US3611916A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bundle-binding machine and process
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-04-02
•
Granted: 1971-10-12
•
Expires: 1989-04-02
Abstract
Abstract Bundles are bound by twine in a machine having a frame carrying a horizontal platform having space above it for pushing in bundles to be bound. Centrally mounted on the top of the frame is a ram motor which projects forwardly and above the platform space. It carries a vertically reciprocative ram, on the bottom of which is mounted a twine-aligning assembly designed to pass twine through it and to project the twine away from it and into the gripping means when the ram reaches the bottom of its stroke. A feeding means on the top of the frame feeds a supply of slackfree twine to and through the assembly. One switch is provided for actuating the ram motor for the downward stroke of the ram after the bundle has been pushed onto the platform. Another switch is actuatable by the ram at the end of its downward stroke and it serves to initiate the twine gripping, crimping and cutting mechanisms. The twine-gripping mechanism is mounted below the platform and it serves to grip the twine after it has been inserted therein by the assembly, and it holds the twine during and after the binding operation. Thereafter, the twine is fastened by a clip, a crimped strip piece of metal in a mechanism mounted below the platform. A cutting mechanism then cuts the twine free of its supply, and a third switch actuates the ram motor to return the ram to its uppermost position while the twine is held by the gripping mechanism so that a length of twine is stretched vertically across the space above the platform. A pushing means pushes the bundle into the length of stretched twine until the bundle is on the platform encompassed on three sides by the twine. By actuating the first switch, the ram, on its downward stroke, effects complete encirclement of the bundle, after which the gripping, crimping and cutting mechanisms complete the binding operation. An alternative cutting means, when using a thermoplastic twine, consists in cutting the twine with a heated knife with enough contact time to fuse together the two cut ends below the clip and thus strengthen further the binding.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen Valan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:55
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B13/00; B65B13/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
348 words
A machine for binding a bundle with twine, said machine comprising: a frame; a platform mounted upon the frame for receiving a bundle to be bound; means for providing a supply of twine at a location spaced above the platform; twine-gripping means mounted upon the frame below the platform for holding a length of twine stretched across the space between said location and the platform such that as a bundle passes along the platform and through said space against the stretched twine, the twine will encompass three sides of the bundle; a ram mounted upon the frame for longitudinal reciprocating movement and including an end movable from a first position adjacent said location to a second position adjacent to and spaced laterally from the twine-gripping means; a twine-aligning assembly carried by the ram adjacent said end thereof for advancing twine from said supply along a longitudinal path of travel as the ram end moves from the first position to the second position, said twine-aligning assembly including means for moving the twine laterally out of said path of travel and into the twine-gripping means in response to the arrival of the ram end at said second position; means for maintaining a prescribed tension in the twine advanced from said supply to the twine-aligning assembly; crimping means mounted upon the frame for crimping a fastener around the twine between the platform and the twine-gripping means; twine-cutting means mounted upon the frame for cutting the twine between the crimped fastener and the twine-gripping means; first means for actuating the ram to move the end thereof from said first position to said second position; second means for actuating, in sequence, the twine-gripping means, the crimping means and the twine-cutting means in response to the arrival of the ram end at the second position; and third means for returning the ram end to the first position in response to completion of the actuation of the twine-cutting means, with the twine held in the twine-gripping means such that said length of twine is held stretched across the space between said location and the platform.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
348 words
A machine for binding a bundle with twine, said machine comprising: a frame; a platform mounted upon the frame for receiving a bundle to be bound; means for providing a supply of twine at a location spaced above the platform; twine-gripping means mounted upon the frame below the platform for holding a length of twine stretched across the space between said location and the platform such that as a bundle passes along the platform and through said space against the stretched twine, the twine will encompass three sides of the bundle; a ram mounted upon the frame for longitudinal reciprocating movement and including an end movable from a first position adjacent said location to a second position adjacent to and spaced laterally from the twine-gripping means; a twine-aligning assembly carried by the ram adjacent said end thereof for advancing twine from said supply along a longitudinal path of travel as the ram end moves from the first position to the second position, said twine-aligning assembly including means for moving the twine laterally out of said path of travel and into the twine-gripping means in response to the arrival of the ram end at said second position; means for maintaining a prescribed tension in the twine advanced from said supply to the twine-aligning assembly; crimping means mounted upon the frame for crimping a fastener around the twine between the platform and the twine-gripping means; twine-cutting means mounted upon the frame for cutting the twine between the crimped fastener and the twine-gripping means; first means for actuating the ram to move the end thereof from said first position to said second position; second means for actuating, in sequence, the twine-gripping means, the crimping means and the twine-cutting means in response to the arrival of the ram end at the second position; and third means for returning the ram end to the first position in response to completion of the actuation of the twine-cutting means, with the twine held in the twine-gripping means such that said length of twine is held stretched across the space between said location and the platform.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
105 words
A machine, according to claim 1, in which said twine-aligning assembly comprises: a centrally pivoted setting arm through which said twine is designed to ride, and which is arranged to ride in a longitudinal position as said ram end travels between said first and second positions thereof, a pair of rollers mounted in line on one end of said arm in a manner such that when said other end of said arm is raised to set said arm in a substantially lateral position, said twine passes around the innermost roller and then around the outermost projecting roller for feeding said twine into said gripping means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
A machine, according to claim 2, in which pin means is disposed on said frame below said platform and is designed to raise said other end of said setting arm when the ram end arrives at the second position thereof, and spring means mounted above said other arm end on said ram and designed to return said arm to said longitudinal position on return of said ram end toward said first position thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A machine, according to claim 1, in which spring-biased rollers are disposed on said frame between the twine supply and said ram to maintain constant tension on said twine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A machine, according to claim 1, in which a pressure plate is resiliently mounted on said frame over said space above said platform, and moving means for moving said plate over a bundle disposable on said platform for holding said bundle during said binding operation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
A machine, according to claim 5, comprising: a threaded vertical rod mounted near each of four corners of said frame and haVing their lower ends attached, in rotatable relation, to said plate, a threaded sprocket attached to each corner of the frame and in coacting relation with each rod disposed thereat, a motor designed to drive said sprockets, and a chain connecting all sprockets and said motor shaft in a manner such that the rotation of the sprockets by said motor moves said pressure plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A machine, according to claim 1, in which the ram comprises a dual ram.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A machine, according to claim 1, in which the twine is made of thermoplastic material, and the twine-cutting means comprises a heated knife designed to cut and fuse the two twine ends projectable from the crimped fastener.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A machine, according to claim 1, in which said ram has a longitudinally projecting pin, and said second means is mounted in a manner such that, when said ram end reaches the second position, said latter projecting pin actuates said latter second means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A machine, according to claim 1, in which said twine-gripping means comprises: a pair of gripping jaws for gripping said twine fed thereto by said twine-aligning assembly, and moveable cam means for effecting the gripping of the twine in proper sequence.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
A machine, according to claim 1, in which said crimping means comprises: means for holding a supply of metal strip, a retractable anvil, feeding means for feeding said strip over said anvil for preforming a clip, cutting means for cutting said strip during said preforming, crimping arms for crimping said preformed clip after said anvil is retracted and over the two twine portions gripped by said gripping means, and movable cam means for effecting the said latter operations in proper sequence.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A machine, according to claim 1, in which said twine-cutting means comprises a pair of knives designed to cut said crimped twine while the supply portion of said twine is held by said gripping means, and movable cam means for effecting said latter operations in proper sequence.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-11 | 1975-04-12 | 1975-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-11 | 1979-04-12 | 1979-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-11 | 1983-04-12 | 1983-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |