Signode Corporation

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Nelson Cheung

Janusz Figiel

Robert J Nix

Allen D Sordyl

Peter Lems

Manuel C Enriquez

Russell J Gould

Robert J Kobiella

Peter Drabarek

Richard L Mallory

A strapping machine for forming a seal between two portions of strapping material includes a fixed support and a movable support movable away from and toward the fixed support to form the seal. The strapping machine includes an eccentric shaft defining primary and secondary axes of rotation, and having a key extending from an end thereof. The movable support moves about the secondary axis. An actuating lever rotates about the primary axis to move the movable support toward and away from the fixed support. A shaft securing member has a key receiving aperture for engaging the shaft key in only one orientation. The shaft securing member is fastened to the body to secure the shaft in a desired orientation. The strapping machine includes a reversible actuating lever to accommodate strapping operations in multiple orientations. A variable strap width assembly accommodates use of various strap widths.

Strapping tool

A progressive punch is used in a strapping machine for positioning and sealing an associated strap material around a load. The punch is positioned in a jaw assembly that includes a movable punch support and a fixed punch support configured to receive the associated strap therebetween. The movable and fixed supports each include at least one punch having at least two punching heads. The punching heads each have a height that is defined by a distance between an outermost peripheral point of the punching head and a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement. The heights of the punching heads are different from one another so that the punching heads progressively engage the strap, with the punching heads initially engaging the strap material at a different times from one another.

Progressive punch

A strapping tool includes an integral, removable cleaning element. The strapping tool forms a seal between two portions of associated strapping material, which strapping material is tensioned by a feed wheel prior to forming the seal. The tool includes a strapping machine body, a subassembly operably coupled to the strapping machine body. A feed wheel is carried by the subassembly and is rotatable within the subassembly. A feed lever is operably connected to the subassembly and to the feed wheel for rotating the feed wheel. A cleaning element is supported by the subassembly and is disposed for continuous contact with the rotating feed wheel.

Strapper with feed wheel cleaning device

A traction feed wheel, for use in connection with the tensioning of strapping material, is provided with a first set of teeth upon an outer peripheral surface of the feed wheel in accordance with a 15&deg; right hand helix as considered with respect to the axis of the feed wheel. In addition, a plurality of cuts, formed upon the outer peripheral surface of the feed wheel in accordance with a 20&deg; left hand helix with respect to the axis of the feed wheel, intersect the first set of teeth so as to discretely separate the first set of teeth into adjacent tooth sections or segments, and in addition, to define a second set of teeth upon the outer peripheral surface of the feed wheel. This tooth structure serves to prevent the generation of slivers from the strapping material during a strap tensioning operation thereby rendering the strapped articles safe to end users and preserving the tensile strength properties and structural integrity of the strapping material.

Feed wheel for strapping tool

A hand strapping tool has a lower gripper member incorporated therein which comprises an upstanding or upwardly projecting lip portion or member which is integrally formed upon the upper surface portion of the lower gripper member at an elevational level above the upper crest portions of lower gripper member teeth so as to inherently define a space between the upwardly projecting teeth of the lower gripper member and the undersurface portion of the lower end portion of the overlapped end portions of the strapping material when the upper tensioning wheel is retracted away from its engaged position with the lower gripper member. In this manner, the hand strapping tool, and more particularly, the base member and the lower gripper member mounted thereon, can be easily and readily released and removed from its engaged position with the article or package being strapped as well as with respect to the overlapped end portions of the strapping material. Still further, should the lip portion of the lower gripper member become eroded or worn, the lower gripper member can be simply removed and replaced as a result of a friction fit mounting within the base member of the hand strapping tool.

Gripper plug for hand strapping tool

A hand strapping tool has a two-piece outer link assembly wherein a first upper outer link member is mounted upon a pivot shaft of the tool, while a second lower outer link member is mounted upon the distal end portion of the feedwheel shaft so as to maintain the feedwheel upon the feedwheel shaft. The second lower outer link member is removably fastened to the first upper outer link member by suitable fasteners whereby when the feedwheel is to be replaced as a result of, for example, wear thereof after the performance of numerous tensioning operations attendant the strapping of articles, objects, loads, or the like, only the lower outer link member needs to be disconnected from the upper outer link member so as to provide access to the feedwheel

Hand strapping tool

A rotary apparatus, such as a pneumatic motor, is disclosed. The rotary apparatus comprises an end plate having a race cavity, a main rotor with a stub shaft extending from one end, and a bearing, which includes an outer race seated in the race cavity and an inner race having a central bore. The stub shaft is fitted into the central bore with a frictional fit. In a preferred embodiment, the threaded shank of a screw is threaded into a threaded socket in the stub shaft so as to draw the stub shaft into the central bore with a washer bearing against the screw head, against the stub shaft, and against the inner race, whereby a controlled gap is provided between an outer surface of the main rotor and an inner surface of the end plate. In an alternative embodiment, a threaded nut is threaded onto a threaded stud extending from the stub shaft so as to draw the stub shaft into the central bore with a washer bearing against the threaded nut, against the stub shaft, and against the inner race, whereby the controlled gap in provided. Also, a related method for assembling the rotary apparatus is disclosed, in a preferred mode for assembling the preferred embodiment and in an alternative mode for assembling the alternative embodiment.

