US3650301A - Combination tool for affixing a seal to strapping - Google Patents

Abstract

A manually-operable tool which tensions a strap around a package or container and applies and crimps a seal around the strapping and which, finally, cuts the strapping behind the seal. The seals or connector elements are automatically fed from a magazine.

Description

[ 1 Mar. 21, 1972 y m a H 52 36 99 W2 376 47 w 751 992 2 3 140/914 .....l40/93.2 Hall et al. .............................140/93 4 [54] COMBINATION TOOL FOR AFFIXING A SEAL TO STRAPPING Kindersley Avenue, Mount Royal, Quebec, Canada Jan. 6, 1970 [72] Inventor: Thomas J. Karass, 411

Primary ExaminerLowell A. Larson Attorney-Pierre Lesperance 22 Filed:

1,009 ABSTRACT A manually-operable tool which tensions a stra [211 App]. No.:

v p around a .l40/93.4, 140/1 23.6 package or container and applies and crimps a seal around the .............B2lf 9/02 strapping and which, finally, cuts the strapping behind the 140/932, 93.4, 123.6 seal. The seals or connector elements are automatically fed from a magazine.

[52] U.S. [51] Int. Cl. [58] Field of Search 8 Claims, 33 Drawing Figures References Cited 2,283,827 Spencer,...............................100/934 Patented Mairch 21, 1972 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 m/vz r/mfe Thomas J. KARA 55 By 1101.)

AGENT Patented March 21, 1972 3,650,301

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Thomas J. KARAS S BY M AGENT Patented March 21, 1972 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEf/TOR Thomas J. KARASS h m F A fig/"IT Patented March 21, 1972 6 Sheets-Shoot 4 all INVENTOR Thomas J KARASS Paten ted March 21, 1972 3,650,301

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNl /ENl'OR F ig.29 Thomas J. KARASS BY W A GEN T Patented March 21, 1972 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fig.33

INVENTOR Thomas J. KARASS COMBINATION TOOL FOR AFFIXING A SEAL TO STRAPPING This invention relates to a device for affixing a seal or connector element to strapping.

More particularly, this invention relates to a combination device for applying a seal element about a length of strapping, tensioning the strapping, cutting the strapping and accomplishing sealing of the seal element about the strapping.

Canadian Pat. Nos. 688,834 and 688,731 illustrate various types of seals or strapping connectors for securing two lengths of strapping together about a package or container. The former of the patents teaches a connector in which the strap may be tensioned by hand; the latter in which a connector is adapted to be mechanically sealed about lengths of a strapping. It is the latter type of connector with which the device of the present invention is adapted to be used.

In the prior art, certain types of devices have been proposed for securing a connector about lengths of strapping. Normally, these devices are merely devices which receive the ends of strapping, with a connector 'about the strapping and pull or tension the strapping about a container to a desired degree of tension. With a separate device, the connector is then clamped together to tie the Strapping ends. Depending on the arrangement, a third device is sometimes required to cut excess strapping.

With this invention, applicant has developed a combination device which accomplishes all three operations at the same time. In still further aspects of this invention, there are provided assemblies for automatically opening a clamp and closing a cutter component; an assembly for permitting the fitting of a strap into the combination device whereby the passive end is secured against movement under the clamp and the active end of the strap may be fed into a tensioning component with no possibility of error; a clamp component acting on the principle of a toggle adapted to apply uniform pressure to strapping; a self-aligning pad device adapted to insure substantially even pressure, and which device may be made adjustable for different strap thicknesses; an asymmetrical clamping jaw component adapted to provide positive closing of the seal, which component takes into consideration the long and short sides of a seal and the fact that there are two thicknesses of metal encountered on one side of the seal and three thicknesses on the other side; means for operating the sealing jaws, .said means including a crank and connecting rod assembly mounted on suitable rotatable means, e.g., spherical bearings, whereby movement of the connecting rod is controlled in three planes at the same time with the added advantage that the principle of providing maximum force in both the vertical and horizontal directions, in a substantially simultaneous means is accomplished; and a cutting mechanism component wherein a movable cutting component, e.g., a knife or guillotine, is maintained in close contact with a stationary cutting component, e.g., a blade, by pressure means, e.g., a spring, whereby even the thinnest strap may be satisfactorily cut. In this aspect, because of the spring pressure, the cutting means are to some extent self-sharpening. In a preferred embodiment, a reversible cutting mechanism may be provided whereby two cutting components may be incorporated into the device of the present invention with suitable mounting means permitting reversal of the cutting edges should one become damagedor dulled through use.

