Strapping device having a pivotable rocker

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11560245-B2
Application number	US-202217653581-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2022
Priority date	Sep 24, 2012
Publication date	Jan 24, 2023
Grant date	Jan 24, 2023

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 pivotable relative to the base about a rocker pivot axis;
a tensioning wheel supported by the rocker and rotatable about a tensioning axis;
an input gear supported by the rocker and rotatable about the tensioning axis;
a lockable component supported by the rocker and rotatable about the tensioning axis; and
a locking mechanism having a locking configuration and a release configuration,
wherein when the locking mechanism is in the locking configuration, the locking mechanism clamps the lockable component to lock the lockable component against rotation such that the input gear is operably connected to the tensioning wheel to rotate the tensioning wheel in a tensioning direction, and
wherein when the locking mechanism is in the release configuration, the locking mechanism enables the lockable component to rotate about the tensioning axis such that the input gear is not operatively connected to the tensioning wheel.

2. The strapping device of claim 1 , further comprising a motor operably connected to the input gear to rotate the input gear about the tensioning axis,
wherein when the locking mechanism is in the locking configuration, the motor is operably connected to the tensioning wheel to rotate the tensioning wheel about the tensioning axis in the tensioning direction.

3. The strapping device of claim 1 , wherein the tensioning wheel is rotatable about the tensioning axis in a direction opposite the tensioning direction when the locking mechanism is in the release configuration.

4. The strapping device of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a clamp.

5. The strapping device of claim 4 , wherein the clamp comprises a clamping portion, wherein when the locking mechanism is in the locking configuration, the clamping portion engages the lockable component and applies a clamping force to the lockable component to lock the lockable component against rotation.

6. The strapping device of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism engages the lockable component when in the locking configuration.

7. The strapping device of claim 6 , wherein the locking mechanism does not engage the lockable component when in the release configuration.

8. The strapping device of claim 1 , wherein when the locking mechanism is in the locking configuration, the locking mechanism applies a clamping force to the lockable component to lock the lockable component against rotation.

9. The strapping device of claim 8 , wherein shifting the locking mechanism from the locking configuration to the release configuration eliminates the clamping force the locking mechanism applies to the lockable component.

10. The strapping device of claim 8 , wherein shifting the locking mechanism from the locking configuration to the release configuration reduces the clamping force the locking mechanism applies to the lockable component.

11. The strapping device of claim 10 , wherein the locking mechanism engages the lockable component when in the locking configuration.

12. The strapping device of claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism does not engage the lockable component when in the release configuration.

13. The strapping device of claim 11 , wherein shifting the locking mechanism from the locking configuration to the release configuration causes part of the locking mechanism to move away from the lockable component.

14. The strapping device of claim 11 , wherein the lockable component comprises an at least partially cylindrical outer surface.

15. The strapping device of claim 14 , wherein the locking mechanism engages an outer surface of the lockable component when in the locking configuration.

16. The strapping device of claim 15 , wherein the lockable component comprises an internally toothed ring gear comprising the outer surface.

17. The strapping device of claim 15 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a curved surface that engages the outer surface of the lockable component when in the locking configuration.

18. The strapping device of claim 1 , wherein when the locking mechanism is in the locking configuration, the locking mechanism engages an outer cylindrical surface of the lockable component.

19. The strapping device of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is pivotable to shift between the locking and release configurations.

20. The strapping device of claim 1 , further comprising an arm movable to shift the locking mechanism from the locking configuration to the release configuration.

21. The strapping device of claim 20 , wherein the arm is pivotable about a shifting axis to shift the locking mechanism from the locking configuration to the release configuration.

22. The strapping device of claim 21 , wherein the shifting axis is parallel to and spaced-apart from the tensioning axis.

23. The strapping device of claim 22 , wherein the arm is transverse to the tensioning axis.

24. The strapping device of claim 23 , wherein the locking mechanism is connected to the arm.

25. 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.

26. The strapping device of claim 25 , further comprising a motor operably connected to the rocker to pivot the rocker relative to the base and about the rocker pivot axis to increase a distance between the tensioning wheel and the tensioning plate.

27. The strapping device of claim 26 , wherein the motor is operably connected to the rocker via the input gear.

28. The strapping device of claim 26 , wherein the motor is operably connected to the rocker to pivot the rocker relative to the base and about the rocker pivot axis to increase the distance between the tensioning wheel and the tensioning plate only after the locking mechanism shifts from the locking configuration to the release configuration.

29. The strapping device of claim 28 , wherein the motor is operably connected to the input gear to rotate the input gear about the tensioning axis.

30. The strapping device of claim 28 , wherein when the locking mechanism is in the locking configuration, the motor is operably connected to the tensioning wheel to rotate the tensioning wheel about the tensioning axis in the tensioning direction, wherein the tensioning wheel is rotatable about the tensioning axis in a direction opposite the tensioning direction when the locking mechanism is in the release configuration.

31. The strapping device of claim 28 , further comprising a friction-welding device movable between a release position and a welding position, wherein the motor is operatively connected to the friction-welding device to move the friction-welding device from the release position to the welding position.

32. The strapping device of claim 31 , wherein the motor comprises 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 ax

Assignees

• Signode Ind Group Llc

Inventors

• Finzo Flavio
• Neeser Mirco
• Takidis Dimitrios

Classifications

• B65B13/322

  Friction welding · CPC title

• B65B13/025

  Hand-held tools · CPC title

• B65B13/187

  Motor means · CPC title

• B65B13/22 Primary

  Means for controlling tension of binding means · CPC title

• B65B13/32

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