US3695307A - Apparatus for tightening and connecting the overlying portions of a flexible closure band placed about a package or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

A strapping machine for tightening and connecting the overlying portions of a flexible closure band or strap placed about a package, one part of the machine serving to tension or tighten the strapping band, another part of the machine serving to interconnect the superimposed or overlapping portions of the strapping band by carrying out a common deformation thereof. According to the invention, this last-mentioned forming or deformation part of the machine consists of at least two deforming or shaping members situated at opposite sides of the band portions and wherein at least one of these deforming members incorporates means for bringing about the connection of the band portions, which means is situated in a circular orbit or path and such deforming member is mounted to be positively rotatable and displaceable in the lengthwise direction of the strapping or closure band.

Description

United States Patent Kuoni 14 1 Oct. 3, 1972 1,981,086 11/1934 Beauvisage ..14o/93.2 3,572,398 3/197! Sansum ..l40/93.4

Primary Examiner-Lowell A. Larson OR THE LIKE Attorney-Wemer W. Kleeman [72] Inventor: Xaver Kuoni, Zurich, Switzerland [57] ABSTRACT [73] Ass'gnee: mrbfiwanner Dietikon Swit' A strapping machine for tightening and connecting the Zefland overlying portions of a flexible closure band or strap [22] Filed: June 1, 1970 placed about a package, one part of the machine serving to tension or tighten the strapping band, another [21] Appl' 42298 part of the machine serving to interconnect the superimposed or overlapping portions of the strapping [30] Foreign Application Priority Data band by carrying out a common deformation thereof.

According to the invention, this last-mentioned form- June 4, Sweden ing or defomation of the machine consists of at least two deforming or shaping members situated at ..140/93.4,Bl241(;/3/36% opposite sides of the band poflions and wherein at I I I tiilll'llllll o n n n n a I u I Q u I a I a a o I n u I n a e I c u o a c n o ii I [58] Field of Search "{140/93'2 9 1 6 523 5 means for bringing about the connection of the band 1 Y portions, which means is situated in a circular orbit or path and such deforming member is mounted to be 5 References Cited positively rotatable and displaceable' in the lengthwise UNITE STATES PATENTS direction of the strapping or closure band. 1,836,147 12/1931 Wright .1 ...14/93.4 601mm, 3 Drawing Figures u 8 (6 El 15 l G s 47 48 l I Q I I i J 1 11,, m 38 4o\63 39 I Y APPARATUS FOR TIGIITENING AND CONNECTING THE OVERLYING PORTIONS OF A FLEXIBLE CLOSURE BAND PLACED ABOUT A PACKAGE OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention broadly relates to strapping machines and, more specifically, concerns a new and improved apparatus for the tightening and connecting of the overlying portions of a flexible strapping or closure band which is placed about a package or the like, wherein one part of the apparatus tensions the strapping band, another part of the apparatus serves to interconnect through common deformation or forming the overlapping portions of the strapping band, and this last-mentioned part possesses at least two shaping or deforming members situated at opposite sides of the band portions to be interconnected.

The prior art is quite familiar with a number of different constructions of apparatus serving to tension closure straps or bands about a package or the like. These prior art machines incorporate mechanism for interconnecting the superimposed or overlapping portions of the tensioned closure band formed of flexible metallic or non-metallic material by performing a shaping or deformation operation with or without the assistance of a closure seal or sleeve.

The first group of strapping machines belonging to the prior art serves to conjointly deform the overlapping portions of the closure band and the closure seal or sleeve which as a general rule surrounds such overlapping portions, through the use of components secured to a piston or punch by carrying out a vertical movement while applying a high pressure.

A second group of known strapping machines utilizes clamp-shaped mechanisms for the conjoint or common deformation operation, and wherein the force required for deformation is generated by expensive and complicated toggle lever systems.

Both of these groups of prior art strapping machines possess the notable drawback, that the entire forming or deformation work has to occur in a single operation or work step and the entire deformation or shaping force has to be simultaneously applied.

