US2936156A - Strap stretching tool construction - Google Patents

Description

May 10, 1960 J. A. COUPLAND 2,935,156

STRAP STRETCHING TOOL CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheet$-$heet 1 Filed May 2, 1956 INVENTOR. John A. flou vlaml ATTORNEYS May 10, 1960 J. A. COUPLAND 2,936,156

STRAP STRETCHING TOOL CONSTRUCTION Filed May 2, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 T. N as I INVENTOR. Jab/1M4. Goa/ lu BY ATTORNEYS STRAP STRETCHING root. coNsTnUcnoN John A. Coupland, Niles, Ohio, assignor to Sharon Steel Corporation, Sharon, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 2, 1956, Serial No. 582,260

11 Claims. (Cl. 254*51) My invention relates to improvements in strap stretching tool construction and more specifically to a powered combination Wheel type and duck-bill type stretching tool. ent invention is an improvement on the constructions described and claimed in the copending applications of Donald L. Hepler, Serial No. 538,394, filed October 4, 1955, now U.S. Patent No. 2,893,689 and Serial No. 541,430, filed October 19, 1955.

Most prior constructions of duck-bill strap stretching tools have included a main frame member having a longitudinally movable rack received therethrough, with a duck-bill portion being mounted at one endof the rack. Further, these prior constructions have usually been provided with a reciprocal actuating handle acting through a pawl and ratchet wheel drive, so that the rack may be selectively moved longitudinally in refer ence to the main frame member for performing the strap stretching operation.

Finally, each duck-bill portion has been provided with a slot extending longitudinally therethrough and a gripping member of some form has been mounted on the main frame member. Thus, a length of strapping may be positioned encircling an object to be bound by such strap and the overlapped end portions thereof received through a tubular seal, with the lowermost of said end portions being doubled back beneath the seal so that this lowermost end portion is secured therein.

Thereafter, the upper end portion of the strap which projects from the seal is received through the duck-bill portion slot of the stretching tool, and ultimately beneath the gripping member. With the strap positioned in this manner, the actuating handle of the tool may be reciprocated to force the rack to move longitudinally of the main frame member, thereby causing the duck-bill portion to abut the end of the seal.

Continued movement of the rack in reference to the frame member causes the frame member and consequently the gripping member to move in reference to the duck-bill portion and seal, thereby drawing the strap upper end portion through the seal. As a result, the strap is drawn taut around the object being strapped.

Although the general manner in which these prior constructions of duck-bill type strapstretching tools operate provides certain advantages, one of which is the feature of stretching or tensioning the strap around the object being strapped while the overlapped end portions of the strap are received through a seal so that, once the tensioning operation is completed, all that is necessary is to clinch or otherwise deform the seal to securely hold these overlapped ends of strapping, certain disadvantages are also encountered with the use of this general construction of tool. One of the principal disadvantages is that these prior constructions of tools are all hand operated, requiring a considerable amount of time to tension the length of strapping around the object being strapped.

This disadvantage has been overcome by the construc- Further, the construction comprising the prestion described and claimed in the copending application of Donald L. Hepler, Serial No. 538,394, filed October 4, 1955. However, a further disadvantage is still inherent in all prior duck-bill type stretching tools when it is necessary to use these tools in small, areas where a limited amount of space is provided.

This difiiculty is provided by the fact that in all of these prior duck-bill type stretching tools a rack is movable longitudinally through the frame member so that, as the strap stretching or tensioning operation progresses, increasing amounts of space are required by the tool, since the rack extends a steadily increasing distance from the frame member in order to perform this tensioning operation. It is therefore desirous for these particular applications'to provide a duck-bill type stretching tool which does not require an increasing amount of space to perform the strap tensioning operation, that is, one having a tensioning means which remains at a fixed point in relation to the frame member but still being provided with a duck-bill portion for abutting a seal.

A tensioning means of the character described above is provided by the usual tensioning wheel found in standard hand actuated wheel type stretching tools, that is, a rotatable preferably knurled wheel which is mounted on a frame member movable toward and away from an underlying and cooperating foot portion and which acts on one of the end portions of the strap which is positioned between the outer knurled circumference thereof and said foot portion. 'In hand actuated tools, to provide the tensioning wheel movable toward. and away from its underlying foot portion is relatively simple, since the usual ratchet wheel drive may be incorporated between the actuating handle of the tool and the tensioning wheel.