Having thus generally described the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 7

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an assembled tool according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a seal;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the seal;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the seal;

FIG. 5 is a side view of two overlying portions of a strap connected by a crimped seal;

FIG. 6 is a cross section on an enlarged scale on line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the assembly of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the tool of a package to be strapped and of a strap to be tensioned and secured by a seal, the passive end of the strap already inserted in the tool;

FIGS. 9 to 12 show in perspective the tool in successive stages of operation;

FIG. 13 shows how the tool can be suspended on a hook for working along the vertical face of a container;

FIG. 14 is a side elevation showing the base, the pistol grip, the strap clamping mechanism and the strap cutting mechanism, both mechanisms operated by pivoting of the gill);

FIG. 15 is a partial side elevation of the base showing the clamping head clamping a strap portion on the pad and showing the other strap portion extending over the pressure head, the position of the clamping head corresponding to the closed position of the pistol grip;

FIG. 16 is a partial side elevation of the cutter mechanism in the open position corresponding to the closed position of the pistol grip;

FIG. 17 is an elevation of the cutting blade and slidable cutting member, the latter in strap-receiving lower position;

FIG. 18 is a partial longitudinal section of the cutter assembly;

FIG. 19 is a partial section of the housing and showing the pistol grip outer end in locked closed position;

FIG. 20 is a partial side elevation of the base showing the capstan andpart of its operating handle journaled therein;

FIG. 21 is a cross section on line 2l-2l of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a longitudinal section on line 22-22 of F IO. 21;

FIG.. 23 is a partial elevation of the connector magazine, connectors therein and pressure head;

FIG. 24 is a longitudinal section on line 24-24 of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a cross section on line 25-25 of FIG. 23;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the pressure head;

FIG. 27 is a cutaway side elevation of the tool showing the feeder arm in advanced position, having fed a connector to the sealing jaws;

FIG. 28 is a front elevation of the feeder arm with the base in partial cross section;

FIG. 29 is a view similar to FIG. 27 showing the feeder arm in retracted position ready to engage the lowermost connector in the magazine;

FIG. 30 is a detail showing the feeding rod in contact with a connector; 7

FIG. 31 is a cross section of the tool along line 30-30 of FIG. 27;

FIG. 32 is a partial cross section similar to FIG. 30 showing the sealer mechanism in connector crimping position; and

FIG. 33 is a plan section on line 33-33 of FIG. 31.

The tool of the invention is more particularly designed to be used with metal connectors 1 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 3); the connector is applied and crimped about two overlying portions 2 and 3 of a tape or strap, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, with the short side 4 of connector 1 overlying the long side 5. The strap is preferably made of plastic or of juxtaposed strands of synthetic fiber. The tool, generally indicated at 6 in FIG. 1, comprises an elongated base 7 having a flattened longitudinal side 8 with a central laterally opening notch 9.

To the other longitudinal side of base 7 is secured an upstanding connector magazine 10, of U-shaped cross section, for receiving a stack of connectors l and forming the front side 11 of the sealer housing for the connector applying and crimping mechanism 12, the side 13 of said housing being secured to base 7. The two sides 11 and 13 are held together at their upper ends by means of a cover plate 14. A hook 15 is secured to the housing sides 11 and 13 to raise the tool. The sealer housing and connector magazine overhang base 7 to define a laterally opening strap receiving slot with said base.