In order to be able to generate the large forces necessary to achieve a sufficient connection, these strapping machines, if they are to be manually actuated, must be able to provide a sufficiently large mechanical advantage in order that the forces which must be applied by the operator of the machine are not too large. Consequently, these prior art strapping machines have necessarily had to be increased in size, are rather heavy, complicated to operate and therefore also expensive.

Even if forces other than those applied by a human being are available to produce the connection, for instance compressed air, the parts for carrying out the deformation or shaping must be constructed to be sufficiently large, strong and thus expensive, in order to produce the requisite deformation force.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, a real need exists in the art of strapping tools for equipment which effectively overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art constructions. It is thus a primary objective of the present invention to provide an improved strapping machine which fulfills this need while avoiding the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art constructions.

Another, more specific object of the present invention relates to an improved apparatus for the tightening and connecting of the overlapping portions of closure straps or bands placed about a package or the like which is relatively simple in design, economical to manufacture, not overly dimensioned so that it is easy to use and is portable without difficulty, not readily subject to breakdown, and quite capable of effectively carrying out its intended function.

Still a further significant object of the present invention relates to an improved strapping machine wherein the deformation work for interconnecting the overlapping portions of the strapping band is generated sequentially so that all of the force required to complete the strapping operation does not have to be produced at one time. Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, at least one of the deforming members situated at opposite sides of the band portions incorporates means for bringing about the connection of the overlapping band portions and which is locatedin a circular path or orbit, and such deforming member is mounted to be positively rotatable and displaceable in thelengthwise direction of the strapping or closure band.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of tightening-and closure apparatus for band-shaped closure hoops or straps;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the strapping apparatus depicted in FIG. 1, the front cover being removed to expose internal structure; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the strapping apparatus depicted in FIG. 2, taken substantially along the line III-III thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention is generally based upon the recognition that if it is possible to divide the forces required to produce a connection of the overlapping band portions into a number of successive operations which follow one another in time, then each of these partial operations or steps will only require a fraction of the total force previously required at one time. As a result, the strapping machine can be constructed of relatively small dimension, light-weight and inexpensive. In so doing, it is of no importance whether the strapping apparatus or machine is designed for manual operation or if forces other than those expended by a human being are employed for its operation. In each instance, the transmission relationship can be chosen to be relatively small, and accordingly, the individual components can be of lighter construction since owing to the timely staggered force application or operation the forces produced in the equipment can be considerably smaller. Before beginning with a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of inventive strapping apparatus, it is here mentioned that only enough of the actual structure has been shown in the drawings to enable one versed in the art to clearly understand the inventive concepts involved. Certain portions of the mechanism not forming part of the subject matter of the actual invention constitute part of the prior art equipment, and while briefly referred to herein for the purpose of rounding out the overall explanation of the operation of the inventive strapping machine, the aspects thereof have not been delved into in depth since reference may be has to various prior art patents showing these conventional components, some of which will be referred to hereinafter at the ap propriate time for purposes of further elucidation.

Describing now the drawing, it will be seen that the exemplary embodiment of inventive apparatus for tightening and connecting the overlapping or superimposed portions of a flexible closure band or strap laid about a package or the like generally conveniently referred to in the art as a strapping tool or machine embodies a housing l which may be formed from a single piece and essentially consists of a base plate 2, a web portion 3 and a cover plate 4. Within the compartment 100 embraced by these components 2, 3 and 4, there are accommodated the parts of the equipment utilized for the connection of the closure band or strap, all as will be more fully explained hereinafter. Now, this hollow compartment 100 is closed by a front cover 5 to such an extent that between the base plate 2 and the cover 5 there appears a slot or gap 6 into which there can be introduced both band portions 17, 18 to be interconnected as well as the enclosing closure seal or sleeve 19. Cover member 5 is secured, threadably for instance, by three screws 7 with the housing l,as best shown by referring to FIG. 1.

A respective guide slot 8 and 9 is formed at the web 3 and the cover member 5. Both of these guide slots 8, 9 serve as guide track means for a shaft 10 journalled in roller bearings 11, 12, the outer races or rings of which travel in these guide slots 8 and 9.

