Strapping apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9586708-B2
Application number	US-201214357940-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2012
Priority date	Nov 14, 2011
Publication date	Mar 7, 2017
Grant date	Mar 7, 2017

Abstract

In the case of a strapping apparatus for strapping articles with a strapping band, having a base plate which is provided for arranging on an article, having a tensioning device with which a band tension can be applied to the strapping band, the tensioning device being provided for this purpose with an actuable tensioning tool which can be brought into and out of contact with the band, having a sealing device, in particular a friction-welding device with which, by contact with the band, two band layers can be permanently connected to each other by forming a seal between the two band layers, being provided with a plurality of actuating elements with which functions of the strapping unit can be set and/or initiated upon actuation of one or more the actuating elements, the functional reliability of the strapping apparatus is intended to be improved and in particular the possibility of faulty conditions reduced. In order to achieve this, means for locking at least one or more of the actuating elements are proposed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A strapping apparatus for carrying out a strapping operation for strapping an article with a strapping band, the strapping apparatus having a base plate for positioning on the article, comprising:
a tensioning device for applying a tension on the strapping band, the tensioning device having an actuatable tensioning tool configured to be brought into and out of contact with the band;
a friction welding sealing device for contacting overlying layers of the strapping band to permanently seal the overlying layers of the strapping band to each other;
a plurality of actuating elements for controlling at least one operating function of the strapping apparatus, an operating function of the least one operating function carried out based on one or more operating parameters, wherein a parameter of the one or more operating parameters is set upon actuation of one or more of the actuating elements, and the strapping apparatus further includes a lock actuatable between a first condition preventing adjustment of the set parameter and a second condition permitting adjustment of the set parameter;
a motor for driving the tensioning device and the friction welding sealing device; and
a tensioning button for starting the motor;
wherein, with the lock in the first condition, actuation of the tensioning button causes the motor to drive the tensioning device and/or the sealing device.

2. The strapping apparatus of claim 1 , wherein locking a change in the parameters includes locking an initiation of at least one of the operating functions.

3. The strapping apparatus of claim 1 , wherein locking at least one of the plurality of actuating elements is carried out by actuating the lock and at least one of the plurality of actuating elements.

4. The strapping apparatus of claim 3 , wherein locking the at least one of the plurality of actuating elements is carried out by simultaneously actuating the lock and the at least one of the plurality of actuating elements.

5. The strapping apparatus of claim 1 , wherein locking a change in at least one parameter of the strapping apparatus is temporarily activatable.

6. The strapping apparatus of claim 1 including an indicator for indicating which of the at least one functions is locked is indicatable on the strapping apparatus.

7. The strapping apparatus of claim 1 including a release to cancel the lock.

8. A strapping apparatus for strapping an article with a strapping band, comprising:
a base plate for positioning on the article;
a tensioning device for tensioning the strapping band, the tensioning device including an actuatable tensioning tool configured for movement into and out of contact with the band;
a sealing device for permanently sealing two overlying layers of the strapping band by forming a seal between the two strapping band layers;
a motor for driving the tensioning device and the sealing device;
a tensioning button for starting the motor;
a plurality of actuating elements to control functions of the strapping apparatus, the functions carried out based on one or more adjustable parameters, which adjustable parameters are set upon actuation of one or more of the actuating elements; and
a lock for at least one of the actuating elements with which one or more of the parameters are set, the lock actuatable between a first condition where adjustment of the adjustable parameter is prevented a second condition where adjustment of the adjustable parameter is permitted,
wherein the tensioning button is operable in three modes:
a first mode where both the tensioning device and the sealing device are triggered successively in an automated manner by actuation of the tensioning button;
a second mode where the tensioning device is triggered by a first actuation of the tensioning button and the sealing device is triggered by a second actuation of the tensioning button, and
a third mode where the tensioning button is pressed until a desired tensioning force is achieved in the strapping band.

9. The strapping apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first mode is an automatic mode of the strapping apparatus, in which after an initiation of a strapping operation, the tensioning device and subsequently the sealing device are actuated in an automated manner, the lock further configured to lock the tensioning button, and wherein to initiate the strapping operation, the lock is released by simultaneous actuation of the tensioning button and one of the plurality of actuating elements.

10. The strapping apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the tensioning button and the one of the plurality of actuating elements are spaced from each other such that two-handed actuation of the tensioning button and the one of the plurality of actuating elements is required for the simultaneous actuation thereof.

11. The strapping apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the tensioning button is arranged at a front end of a handle of the strapping apparatus and the one of the plurality of actuating elements is arranged at a rear end thereof.

12. The strapping apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the tensioning button is arranged at a front end of a handle of the strapping apparatus and the one of the plurality of actuating elements is arranged at a rear end thereof.

Assignees

• Signode Ind Group Llc

Inventors

• Finzo Flavio

Classifications

• B65B13/322 Primary

  Friction welding · CPC title

• B65B13/025

  Hand-held tools · CPC title

• B65B13/185

  Details of tools (B65B13/24 takes precedence) · CPC title