lines for rotating the toothed tightening wheels for tightening the strap around the box. After the strap has been sumciently tightened the handle 36 is raised from the position shown in solid lines in Figure 6 to the position shown in chain lines so as to disengage the eccentric shaft lever. from the shaft. The handle 36 and the shear lever 34' are then moved from the position marked II in Figure 1 to the position marked 111. During this operation the eccentric shaft is rotated thereby actuating the shuttle lever which,,in turn, operates the feeding mechanism and feeds a seal to a position above the overlapping strap ends and immediately below the presser head, the seal being held in this position by means of the seal supports heretofore described. The shear lever then 1 .the operation of the forming lever for forcing the seal down onto the strap ends and for bending it therearound and for crimping it. During initial movement of .the forming lever I05 in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 1, the spring latch I53 is disengaged and the ram operating link I00caused to force the ram pin H2 and the ram downwardlly. The ram pin H2 is provided with a reduced end portion I54 which cooperates with a forming lever latch I55, the reduced end portion of the ram pin extending into a small recess I56 in the latch. The latch is provided with roller pins I51 which cooperate with a slot I58 in the latch guide I50. The slot I58 at its lower end is turned at right angles to the main direction oftravel of the rollers I51.

The latch I55 is provided with a protruding nose portion I60 adapted to bear against the main operating pin H6.

During the initial downward movement of the ram pin M2 the forming lever latch by the arrangement. just described causes the main operating pin H6 to move downwardly with the ram. When the lower roller I51 of the forming lever latch reaches the lateral portion of the slot it moves laterally and the ram pin reduced end is disengaged from the forming lever latch, and continued downward movement of the forming lever latch by reason of the operation of the ram pin H2 stops.

During the above-described operation the ram moves downwardly and by virtue of the connection between the ram and the main operating pin H6 through the ram pin and the forming lever latch, the main operating pin H6 and the jaws carried thereby are moved downwardly. The presser head and the seal supports likewise move downwardly with the main operating pin. During this operation the seal is brought into contact with the superposed strap ends and the jaws bend the seal downwardly past the edges of the strap. Further downward movement of the ram causes the operating pin l|8 to continue in its downward movement and by reason of the overlapping slots in the jaws the jaws are pulled together for bending the seal. inwardly around the strap. Further continued downward movement of the ram Will cause the hardened tips I31 to pass through the openings in the forming lever guard and to. crimp the seal and the strap ends. As has been stated before, the initial downward movement of the forming and crimping mechanism will force the shearing mechanism to one side against the pressure of the spring so as to permit the seal to extend over or adjacent to the sheared strap end.

After the forming operation has been completed, the forming lever I is raised and the spring forces the plunger and other operating parts upwardly into position for a repetition of the operation. During the upward movement of the ram pin it will engage the slot in' the forming lever latch and pull the latch to the right as shown in Figure 4 and carry it upwardly in the operating slot I58.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the invention provides a device for expeditiously and effectively securing together-the ends of a binding or reinforcing strap passing around a box or other container. It also will be apparent that the device is relatively simple in construction so that it can be manufactured comparatively cheaply and operated by unskilled labor. The device is compact and complete and atthe same time is of such size that it can be readily handled by the workmen. The unitary device which 'I provide incorporates means for tightening and severing the strap; for feeding a fiat clip blank or seal over the overlapped ends of the strap and for forming a joint between the clip and the overlapped ends of the strap.

While I have shown and described herein a pre ferred embodiment of my invention, it will be recognized that changes in the construction disclosed can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for fastening together the ends of a binding strap and a clip seal comprising means for tightening the strap and for holding the strap ends in superposed relationship, vertically reciprocable means including forming jaws, a ram and a presser head for positioning a clip seal over the superposed strap ends and for forming the joint between the strap. ends and the clip seal, feeding apparatus for feeding a clip seal over the superposed strap ends and below said reciprocable means, and at least one seal support carried by said vertically reciprocable means for supporting the seal above the strap ends and below the vertically reciprocable means.

2, Apparatus for fastening together the ends of a binding strap and a clip seal comprising means for tightening the strap and for holding the strap ends in superposed relationship, vertically re ciprocable means including forming jaws, a ram and a presser head for positioning a clip seal over the superposed strap ends and for forming the joint between the strap ends and the clip seal, feeding apparatus for feeding a clip seal over the superposed strap ends and below said reciprocable means, at least one seal support carried by said vertically reciprocable means for supporting the seal above the strap ends and below the vertically reciprocable means, and stop means for stopping the downward movement of the seal support prior to the termination of the downward stroke of the vertically reciprocable means.

3. Apparatus for fastening together the ends of a binding strap and a clip seal comprising means for tightening the strap and for holding the strap ends in superposed relationship, sealing mechanism including bending jaws for forming the joint between the strap ends and theclip seal, a reciprocable shuttle for feeding a clip seal to a position beneath the sealing machanism, a

shuttle lever for operating the shuttle through a feeding-stroke and upon completion of the feeding stroke through a return stroke, means operable at the end of the feeding stroke to move the shuttle lever into operative position with respect to the shuttle for moving the same through the return stroke, and means forv actuating the shuttle lever.