Base 7 has a rearward extension 16, to the back end of which is pivoted at 17 a piston grip l8 and on the front portion of which is formed a bore 19, FIG. 14, in which is journaled a strap tensioning drum or capstan 20.

FIGS. 14 to 19 show the novel automatic strap clamping and strap cutting assembly. A pressure pad 21 is pivoted about a pin 21 in the forward portion of base 7. A clamping lever 22 is pivoted at 23 on base 7 and forms a laterally extending clamping head 24 at its lower end disposed above pressure pad 21.

The upper end of lever 22 is adjustably and rotatably connected to a connecting rod 25, pivoted at 36 to the front end of piston grip 18. Closing of pistol grip 18 in the direction of arrow A closes clamping head 24, as shown at A", to clamp passive strap end 2 inserted between head 24 and pad 21. The latter, being pivoted, is self-aligning and insures even pressure.

The cutting assembly includes a stationary reversible cutting blade 260 having two edges 26b and a movable cooperating cutting member 27. A stepped bolt 28, extending through registering elongated apertures 27 and 26' in member 27 and blade 26a, adjustably vertically secures the blade 26a to the rear face of housing back side 13 and supports a spring 29, which presses member 27 against blade 26a. Member 27 has a guiding slot 30 coacting with the cutting blade sides for guided up-and-down movement.

A tension spring 31, attached to base 7 and to a pin 32 secured to cutting member 27, urges the latter into lowered position in which the laterally opening notch 33 of member 27 is free to receive strap portion 3. A bar 34 is guided for longitudinal movement in a groove 35 of base back extension 16 (see FIG. 21 and is pivoted at 36a to pistol grip 18 such that closing movement of grip 18 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 14 causes retraction of the front ramp end 37 of bar 34, as indicated by arrow A in FIG. 16, to allow lowering of member 27 by spring 31, as indicated by arrow A in FIG. 16. Opening of grip 18 causes forward movement of ramp 37 in aperture 38 of member 27, as indicated by arrows B, causing upward cutting movement of member 27, as indicated by arrow B, to thus cut strap portion 3.

Pistol grip 18 is removably latched in closed position by catch 39 urged by a spring 40 into a blind bore 41 of housing back side 13. A pushbutton 42 is pivoted in pistol grip 18 at 43 and its lower end engages a lateral groove in catch 39, whereby forward pivoting of pushbutton 42 causes rearward retracting and releasing movement of catch 39.

FIGS. 1, 20, 21, and 22 show the strap tensioning assembly.

The tensioning drum shank 44 is journaled in bores 19 and a ratchet 45 is secured to shank 44 by key 19 within the end of an operating handle 46 freely surrounding shank 44. Handle 46 carries a spring-loaded ratchet actuating pawl 47, while base extension carries a spring-loaded ratchet holding pawl 48. By movement of handle 46, the tensioning drum or capstan 20 is rotated in one direction to wind and tension strap portion 3 inserted into slots 49 of capstan 20.

FIGS. 23 to 26 show the connector magazine 10, of U- shaped cross section, holding a stack of connectors l with the sides overlapping and downwardly directed and with short sides 4 adjacent the magazine opening 50. A pressure block 51 serves to retain connectors 1 in magazine and exert a downward pressure thereon. Block 51 is inserted through the top of magazine 10 and is guided in grooves 52 of the latter.

Block 51 is spring loaded by means of a coiled leaf spring 53. The coil is rotatably mounted in block 51, while its uncoiled portion extends in a magazine groove 54 and is attached to the lower end ofthe magazine by a screw 55.

FIGS. 27 to 30 show the connector feeding mechanism. The sides of lowermost connector 1 of the stack in magazine 10 rest on upper and lower rails 56. The front of magazine 10 mounts a feeding arm 59 pivoted at 60 and urged by spring 61 towards magazine 10. The lower end of feeding arm carries a feeding rod 70 pivoted at 62' and urged upwardly by a spring 63, the outer V-shaped end 64 of rod 70 being guided by the lower edges of magazine 10 into engagement with the lowermost connector (FIG. 30) to push the same, under action of spring 61 into a connector sealing position.