However, to provide a combination Wheel type and duck-bill type stretching tool overcoming the above discussed difiiculties, which is powered rather than hand actuated, it becomes difficult to provide for relative movement between the tensioning wheel and foot portion since torque must be transmitted from the drive motor to the tensioning wheel by some form of gear means. Further, such movement is absolutely necessary in such a stretching tool in order that the end portion of the strapping upon which the tensioning wheel is to act may be properly positioned between the tensioning wheel and the foot portion at the start of the tensioning operation, and may be removed therefrom after the strap has been tensioned and the seal secured.

Thus, either the foot portion must be movable toward and away from the tensioning wheel or the tensioning wheel must be movable toward and away from the foot portion. However, since the tension is maintained on the strap by the duck-bill portion thereof abutting the seal and by the strap upper end portion being secured beneath the tensioning wheel and the foot portion, the tension in the strap at the end of the tensioning operation makes it impossible to move the foot portion away from the tensioning wheel Without either damaging the seal or causing the seal to release the overlapped end portions of the strap.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a strap stretching tool construction which overcomes the above stated and other difficulties and disadvantages of the prior constructions.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a strap stretching tool which incorporates a strap tensioning wheel and a duck-bill portion so that the duckbill portion may be positioned abutting a seal which surrounds overlapped end portions of a strap, and the strap may be tensioned without the tool requiring an increasing amount of space during the tensioning operation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a strap stretching tool construction which is a combination wheel type and duck-bill type stretching tool and is power driven.

It is still a further object of the present-invention to provide a strap stretching tool construction in which a power driven tensioning wheel is mounted movable towardand away from an underlying cooperating foot portion on the stretching tool frame member.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a strap stretching tool construction in which a tensioning wheel is pivotally mounted on the stretching tool frame movable toward and away from an underlying foot portion, and is operably connected to driving means in such a manner that the tensioning wheel is pivotally urged toward the foot portion by the torque from the driving means while also being rotated by said means.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a strap stretching tool construction in which a tensioning wheel is mounted pivotal toward and away from an un derlying foot portion on the stretching tool frame in such a manner that the greater the tension that is developed in the strap the tighter the strap is gripped by the tensioning wheel.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a strap stretching tool construction which is the combination of a wheel type and duck-bill type stretching tool and in which the duck-bill portion thereof is seleetively adjustable for various thicknesses of strapping.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to pro vide a strap stretching tool construction which satisfies all of the above objects in'an efiicient manner, yet is relatively simple in construction and may be fabricated at a minimum of material and labor cost.

These and other objects are accomplished by the parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and subcombinations comprising the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement, a preferred embodiment of which-illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principleis set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and which is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming a part hereof.

In general terms, the improved strap stretching tool construction comprising the present invention may be stated as including a main frame member having a rotatable preferably knurled tensioning wheel mounted thereon. with a foot portion underlying the tensioning wheel and the tensioning wheel is mounted pivotally movable toward and away from said foot portion.

Still further, a duck-bill portion preferably having a pivotally mounted upper half and a stationary lower half forming a longitudinal slot therebetween is mounted on the main frame member. Finally, drive means, preferably'an air motor, is mounted on the main frame member and is operably connected to the tensioning wheel for selective operation to turn the tensioning wheel.

The tensioning wheel is preferably mounted on a tensioning wheel shaft, which shaft is pivotally mounted on the main frame member by yoke means; Further, an operating lever is pivoted on the main frame and connected to the tensioning wheel shaft by link means for moving the tensioning wheel shaft and, consequently, the tensioning wheel toward and away from the main frame foot portion.

Still further, the operable connection between the tensioning wheel and the drive means preferably includes a first gear mounted adjacent the tensioning wheel shaft and a second gear mounted on the tensioning wheel shaft and engaged with said first gear. Additionally, the yoke means, tensioning'wheel shaft and gears are arranged so that the center distance between the gears remains constant, maintaining the gears engaged despite the position of the tensioning wheel in reference to the main frame foot portion, and so that the torque transmitted through Further, the main frame member is provided the gears during the strap tensioning operation tends to urge the tensioning wheel toward the foot portion.

Also, the tensioning wheel yoke means and main frame foot portion are arranged so that any tension on an end portion of a strap positioned between the tensioning wheel and foot portion tends to urge the tensioning wheel to more tightly abut the foot portion and thereby more tightly grip the end portion of the strap. Resilient means may be provided for initially urging the tensioning wheel toward the foot portion in order to grip the strap end portion at the start of the strap tensioning operation and before tension has been developed thereon.

