Sealing tool for strap

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10464699-B2
Application number	US-201916439282-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2019
Priority date	Oct 4, 2011
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

Abstract

A tool for sealing overlying courses of a strap that includes a gripping unit, a power supply unit detachably affixed to one end of the gripping unit, and a motor in the gripping unit. A cam is coupled to the motor and a notching unit is coupled to the cam by a plurality of linkages.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for forming notches in overlapping portions of a strap to attach the overlapping portions of the strap to one another, the device comprising:
first and second jaws defining a strap path therebetween;
one or more plates;
a first connector connecting the first jaw to one of the one or more plates so the first jaw is rotatable about the first connector and relative to that one of the one or more plates between a first jaw rest position and a first jaw notch-forming position;
a second connector connecting the second jaw to one of the one or more plates so the second jaw is rotatable about the second connector and relative to that one of the one or more plates between a second jaw rest position and a second jaw notch-forming position;
a drive element rotatable about a drive element rotational axis, wherein the drive element is operably connected to the first and second jaws so rotation of the drive element about the drive element rotational axis in a first rotational direction results in the first and second jaws rotating from their respective rest positions to their respective notch-forming positions to form the notches in the overlapping portions of the strap and, afterwards, further rotation of the drive element about the drive element rotational axis in the first rotational direction results in the first and second jaws rotating back to their respective rest positions; and
a motor operably connected to the drive element to rotate the drive element in the first rotational direction.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second connectors respectively connect the first and second jaws to the same one of the one or more plates.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the one or more plates comprise a first plate and a second plate, wherein the first and second jaws are between the first and second plates, wherein the first connector connects the first jaw to the first and second plates, and wherein the second connector connects the second jaw to the first and second plates.

4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a housing and a battery receivable in the housing, wherein the motor is powered by the battery and positioned at least partially within the housing between the battery and the drive element.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the one or more plates are fixed relative to the housing.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein rotation of the drive element about the drive element rotational axis in the first rotational direction no more than about 360 degrees from a starting position results in the first and second jaws rotating from their respective rest positions to their respective notch-forming positions and, afterwards, back to their respective rest positions.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein rotation of the drive element about the drive element rotational axis in the first rotational direction no more than about 180 degrees from the starting position forces the first and second jaws to rotate from their respective rest positions to their respective notch-forming positions.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein rotation of the drive element about the drive element rotational axis in the first rotational direction no less than about 180 degrees and no more than about 360 degrees from the starting position results in the first and second jaws rotating from their respective rest positions to their respective notch-forming positions and, afterwards, back to their respective rest positions.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the drive element is positioned so the drive element rotational axis is above and between the first and second jaws.

10. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a first positioning linkage connected to the first jaw, a second positioning linkage connected to the second jaw, and a connector connected to the first and second positioning linkages, wherein the drive element comprises a cam, wherein the cam is operably connected to the first and second jaws via the first and second positioning linkages and the connector.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the connector comprises a central linkage pinned to the cam.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the motor comprises a drive shaft operably connected to the drive element, wherein the drive shaft is rotatable about a drive shaft rotational axis.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the drive shaft rotational axis is transverse to the drive element rotational axis.

14. The device of claim 12 , further comprising a first positioning linkage connected to the first jaw, a second positioning linkage connected to the second jaw, and a connector connected to the first and second positioning linkages, wherein the drive element is operably connected to the first and second jaws via the first and second positioning linkages and the connector such that the connector moves away from the drive shaft rotational axis in a direction transverse to the drive shaft rotational axis as the first and second jaws rotate from their respective rest positions to their respective notch-forming positions and such that the connector moves toward the drive shaft rotational axis as the first and second jaws rotate back to their respective rest positions.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the drive element is operably connected to the first and second jaws via the first and second positioning linkages and the connector such that the connector moves toward the one or more plates as the first and second jaws rotate from their respective rest positions to their respective notch-forming positions and such that the connector moves away from the one or more plates as the first and second jaws rotate back to their respective rest positions.

16. The device of claim 12 , further comprising gearing operably connecting the drive shaft to the drive element, wherein the gearing comprises a worm gear, wherein the drive element comprises a gear and a cam fixedly attached to the gear, wherein rotation of the drive shaft about the drive shaft rotational axis drives the worm gear, which in turn causes the gear and the cam to rotate about the drive element rotational axis.

17. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first jaw comprises a first pincer and the second jaw comprises a second pincer, wherein the first and second pincers are not in the strap path when the first and second jaws are in their respective rest positions and are in the strap path when the first and second jaws are in their respective notch-forming positions.

18. The device of claim 1 , wherein the drive element is operably connected to the first and second jaws so rotation of the drive element about the drive element rotational axis in the first rotational direction and from a starting position forces the first and second jaws to rotate from their respective rest positions to their respective notch-forming positions.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the drive element is operably connected to the first and second jaws so, when the first and second jaws are in their respective notch-forming positions, further rotation of the drive element about the drive element rotational axis in the first rotational direction back to the starting position forces the first and second jaws to rotate from their respective notch-forming positions to their respective rest positions.

20. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a housing, a battery receivable in the housing, a first positioning linkage connected to the first jaw, a second positioning linkage connected to the second jaw, and a connector connected to th

Assignees

• Signode Ind Group Llc

Inventors

• Figiel Janusz
• Leung Ka Kuen
• Nasiatka Jason R
• Croll John W

Classifications

• B65B13/187

  Motor means · CPC title

• B65B13/305 Primary

  Hand tools · CPC title

• B65B13/025

  Hand-held tools · CPC title