US3066706A

US3066706A - Strap tensioning tool

Info

Publication number: US3066706A
Application number: US152590A
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael O Derrickson
Original assignee: American Viscose Corp
Current assignee: Akzo Nobel UK PLC
Priority date: 1961-11-15
Filing date: 1961-11-15
Publication date: 1962-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1979-12-04
Also published as: GB959733A

Description

Dec. 4, y1962 M. DERRICKSON STRAP TENSIONING TOOL 37 Filed Nov. l5, 1961 United States Patent Otlice 3,666,706 Patented Dec. 4, 1952 3,066,766 S TENSINING TOOL Michael 0. Derrickson, Norwood, Pa., assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 152,590 8 Claims. (Cl. Mtl-123.6)

This invention relates to the art of applying exible straps about an article or group of articles and more particularly to an improved strap tensioning tool.

It is an object of the invention to provide a strapping tool having power operated strap tensioning means and so constructed that a single motion on the part of the operator is elective to cut the Strap to length and discontinue the application of power to the strap tensioning means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strap tensioning tool having power means for tensioning a strap about one -or more articles and a common operating member for controlling the power means and cutting the strap to length.

Toward the attainment of the foregoing objects the invention provides a strap tensioning tool having novel structural features, as will now ybe explained by reference to the accompanying drawing showing a preferred embodiment, wherein:

FIG. l is a side elevational view of the tool showing portions of the internal mechanism in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view :of the tool;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan View of the front end of the tool, certain internal parts being shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the front end of the tool;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the lower portion of the tool looking from the right-hand side of FIG. l;

FIG. 6 is an exploded View showing a valve constituting one of the elements of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII- VII of FIG. l.

The tool comprises a housing consisting of two castings 1t) and 11. Casting 16 forms the forward end of the tool and supports the strap engaging elements and casting 11 houses most of the driving mechanism and includes a more or less cylindrical handle portion 12. A bore 13 extends longitudinally of the handle portion 12 of casting 11 and at its forward end communicates with a conduit 14 leading to a valve, generally indicated at 15. A hose 16 is connected to the end of handle por-tion 12 and discharges into bore 13. A conduit 17 communicates at one end with valve and at the other joins an end of a bore 18 extending rearwardly through the handle portion 12 parallel to bore 13. A plug 19 closes the outer end of bore 18 and a short conduit 20 connects bore 18 t-o a chamber 21 within casting 11. A Ifluid motor 22, preferably an air motor, lis mounted within chamber 21 and the drive shaft of said motor is provided with a pinion 23 situated within a hollowed-out portion of casting 1t). Pinion 23 meshes with a gear 24 secured to a shaft 25 mounted in suitable bearings within castings 141 and 11. Shaft 25 extends through the front face of casting 10 and a slotted capstan or strap-winding drum 26 is secured to said shaft. When valve 15 is open, compressed air from line 16 passes to the air motor 22 to cause said motor to rotate capstan 26. Since the particular construction of air motor 22 is not of the essence of the present invention, no ydetails thereof are shown. However, for a reason later to be explained, it is necessary that motor 22 be of the type which will impart a constant torque to capstan 26 so long as it is supplied with air at a constant pressure. Many such motors are available on the market.

The tool of the present invention is adapted to be used in the same manner as the tool shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,881,636 to Palmleaf and includes a strap guiding element 27 carried by casting 10. Guiding element 27 is provided with a nose `or end 28 adapted to bear against a so-called closed seal to which one end of the strap is connected and through which another portion of the strap passes freely. Element 26 is also provided with a guide slot 29 through which the strap passes before being engaged with one of the slots in windlass 26. Upon rotation of the windlass -in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, the strap is wound thereabout to tighten it about one or more articles around which it has been looped and the seal is then crimped about the overlapping portions of the strap to secure the same together. This mode of operation is explained in the above-mentioned patent to Palmleaf.

So that the strap may be cut to length after it has been sealed about the article, strap guiding element 27 is provided with a cutter 30. Cutter 30 is in the form of a shaft rotatably mounted in element 27 and having a attened surface aligned with slot 29. When the shaft or cutter 341 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, the edge of the flattened surface contacts the `strap passing through slot 29 and in cooperation with an edge 31 of said slot is elfective to cut the strap between capstan 26 and the seal which is butted against the nose 28 of guide element 27.

An arm 32 is secured to one end of cutter shaft 30 and said arm carries a pin 33 engaged with a slot 34 provided in a tab 35 secured to or formed integrally with a leg 36 of a bale 37. Bale 37 constitutes a cutter operating handle and has another leg 38 extending parallel to leg 36.

