Strapping device having a pivotable rocker

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11267596-B2
Application number	US-201916448167-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 21, 2019
Priority date	Sep 24, 2012
Publication date	Mar 8, 2022
Grant date	Mar 8, 2022

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a mobile strapping device for strapping packaged products using a loop of wrapping strap. The strapping device includes a tensioning device for applying tension to the strap and a connecting device for connecting two overlapping portions of the strap. The tensioning device includes a rotatable tensioning wheel and a tensioning plate. The tensioning wheel is supported by a rocker that is pivotable to change a distance separating the tensioning wheel and the tensioning plate. The mobile strapping device includes a motor that is operably connectable to the rocker or the tensioning wheel such that the motor causes pivoting of the rocker or rotation of the tensioning wheel when operating in a first direction of rotation. In various embodiments, gearing, including a plurality of planetary gear sets, is used to operatively connect the motor to the rocker and the tensioning wheel.

First claim

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A strapping device comprising:
a base comprising a tensioning plate;
a rocker comprising a tensioning wheel rotatable about a tensioning-wheel axis, wherein the rocker is pivotable relative to the base about a rocker pivot axis;
a friction-welding device movable between a release position and a welding position; and
a motor comprising a drive shaft operably connected to the rocker and the friction-welding device such that:
rotation of the drive shaft in a first rotational direction pivots the rocker relative to the base and about the rocker pivot axis to change a distance between the tensioning wheel and the tensioning plate; and
rotation of the drive shaft in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction moves the friction-welding device from the release position to the welding position.

2. The strapping device of claim 1 , wherein the rocker is pivotable relative to the base and about the rocker pivot axis between a first position in which the tensioning wheel is a first distance from the tensioning plate and a second position in which the tensioning wheel is a second distance from the tensioning plate, wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.

3. The strapping device of claim 2 , wherein the drive shaft is operably connected to the rocker such that rotation of the drive shaft in the first rotational direction pivots the rocker from the first position to the second position.

4. The strapping device of claim 3 , further comprising a biasing element biasing the rocker to the first position.

5. The strapping device of claim 4 , wherein the biasing element comprises a spring.

6. The strapping device of claim 5 , wherein the friction-welding device comprises a weld shoe.

7. The strapping device of claim 6 , further comprising first gearing operably connecting the drive shaft to the rocker and second gearing operably connecting the drive shaft to the friction-welding device.

8. The strapping device of claim 6 , wherein the drive shaft is operably connected to the tensioning wheel to rotate the tensioning wheel about a tensioning axis and is operably connected to the weld shoe to oscillate the weld shoe.

9. The strapping device of claim 1 , further comprising gearing operably connecting the drive shaft to the rocker, wherein the drive shaft is operably connected to the tensioning wheel via the gearing to rotate the tensioning wheel about a tensioning axis.

10. The strapping device of claim 9 , further comprising one or more clamping elements movable from a first configuration to a second configuration to switch the gearing from a first state in which the gearing operably connects the drive shaft to the tensioning wheel so rotation of the drive shaft in the first rotational direction causes the tensioning wheel to rotate about the tensioning axis to a second state in which the gearing operably connects the drive shaft to the rocker so rotation of the drive shaft in the first rotational direction causes the rocker to pivot about the rocker axis.

11. The strapping device of claim 10 , wherein the gearing comprises a first gear component and a second gear component, wherein when the gearing is in the first state the first gear component is rotatable and at least one of the one or more clamping elements prevents the second gear component from rotating, and wherein when the gearing is in the second state at least one of the one or more clamping elements prevents the first gear component from rotating and the second gear component is rotatable.

12. The strapping device of claim 11 , wherein the rocker is pivotable relative to the base and about the rocker pivot axis between a first position in which the tensioning wheel is a first distance from the tensioning plate and a second position in which the tensioning wheel is a second distance from the tensioning plate, wherein the first distance is less than the second distance, wherein when the gearing is in the second state, rotation of the drive shaft in the first rotational direction pivots the rocker from the first position to the second position.

13. The strapping device of claim 11 , wherein the one or more clamping elements comprise a first clamping element and a second clamping element, wherein the first clamping element is movable from a disengaged position in which the first clamping element does not prevent the first gear component from rotating to an engaged position in which the first clamping element prevents the first gear component from rotating, wherein the second clamping element is movable from a disengaged position in which the second clamping element does not prevent the second gear component from rotating to an engaged position in which the second clamping element prevents the second gear component from rotating.

14. The strapping device of claim 13 , wherein the first gear component operably connects the drive shaft to the tensioning wheel, and wherein the second gear component operatively connects the drive shaft to the rocker.

15. The strapping device of claim 14 , further comprising an actuating device actuatable to cause one of the first and second clamping elements to move from its disengaged position to its engaged position and the other of the first and second clamping elements to move from its engaged position to its disengaged position to switch the gearing from the first state to the second state.

16. The strapping device of claim 15 , wherein the actuating device is actuatable to simultaneously cause the one of the first and second clamping elements to move from its disengaged position to its engaged position and the other of the first and second clamping elements to move from its engaged position to its disengaged position to switch the gearing from the first state to the second state.

17. The strapping device of claim 16 , wherein the actuating device is actuatable to cause initiation of at least one of a tensioning process and a strap-connecting process.

18. The strapping device of claim 1 , wherein the rocker is pivotably mounted to the base.

19. The strapping device of claim 18 , wherein the rocker is pivotably mounted to the base so a torque is applied to the rocker during a tensioning process causes one of the tensioning wheel and the tensioning plate to exert a force on the other of the tensioning wheel and the tensioning plate.

20. The strapping device of claim 1 , further comprising gearing operably connecting the drive shaft to the rocker and the friction-welding device, the gearing comprising freewheeling that transmits a drive movement of the motor to the rocker and not to the friction-welding device when the drive shaft rotates in the first rotational direction and that transmits the drive movement of the motor to the friction-welding device and not to the rocker when the drive shaft rotates in the second rotational direction.

Assignees

• Signode Ind Group Llc

Inventors

• Finzo Flavio
• Neeser Mirco
• Takidis Dimitrios

Classifications

• B65B13/322

  Friction welding · CPC title

• B65B13/22 Primary

  Means for controlling tension of binding means · CPC title

• B65B13/02

  Applying and securing binding material around articles or groups of articles, e.g. using strings, wires, strips, bands or tapes · CPC title

• B65B13/025

  Hand-held tools · CPC title

• B65B13/32

  by welding, soldering, or heat-sealing; by applying adhesive · CPC title