The parts or components required to produce a connection and for the common or conjoint deformation or shaping of the relevant band portions and the enclosing closure seal or sleeve comprise die means 14 having the serrations or teeth 14a and secured by screws 13 or the like at the base plate 2 as well as a pressure segment 15 equipped with teeth 16 and seated upon the shaft member 10. The pressure segment 15 performs in relation to the die means 14 the function of a press punch. As best shown by referring to FIG. 2, die means 14 and pressure segment 15 are situated at opposite sides of both band portions 17 and 18 which here are connected together by a closure seal or sleeve 19 for instance.

Further components are secured to the shaft member 10. Thus, by referring to FIG. 3 it will be seen that apart from the cover 5 on the shaft member 10 there are also secured thereto a closure lever member 20 having a handgrip 21 closure lever 20 being secured to the shaft 10 with the aid of a square portion 22 and a non-illustrated nut member threaded onto the threaded portion 23. The roller bearing 11 is covered by the disks 24 and 25 whereas the roller bearing 12 is covered towards the outside by a guide disk or plate 26 retained with the aid of a non-illustrated conventional Seeger or Circlip lockring introduced into the cutout 27. Furthermore, roller bearing 12 is covered at the inside of the web 3 by means of a gear 28. This gear 28 engages with a gear rack 29 located at the transition between the web 3 and the base plate 2 of the housing 1. Gear 28 and rack 29 form a rack and pinion drive.

By rocking or pivoting the closure lever 20 the shaft 10 as well as the pressure segment 15 secured thereto with the aid of a square portion 30 and also the gear 28 similarly secured to the shaft, are all rotated. Due to meshing of the teeth of the pinion or gear 28 with the teeth of the rack 29 there is carried out not only a rotational movement but also a linear forward movement of the shaft member 10 and thus the pressure segment 15 in the lengthwise direction of the guide slots 8 and 9. The pressure segment 15 thus moves along a circular track, the term circular track as used herein and as can be recognized from the illustration being employed in its broader sense to encompass substantially elongate track configurations. As a result, the teeth of the pressure segment 15 successively press into the closure sleeve or seal 19 and together with the teeth 14a of the die member provide a faultlessly secured, non-detachable connection of the band portions 17 and 18. In this connection the possibility exists of deforming or shaping the closure sleeve 19 as well as the overlapping portions l7, 18 of the strapping band encircled by such closure sleeve over their entire width. Hence, there can be formed, for instance, in this manner a wave-shaped or undulated connection, and further the possibility exists of cutting into the closure seal at its lengthwise extending sides by the band portions enc'losed thereby and to bend upwardly or downwardly parts of these lengthwise sides. Furthermore, while the die is secured at the base plate and the pressure segment serves as the male part, it is also possible to secure the male part in the base plate and to have the pressure segment serve as the die.

Since the teeth 16 of the pressure segment 15 successively undertake the deformation or shaping of the sleeve or closure seal 19, the force which has to be applied to the closure or closing lever 20 is considerably smaller than would be the case if all teeth 16 simultaneously undertook the deformation of the closure sleeve 19. For instance, if a pressure of about 3.5 tons is necessary for deformation of the sleeve due to the simultaneous action of the six teeth for instance, then this force can be reduced to about one-sixth if these teeth successively come into engagement, that is to say such force can be reduced to about 600 kg. The quality of the connection is independent of the manner in which the deformation work is performed. What is of importance is that this deformation work is undertaken in partial operations wherein always only one tooth comes into engagement. Consequently, the peak of the force which has to be absorbed can be maintained considerably lower, the apparatus can be constructed relatively light-weight and the components for driving the pressure segment can be of quite simple construction. The entire strapping machine or apparatus is therefore easy to manipulate and can be readily operated and carried from one work area to another.

Continuing, it will be understood that for the purpose of producing the connection there is advantageously provided a pivotal holddown plate 35, as best shown in FIG. 2. This plate 35 engages over the end of the closure sleeve 19 facing away from the pressure segment and prevents this closure sleeve 19 from assuming a curved shaped due to the successive deformation thereof. Further, it will be recognized that holddown plate 35 is pivotably mounted by means of a bolt member 36 and its position is fixed by a suitable non-illustrated pin threaded into the threaded bore 37.