4. Apparatus for fastening together the ends of a binding strap and a clip seal comprising means for tightening the strap and 'for holding the strap ends in superposed relationship, sealing mechanism including bending jaws for forming the joint between the strap and the clip seal, a reciprocable shuttle for feeding a clip seal to a position beneath said sealing mechanism, the shuttle having an L-shaped recess therein extending through the rear end thereof, a shuttle lever positioned in said recessand arranged to cooperate with the shuttle to move it in one direction only until after the completion of the feeding stroke of the,shuttle, means for mov- "ging the shuttle lever at the end of the feeding stroke of the shut-tle upwardly into the recess so as to prevent return movement of the shuttle lever without the shuttle, means for reciprocating the shuttle lever, and a shuttle guard, said guard having a shoulder portion adapted to lower the shuttle lever at the end. of the return stroke of the shuttle to position it to actuate the shuttle in one direction only.

5. Apparatus for fastening together the ends of a binding strap anda clip seal comprising means for tightening the strap and for holding the strap ends in superposed relationship, sealing means for forming the joint between the strap ends and the clip seal, feeding apparatus for feeding a clip seal over the superposed .strap ends adjacent the sealing mechanism, a movably mounted shear for severing the upper strap adjacent the point of sealing, and means for actuating the shear, said movably mounted shear being normally positioned beneath said sealing mechanism and hav-' ing a cam surface adapted to cooperate with the sealing mechanism to permit the sealing mechanism to cam the shear away from the joint upon downward movement of the sealing mechanism.

6. Apparatus for fastening together the ends of a binding strap and a clip seal comprising means for tightening the strap and for holding the strap ends in superposed relationship, sealing mechanism including bending jaws for forming the joint between the strap ends and the clip seal, feeding apparatus for feeding a clip seal over the superposed strap ends and adjacent the sealing mechanism, a movably mounted shear including a shear block and an upper'shear member for severing the upper strap adjacent the point of sealing, and means for actuating the shear, said movably mounted shear being automatically cammed out of cutting position adjacent the point of sealing upon actuation of the sealing mechanism.

'7. Apparatus for fastening together the ends of a binding strap and a clip seal comprising means for tightening the strap and for holding the strap ends in superposed relationship, sealing mechanism for forming the joint between the strap ends and the clip seal, feeding apparatus for feeding the clip seal over the superposed strap ends and adjacent the sealing mechanism, a movably mounted shear including a shear block and an upper shear member for severing the upper strap adjacent the point 'of sealing, spring means for normally urging the shear toward shearing position, and means for actuating the shear, said movably mounted shear extending beneath the sealing mechanism when in normal position and cooperating with s'aidsealing mechanism so that upon movement of the sealing mechanism to sealing position the shear will be moved thereby away from the point of sealing.

8. Apparatus for fastening together the ends of a binding strap and a clip seal comprising means for tightening the strap and for holding the strap ends in superposed relationship, vertically reciprocable sealing mechanism for forming the joint between the strap ends and the clip seal, feeding apparatus for feeding a clip seal above the superposed strap ends and adjacent the sealing mechanism, a movably mounted shear including a shear block and an upper shear memher for severing the upper strap adjacent the point of sealing, means for normally urging the shear to a position beneath said sealing mechanism, said shear having a cam surface for cooperation with the sealing mechanism whereby movement of the sealing mechanism to sealing position will automatically move the shear out of position beneath the sealing mechanism, means for actuating the sealing mechanism and means for actuating the shear.

9. Apparatus for fastening together the ends of a binding strap and a clip seal comprising,

means for tightening the strap and for holding the strapends in superposed relationship, sealing mechanism including bending jaws for forming the joint between the strap ends and the clip seal, a reciprocable shuttle for feeding a clip seal to a position adjacent the sealing mechanism, a reciprocableshuttle lever for moving the shuttle through a feeding stroke and upon completion of the feeding stroke through a return stroke, said shuttle lever and shuttle being arranged so that the lever may be moved into and out of operative engagement with the shuttle, means operable at approximately the end of the feeding stroke for moving the shuttle lever to operative position with respect to the shuttle to move it through the return stroke, and means for moving the shuttle lever into a position where it is inoperative to move the shuttle through a return stroke until the completion of the succeeding feeding stroke.

10. Apparatus for fastening together the ends of a binding strap and a 'clip seal comprising means for tightening the strap and for holding the strap ends in superposed relationship, sealing mechanism including bending jaws for forming a joint between'the strap ends and the clip seal, a reciprocable shuttle for feeding a clip seal to a position adjacentthe sealing mechanism, a shuttle lever for operating the shuttle through a feeding stroke and through a return stroke, means for-moving the shuttle lever into inoperative position with respect to the shuttle and the movement thereof through the return stroke, whereby the shuttle cannot be moved through a return stroke until the shuttlelever is again moved to opera-- tive position, means for moving the shuttle lever at the end of the feeding stroke into operative position with respect to the shuttle for moving it through the return stroke, and means for actuating the shuttle lever.

HERMAN J. SPENCER.

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