Still further, the pivotally mounted upper half of the duck-bill portion is preferably provided with adjustable means for presetting the distance this pivotal half can move in a direction away from the stationary lower half of said duck-bill portion, thereby providing a preset maximum size of slot therebetween. Thus, the duck-bill portion may be adjusted for various thicknesses of strap and at the same time will be properly positioned to abut a seal surrounding the strap.

By way of example, an embodiment of the improved strap stretching tool construction of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals indicate similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a strap stretching tool incorporating the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2, a sectional view, part in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a fragmentary sectional View, part in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4, a fragmentary sectional view, part in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5, a sectional view, part in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows 55 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6, a fragmentary sectional view, part in elevation, looking in the direction'of the arrows 6-6 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7, a fragmentary sectional view, part in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows 77 in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8, a fragmentary side elevation looking in the direction of the arrows 88 in Fig. 5 with the side cover of the strap stretching tool removed.

The strap stretching tool construction comprising the present invention, as seen in side elevation in Fig. 1, includes a main frame member generally indicated at 10 having a tensioning wheel 11, a duck-bill portion, gen-' erally indicated at 12, and tensioning wheel control means, generally indicated at 13. Further, a drive motor, generally indicated at 14, and preferably of the air actuated'type, is mounted on the main frame member 10 operably connected to the tensioning wheel 11 for rotat' ing the same.

As best seenin cross section in Fig. 6, the drive motor 14 is preferably threadably received in an adapter 15 within the main frame member 10, so that the drive motor 14 extends longitudinally of frame member 10 and the drive shaft 16 of the motor extends within the confines of the frame member. Further, drive motor 14 is actuated'by an operating button 17, as shown in Fig. 1.

Again,'as best seen in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, a worm 18 is journaled within frame member 10 with one end thereof being received in the bearing 19 and the other end thereof being received in adapter 15 in axial alignment with the drive shaft 16 of motor 14. Further, drive shaft 16 is threadably received in worm 18 so that, upon actuation of motor 14, shaft 16 will be rotated and thereby rotate worm 18.

Worm wheel 20 is mounted on main shaft 21, which shaft is also journaled within frame member 10 by means of the bearings 22. Further, worm wheel 20 is operably engaged with worm 18 and is secured to main shaft 21, so that torque may be transmitted from worm 18 to worm wheel 20 and ultimately to main shaft 21. v

A first or driving: gear 23 is also mounted secured to main shaft 21 and adjacent worm wheel 20, as best seen in Fig. 5. Further, an inner yoke member 24 is journaled on shaft 21 positioned between driving gear 23 and frame member by means of the bearing 25.

The tensioning wheel shaft 26 is journaled, at the inner end thereof, in yoke 24 and spaced from main shaft 21 by means of bearing 27. Further, the shaft extends through an oblong slot 28 in frame member 10, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Thus, tensioning wheel shaft 26 extends outward of frame member 14?, and tensioning wheel 11 is mounted on this outer end and secured thereto adjacent frame member 10 overlying foot portion 29, which foot portion extends laterally outwardly from frame member 16.

The outer end of temioning wheel shaft 26, axially outward of tensioning wheel 11, is journaled in an outer yoke member 3i), which yoke member is journaled on the outer side of frame member 10 in any usual manner such as the stud 31. Thus, tensioning wheel shaft 26 is rotatably and pivotally suspended on frame member 10 so that tensioning wheel 11 is movable toward and away from foot portion 29 of frame member If within the limits of slot 28.

A second or driven gear 32 is mounted on and secured to tensioning wheel shaft 26 in radial alignment with and operably engaged with the driving gear 23, as shown in Fig. 7. Thus, torque may be transmitted from main shaft 21 to driving gear 23, from driving gear 23 to driven gear 32 and from driven gear 32 to tensioning wheel shaft 26, ultimately rotating tensioning wheel 11. Also, this driving connection from drive motor 14 to tensioning wheel fl is maintained at all times despite the position of tensioning wheel 11 in reference to the main frame foot portion 29, that is to say, despite the position of tensioning wheel shaft 26 in reference to main shaft 21, since yoke members 24 and 3t maintain a constant distance between these shafts, gears 23 and 32 remain operably engaged with driven gear 32 rolling in an arcuate path around driving gear 23, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 7.

