US2214110A

US2214110A - Strap cutting tool

Info

Publication number: US2214110A
Application number: US158850A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ott John Ekern
Original assignee: Acme Steel Co
Current assignee: Acme Steel Co
Priority date: 1937-08-13
Filing date: 1937-08-13
Publication date: 1940-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 1957-09-10

Description

Sept. 10, 1940. J. E. oT'r 2,214,110

STRAP CUTTING TOOL Filed Aug. 13. 1937 2 Sheetsj-Sheet. 1

Sept. 10, 1940. J. E. OTT 2,214,110

STRAP CUTTING TOOL Filed Aug. 13, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 10, 1940 l UNITED STATES PATENT 1 OFFICE Ill., assignor to Acme Steel Company, Chicago,

Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 13, 1937, Serial No. 158,850

y 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in strap cutting tools and its purpose is to provide improved means for cutting a supply of flat, flexible steel strapping or the like into `lengths suitable 5 for application to boxes, bales, packages, `and the like for reenforcing purposes. It is-the common practice in this art to apply steel strapping and other flexible binders to boxes, packages, and the like, or to groups of such packages, for the purpose of reenforcing them or holding them together and the overlapping ends of the pieces of strap passing around such a package or group of packages are commonly secured together by means of metal seals which embrace the over` lapping strap ends and which are adapted to be deformed, along with the portions of the strap enclosed therein, to provide interlocking joints. One form of such an interlocking joint is disclosed in the United States patent of Ralph H. Norton, No. 1,260,016, dated March 19, 1918.

During the application of flexible binders to some objects, such as compressible bales of cotton and the like, considerable inconvenience has heretofore beenencountered by reason. of the 25 dinlculty of holding the seals in proper positions with respect to the overlapping strap ends preliminary to and during the operations of forming the interlocking joints, and in my co-pending application, Serial No. 128,450, filed March 1, 1937,1there is disclosed a new form of seal and a new method of using that seal by which this diiiiculty is overcome and each pair of overlapping strap ends is held in frictional engagement with respect to a surrounding seal until the operator is able to operate upon that seal to provide an interlocking joint. By this method, the ends of any number of binding straps surrounding a box, bale, or package, may be temporarily` secured in overlapping relation with respect to surrounding metal seals anda sealing tool may subsequently be brought into `use for operating upon all of these seals to `deform them and provide interlocking joints. The invention disclosed in said co-pending application involves the deformation of one end of each link of strapping to l provide an inclined wedging surface which is adapted to cooperate with a tubularseal threaded on to the strapping to force the overlapping strap ends into tight wedging engagement with each other and with the walls of the seal. One end of each length of strapping which is employed in the practiceof this method is in its normal flat condition and after a length of strapping, having a tubular seal threaded thereon to a point adjacent the deformed end thereof, has been passed around a bale or package, the flat end of this length of strapping may be inserted through the tubular seal, and the seal may then be passed into engagement with the inclined wedgingsurface on the deformed end of the strap to cause the 5 seal and the overlapping strap ends to be-held in proper assembled relationship to each other until a sealing tool can be brought into operation to shear and bend, or otherwise deform, the seal and the strap ends. This mode of operation is 10 particularly advantageous in connection with the strapping of compressible bales and the like to which straps of predetermined length4 may be applied while the bales are under compression so that the straps may be brought to a reasonable 15 degree of tautness by a manual operation preliminary to establishing a temporary, fr ictional joint by forcing the seal into engagement with the inclined wedging surface on one strap end, after which the seal and strap ends are deformed 20 to provide an interlocking joint preliminary to permitting the bale to expand to cause the straps to be drawn taut around the bale.

An important advantage of the method of strapping described above is that it permits the binding straps to be cut to length from a source of supply in the field of operations and the principal object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide an improved cutting tool by which the lengths of strapping may be cut off from the source of supply with a simultaneous formation of one deformed end on each strap length, so that each length of strapping is then in readiness for the application thereto of a tubular seal. Another important object of the invention is to provide an improved cutting tool by which metal strapping or the like may be severed with the formation of an inclined wedging surface on the strap end at one side of the cut while leaving the strap at the other side of the cut in its initial 40 flat condition. Still another object of the invention is to provide a tool for cutting lengths of strapping from a source of supply with an inclined wedging surface at one end of each length and a rounded fiat end at the opposite extremity thereof. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement which will appear more fully hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the following specification taken with the accompanying drawings, in which two embodiments of the invention are illustrated. In the drawings, Y

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a portion of a bale of cotton or other compressible material having applied thereto flexible binders which have been cut from a source of supply by means of the tool of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a deformed end oi' the strap length and of a tubular seal adapted to cooperate with that strap end in providing a temporary frictional joint when the other end of the strap is threaded through the seal and the seal is brought into engagement with the deformed ends of the strap;

Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section through the deformed end of the strap with the seal applied thereto, before the other end of the strap has -been threaded through the seal;

inclined wedging surface on one end of the strap to form a frictional joint;