Since the strapping band is generally payed-off in required lengths from a suitable supply roll, it is necessary to cut the band after the connection of the overlapping band portions has been achieved. To this end, there is provided a suitable cutting knife 38 located at the side of the closure sleeve or seal 19 situated opposite the holddown plate 35. Cutting knife 38, or a similar or equivalent cutting implement, is arranged at the sleeve stop member 40 mounted for pivotable movement about a shaft or bolt 39. Sleeve stop member 40 together. with the cutting knife 38 is raised by any suitable non-illustrated spring, so that the band portions 17 and 18 can be introduced without obstruction from the side. The sleeve stop member 40 is adjusted by an appropriate adjustment pin which is threaded-into a non-illustrated threaded bore, similar to the threaded bore 37 provided for the holddown plate 35.

It is advantageous to provide, apart for the components utilized to produce the connection, also those components required for the holding and tensioning of the connection. Basically, these components could be accommodated at a separately used device, but for practical reasons the arrangement of all of these various mechanisms required to fulfill the complete strapping operation in a single apparatus is preferred since the possibility then exists of controlling the,

cooperation between the components used for producing the connection and the components used for tensioning. I

Now the components employed to tighten or tension the band portions 17 and 18 comprise a rocker member 45 equipped with a lever 46, pivotably mounted in a bore 47 of an eyelet 48 cast or otherwise formed at the housing 1. This rocker 45 supports a rotatably mounted tensioning roll or roller 49 which is pressed against the base plate 2 of the housing 1 together with the rocker 45 by means of a non-illustrated spring member, whereas raising of the tensioning roller 49 can be brought about by downwardly pressing the lever 46. At the location where the tensioning roller 49 presses against the base plate 2 there is provided a recess 51 in which there is inserted with play a die member 52 having a roughened surface and against which bears the tensioning roller 49. The lower band portion 17 is supported upon this die 52 and hooks into the roughened surface of such die 52 so that this band portion does not have the tendency to undesirably slide when the upper band portion 18 is moved for the purpose of tensioning the closure loop. Tensioning of the closure loop is undertaken with the aid of a suitable tensioning lever 53 having the handgrip 54 and which is pivotably seated upon the same shaft as the tensioning roller 49. As is known from prior art constructions of strapping machines, this tensioning lever 53 can engage by means of a non-illustrated suitable tensioning pawl with a suitable ratchet Wheel secured to the tensioning roller 49, so that upon actuation of the tensioning lever 53 the tensioning roller 49 is rotated in one direction of rotation and thus tightens the closure strap. The previously discussed components for holding and tensioning the closure band or strap are, as mentioned above, well know from prior art constructions of strapping machines. This portion of the equipment has here only been described in order to provide for a complete understanding of the overall operation of the equipment and because of its cooperation with the components for producing the connection, and since any suitable prior art tensioning mechanism can be utilized no further discussion thereof appears to be warranted. Tensioning mechanisms of this general type are well known, as evidenced by my U.S. Pat. No. 3,346,023, granted Oct. 10, 1967, entitled Apparatus for Tightening and Closing .of Band-Like Closure Hoops, and additionally reference may be also had to U.S. Pat. No. 2,813,441, granted Nov. 19, 1957, and entitled Hoop Iron Tightening and Clamping Device.

Continuing, by referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 there will be recognized the provision of a rocker-lift bolt which is mounted for lengthwise displacement in a bore of the housing 1. The length of the bolt 60 corresponds to the free spacing between the extension 62 of the shaft 10 and the rocker member 45 when the shaft 10 together with the pressure segment 15 is located in the starting position depicted in FIG. 2. The closing lever 20 then assumes the position of FIG. 1 into which it is placed by the non-illustrated spring when the closing lever 20 is pressed down over the position illustrated in FIG. 1. This downward pressing of the closure lever 20 is undertaken after performing a connection and serves to initially raise the tensioning roller 49 so that the upper band portion 18 situated between the closure sleeve 19 and the tensioning roller 49 no longer is tensioned and when out does not shred, as such can occur when dealing with non-metallic closure bands or straps. During further downward pressing of the closure lever 20 the circular-shaped portion of the pressure segment 15 travels against an inclined surface 63 of the sleeve stop member 40 and presses such down, so that the cutting knife 38 severs the upper band portion 18. In the lowest position of the closure lever 20 such bears against a stop 64 arranged at the base plate 2 of the housing 1, this stop 64 simultaneously serving as band guide mechanism. The end walls of the housing 1 possess an extended wall 65 at which there is provided a bore 66 with the aid of which there is secured any suitable handgrip (not shown). This handgrip serves as a countergrip when pressing the lever 46 down and as a carrier grip for the apparatus.

