Shock absorbing feed wheel assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11440689-B2
Application number	US-202016741213-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 13, 2020
Priority date	Jun 1, 2016
Publication date	Sep 13, 2022
Grant date	Sep 13, 2022

Abstract

A strapping machine of the type that feeds, retracts, tensions and seals strap to itself to form a loop of strap around a load, has a shock absorbing feed wheel assembly. The machine includes a frame, a feed head having a motor, a tension head, a sealing head and a strap chute mounted to the frame. The feed wheel assembly has a friction engaging surface and at least one pocket formed therein. A spring hub is engaged with the feed wheel and has at least one pocket formed therein corresponding to the feed wheel pocket. The spring hub is operably connected to the feed head motor. At least one spring is positioned in the feed wheel pocket and the spring hub pocket and is sandwiched between the feed wheel and the spring hub. The feed wheel is driven by rotation of the spring hub and engagement of the spring with the feed wheel pocket and spring hub pocket. The shock absorbing feed wheel assembly dampens the forces on the feed head motor and drive when the feed wheel comes to an abrupt stop and prevents strap slippage.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A strapping machine comprising:
a frame;
a tension head mounted to the frame;
a sealing head mounted to the frame;
a strap chute mounted to the frame, and
a feed head mounted to the frame and comprising:
an output shaft;
a motor drivingly engaged to the output shaft;
a feed wheel having a friction engaging surface and defining a feed wheel pocket;
a spring hub defining a spring hub pocket and engaged with the feed wheel such that the spring hub pocket is aligned with the feed wheel pocket, wherein the output shaft is operably connected to the spring hub to rotate the spring hub;
a biasing element positioned in the feed wheel pocket and the spring hub pocket such that the biasing element is sandwiched between the feed wheel and the spring hub and operably connects the feed wheel and the spring hub such that rotation of the spring hub by the output shaft causes the spring hub to drive the feed wheel by engagement of the biasing element with the feed wheel and the spring hub; and
a disc spring positioned on an opposite side of the spring hub from the feed wheel, the disc spring forcing the spring hub into engagement with the feed wheel.

2. The strapping machine of claim 1 , wherein the biasing element comprises a spring.

3. The strapping machine of claim 1 , wherein the feed wheel further comprises a radially inwardly extending flange, and wherein the feed wheel pocket is defined in the flange.

4. The strapping machine of claim 1 , wherein the feed wheel pocket and the spring hub pocket form a pocket pair in which the biasing element is positioned.

5. The strapping machine of claim 1 , wherein the feed wheel comprises a projection that at least in part defines the feed wheel pocket.

6. The strapping machine of claim 5 , wherein the biasing element engages the projection.

7. The strapping machine of claim 1 , wherein the feed wheel defines four feed wheel pockets and the spring hub defines four spring hub pockets, and wherein the spring hub engages the feed wheel such that each of the feed wheel pockets is aligned with a different one of the spring hub pockets to form a pocket pair, the feed head further comprising four biasing elements, each biasing element positioned in a different one of the pocket pairs.

8. The strapping machine of claim 7 , wherein the pocket pairs are equally circumferentially spaced from one another.

9. The strapping machine of claim 1 , wherein the feed head further comprises a shaft adapter operably connecting the output shaft and the spring hub.

10. The strapping machine of claim 9 , wherein the output shaft and the shaft adapter are mounted to one another to rotate together, and wherein the shaft adapter and the spring hub are mounted to one another to rotate together.

11. The strapping machine of claim 10 , wherein the spring hub and the shaft adapter are mounted to one another by a key-in-slot configuration, and wherein the shaft adapter and the output shaft are mounted to one another by another key-in-slot configuration.

12. The strapping machine of claim 1 , wherein the biasing element is configured to dampen forces on the output shaft responsive to rotation of the feed wheel stopping.

13. The strapping machine of claim 1 , wherein the feed head further comprises a gear box comprising the output shaft.

14. A strapping machine comprising:
a frame;
a tension head mounted to the frame;
a sealing head mounted to the frame;
a strap chute mounted to the frame, and
a feed head mounted to the frame and comprising:
an output shaft;
a motor drivingly engaged to the output shaft;
a feed wheel having a friction engaging surface and defining a feed wheel pocket, wherein the output shaft is operably connected to the feed wheel to rotate the feed wheel in a feed direction to feed a strap through the strap chute and in a retraction direction to retract the strap from the strap chute onto a load;
a shock absorber operably engaged to the output shaft to dampen forces on the output shaft responsive to rotation of the feed wheel in the retraction direction stopping when the strap is retracted onto the load; and

a disc spring positioned to force the shock absorber to engage the feed wheel.

15. The strapping machine of claim 14 , wherein the shock absorber comprises: a spring hub defining a spring hub pocket; and a biasing element.

16. The strapping machine of claim 15 , wherein the output shaft is operably connected to the spring hub to rotate the spring hub, wherein the spring hub is engaged with the feed wheel such that the spring hub pocket is aligned with the feed wheel pocket and the biasing element is positioned in the feed wheel pocket such that the biasing element is sandwiched between the feed wheel and the spring hub and operably connects the feed wheel and the spring hub so that rotation of the spring hub by the output shaft causes the spring hub to drive the feed wheel by engagement of the biasing element with the feed wheel and the spring hub.

17. The strapping machine of claim 15 , wherein the feed wheel comprises a projection that at least in part defines the feed wheel pocket.

18. The strapping machine of claim 17 , wherein the biasing element engages the projection.

Assignees

• Signode Ind Group Llc

Inventors

• Foy Michael Brydon
• Elliott Dustin D

Classifications

• B65B13/187 Primary

  Motor means · CPC title

• B65B13/04

  with means for guiding the binding material around the articles prior to severing from supply · 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

• B65B13/24

  Securing ends of binding material · CPC title