Fig. 5 shows a top plan view of one form ofv` portable hand tool, embodying the features of the present invention, which may be employed to sever a length of strap from a source of supply and simultaneously to form an inclined wedging surface on one end of the strap;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the jaws of the tool illustrated in Fig. 5 when these jaws are in partially open position;

Fig. 7 shows a sectional view of the jaws of the tool illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 after thejaws have been closed upon each other to sever the strap;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the adjacent ends of the strap on opposite sides of the cut formed by the tool shown in Figs. 5, 6, and '7, after the ends of the strap have been separated from each other;

Fig. 9 shows a vertical section through a modified form of tool embodying the features of the present invention which is adapted to be secured to a suitable support during use;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the opposite ends of a length of strap cut from a source of supply by the use of the tool illustrated in Fig. 9;

Fig. l1 shows an enlarged vertical section taken on the line II-II of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 z's a perspective view of the movable plunger or cutting or shearing die which is embodied in the tool shown in Figs. 9 and 11;

Fig. 13 shows a horizontal section taken on the line l3-I3 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 shows a horizontal section'taken on the line M-Il of Fig. 11;' and Fig. 15 shows a top plan view of a section of metal strapping which has been operated upon by the tool shown in Figs. 9 and 11, illustrating the formation of a projecting rib on one end of the strap and the cutting out of a portion of the strapping between this rib and the other cut end which retains the original ilat condition of the strapping.

As shown in Fig. 1, a bale 20, of cotton or other compressible material, having a cover 2lia applied thereto, is reenforced by a plurality of surrounding metal straps 2l, formed preferably of steel or the like, which are adapted to have their overlapping ends secured together by means of metal seals. The strap 2l at the right of this gure has a seal 22 applied thereto at one end of the strap and the other end of the strap has not yet been threaded through the seal. 'Ihe strap 2| in the middle position has both ends of the strap threaded through the seal and, in this condition, a frictional joint has been established which holds the parts in assembled relationship preliminary to the deformation o f the seal and the enclosed strap ends to provide an interlocking joint such as that shown on the strap at'the left hand side of Fig. 1, where the marginal portions of the seal and the enclosed strap ends are defrom each other to provide a longitudinal open slot 22a. The body portion 22i of this seal is provided with a pair of inwardly punched circular projections 22d which are spaced equal distances from the end of the seal and which are located midway between the lateral edges thereof. When this seal is threaded on to the strap shown in the lower part of Fig. 2, one of the projections 22d is adapted to cooperate with a projection 2 le formed on the strap at one extremity thereof, which projection ZIB provides an inclined wedging surface adapted to cooperate with the projection'22d. to force the strap toward the opposite flanges 22h of the seal. In Fig. 4 of the drawings, the end 2|'n of the strap which carries the projection 2l, and also the opposite ilat end 21 of the strap, are both threaded through the seal 22, and it will be apparent that when the seal is forced downwardly against the inclined projection on the end 2 lb of` the strap, both strap ends will be forced toward the flanges 22b of the seal and a-frictional joint will be formed by which the seal and the enclosed strap ends are held in fixed relation to each other. This temporary frictional joint is adapted to be subsequently operated upon by a sealing tool to form a permanent interlocking joint.

In Figs. 5, 6, and '7 of the drawings, there is illustrated one form of strap cutting tool embodying the features of the present invention by which a length of,v4 strap may be out from a source of Ysupply withthe formation of the projection 2l on the strap l*at.lone side of the cut, While leaving the adjacent cut end of the strap in its originalflat state.

This tool is of a scissor-like formation, covering a pair of

levers

24 and 25 which are pivoted upon each other by means of a bolt 26 engaged at one end by a nut 26, and provided at the ends'of their longer arms with open handles 21 into which the fingers of the operator are adapted to be inserted. These levers are provided on the side of the bolt 26 opposite the handles 21 with jaws 24 and 25n which are adapted to cooperate with each other, when the jaws are closed upon each other, to sever a strap. The extent to which the jaws may be closed is limited by a pair of lugs 28 formed on the levers adjacent the handles and adapted to engage each other. One jaw 24'* is provided at its extremity with a projection zlb'adapted to form a shoulder 24c which holds the strap in its proper position between the jaws while it is being cut, and a similar projection h, forming a similar shoulder 25, is formed on the other jaw. The jaw 24a has a cutting or shearing edge 24d which is adapted to cooperate with a similar cutting o r shearing edge 25 on the other jaw to cut the strap. The jaw 25 is provided at an intermediateV point with an upwardly extending projection 25e,- having a -substantially semi-circular end surface, which, when the strap is severed by the action of the cutting edges, is adapted to project the material of the strap at one side of the cut transversely to its own plane to form a projection 2| on one end of the strap which has an inclined wedging surface thereon. The

