Coil unreeler

Claim 2

A coil unreeler for dispensing a continuous strip of strapping material from a coil thereof, said unreeler comprising a coil support for rotatably supporting an associated coil of strapping material having an unreeled portion extending therefrom, a drive motor coupled to said coil support for effecting rotation of the associated coil in an unreeling direction, a brake coupled to said coil support for retarding rotation of the associated coil, a tension sensing device for sensing the tension in the unreeled portion of the strapping material, and control apparatus responsive to the sensing by said sensing device of a predetermined tension in the unreeled portion of strapping material for releasing said brake and thereafter actuating said drive motor to effect rotation of the associated coil in an unreeling direction.

Claim 3

A coil unreeler for dispensing a continuous strip of strapping material from a coil thereof, said unreeler comprising a coil support for rotatably supporting an associated coil of strapping material having an unreeled portion extending therefrom, a drive motor coupled to said coil support for effecting rotation of the associated coil in an unreeling direction, a brake coupled to said coil support for retarding rotation of the associated coil, a tension sensing device for sensing the tension in the unreeled portion of the strapping material, and control apparatus responsive to the sensing by said sensing device of a predetermined tension in the unreeled portion of strapping material for releasing said brake and thereafter actuating said drive motor to effect rotation of the associated coil in an unreeling direction.

Claim 4

A coil unreeler for dispensing a continuous strip of strapping material from a coil thereof, said unreeler comprising a coil support for rotatably supporting an associated coil of strapping material having an unreeled portion extending therefrom, a drive motor coupled to said coil support for effecting rotation of the associated coil in an unreeling direction, a brake coupled to said coil support for retarding rotation of the associated coil, a tension sensing device for sensing the tension in the unreeled portion of the strapping material, and control apparatus responsive to the sensing by said sensing device of a predetermined tension in the unreeled portion of strapping material for releasing said brake and thereafter actuating said drive motor to effect rotation of the associated coil in an unreeling direction.

Claim 5

The coil unreeler set forth in claim 1, wherein said control apparatus is responsive to the sensing by said sensing device of a tension less than said predetermined tension in the unreeled portion of strapping material for deactuating said drive motor and applying said brake to retard the rotation of the associated coil.

Claim 6

The coil unreeler set forth in claim 1, wherein said drive motor comprises an air motor, and wherein said control apparatus includes a valve for controlling the flow of air to said air motor, and a mechanical linkage coupling said tension sensing deviCe to said brake.

Claim 7

The coil unreeler set forth in claim 1, and further including means coupling said drive motor to said coil support and rotatable therewith, said brake being engageable with said coupling means for retarding rotation thereof.

Claim 8

A coil unreeler for dispensing a continuous strip of strapping material from a coil thereof, said unreeler comprising a coil support for rotatably supporting an associated coil of strapping material having an unreeled portion extending therefrom, an air motor coupled to said coil support and having a first condition for effecting rotation of the associated coil in an unreeling direction and a second condition for effecting rotation of the associated coil in a reeling direction, a brake coupled to said coil support for retarding rotation of the associated coil, a tension sensing device for sensing the tension in the unreeled portion of the strapping material both above and below a predetermined range of tension therein, and control apparatus including a first valve for controlling the flow of air to said air motor in the first condition thereof and a second valve for controlling the flow of air to said air motor in the second condition thereof and being responsive to said sensing device for controlling said air motor and said brake, said control apparatus being responsive to the sensing by said sensing device of a tension above said predetermined range of tension in the unreeled portion of strapping material for releasing said brake and thereafter actuating said air motor to the first condition thereof to effect rotation of the associated coil in an unreeling direction, said control apparatus being responsive to the sensing by said sensing device of a tension in said predetermined range of tension in the unreeled portion of strapping material for deactuating said air motor and applying said brake to retard rotation of the associated coil, said control apparatus being responsive to the sensing by said sensing device of a tension below said predetermined range of tension in the unreeled portion of strapping material for releasing said brake and actuating said air motor to the second condition thereof for effecting rotation of the associated coil in a reeling direction.

Claim 9

A coil unreeler for dispensing a continuous strip of strapping material from a coil thereof, said unreeler comprising a coil support for rotatably supporting an associated coil of strapping material having an unreeled portion extending therefrom, an air motor coupled to said coil support and having a first condition for effecting rotation of the associated coil in an unreeling direction and a second condition for effecting rotation of the associated coil in a reeling direction, a brake coupled to said coil support for retarding rotation of the associated coil, a tension sensing device for sensing the tension in the unreeled portion of the strapping material both above and below a predetermined range of tension therein, and control apparatus including a first valve for controlling the flow of air to said air motor in the first condition thereof and a second valve for controlling the flow of air to said air motor in the second condition thereof and being responsive to said sensing device for controlling said air motor and said brake, said control apparatus being responsive to the sensing by said sensing device of a tension above said predetermined range of tension in the unreeled portion of strapping material for releasing said brake and thereafter actuating said air motor to the first condition thereof to effect rotation of the associated coil in an unreeling direction, said control apparatus being responsive to the sensing by said sensing device of a tension in said predetermined range of tension in the unreeled portion of strapping material for deactuating said air motor and applying said brake to retard rotation of the associated coil, said control apparatus being responsive to the sensing by said sensing device of a tension below said predetermined range of tension in the unreeled portion of strapping material for releasing said brake and actuating said air motor to the second condition thereof for effecting rotation of the associated coil in a reeling direction.

