Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Signode Corporation

Peter Drabarek

Janusz Figiel

Nelson Cheung

Andrzej M Chudy

Paul Podedworny

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 strap guide and method therefor in a tensioning tool having a base plate, a wall portion disposed at least partially along and extending above a strap support surface of the base plate, a strap guiding member having a pivot end portion pivotally coupled to the tool along the strap support surface generally opposite the wall portion, and a biasing member coupled to the strap guiding member to pivotally bias a guide end portion of the strap guiding member above at least a portion of the strap support surface. Strap disposed on the strap support surface of the base plate is guided between the wall portion the strap guiding member during tensioning, and is released therefrom upon withdrawal of the base plate from between a load and tensioned strap.

Strapping tool with improved strap guide and method therefor

A strap welding tool and method therefor including a first cam member for moving a sealing gripper toward a first support member to engage and retain tensioned strap disposed therebetween, a second cam member for enabling a vibrator motor to vibrate a welding pad, and a third cam member for moving the welding pad toward a second support member to engage and weld overlapping strap portions disposed therebetween. The tool includes a relatively small base plate to reduce loss of strap tension upon removal of the tool from between strap tensioned about small and irregular loads. A column strength of a strap portion engaged by the vibrating welding pad is reduced by deforming or bending the strap portion, and preferably forming a gap between upper and lower strap portions.

Strap welding tool with base plate for reducing strap column strength

A strap welding tool and method therefor including a first cam member for moving a sealing gripper toward a first support member to engage and retain tensioned strap disposed therebetween, a second cam member for enabling a vibrator motor to vibrate a welding pad, and a third cam member for moving they welding pad toward a second support member to engage and weld overlapping strap portions disposed therebetween. The tool includes a relatively small base plate to reduce loss of strap tension upon removal of the tool from between strap tensioned about small and irregular loads. A column strength of a strap portion engaged by the vibrating welding pad is reduced by deforming or bending the strap portion, and preferably forming a gap between upper and lower strap portions.

Cam operated strap welding tool and method therefor

A sealess strap retention apparatus for sealess joining of overlapping strap portions usable in combination with a tool for push tensioning strap about a load. The apparatus includes a first die portion and a second die movably relative to the first die portion to form a die assembly having a punch recess and a support surface for supporting the overlapping strap portions. A punch member is movable relative to the punch recess of die assembly for joining overlapping strap portions supported on the support of the die assembly. In one embodiment of the invention, the second die portion is pivotally and translatably coupled to a frame member substantially opposite the punch recess of the die assembly, wherein the second die portion is pivotally and translatably movable relative to the first die portion, and two or more punches are movable sequentially relative to corresponding punch recesses in the dies assembly to reduce loading on the die assembly during joining of the overlapping strap portions.

Method and apparatus for sealess retention of push tensioned strap

A cutting mechanism is disclosed, which is useful in a strapping tool of the type used to apply a steel strap in a tensioned loop around a package by means of a series of interlocking joints comprising interlockable shoulders punched into overlapped ends of the strap. The cutting mechanism comprises an anvil arranged to support the overlapped ends of such a strap, a cutter holder movable toward and away from the anvil, an elongate cutter removably mounted within to the holder so as to extend crosswise in relation to the overlapped ends such a strap when the overlapped ends of such a strap are supported by the anvil. The cutter is movable conjointly with the holder, toward and away from the anvil. The cutter has a polygonal profile defining plural, elongate, parallel cutting edges, one of which projects toward the anvil when the cutter is mounted within the holder. The cutter, which is removable from the holder when the cutting edge projecting toward the anvil becomes dull, is remountable within the holder such that another one of the cutting edges projects toward the anvil. The cutter profile may be triangular, preferably equilateral, or quadrilateral, preferably rhombic or square. An equilateral, triangular profile is most preferred. The cutting mechanism has other utility, apart from a strapping tool of the type noted above.

Compressive cutting mechanism having plural-edged cutter

A hand strapping tool for applying a strap to an article is provided wherein the hand strapping tool comprises a tensioning feedwheel assembly, a vibrating welding assembly, and a pneumatic circuit pneumatically connectable to a source of pressurized fluid for energizing the circuit. The circuit comprises a portion for automatically tensioning the strap around an article and a circuit portion for automatically welding the strap. The circuit also includes a portion for automatically determining tensioning of the strap around the article operatively associated with the circuit portion for automatically tensioning the strap. A circuit portion for automatically delaying welding of the strap is operatively connected to the circuit portion for automatically welding the strap. A circuit portion for automatically determining duration of welding of the strap is operatively associated with the circuit portion for automatically welding the strap. A circuit portion for automatically determining cool down time for a weld applied to the strap is operatively associated with the circuit portion for automatically welding the strap.

Hand strapping tool

A mechanism is disclosed for converting oscillatory rotation of an input shaft to unidirectional rotation of an output shaft. An input shaft journalled to a frame is rotatable about an input axis, over a range of rotational positions, between a forward limit and a reverse limit. An output shaft journalled to the frame is rotatable about an output axis, which is normal to the input axis. Three bevel gears are employed, namely a first gear coupled to the input shaft, a second gear coupled to the input shaft and spaced axially from the first gear, and a third gear coupled to the output shaft. The bevel teeth of the three gears are arranged in peripheral arrays covering cover less than one half of the entire periphery of each gear, so that the bevel teeth of the third gear intermesh only with the bevel teeth of the first gear whenever the input shaft rotates from the reverse limit toward the forward limit, and so that the bevel teeth of the third gear intermesh only with the bevel teeth of the second gear whenever the input shaft rotates from the forward limit toward the reverse limit.

Mechanism for converting oscillatory rotation of input shaft to

A method and apparatus for tensioning a strap loop around an object and terminating the tensioning of the strap loop at a predetermined loop tension. The object is encircled with a loop of strapping having a predetermined thickness, width, and coefficient of friction. A leading end portion of the strap is restrained while disposing a trailing end portion of the strap adjacent a traction wheel that is rotatable about a first axis at a predetermined maximum available torque. A pressing member that is pivotable about a second axis oriented parallel to the first axis and that has a predetermined configuration and coefficient of friction is biased toward the traction wheel so as to press the strap trailing end portion against the traction wheel. The traction wheel is rotated about the first axis so as to grip the strap and slide the strap along the pressing member for tensioning the strap loop while permitting the sliding friction force imposed upon the pressing member to pivot the pressing member further toward the traction wheel so as to further compress the strap between the traction wheel and pressing member so as to increase the sliding friction resistance force imposed upon the strap and thereby overcome the tangential force imposed upon the strap by means of the traction wheel at the maximum available torque so as to terminate the traction wheel rotation at the predetermined loop tension.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Peter Drabarek