Separating device for a strap end connecting device, strap end connecting device, and strapping system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020055621-A1
Application number	US-201916661390-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 23, 2019
Priority date	May 3, 2017
Publication date	Feb 20, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a separating device for severing at least one strap, in particular a plastic strap, the separating device having a blade with an edge for severing the at least one strap, and it being possible for the separating device to be connected to a strap end connecting device, the strap end connecting device having an assembly which has a heating element, it being possible for the blade to be connected to that assembly of the strap end connecting device which has the heating element. In addition, the present disclosure relates to a strap end connecting device for a strapping system having a separating device of this type. In addition, the present disclosure relates to a strap end connecting device for a strapping system having a strap end connecting device of this type.

First claim

1 . A strapping machine comprising:
a frame; and a strap-end-connecting device supported by the frame and comprising:
a first fastening head movable relative to the frame in a movement direction and comprising:
a first housing;
a welding unit at least partially within the first housing, the welding unit comprising a first insulation block and an electrically heatable heating element mounted to the first insulation block and including an electrically conductive material;
a separating device movable with the welding unit and comprising a blade electrically insulated from the heating element; and
a first actuator operably connected to the welding unit to move the welding unit and the separating device relative to the first housing in the movement direction toward a second fastening head; and

the second fastening head movable relative to the frame in the movement direction and comprising:
a second housing;
a pressing unit; and
a second actuator operably connected to the pressing unit to move the pressing unit relative to the second housing in the movement direction toward the first fastening head.

2 . The strapping machine of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator comprises a pneumatic cylinder.

3 . The strapping machine of claim 1 , wherein the second actuator comprises a pneumatic cylinder.

4 . The strapping machine of claim 1 , wherein the separating device further comprises a carrier to which the blade is mounted so an air gap exists between the blade and the heating element.

5 . The strapping machine of claim 1 , wherein the blade comprises a cutting edge that forms an acute angle with the movement direction.

6 . The strapping machine of claim 1 , wherein the first fastening head further comprises a second insulation block, wherein the separating device further comprises a carrier to which the blade is mounted, wherein the carrier is mounted to the second insulation block to electrically insulate the carrier and the blade from the heating element.

7 . The strapping machine of claim 6 , wherein the second insulation block is on a side of the first insulation block opposite the heating element.

8 . The strapping machine of claim 1 , wherein the blade is positioned relative to the heating element so when the heating element is heated the heating element heats the blade via radiation.

9 . A strap-end-connecting device comprising:
a first fastening head comprising:
a first housing;
a welding unit at least partially within the first housing, the welding unit comprising a first insulation block and an electrically heatable heating element mounted to the first insulation block and and including an electrically conductive material;
a separating device movable with the welding unit and comprising a blade electrically insulated from the heating element; and
a first actuator operably connected to the welding unit to move the welding unit and the separating device relative to the first housing; and
the second fastening head comprising:
a second housing;
a pressing unit; and
a second actuator operably connected to the pressing unit to move the pressing unit relative to the second housing.

10 . The strap-end-connecting device of claim 9 , wherein the first actuator comprises a pneumatic cylinder.

11 . The strap-end-connecting device of claim 9 , wherein the second actuator comprises a pneumatic cylinder.

12 . The strap-end-connecting device of claim 9 , wherein the separating device further comprises a carrier to which the blade is mounted so an air gap exists between the blade and the heating element.

13 . The strap-end-connecting device of claim 9 , wherein the blade comprises a cutting edge that forms an acute angle with the movement direction.

14 . The strap-end-connecting device of claim 9 , wherein the first fastening head further comprises a second insulation block, wherein the separating device further comprises a carrier to which the blade is mounted, wherein the carrier is mounted to the second insulation block to electrically insulate the carrier and the blade from the heating element.

15 . The strap-end-connecting device of claim 14 , wherein the second insulation block is on a side of the first insulation block opposite the heating element.

16 . The strap-end-connecting device of claim 9 , wherein the blade is positioned relative to the heating element so when the heating element is heated the heating element heats the blade via radiation.

17 . A strap cutting and welding method comprising:
moving at least one of a first fastening head and a second fastening head until the first and second fastening heads are adjacent to one another; moving a strap clamp to clamp a first strap between the strap clamp and a first housing of the first fastening head and to clamp a second strap between the strap clamp and a second housing of the second fastening head; heating an electrically heatable heating element of the first fastening head, thereby causing the heating element to heat a blade of the first fastening head via radiation; moving the blade relative to the first housing of the first fastening head toward the second fastening head, thereby causing the blade to cut the first strap to form first and second first strap ends, orienting the first and second first strap ends generally parallel to the movement direction, and heating the first and second first strap ends; continue moving the blade relative to the first housing of the first fastening head toward the second fastening head, thereby causing the blade to cut the second strap to form first and second second strap ends; and moving a pressing unit of the second fastening head toward the first fastening head, thereby causing the first and second second strap ends to bear against and weld together with the first and second first strap ends, respectively.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first and second fastening heads, the blade, and the pressing unit each move in a movement direction.

19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising heating the heating element by passing electrical current through the heating element.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the blade is movable with but electrically insulated from the heating element.

Assignees

• Signode Ind Group Llc

Inventors

• Meng Michael

Classifications

• B65B13/16 Primary

  with means for severing the binding material from supply and then applying it around the articles · CPC title

• B65B13/32 Primary

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