The base plate 2 of the housing 1 is rounded at its underside. This facilitates tipping of the apparatus after a closure loop has been formed around the package, so that the apparatus can be easily removed.

In order to insure that the closure sleeve 19 during deformation does not receive a curved shape, there is arranged and provided the already mentioned holddown plate or pawl 35. Since this plate 35 does not snugly bear upon the closure sleeve 19 because of the play which is necessary for insertion, closure sleeve 19 thus nonetheless experiences a bent form even though it is slight. This, however, can be simply avoided in that the pressure segment at the end of its deformation path presses down the holddown plate or pawl 35 and thus again presses the closure sleeve 19 flat.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for tightening and connecting the overlapping portions of a flexible closure band trained about a package or the like, comprising means for tensioning the closure band, means for conjointly deforming the overlapping portions of the closure band to interconnect said overlapping band portions with one another, said deforming means comprising at least two deforming members provided with components for producing the connection of said overlapping portions of said closure band and disposed at opposite sides of said overlapping band portions, at least one of said deforming members having its connection producing components located in a substantially circular track, means for mounting said one deforming member so as to be positively rotatable and displaceable in the lengthwise direction of the closure band, and a pivotably mounted holddown plate member capable of cooperating with a closure seal serving to interconnect the overlapping portions of the closure band.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said components of said deforming members producing said connection possess projections wherein the projections of one defonning member successively cooperate with the projections of the other deforming member.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for mounting said one deforming member so as to be positively rotatable and displaceable in the lengthwise direction of the closure band incorporates rack and pinion drive means.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said deforming members presses down against said pivotably mounted holddown plate at the end of its stroke in order to straighten the closure sleeve.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including cutting knife means mounted at the end region of a closure sleeve facing away from said pivotably mounted holddown plate, said cutting knife means being actuated by at least one of said deforming members after production of the connection of the overlapping portions of the closure band.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said tensioning means incorporates an elevationally displaceable tensioning roller, and mechanism for operably interconnecting said deforming members and said tensioning means for raising said tensioning roller prior to cutting of the band by said cutting knife means.

Claims (6)

1. An apparatus for tightening and connecting the overlapping portions of a flexible closure band trained about a package or the like, comprising means for tensioning the closure band, means for conjointly deforming the overlapping portions of the closure band to interconnect said overlapping band portions with one another, said deforming means comprising at least two deforming members provided with components for producing the connection of said overlapping portions of said closure band and disposed at opposite sides of said overlapping band portions, at least one of said deforming members having its connection producing components located in a substantially circular track, means for mounting said one deforming member so as to be positively rotatable and displaceable in the lengthwise direction of the closure band, and a pivotably mounted holddown plate member capable of cooperating with a closure seal serving to interconnect the overlapping portions of the closure band.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said components of said deforming members producing said connection possess projections wherein the projections of one deforming member successively cooperate with the projections of the other deforming member.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for mounting said one deforming member so as to be positively rotatable and displaceable in the lengthwise direction of the closure band incorporates rack and pinion drive means.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said deforming members presses down against said pivotably mounted holddown plate at the end of its stroke in order to straighten the closure sleeve.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including cutting knife means mounted at the end region of a closure sleeve facing away from said pivotably mounted holddown plate, said cutting knife means being actuated by at least one of said deforming members after production of the connection of the overlapping portions of the closure band.

6. The apparatus as defined iN claim 5, wherein said tensioning means incorporates an elevationally displaceable tensioning roller, and mechanism for operably interconnecting said deforming members and said tensioning means for raising said tensioning roller prior to cutting of the band by said cutting knife means.

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