Tensioning wheel control means 13 includes an operating lever 33 which is secured on an operating shaft 34-, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 2. Further, operating shaft 34 extends through and is journaled in frame member it; with the end thereof opposite from operating lever 33 being secured to a torsion spring 35.

Torsion spring 35 is arranged to resiliently resist rotation of operating shaft 34 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby resiliently urging operating lever 33 to its uppermost position, as shown. Link means operably connect operating shaft 34 and tension-ing wheel shaft 26 and, shown in Figs. 3 and 8, includes a first link 36 secured to operating shaft 3 at one end thereof and pivoted to a second link 37 at the other end thereof, with the lower end of second link 37 being journaled on tensioning wheel shaft 26.

Thus, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 8, as operating lever 33 is pressed downwardly or in a clockwise direction, the end of link 35 spaced from operating shaft 34 moves upwardly, moving link 37 upwardly, and thereby causing tensioning wheel shaft an to move in an arcuate path in reference to main shaft 21, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 8. Movement of tensioning wheel shaft 26 upwardly in an arcuate path around main shaft 21 causes the tensioning wheel 11 to move upwardly away from frame member foot portion 29.

This movement of operating lever 33, operating shaft 34, tensioning wheel shaft 25 and thus tensioning wheel 11 is resisted by torsion spring 35 surrounding operating shaft 34. In this manner, tensioning wheel 11 is always resiliently urged toward frame member foot portion 29 and is always urged to return to foot portion 29 when moved away therefrom.

Duck-bill portion 21 preferably includes apivotally of the pivot screw 42.

mounted upper half 38 and a stationary lower half 39 forming a slot 40 therebetween, as seen in Fig. l. The stationary lower half 39 may be formed as an integral part of foot portion 29, as shown.

The upper half 38 is pivotally mounted on frame member it) within a recess 41 in frame member 10 by means Also, upper half 38 is prefer ably provided with an adjusting screw 43 which bears against frame member 10 for presetting the distance that the upper half 38 may pivot away from lower half 39, thereby providing a predetermined size slot 40 between upper and lower halves 38 and 39.

As shown in Fig. 4, adjusting screw 43 is preferably provided with a set screw 44, so that once screw 43 has been properly adjusted, set screw 44 may be tightened thereon to retain sucn adjustment and prevent movement of screw 43 or screw 43 may be of the self-locking type. Further, an opening 45 is preferably formed through the lower half 39 to provide access to screws 43 and 44 for adjustment thereof.

Finally, foot portion 29 on frame member 16 is preferably provided with a screw 45 which is threadably received therethrough underlying tensioning wheel 1!. Slot 23 in frame member 10 is preferably formed so that tensioning wheel 11 is always slightly spaced from foot portion 29, and screw 45 may be adjusted to regulate this spacing for various thicknesses of strapping. Screw 45 is provided with a smooth upper surface so that strapping may slide freely thereover and also is provided with a set screw 46 for maintaining the desired adjustment thereof.

In operation of the strap stretching tool construction, a length of strapping is placed around the object to be strapped with the end portions thereof being received through a conventional seal 47 in overlapped relation, as shown in Fig. 1. Further, the lower end portion 48 of the strap is bent back beneath seal 47, as shown at 49.

The strapping tool is then positioned so that the lower end portion 48 extends beneath the lower half 39 of duck-bill portion 12 and foot portion 29. The upper end portion 50 of the strap is then received through slot 40 between upper and lower halves 38 and 39 of duckbill portion 12, over foot portion 29 and beneath tensioning wheel 11, as shown.

Prior to positioning the strapping tool on the strap, the adjusting screw 43 on the duck-bill portion upper half 38 has been properly set so that slot 40 is just slightly larger than the thickness of the upper end portion 50 of strap, so that the duck-bill portionupper and lower halves 33 and 39 will closely abut the upper and lower surface of end portion 50. Further, during the positioning of this end portion 50 beneath tensioning wheel 11., it is necessary to move tensioning wheel 11 away from foot portion 29 by moving the operating lever 33 downwardly, after which the operating lever is released and torsion spring 35 will resiliently urge tensioning wheel 11 against the strap end portion 50.

The operating button 17 on drive motor 14- is then pressed inwardly, causing motor 14 to turn tensioning wheel 11 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby causing the strap upper end portion 50 to move to the right. As the initial slack is taken out of the strap, the seal 47 and strap lower end portion 48 will move to the duck-bill portion 12 so that the duckbill portion upper and lower halves 38 and 39 abut the end of seal 47.

