Strapping device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11999516-B2
Application number	US-202318342304-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2023
Priority date	Apr 23, 2008
Publication date	Jun 4, 2024
Grant date	Jun 4, 2024

Abstract

A strapping device including a tensioner operable to apply a strap tension to a loop of wrapping strap, a friction welder operable to produce a friction weld connection at two areas of the loop of wrapping strap disposed one on top of the other, a motor operable in a first rotational direction to drive the tensioner and in a second opposite rotational direction to drive the friction welder, and a control device. The control device is configured to, in response to receiving a first designated input: (1) operate the motor in the first rotational direction to drive the tensioner until a predetermined strap tension is reached in the loop of wrapping strap; and (2) afterwards, automatically operate the motor in the second different rotational direction to drive the friction welder to produce the friction weld connection.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A strapping device comprising:
a tensioner operable to tension a strap;
a strap connector operable to connect two areas of the strap to one another, the strap connector movable from a rest position downward to a connecting position and from the connecting position upward to the rest position;
a transfer device operably connected to the strap connector to move the strap connector from the rest position downward to the connecting position;
a motor comprising a motor shaft, the motor operably connectable to the tensioner, the strap connector, and the transfer device at least in part via the motor shaft; and
a control device configured to control the motor to rotate the motor shaft in a first direction to cause the transfer device to move the strap connector from the rest position downward to the connecting position and to cause the strap connector to operate and in a second direction opposite the first direction to cause the tensioner to rotate, wherein the transfer device comprises a first arm pivotable between a first position and a second position and a second arm pivotable between a third position and a fourth position.

2. The strapping device of claim 1 , wherein the first arm is operably connected to the second arm to pivot the second arm from the third position to the fourth position.

3. The strapping device of claim 2 , wherein the second arm is pinned to the first arm.

4. The strapping device of claim 2 , wherein the second arm is operably connected to the strap connector so movement of the second arm from the third position to the fourth position causes the strap connector to move from the rest position downward to the connecting position.

5. The strapping device of claim 4 , wherein the second arm is pinned to the strap connector.

6. The strapping device of claim 4 , further comprising a spring positioned to:
when the first arm is in the first position, exert a biasing force on the first arm to retain the first arm in the first position; and
when the first arm is in the second position, exert a biasing force on the first arm to retain the first arm in the second position.

7. The strapping device of claim 4 , wherein the strap connector comprises a movable welding shoe, a welding shoe arm housing the welding shoe, and an eccentric drive operably connected to the welding shoe, wherein the second arm is operably connected to the welding shoe arm, wherein the motor is operably connected to the eccentric drive to rotate the eccentric drive to cause the welding shoe to oscillate.

8. The strapping device of claim 4 , wherein the first arm is operably connected to the second arm so movement of the first arm from the first position to the second position causes the second arm to move from the third position to the fourth position.

9. The strapping device of claim 8 , further comprising a cam wheel having a cam thereon, wherein the motor shaft is operably connectable to the cam wheel and wherein the cam wheel is positioned relative to the first arm of the transfer device so rotation of the motor shaft in the first direction causes the cam wheel to rotate so the cam contacts the first arm and causes the first arm to rotate from the first position to the second position, thereby causing the second arm to move from the third position to the fourth position and the connecting device to move from the rest position downward to the connecting position.

10. The strapping device of claim 9 , wherein the first and second arms of the transfer device pivot in opposite directions when pivoting from the first and third to the second and fourth positions, respectively.

11. The strapping device of claim 8 , further comprising an output gear and an endless belt, wherein the strap connector comprises a movable welding shoe, a welding shoe arm housing the welding shoe, and an eccentric drive operably connected to the welding shoe, wherein the endless belt operably connects the output gear to the eccentric drive to rotate the eccentric drive to cause the welding shoe to oscillate, wherein motor is operably connectable to the output gear to rotate the output gear.

12. The strapping device of claim 9 , wherein the control device is further configured to determine the position of the cam and to terminate a welding cycle by stopping the motor shaft from rotating in the first direction when the cam is disengaged from the first arm.

13. The strapping device of claim 12 , further comprising a rocker lever operably connected to the transfer device so operation of the rocker lever causes the transfer device to move the strap connector from the connecting position upward to the rest position.

14. The strapping device of claim 13 , wherein the rocker lever is operably connected to the second arm of the transfer device.

15. The strapping device of claim 1 , further comprising a first freewheel between the motor shaft and the strap connector and the transfer device, wherein the first freewheel operably connects the motor shaft to the strap connector and the transfer device when the motor shaft rotates in the first direction and does not operably connect the motor shaft to the strap connector and the transfer device when the motor shaft rotates in a second direction.

16. The strapping device of claim 15 , wherein the motor is operably connectable to the tensioner at least in part via the motor shaft.

17. The strapping device of claim 16 , further comprising a second freewheel between the motor shaft and the tensioner, wherein the second freewheel operably connects the motor shaft to the tensioner when the motor shaft rotates in the second direction and does not operably connect the motor shaft to the tensioner when the motor shaft rotates in the first direction.

18. The strapping device of claim 1 , further comprising a rechargeable battery and planetary gearing, wherein the battery powers the motor and the control device, wherein the motor shaft is operably connected to the strap connector and the transfer device at least in part via the planetary gearing.

19. The strapping device of claim 1 , further comprising a base plate supporting the tensioner, the strap connector, the transfer device, and the motor.

Assignees

• Signode Ind Group Llc

Inventors

• Neeser Mirco
• Widmer Roland
• Finzo Flavio

Classifications

• B65B13/187 Primary

  Motor means · CPC title

• B65B13/025

  Hand-held tools · CPC title

• B65B13/22

  Means for controlling tension of binding means · CPC title

• B65B13/322

  Friction welding · CPC title