Referring to FIGS. 27 and 31, a manually operable handle 65 is secured to the end of a crank shaft 66 located between housing sides 11 and 13 and journaled in slide blocks 67. Connected to the other end of crank shaft by bolt 68 is a cam 68 bearing a roll 69 engaging, upon forward operation of handle 65, a cam edge 62 of a cam arm 71 rigidly secured to feeding arm 59, so as to move the latter to the retracted position of FIG. 29. I

Cam 68 has a cam edge 72, which, upon forward rotation of handle 65, comes to bear against a reaction roll 73 carried by the tool housing, causing downward movement of slide blocks 67. Blocks 67 are secured by bolts 74 (see FIG. 33) to a pair of guide plates 75, which are slidably guided in grooves 76 in housing sides 11 and 13.

A connecting rod 77 is pivoted by a ball joint 78 to the outer end of crank shaft 66, while its lower end is pivoted by a ball joint 79 to a pin 80 perpendicular to the crank shaft axis and having its ends inserted into and guided by V-shaped grooves 81 made in guide plates 75. Two pairs of levers 86 are pivoted to pin 80 and at 82 to the upper end of four pairs of sealing jaws 83. The intermediate portion of said sealing jaws is pivoted by pins 84 to three pairs of anvils 85, also acting as connector retainer. The jaws and anvils are shorter on one side than on the other to engage the unequal sides of connector 1. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 13, a roll pin 87 protrudes from housing side 13 to act as a stop for handle in its rear position. Pin 87 also acts as a fulcrum to raise the sealing assembly upon rearward movement of handle 65.

A buffer plate (not shown) is secured to the lower end of the rear guide plate 75 and receives the end of the connector 1 fed by feeding rod 62 between the open jaws.

In operation, the device of the present invention, as explained above, is first of all loaded with suitable seals 1 in a vertical row in magazine 10. Then pressure head 51 is positioned over the seal stack and the lever 65 placed in a rearward position to open jaws 83 and feed the lowermost connector of the stack to the jaws 83 and anvils 85. The device thus assumes the configuration as shown in FIG. 1.

The pushbutton 42 is then acted on and the pistol grip 18 opened by pivoting about its pivot point, as in FIG. 8. Then, the passive outer end 2 of a strap is fed through the lateral slot defined by base 7 and magazine 10 under the opened clamp 24 to locate the strap over pad 21 and as far in as it will go, i.e., preferably with its-edge touching against the wall at the back of the support plate. The pistol grip is then closed whereby the strap outer end is tightly clamped, as in FIG. 9. If desired, it may be adjusted by screwing the clamp arm tighter. The strap issuing from the back of the device is then fed around a package or container P to be sealed, and then it is inserted in the above-defined lateral slot over the already positioned strap portion in the slot and subsequently placed in the notch 33 of cutting member 27 and then in the slots of the capstan or tensioning drum 20. Tension is then applied to the strap by moving the tensioning lever 46 in a backward and forward motion, as in FIG. 9. During tensioning, the apparatus may be held steady by holding the sealing handle 65 or by holding the pistol grip 18.

Following the tensioning operation, the lever 65 is then pushed forward and downward, as in FIG. 10, while holding the pistol grip 18 (to balance the load). Lever 65 retracts feeder rod against action of spring 61 and closes the various clamping jaws 83 through crank arm 66 and connecting rod 77 to crimp the seal. Then, the lever 65 is moved rearward, whereby the jaws 83 open, releasing the seal and strap,

and the next seal in the magazine is then fed to the crimping jaws. Then, the pushbutton 42 is acted on and the pistol 2 then opened (FIG. 99), whereby the movable cutting blade 27 is raised to cut the strap portion behind the seal and clamp arm 22 opens, releasing the strap (see FIG. 12). The device of the present invention can then be removed from the package which has been strapped by tilting the tool slightly and moving it laterally so that the sealed strap will clear base 7.