At this point in the operation, the importance of the adjustment of the duck-bill portion upper half 30 in reference to the lower half 39 becomes apparent, since it is obvious that unless these two halves of the duck-bill portion closely abut the upper and lower surface of the strap upper end portion 50, they will not properly abut the end of seal 47. However, with the duck-bill portion 12 properly abutting seal 47, the strap upper end portion 50 may be drawn therethrough by tensioningwheel 11 7 until the proper tension has been developed in the strap and all slack has been removed therefrom.

The stretching tool construc-tionrmay be provided with means for presetting the amount of tension under which the strap is placed by providing clutch means in the driving connection between the drive motor 14 and the tensioning wheel 11. it is preferred, however, merely to use an adjustable air motor for the drive motorld', so that this air motor will only develop a preset maximum torque and will then stall, thereby developing a preset maximum tension in the strap and thereafter held thistension until the seal 47 can be clinched or deformed to securely retain the overlapped strap end portions 48 and 50.

After the strap has been properly tensioned and the seal 47 secured thereon, it is only necessary to move the operating lever 33 downwardly, thereby moving the tensioning wheel 11 upwardly and disengaging the tensioning wheel from the strap upper end portion 59. Thereafter, the stretching tool may be moved laterally of the strap to disengage the tool therefrom.

As before stated, one of the important and advantageous features of the present strap stretching tool construction is the provision of an adjustable duck-bill porion 12 so that the slot 40 therebetween may be adjusted to proper size to conform to the particular thickness of strap being tensioned. This feature is extremely important, since the duck-bill portion 12 must closely abut the upper and lower surface of the strap in order that this duck-bill portion will properly engage and retain the seal 47 during the strap tensioning operation.

A further important and advantageous feature of the present construction is provided by the particular arrangement of the tensioning wheel 11 in relation to frame member foot portion 29, and the particular arrangement of yokes 24 and 30 and gears 23 and 32. Tensioning Wheel 11 abuts foot portion 29 at a point longitudinally rearwardly of the vertical plane of main shaft 21, so that yokes 24 and 30 angle downwardly and rearwardly and driven gear 32 is positioned at an angle rearwardly of driving gear 23.

Since drive motorM must rotate tensioning wheel 11 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, the torque being transmitted from driving gear 23 to driven gear 32 tends to urge driven gear 32 to move in an arcuate path around driving gear 23, that is, driving gear 23 will rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed from the same position shownin Fig. 1. Thus, tensioning wheel shaft 26 is urged in a direction toward frame member foot portion 29 merely by this torque transmission, thereby also urging tensioning Wheel 11 toward foot portion 29, which tends to cause tensioning wheel 11 to more tightly grip the strap upper end portion 50 positioned therebeneath.

A further important and advantageous feature resulting from this particular arrangement is that, since tensioning wheel 11 is displaced longitudinally rearwardly of the vertical plane of the main shaft 21, it abuts the foot portion 29 at a point rearwardly of this plane. Thus, as tension is developed in the strap, it tends to urge the strap upper end portion 50 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby'urging the tensioning wheel '11 toward foot portion 29. In this manner, the greater the tension developed in the strap the tighter the tensioning wheel 11 will grip the end portion 50 thereof.

Finally, another important and advantageous feature of the present strap stretching tool construction is the ease with which the strap is disengaged from the tool after the strap stretching operation has been completed and the seal 47 secured. Since the tensoining wheel 11 is movable toward and away from the frame member foot portion 29, it is only necessary to move the operating lever 33 downwardy, thereby moving the tensioning wheel 11 upwardly to completely disengage the strap therefrom. r