4shoulders 24c and 25c are preferably spaced from the shoulders 241' and 25f respectively, at the inner ends of the cutting edges of the jaws, a distance substantially equal to or slightly greater than the width of the strap to be cut so that if the strap is properly inserted between the jaws against the shoulders 24f and 25f, the projection 25c will form a deformation in the strap end at a point midway between its edges.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 9, 11, 12, 13, and 14, a frame is provided with flanges 30' adapted to rest upon a suitable support 3| to which the frame is secured by cap screws 32 or the like. 'I'his frame 30 is provided with a vertically extending tubular portion 3|)b having formed therein a rectangular opening or passage 3|)c in which there is mounted a movable shearing or cutting die 33 adapted to cooperate with a stationary shearing or cutting die 34 mounted in the lower end of the opening. The tubular portion 3|!b is provided with a transverse slot 3|ld adapted to receive the strap which is to be operated upon by the shearing dies 33 and 34. Themova'ble die 33is adapted to be moved into engagement with the strap seated on the lower die bymeans of an operating lever or handle 35 which is pivotally mounted upon a pin 36 extending through the opposite lwalls of the tubular portion 33 and engaged at its ends by transverse cotter pins 31, as shown in Fig. 11. The hub of the operating lever 35 is provided with eccentric portions 35 which pivotally engage apertures 38ll :formed in links 33 which extend downwardly on opposite sides of the movable die 33 with their lower ends pivotally connected to this die by a transverse pin 40, having its ends arranged to form a sliding engagement with the walls of the passage 33.

'I'he lower cutting or shearing die 34 is formed as two separate complementary parts numbered 34" which are secured in position within the lower end of the passage 30 by means of studs 4| passing through apertures in the wall oi. the passage and threadedly engaging apertures in the die members. 'I'hese die members 34'L are provided at their upper ends with arcuate anges 34* which are spaced apart as shown at 42 in Fig. 1 4', and which are of a width slightly greater than the width of the strap to be operated upon. One of these die members 34* is provided on its upper side with an upwardly extending projection 34, of angular cross section, which is adapted to engage the under side of the strap to force it upwardly and thereby provide a projection 43 in the strap 43 being operated upon by the tool, as shown in Fig. 10.

'Ihe movable cutting die 33, which is adapted lto be reciprocated by the operation of the lever 35, is reversible in position, and is provided at each end with a pair of arcuate recesses 33*l of such shape that they are adapted to receive and be closely ntted by the arcuate projections 34" formed on the lower die members. These arcuate recesses 33h in the upper die member are separated by an intervening projection 33 which is adapted to extend downwardly to the vgap 42 between the cutting nanges 34" o! the lower die members. It will be apparent that when the lever 35 is moved from the position shown by full lines in Fig. 9 to the position shown by dotted lines in that figure, the upper cutting die 33 will be moved downwardly to shear 01T the strap along two curved cutting lines 43b and 43C, shown in Fig. 15, and that an intervening portion of strapping 43d will be severed from both adjacent strap portions, one of which will have formed thereon the projection 43a which forms an inclined Wedging surface having a depth gradually increasing toward the end of this strap end, while the strap end at the other side of the removed portion 43i will -be in its original flat condition.

Although certain forms of the improved strap cutting tool of the present invention have been shown and described by way of illustration, it will be understood that they may be constructed in various other embodiments coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A strap cutting tool comprising a pair of pivoted levers having shearing dies adapted to cut a strap transversely throughout its width, one of said dies having a part adapted to form a projection extending longitudinally of the strap from one side of the cut, said shearing dies having shoulders radapted to engage an edge of the strap to position it with respect to said projection part.

2. A strap cutting tool comprising aiframe, a pair of stationary die members removably mbunted in said. frame and having opposite curved cutting edges diverging away from each other, a movable die member mounted in said frame and having recesses adapted to receive por-r tions of said first named die members and having a part adapted to extend between said ilrst named die members, one of said stationary die members having a projection adapted to deform a portion of the strap inserted lbetween said 4stationary die member and said movable die member to produce a projection in the vstrap extending transversely to the plane of the stra and means for actuating said movable die member.

3. A strap cutting tool comprising a pair of pivoted levers having pivoted shearing blades adapted to cut a strap transversely throughout its width, one oi' said -blades having shoulders at its ends adapted to position the strap on the blade during the cutting operation, one of said blades having a projection extending beyond the cutting edge thereof to form on one cut end of the strap during the cutting operation a projection having a wedging surface inclined longitudinally of the strap.

4. A strap cutting tool comprising a frame, a stationary die and a movable die mounted in the said trame, said dies having spaced rounded cutting edges adapted to shear the strap transversely throughout its width to form rounded extremities on two strap ends with the removal oi' an intervening part oi' thestrap, one of said dies having a tapered projecting part of convex cross-section which is inclined away from one o1' said rounded cutting edges, whereby the operation of cutting the strap forms an inclined projection on one of said cut strap ends which is inclined longitudinally of the strap.

JOHN EKERN OTI. 10