The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 17, 2006
Filed:
Feb. 04, 2005
Richard K. Balling, Cary, IL (US);
Rainer Ropers, Lake Zurich, IL (US);
Timothy B. Pearson, Antioch, IL (US);
Richard K. Balling, Cary, IL (US);
Rainer Ropers, Lake Zurich, IL (US);
Timothy B. Pearson, Antioch, IL (US);
Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US);
Abstract
A flexible strap guide for an overhead strapper having a feed head for feeding the strapping material from a supply to a strapping head being mounted to a movable platen. The guide includes an elongated flexible spine formed from a plurality of hinged elements. Each of the elements is hingedly connected to and independently movable relative to each adjacent element. The elements define a central channel therein defined by a contiguous inner periphery. A hollow tubular element is positioned within the flexible spine and is flexible with the spine. The tubular element defines a pathway for movement of the strapping material therethrough between feed head and the strapping head. The guide is flexible at points between the feed head and the strapping head and is configured to permit movement of the strapping head upward and downward and to retain the hollow tubular element in an unobstructed condition as the strapping head moves upward and downward. A strapping machine having the flexible strap guide is also disclosed.