Legs

36 and 38 are pivotally mounted near their lower ends on

pins

39 and 40 respectively, secured to and extending outwardly from casting 11 of the tool housing. A spring 41 operating between arm 32 and a shoulder 42 of strap guiding element 27 urges cutter shaft 30 to the inactive or non-cutting position shown in FIG. 2 and, through pin 33 and slot 34 of tab 35, urges bale 37 toward the forward position shown in full lines in FIG. l. Movement of the handle 37 to the dotted line position shown in FIG. l is effective to operate cutter 30.

Valve 15 comprises a cylindrical member 43 which fits within a cylindrical bore 44 extending in from `one side of casting r11, see particularly FIG. 6. Member 43 is cutter operating handle 37 to lthe dotted line positionprovided with `a groove 45 engaged with which is a setv screw 46 which holds the valve member within bore 44 but permits limited longitudinal movement thereof. Resilient means in the form of a spring `47 is located between valve member 43 and the inner end of bore 44 and` urges member 43 toward the left as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 6, this movement being limited by the engagement of set screw 46 within `groove 45. mentioned

conduits

14 and 17 communicate with bore 44 and when member 43 is in the position shown in FIG. 5 it `blocks conduits 14 and 17 so that compressed air from line 16 cannot reach motor 22. Valve member 43 is provided with a slot 43 and with a linger piece or manually operable means 49 and when said valve member is pushed inward against the laction of spring 47,-

notch 4S becomes aligned with

conduits

14 and 17 so that air from line 16 may pass through the valve. When Valve 15 is open as shown in FIG. 5 leg 38 of bale handle 37 is held against a cylindrical portion of valve member 43 by the spring 41. When valve member 43 is pushed inward to open the valve a notch 50 of the valve member becomes aligned with the forward edge `of leg 38 and spring 41 causes leg 38 to move into the notch to thus hold the valve in open condition. Upon movementof The hereinbeforeV shown in FIG. 1 to cut the strap as aforesaid, leg 38 becomes disengaged from notch 50 and the valve is closed by the spring 47.

In use, the tool is engaged with the strap in the manner shown in the Palmleaf patent `and the operator depresses iingerpiece 49 to open Valve 15 and thereby cause the strap engaging element or capstan 26 to be rotated by motor 22 to tighten the strap labout one or more articles around which it lhas been looped. When valve 15 is opened, the notch 50 becomes aligned with leg 38 so that spring 41 is able to move said leg into the notch and thereby hold the valve in open condition. Valve member 43 may be referred to as a motor control member and notch S of member `4?; and leg 38 of cutter operating handle 37 constitute cooperating means for holding member 43` in a iirst position, that is, in motor operating position. The air pressure in line 1-6 may be regulated in any suitable manner and the pressure in said line determines the rotating force or torque applied by motor 22` to capstan 26. When the preselected tension is applied to the strap, as determined by the pressure in line le, motor 22 will stall and maintain the tension on the strap while the seal is crimped about the strap. Handle 37 is then moved rearwardly to the dotted line position shown in iFlG. l to cut the strap to length and this same movement is eiiective to disengage leg 38 from notch 50 .and thereby permit spring `47 to move valve member 43 to the position shown in iFIG. 5 to cut oli the supply of air to the motor.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed is:

l. Astrapping tool comprising a housing, a strap guiding element on said housing, a cutter member associ-ated with said strap guiding element, strap engaging means for pulling la portion of a strap through said guiding elenient to tighten the same about a package, a motor mounted in said housing for moving said strap engaging means, a control member movable to a first position for causing said motor to operate said strap engaging means and to a second position for preventing said motor from operating said strap engaging means, resilient means normally holding said control member in its said second position, manually operable means for moving said member lto its said first position, a cutter operating handle mountedy on said housing, means interconnecting said handle and said cutter member whereby movement of said handle to a iirst position operates said cutter member, means urging said handle to a second position, and cooperating means on said handle and said control member to hold said control member in its said first position when said handle is in its said second position.

2. A strapping tool comprising 1a housing, a strap guiding element on said housing, a slot extending through said strap guiding element through which a portion of a iiexible :strap is adapted to be drawn to tighten the same about a package, a cutter member mounted in said strap guiding element for selectively cutting the strap, a windlass for drawing the strap through said slot, a motor mounted in said housing for driving said windlass, a control member movable to a rst position for causing said motor to drive said windlass and to a second position for discontinuing the driving of said win-dlass by said motor, resilient means normally holding said control member in its said second position, manually operable means for moving said member to its said rst position, a cutter operating handle mounted on said housing, means interconnecting said handle and said cutter member where- -by movement of said handle to a first position operates said cutter member, means urging said handle to a second position, and cooperating means on said handle and said control member to hold said control member in its said rst position when said handle is in its said second position.