Thus, according to the principles of the present invention, a strap stretching tool construction has been provided which overcomes the difliculties and disadvantagm hereinbefore discussed; Which incorporates a strap tensioning wheel and a duck-bill portion, so that the duck-bill portion may be positioned abutting a seal which surrounds overlapped end portions of a strap and the strap may be tensioned without the tool requiring an increasing amount of space during the tensioning operation; which is a combination wheel type and duck-bill type stretching tool and is power driven; in which a power driven tensioning wheel is mounted movable toward and away from an underlying cooperating foot portion on the stretching tool frame member; in which a tensioning wheel is pivotally mounted on the stretching tool frame movable toward and away from an enderlying foot portion and is operably connected to driving means in such a manner that the tensioning wheel is pivotally urged toward the foot portion by the torque from the driving means while also being rotated by said means; in which a tensioning wheel is mounted pivotal toward and away from an underlying foot portion on the stretching tool frame in such a manner that the greater the tension that is developed in the strap the tighter the strap is gripped by the tensioning wheel; which is the combination of a wheel type and duck-bill type stretching tool and in which the duck-bill portion thereof is selectively adjustable for various thicknesses of strap; and which provides all of the above advantageous features in an efficient manner, yet is relatively simple in construction and may be fabricated at a minimum of material and labor cost.

in the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein, and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiment of the improved construction illustrated and described herein is by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of the construction shown.

Having now described the invention, the construction, operation and use of a preferred embodiment thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful construction and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A strap stretching tool construction including a main frame member, a foot portion on the main frame member, a tensioning wheel rotatably mounted on the main frame member overlying the frame foot portion, motor means mounted at a fixed position on the main frame member, means mounting the tensioning wheel for'pivotal movement toward and away from positions adjacent the frame foot portion and movement in relation to the motor means, power transmission means operably connected to the tensioning wheel and motor means for transmitting rotatable motion between the motor means and tensioning wheel when the tensioning wheel is adjacent the frame foot portion, and duck-bill means mounted on the main frame member at a'fixed location with relation to the frame foot portion for abutting an end of a seal during a strap tensioning operation.

2. A strap stretching tool construction including a mainframe member, a foot portion on the main frame member, a tensioning wheel rotatably mounted on the main frame member overlying the frame foot portion, motor means mounted at a fixed position on the main frame member, power transmission means operably connected to; the tensioningwheel and motor means for transmitting rotatable motion between the motor means and tensioning wheel, said power transmission means including at least first and second gear means, said first gear means being rotatably mounted on the main frame member in a fixed position with respect to the motor means and operably connected to said motor means, said second gear means being mounted axially aligned and rotatable with the tensioning wheel, pivot frame means mounting the tensioning wheel for pivotal movement toward and away from the frame foot portion and for movement in relation to the motor means, said pivot frame means. also mounting the second gear means operably connected with the first gear means and pivotal around said first gear means while maintaining the operable connection therebetween during said pivotal move ment of the tensioning wheel toward and away from the frame foot portion, and duck-bill means mounted on the main frame member at a fixed location with relation to the frame foot portion for abutting an end of a seal duringa strap tensioning operation.

3. Strap stretching tool construction as defined in claim 2 in which the motor means is operably connected to the power transmission first gear means for rotating said gear means in a direction tending to urge the second gear means generally downwardly and thereby tending to urge the tensioning wheel downwardly toward the frame foot portion.

4. A strap stretching tool construction including a main frame member, a foot portion on the main frame member, a tensioning wheel rotatably mounted on the main frame member overlying the frame foot portion, motor means mounted at a fixed position on the main frame member, power transmission means operably connected to the tensioning wheel and motor means for transmitting rotatable motion between the motor means and tensioning wheel when the tensioning wheel is adjacent the frame foot portion, said power transmission means including at least first and second gear means, said first gear means being rotatably mounted on the main frame member in a fixed position with respect to the motor means and operably connected to said motor means, said second gear means being mounted axially aligned and rotatable with the tensioning wheel, pivot frame means mounting the tensioning wheel for pivotal movement toward and away from positions adjacent the frame foot portion and movement in relation to the motor means, said pivot frame means also mounting the second gear means pivotally movable and operably connected with the first gear means when the tensioning wheel is adjacent the frame foot portion, and duck-bill means mounted on the main frame member at a fixed location with relation to the frame foot portion for abutting an end of a seal during a strap tensioning operation.

5. A strap stretching tool construction including a main frame member, a foot portion on the main frame member, a tensioning wheel rotatably mounted on the main frame member overlying the frame foot portion, motor means mounted at a fixed position on the main frame member, means mounting the tensioning wheel for pivotal movement toward and away from positions adjacent the frame foot portion and movement in relation to the motor means, power transmission means operably connected to the tensioning wheel and motor means for transmitting rotatable motion between the motor means and tensioning wheel when the tensioning wheel is adjacent the frame foot portion, duck-bill means mounted at a fixed longitudinal location with relation to the frame foot portion for abutting an end of a seal during a strap tensioning operation, and longitudinally extending variable size and selectively preset slot means formed in the duck-bill means for receiving a portion of a strap slidably therethrough.

