Strapping machine with improved edge-protector-positioner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11801954-B2
Application number	US-202016939169-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2020
Priority date	Aug 14, 2019
Publication date	Oct 31, 2023
Grant date	Oct 31, 2023

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a strapping machine with an improved edge-protector positioner.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A strapping machine for positioning an edge protector on a corner of a load and for strapping the load, the strapping machine comprising:
a frame;
a load supporter supported by the frame;
a shuttle movable relative to the load supporter between a shuttle home position and a shuttle ejection position, the shuttle configured to receive the edge protector, the shuttle comprising:
an ejector movable from an ejector home position to an ejector ejection position to eject the edge protector from the shuttle; and
an ejection sensor configured to detect the presence of the ejector;

a strapping head; and
a controller operably connected to the shuttle to control the shuttle to move between the shuttle home and shuttle ejection positions and communicatively connected to the ejection sensor, the controller configured to:
control the shuttle to move from the shuttle home position to the shuttle ejection position;
responsive to an ejection condition being met based on feedback from the ejection sensor as the shuttle moves to the shuttle ejection position, control the shuttle to move back to the shuttle home position; and
control the strapping head to strap the load.

2. The strapping machine of claim 1 , wherein the ejection condition is met when the ejection sensor detects the presence of the ejector.

3. The strapping machine of claim 2 , wherein the ejection sensor is configured to detect the presence of the ejector after the ejector moves away from the ejector home position.

4. The strapping machine of claim 3 , wherein the ejection sensor is configured to detect the presence of the ejector when the ejector reaches the ejector ejection position.

5. The strapping machine of claim 4 , wherein the ejection sensor includes an inductive sensor and the ejector is at least partially made of metal.

6. The strapping machine of claim 1 , wherein the ejection sensor is configured to detect the presence of the ejector when the ejector is in the ejector home position, and wherein the ejection condition is met when a designated time period expires after the ejection sensor stops detecting the presence of the ejector when the ejector moves from the ejector home position.

7. The strapping machine of claim 1 , wherein the shuttle comprises a folder configured to receive the edge protector in a generally planar orientation and to fold the edge protector into an L-shape.

8. The strapping machine of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the strapping head to strap the load after the ejection condition is met.

Assignees

• Signode Ind Group Llc

Inventors

• Felsecker Douglas
• Ciurkot Janusz
• Termanas Jeffrey D

Classifications

• B65B13/181 Primary

  applying edge protecting members during bundling · CPC title

• B65B13/04

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

• B65B13/32

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