3. A strapping tool comprising a housing, a strap guiding element on said housing, a slot extending through said strap guiding element through which a portion of a exible strap is adapted to be drawn to tighten the same about a package, a cutter member for selectively cutting the stra-p, means for drawing the strap through said slot, said means comprising a uid operated motor mounted in said housing, a -conduit for supplying duid to said motor, a valve in said conduit, resilient means normally positioning said valve so as to prevent the passage of fluid to said motor, manually `operable means for moving said valve to a position to permit the passage of fluid to said motor, a cutter operating han-die mounted on said housing, means interconnecting said handle and said cutting member' whereby movement of said handle to :a iirst position operates said -cutting member to cut the strap, spring means urging said handle to a second position, and cooperating means on said handle and said valve for holding said valve in position to permit the passage of fluid to said motor when said operating handle is in its said second position.

4. A strapping tool comprising a housing, a seal engaging element on said housing, a slot extending through said seal engaging element through which a portion of a flexible strap is adapted to be drawn to tighten the same about -a package, a cutter member mounted in said seal engaging element for selectively cutting the strap, strap engaging means for drawing the strap through said slot, a motor mounted in said housing for moving said strap engaging means, a motor control member movable to a first position for activating said motor and to a second position for stopping said motor, resilient means normally holding said motor control member in its said second position, manually operable means for moving said member to its said iirst position, a cutter operating handle mounted on said housing, means interconnecting said handle and said cutter member whereby movement of said handle to a first position operates said cutter member, means urging said handle to a second position, and cooperating means on said handle and said motor control member to hold said motor contro-l member in its said first position when said handle is in its said second position.

5. A strapping tool comprising a housing, a seal engaging element on said housing adapted to press against a seal with respect to which one end of a strap is xed and through which another portion of the strap is adapted to be drawn to tighten the strap about `a package, a cutter member for selectively cutting the strap, strap engaging means for drawing the strap through the seal, a motor mounted in said housing for moving said strap engaging means, a control member movable to a first position for causing said motor to operate said strap engaging means and to a second position for preventing said motor from operating said strap engaging means, resilient means normally holding said control member in its said second position, manually operable means for moving said member to its said first position, a cutter operating handle mounted on said housing, means interconnecting said handle and said cutter member whereby movement of said handle to a first position operates said cutter member, means urging said handle to a second position, and cooperating means on said handle and said control member t'o hold said control member in its said first position when said handle is in its said second position.

6. A strapping tool comprising a housing, a seal engaging element on said housing adapted to press against a seal with respect to which one end of a strap is fixed and through which another portion of the strap is adapted to be drawn to tighten the strap about a package, a cutter member mounted in said seal engaging element for selectively cutting the strap, a windlass for drawing the strap through the seal, a motor mounted in said housing for driving said windlass, a motor control member movable to a first position for activating said motor and to a second position for stopping said motor, resilient means normally holding said motor control member in its said second position, manually oper-able means for moving said member to its said rst position, a cutter operating handle mounted on said housing, means interconnecting said handle and said `cutter member whereby movement of said handle to a rst position operates said cutter member, means urging said handle to a second position, and cooperating means on said handle and said motor control ,member to hold said motor control member in its said irst position when said handle is in its said second position.

7. A strapping tool comprising a housing, a seal engaging element on said housing, a slot extending through said seal engaging element through which a portion of a ilexible strap is adapted to be drawn to tighten the same about a package, a cutter member mounted in said seal engaging element for selectively cutting the strap, strap engaging means for drawing the strap through said slot, a uid operated motor mounted in said housing for moving said strap engaging means, a conduit for supplying ilu-id to said motor, a valve in said conduit, resilient means normally positioning said valve so as to prevent the passage of uid to said motor, manually operable means for moving said valve to -a position to permit the passage of fluid to said motor, a cutter operating handle mounted on said housing, means interconnecting said handle and said cutting member whereby movement of said handle to a rst position operates said cutting member to cut the strap, spring means urging said handle to a second position, and cooperating means on said handle and said valve for holding said valve in position to permit the passage of fluid to said motor when said operating handle is in its said second position.

8', A strapping tool comprising a housing, a strap guiding element on said housing, a slot extending through said strap guiding element through which a port-ion of a flexible strap is adapted to be drawn to tighten the same about a package, `a cutter member for selectively cutting the strap, `a Windlass for drawing the strap through said slot, a fluid operated motor mounted in said housing for driving said windlass, -a conduit in said housing for supplying luid to said motor, a valve in said conduit, resilient means normally positioning said valve so as to prevent the passage of uid to said motor, manually operable means for moving said valve to a position to permit the passage of fluid to said motor, a cutter operating handle mounted on said housing, means interconnecting said handle and said cutting member whereby movement of said handle to a rst position operates said cutting niember to cut the strap, `spring means urging said handle to a second position, and cooperating means on said handle and said valve for holding said valve in position to permit the passage of iiuid to said m-otor when said operating handle is in its said second position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,036,866 Frost Apr. 7, 1936 2,072,566 Perrelet Mar. 2, 1937 2,929,608 Zippel Mar. 22, 1960 2,941,782 Winkler June 2l, 1960