It will be noted that in the raised position of the clamping jaw assemblies with lever 65 extending rearwardly of the tool, the right-hand jaws 83 and right-hand anvils are spaced upwardly from base 7 to allow lateral insertion of the two overlying strap portions. As above noted, the laws 83 effect asymmetrical closing movement due to the arrangement of pin 80 moving downwardly within V-shaped grooves 81.

Referring to FIGS. 31 and 32, the left-hand jaws 83 close first to bend and apply the long side 5 of connector 1 against the overlaying strap portions. Then the right-hand jaws 83 bend and apply the short side 4 of the connector over the long side 5, to obtain the seal shown in FIG. 6, this figure being reversed with respect to that of FIG. 32.

FIG. 13 shows how a hook H can be connected to the back of base 7 by using back hole 88 for suspending the tool along a vertical surface of a package P,. Obviously, hook H may be connected to the front hole 89 of base 7.

I claim:

1. A tool for affixing a connector around two overlying portions of a strap surrounding a package or container, comprising, in combination, a frame, first manually operable means mounted on said frame for temporarily clamping a first one of two spaced strap portions on said frame, second manually operable means mounted on said frame engageable with the other of said strap portions for tensioning the strap around a package or container, with the two strap portions in overlying position, and third manually operable means mounted on said frame for sealing a connector element about the strap overlying portions, said first-named means including a pad carried by said frame and a clamping head movably mounted on said frame for cooperation with said pad, said second means including a tensioning drum rotatably mounted on said frame and in alignment with said pad and clamping head, said third means including an assembly of anvils and of openable and closable sealing jaws carried by said frame intermediate said pad and tensioning drum and in alignment therewith, and fourth means mounted on said frame for cutting the strap, said fourth means being mounted intermediate said sealing jaws and said tensioning drum and being in alignment therewith, said fourth means being drivingly connected to said first means for cutting operation upon release of said first one of said strap portions.

2. A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first means include a tool holding member pivoted at one end to said frame for movement between open and closed position, a manually operable fifth means to latch said tool holding member in closed position, first linkage connecting said clamping head to said tool holding member, for clamping movement of said clamping head upon closing movement of said tool holding member and second linkage connecting said fourth means to said tool holding member for cutting operation of said fourth means upon opening movement of said tool holding member.

3. A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fourth means include a cutter blade secured to said frame and a cutting member movably mounted on said frame adjacent said cutting blade and operatively connected to said tool holding member by said second linkage, said cutting member having a lateral notch for receiving a strap portion and being spring pressed against said cutter blade.

4. A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said third manually operable means further include a support slidably mounted in said frame, a lever handle rotatably mounted on said support, a crank shaft rotatably mounted on said support and keyed to said lever handle, said anvils carried by said support, said sealing jaws including two sets of opposed sealing jaws, a pair of toggle lever mechanisms each including one set of said sealing jaws and connected to said support and to said crank shaft, a cam secured to said crank shaft, and a reaction member carried by said frame and engaging said cam, so arranged that rotation of said handle in a direction to close said sealing jaws rotate said cam which produces slidable movement of said support towards said strap overlying portions by reaction of said cam against said reaction member.

5. A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pad is pivoted to said frame.

6. A tool as claimed in claim 5, wherein said toggle lever mechanisms operate in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said crank shaft, and including a common connecting rod connected to both said toggle ever mechanisms and to said crank shaft by means of universal joints, the connection of said connecting rod to said toggle lever mechanisms being guided by said support for lateral and longitudinal movement, whereby one set of sealing jaws effect closing movement before the other set of sealing jaws. 1

7. A tool as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first linkage is adjustable to change the spacing between said clamping head and said pad in the clamped position of said clamping head.