6. Strap stretching tool construction as defined in claim 5 in which the duck-bill means is formed with an upper and lower portion forming the slot means therebetween, in which the upper portion is mounted for pivotal movement generally upwardly away and generally downwardly toward the lower portion for varying the size of the slot means formed therebetween, and in which selectively adjustable means is operably connected to the upper portion and thereby limiting the maximum size of the slot formed between said upper and lower portions.

7. Strap stretching tool construction as defined inclaim 6 in which the selectively adjustable means includes a generally longitudinally extending portion on the'main frame member generally overlying the duck-bill means upper portion, and in which screw means is threadably received through the duck-bill means upper portion for abutting said overlying main frame portion and limiting movement of the upper portion in reference to the lower portion.

8. A strap stretching tool construction including a main frame member, a foot portion on the main frame member, a tensioning wheel rotatably mounted on the main frame member overlying the frame foot portion, motor means mounted at a fixed position on the main frame member, power transmission means operably connected to the tensioning wheel and motor means for transmitting rotatable motion between the motor means and tensioning wheel, said power transmission means including at least first and second gear means, said first gear means being rotatably mounted on the main frame member in a fixed position with respect to the motor means and operably connected to said motor means, said second gear means being mounted axially aligned and rotatable with the tensioning wheel, pivot frame means mounting the tensioning wheel for pivotal movement toward and away from the frame foot portion and for movement in relation to the motor means, said pivot frame means also mounting the second gear means operably connected with the first gear means and pivotal around said first gear means while maintaining the operable connection therebe'tween during said pivotal movement of the tensioning wheel toward and away from the frame foot portion, said operable connection between the motor means and first gear means rotating said first gear means in a direction tending to urge the second gear means generally downwardly and thereby tending to urge the tensioning wheel downwardly toward the frame foot portion, duck-bill means mounted at a fixed longitudinal location with relation to the frame foot portion for abutting an end of a seal during a strap tensioning operation, and longitudinally extending variable size and selectively preset slot means formed in the duck-bill means for receiving a portion of a strap slidably therethrough.

9. Strap stretching tool construction as defined in claim 8 in which the duck-bill means is formed with an upper and lower portion forming the slot means therebetween, in which the upper portion is mounted for pivotal movement generally upwardly away and generally downwardly toward the lower portion for varying the size of the slot means formed therebetween, and in which selectively adjustable means is operably connected to the upper portion for limiting the upward movement of the upper portion and thereby limiting the maximum size of the slot formed between said upper and lower portions.

10. A strap stretching tool construction including a main frame member, a foot portion on the main frame member, a tensioning wheel rotatably mounted on the main frame member overlying the frame foot portion, motor means mounted at a fixed position on the main frame member, power transmission means operably connected to the tensioning wheel and motor means for transmitting rotatable motion between the motor means and tensioning wheel when the tensioning wheel is adjacent the frame foot portion, said power transmission means including at least first and second gear means, said first gear means being rotatably mounted on the main frame member in a fixed position with respect to the motor means and operably connected to said motor means, said second gear means being mounted axially aligned and rotatable with the tensioning wheel, pivot frame means mounting the tensioning wheel for pivotal movement toward and away from the frame foot portion and movement in relation to the motor means, said pivot frame means also mounting the second gear means pivotally movable and operably connected with the first gear means when the tensioning Wheel is adjacent the frame foot portion, duck-bill means mounted on the main frame member at a fixed longitudinal location With relation to the frame foot portion for abutting an end of a seal during a strap tensioning operation, and longitudinally extending variable size and selectively preset slot means formed in the duck-bill means for receiving a portion of a strap slidably therethrough.

l1. Strap stretching tool construction as defined in claim 10 in which the duck-bill means is formed with an upper and lower portion forming the slot means therebetween, in which the upper portion is mounted for pivotal movement generally upwardly away and generally downwardly toward the lower portion for varying the size of the slot means formed therebetween, and in which selectively adjustable means is operably connected to the upper portion for limiting the upward movement of the upper portion and thereby limiting the maximum size of the slot formed between said upper and lower portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,963,593 Prindle June 19, 1934 2,204,572 Childress June 18, 1940 2,525,422 Nast Oct. 10, 1945 2,569,623 Wognum Oct. 2, 1951

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