Strapack Corporation

Tsutomu Tagomori

Yasunori Sakaki

Kenji Fujii

Yosikatsu Aizawa

Seiichiro Koyama

Tasunori Sakaki

Eisaku Yamada

The distal end of a band remains held after a band-holding step. A band-tightening step is performed by operating a manual tightening switch, thereby driving a drive motor and hence rotating a drive roller under manual control. A band-sealing step and a band-feeding step are automatically and sequentially performed after a tightening stop switch is operated, generating a manual-tightening end signal. It is desirable to use a mode-changing switch for switching an operating mode of the apparatus between an automatic mode and a manual mode. The manual tightening switch and the tightening step are effective in the manual mode and are ineffective in the automatic mode.

Packing method

The distal end of a band remains held after a band-holding step. A band-tightening step is performed by operating a manual tightening switch, thereby driving a drive motor and hence rotating a drive roller under manual control. A band-sealing step and a band-feeding step are automatically and sequentially performed after a tightening stop switch is operated, generating a manual-tightening end signal. It is desirable to use a mode-changing switch for switching an operating mode of the apparatus between an automatic mode and a manual mode. The manual tightening switch and the tightening stop switch are effective in the manual mode and are ineffective in the automatic mode.

Packing apparatus

This invention provides a method of removing an idle strapping band in which a band restored and retracted by a reverse rotation roller is wound around the end of a slide table forms a ring of the band in case of no article to be strapped and engaged with the band on a strapping machine body, a rotation reduction detection signal of the reverse rotation roller is not generated before the setting time of a timer is completely elapsed before the band is tightened, a band tightening step is then omitted, shifted to next cutting and fusing steps of the band supplying end, the ring of the band is then recoiled upward by means of elastic force for restoring the ring of the band to a true circle when the end of the slide table is retracted along guide rails and the band is automatically removed out of a band fusing mechanism. A band tightening is executed by a tension arm, a cam shaft is normally rotated to be stopped before the band is fused after the band supplying end is cut, the cam shaft is then reversely rotated to its original position, the holding of the end and supplying end of the band wound around the end of the slide table and tightened is relieved, and the band is recoiled above the slide table by means of the elastic force of the band itself and the tightened tension force to be removed.

Method of removing idle strapping band for strapping machine

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for feeding and tightening a band wherein a touch roller is brought into compressive contact with a reverse rotation driving roller for a predetermined time when a signal for detecting a decrease in the speed of rotation including the stopping of a forward rotation touch roller is developed prior to the development of a signal for detecting the approach of the front end of the fed band to a mechanism for grasping the band front end; whereby the band is restored and the compressive contact of the reverse rotation touch roller is released after passage of the predetermined time so as to restore the band; the band is then restored by means of a tension roller which is rotated at a lower speed and driven at a higher torque as compared with the reverse rotation roller and a touch roller which is brought into compressive contact with and capable of separating from the tension roller; and the band is finally tightened by starting the reverse rotation of the tension after the reverse rotation touch roller is brought into slidable contact with the reverse rotation driving roller through the intermediary of the band and is rotated in subordination thereto and then by bringing the touch roller into compressive contact with the tension roller by means of the development of a signal for detecting a decrease in the speed of rotation including the stoppage of the reverse rotation touch roller.

Method and apparatus for feeding and tightening a band in strapping

The present invention relates to a band feeding and tightening apparatus within a strapping machine wherein an external force tending to cause jamming by means of friction and the like in feeding the band pivotably rotates a chute guide constituting part of a band passage, whereby the rear end portion of the chute guide is pushed upwardly and the band which is loosened by means of a length corresponding to the height of the pushed-up portion of the chute guide is retained within the band passage, so that the external force is momentarily released and the band is smoothly fed to the outside of the main body by means of a continuously rotating feed roller and an upper roller without causing jamming and distortion of the band. The feed roller is driven by means of a series motor and the band is fed at a high rate of speed and a low torque, and then restored so as to perform a primary tightening operation, and finally closely tightened around an article to be strapped at a low rate of speed and a high torque. The signal of a sensor for detecting the opening of the chute guide stops the feeding of the band by means of the feed roller whereby unnecessary feeding of the band is avoided.

Band feeding and tightening apparatus in strapping machine

Automatic strapping machine

A strapping machine for applying a band around an article comprises motor-driven rollers for advancing and retracting the band, and a band handling mechanism for fusing and cutting the band. The various band moving and handling operations are performed by cams mounted on a motor driven cam shaft. The rotation of the cam shaft is controlled by a sensor-actuating disk which rotates with the cam shaft. A photosensor is disposed at a fixed sensing position adjacent the disk. The disk includes circumferentially spaced light admitting slits which sequentially actuate the photosensor as the cam shaft rotates. The photosensor actuates a timer in an electronic control circuit for controlling rotation of the cam shaft.

Control apparatus in strapping machine

A strapping apparatus advances a band around an object to be strapped and then retracts and tightens the band against the object. Retraction of the band is performed by a driven roller. A touch roller is displaceable toward the driven roller to press the band thereagainst. The outer periphery of the driven roller comprises a flexible high friction material, and a circumferentially extending low friction material embedded in the high friction material and normally projecting radially outwardly therebeyond. When the band travels against the low-friction material it encounters little resistance. When the touch roller pushes the band against the driven roller, the low-friction material is pushed radially inwardly, enabling the band to contact and be driven by the high-friction material.

Band feeding and tightening apparatus for strapping machine

A strapping machine includes a pair of motor-driven feed rollers for feeding a band from a pool box and into encompassing relation to an object to be strapped. A pre-feeding roller pair is disposed between the pool box and the feed rollers for pre-feeding the band to the feed rollers. The pre-feeding roller pair is normally in a rest position which permits the band to travel therepast. When manually rotated, the prefeeding roller pair positively advances the band to deliver a leading end thereof to the feed rollers. A sensor detects rotation of the pre-feeding roller pair to energize the feed rollers for a predetermined time period to advance the band.

Band loading apparatus in a packaging machine

A strapping machine for applying a band around an object includes a pool box in which slackened band is accumulated prior to be fed around an object by a main feed mechanism. The pool box contains a feed device which draws-in the band from a reel, and a passage-forming structure for guiding the band toward the main feed mechanism. The passage-forming structure contains a balance bar and an opposing guide arm. The balance bar is displaced by the band as the band accumulates in the passage. When the balance bar is displaced by a predetermined amount, a sensor shuts off the feed device. Thereafter, the guide arm is moved to a passage-enlarging position, whereupon the balance bar is permitted to return to its original position, enabling the feed device to resume its feeding of the band. The band thus accumulates within the enlarged passage.

Reel plate for a strapping machine

An arch guide for a strapping machine comprises corner sections interconnected by linear sections. Each of those sections includes inner and outer peripheral portions disposed, respectively, closer to and farther from a center of the guide. The inner and outer portions form a guide passage for the band, the passage being open at a side facing a guide plate. The open side of the arch guide is yieldably urged against the guide plate to close the open side. The inner portion extends toward the guide plate at an inwardly directed inclination to facilitate movement of the arch guide away from the guide plate when the band is being withdrawn from the passage. A guide extends from the leading end of a linear section into a trailing end of a corner section for directing an advancing band toward the outer portion of the corner section. The outer portion of at least the linear sections are yieldable in a direction away from the inner portion in a manner increasing the height of the height of the open side of the band passage. The guide plate carries an elastic material covered by a sheet of anti-wear, anti-friction material against which the open side of the arch guide is biased.

Growing community of inventors

Yokohama, Japan

Tsutomu Tagomori