8. A tool as claimed in claim 1, further including a connector magazine formed by said frame for holding a plurality of connectors arranged in a row, said magazine having a free edge, and plunger means drivingly connected to said third means to engage the endmost connector of the row and move it to a position for sealing the strap overlying portions, said plunger means including a feeding arm pivotally connected to said frame, a plunger rod pivotally connected to the free end of said feeding arm, spring loaded for pivoting movement and slidably bearing against the free edge of said magazine to be in alignment with the endmost connector, a cam arm secured to said feeding arm and having a cam edge and an eccentrically mounted member secured to said crankshaft cam and engaging said cam edge to pivot said feeding arm.

Claims (8)

1. A tool for affixing a connector around two overlying portions of a strap surrounding a package or container, comprising, in combination, a frame, first manually operable means mounted on said frame for temporarily clamping a first one of two spaced strap portions on said frame, second manually operable means mounted on said frame engageable with the other of said strap portions for tensioning the strap around a package or container, with the two strap portions in overlying position, and third manually operable means mounted on said frame for sealing a connector element about the strap overlying portions, said firstnamed means including a pad carried by said frame and a clamping head movably mounted on said frame for cooperation with said pad, said second means including a tensioning drum rotatably mounted on said frame and in alignment with said pad and clamping head, said third means including an assembly of anvils and of openable and closable sealing jaws carried by said frame intermediate said pad and tensioning drum and in alignment therewith, and fourth means mounted on said frame for cutting the strap, said fourth means being mounted intermediate said sealing jaws and said tensioning drum and being in alignment therewith, said fourth means being drivingly connected to said first means for cutting operation upon release of said first one of said strap portions.

2. A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first means include a tool holding member pivoted at one end to said frame for movement between open and closed position, a manually operable fifth means to latch said tool holding member in closed position, first linkage connecting said clamping head to said tool holding member, for clamping movement of said clamping head upon closinG movement of said tool holding member and second linkage connecting said fourth means to said tool holding member for cutting operation of said fourth means upon opening movement of said tool holding member.

3. A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fourth means include a cutter blade secured to said frame and a cutting member movably mounted on said frame adjacent said cutting blade and operatively connected to said tool holding member by said second linkage, said cutting member having a lateral notch for receiving a strap portion and being spring pressed against said cutter blade.

4. A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said third manually operable means further include a support slidably mounted in said frame, a lever handle rotatably mounted on said support, a crank shaft rotatably mounted on said support and keyed to said lever handle, said anvils carried by said support, said sealing jaws including two sets of opposed sealing jaws, a pair of toggle lever mechanisms each including one set of said sealing jaws and connected to said support and to said crank shaft, a cam secured to said crank shaft, and a reaction member carried by said frame and engaging said cam, so arranged that rotation of said handle in a direction to close said sealing jaws rotate said cam which produces slidable movement of said support towards said strap overlying portions by reaction of said cam against said reaction member.

5. A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pad is pivoted to said frame.

6. A tool as claimed in claim 5, wherein said toggle lever mechanisms operate in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said crank shaft, and including a common connecting rod, connected to both said toggle lever mechanisms and to said crank shaft by means of universal joints, the connection of said connecting rod to said toggle lever mechanisms being guided by said support for lateral and longitudinal movement, whereby one set of sealing jaws effect closing movement before the other set of sealing jaws.

7. A tool as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first linkage is adjustable to change the spacing between said clamping head and said pad in the clamped position of said clamping head.

8. A tool as claimed in claim 1, further including a connector magazine formed by said frame for holding a plurality of connectors arranged in a row, said magazine having a free edge, and plunger means drivingly connected to said third means to engage the endmost connector of the row and move it to a position for sealing the strap overlying portions, said plunger means including a feeding arm pivotally connected to said frame, a plunger rod pivotally connected to the free end of said feeding arm, spring loaded for pivoting movement and slidably bearing against the free edge of said magazine to be in alignment with the endmost connector, a cam arm secured to said feeding arm and having a cam edge and an eccentrically mounted member secured to said crankshaft cam and engaging said cam edge to pivot said feeding arm.

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