Method for assembling a rotary apparatus with gap-controlling features

A cutter implement, for use within a cutting tool in connection with the securing of a tensioned steel strap about a package wherein a pair of vertically overlapped end portions of the tensioned steel strap are supported upon an anvil, is provided with a non-cutting recessed portion or notched region at a substantially central portion of its cutting edge such that if the cutting assembly of the cutting tool experiences overtravel movements with respect to the anvil and the pair of vertically overlapped end portions of the tensioned steel strap supported thereon, while the upper one of the pair of vertically overlapped end portions of the tensioned steel strap will be severed by the cutter implement, and while the upper surface of the lower one of the pair of vertically overlapped end portions of the tensioned steel strap may be scored by the cutting edge of the cutter implement, that portion of the lower one of the pair of vertically overlapped end portions of the tensioned steel strap which is engaged by or disposed opposite the non-cutting recessed portion or notched region of the cutter implement will remain structurally intact so that the lower one of the vertically overlapped end portions of the tensioned steel strap does not undergo rupture, breakage, or fracture in view of the inherent brittleness of the strap and the tensile stresses incorporated therein.

Cutter for steel strapping tool

An improvement in a punch design for a punch used within a strapping tool which creates seal-less connections between overlapping steel strap segments that are to be bound together. The punch is relieved along the edge surfaces that experience extreme forces during the stamping operation which physically binds the strap segments together. The relieved edges also provide a less acute angle for the stamped edge surfaces to scrape against once the tension on the straps is released.

Strapping tool with improved punches

A rotary apparatus, such as a pneumatic motor, is disclosed. The rotary apparatus comprises an end plate having a race cavity, a main rotor with a stub shaft extending from one end, and a bearing, which includes an outer race seated in the race cavity and an inner race having a central bore. The stub shaft is fitted into the central bore with a frictional fit. In a preferred embodiment, the threaded shank of a screw is threaded into a threaded socket in the stub shaft so as to draw the stub shaft into the central bore with a washer bearing against the screw head, against the stub shaft, and against the inner race, whereby a controlled gap is provided between an outer surface of the main rotor and an inner surface of the end plate. In an alternative embodiment, a threaded-nut is threaded onto a threaded stud extending from the stub shaft so as to draw the stub shaft into the central bore with a washer bearing against the threaded nut, against the stub shaft, and against the inner race, whereby the controlled gap is provided. Also, a related method for assembling the rotary apparatus is disclosed, in a preferred mode for assembling the preferred embodiment and in an alternative mode for assembling the alternative embodiment.

Rotary apparatus with gap-controlling

A pneumatically powered strapping tool, being modular, comprises a tensioning motor module, a sealing motor module, a sealing mechanism module, and a control valve module. The tensioning motor module comprises a pneumatic tensioning motor arranged to coact with a tensioning mechanism driven by such motor for tensioning two overlapped ends of a steel strap drawn from a supply and wrapped around a load. The sealing motor module comprises a pneumatic sealing motor, which is arranged to drive the sealing mechanism module for sealing the overlapped ends to each other, after the overlapped ends have been tensioned. The control valve module comprises pneumatic control valves for controlling the respective pneumatic motors. The modules and the tensioning means are adapted to be readily assembled and to be readily disassembled without requiring disassembly of any of the modules.

Readily assembled and disassembled, modular, pneumatically powered

Pneumatically powered strapping tool

In a pneumatic control circuit, five three-port, two-position, directional control valves, three of which have manual controls, and two shuttle valves are arranged for controlling a first pneumatic device and a second pneumatic device in an operating mode wherein the second pneumatic device cannot be readily enabled before the first pneumatic device is enabled. A first control valve having a manual control is arranged to control the first pneumatic device. A second control valve having a pilot valve is arranged to control the second pneumatic device. A pilot control valve having a manual control is arranged to connect the first control valve to the pilot valve of the second control valve via a shuttle valve. A holding control valve has a cam control, which is operated by the second pneumatic device, and has an outlet connected to the pilot valve of the second control valve. A shut-off control valve is arranged to control the first control valve via another shuttle valve and via a pilot valve of the first control valve.

Pneumatic control circuit

A movable strap-engaging member is provided for being connected at a first pivot axis to a vibrator arm for accommodating pivot movement of the vibrator arm about the pivot axis while the movable strap-engaging member is pressing a first length of flexible thermoplastic strap against a second length such strap in an elongate strap-receiving path. The movable strap-engaging member is reciprocated generally transversely of the path to effect a friction-fusion weld of the strap lengths. The movable strap-engaging member has a configuration in which first and second centers of mass are spaced apart on a line that passes through the pivot axis and that is oriented generally perpendicular to the path. The product of the square of the distance along the line between the pivot axis and the mass of the first center of mass is substantially equal to the product of the square of the distance along the line between the pivot axis and the mass of the second center of mass.

Apparatus for engaging thermoplastic strap in a friction-fusion welding

An improved joint and method for providing the improved joint structure in joined or fused thermoplastic strap positioned about a package or article is disclosed. The improved joint includes means for increasing the peel separation resistance of overlapping portions of the joint above the peel separation resistance provided by a weldment between the overlapping portions providing for a joint strength that approaches the tensile strength of the strap material or weldment.

Growing community of inventors

Hoffman Estates, IL, United States of America

Nelson Cheung