Claim 10

The coil unreeler set forth in claim 5, and further including means coupling said air motor to said coil support and rotatable therewith, said brake being engageable with said coupling means for retarding rotation thereof.

Claim 11

The coil unreeler set forth in claim 5, and further including a sprocket plate coupled to said air motor and fixedly secured to said coil support for rotation therewith, said brake including a pair of brake shoes receiving said sprocket plate therebetween for clamping engagement with said sprocket plate to retard the rotation thereof.

Claim 12

A coil unreeler for dispensing a continuous strip of strapping material from a coil thereof, said unreeler comprising a coil support for rotatably supporting an associated coil of strapping material having an unreeled portion extending therefrom, an air motor coupled to said coil support for effecting rotation of the associated coil in an unreeling direction, a rocker arm mounted for pivotal movement about a predetermined axis between first and second ranges of movement, bias means urging said rocker arm toward said first range of movement and into engagement with the unreeled portion of strapping material, application of a predetermined tensional unreeling force to the unreeled portion of strapping material beyond said rocker arm effecting pivotal movement thereof from said first range of movement to said second range of movement, and control apparatus including a valve having an actuator member for controlling the flow of air to said air motor and being responsive to the movement of said rocker arm from said first range of movement to said second range of movement thereby to engage said actuator member to actuate said air motor to effect rotation of the associated coil in an unreeling diRection.

Claim 13

A coil unreeler for dispensing a continuous strip of strapping material from a coil thereof, said unreeler comprising a coil support for rotatably supporting an associated coil of strapping material having an unreeled portion extending therefrom, an air motor coupled to said coil support for effecting rotation of the associated coil in an unreeling direction, a rocker arm mounted for pivotal movement about a predetermined axis between first and second ranges of movement, bias means urging said rocker arm toward said first range of movement and into engagement with the unreeled portion of strapping material, application of a predetermined tensional unreeling force to the unreeled portion of strapping material beyond said rocker arm effecting pivotal movement thereof from said first range of movement to said second range of movement, and control apparatus including a valve having an actuator member for controlling the flow of air to said air motor and being responsive to the movement of said rocker arm from said first range of movement to said second range of movement thereby to engage said actuator member to actuate said air motor to effect rotation of the associated coil in an unreeling diRection.

Claim 14

The coil unreeler set forth in claim 8, wherein said control apparatus is responsive to the movement of said rocker arm from said second range of movement to said first range of movement for deactuating said drive motor.

Claim 15

The coil unreeler set forth in claim 8, and further including a fixed arm mounted for engagement with the unreeled portion of strapping material and cooperating with said rocker arm to support a reach of strapping material therebetween, the length of said reach varying with the movement of said rocker arm.

Claim 16

The coil unreeler set forth in claim 8, and further including a fixed arm, pulley assembles respectively mounted on said fixed arm and said rocker arm for engagement with the unreeled portion of strapping material and cooperating to support a reach of strapping material therebetween, the length of said reach varying with the movement of said rocker arm.

Claim 17

A coil unreeler for dispensing a continuous strip of strapping material from a coil thereof, said unreeler comprising a coil support for rotatably supporting an associated coil of strapping material having an unreeled portion extending therefrom, a drive motor coupled to said coil in an unreeling direction, a rocker arm mounted for pivotal movement about a predetermined axis between first and second ranges of movement, bias means urging said rocker arm toward said first range of movement and into engagement with the unreeled portion of strapping material, application of a predetermined tensional unreeling force to the unreeled portion of strapping material beyond said rocker arm effecting pivotal movement thereof from said first range of movement to said second range of movement, a brake plate coupled to said coil support and rotatable therewith, a pair of brake shoes respectively mounted on opposite sides of said brake plate and yieldably urged into engagement therewith for retarding rotation thereof, releasing mechanism coupled to said brake shoes for moving said brake shoes out of engagement with said brake plate for accommodating free rotation thereof, and control means responsive to the movement of said rocker arm from said first range of movement to said second range of movement for actuating said releasing mechanism and actuating said drive motor to effect rotation of the associated coil in an unreeling direction.

Claim 18

A coil unreeler for dispensing a continuous strip of strapping material from a coil thereof, said unreeler comprising a coil support for rotatably supporting an associated coil of strapping material having an unreeled portion extending therefrom, a drive motor coupled to said coil in an unreeling direction, a rocker arm mounted for pivotal movement about a predetermined axis between first and second ranges of movement, bias means urging said rocker arm toward said first range of movement and into engagement with the unreeled portion of strapping material, application of a predetermined tensional unreeling force to the unreeled portion of strapping material beyond said rocker arm effecting pivotal movement thereof from said first range of movement to said second range of movement, a brake plate coupled to said coil support and rotatable therewith, a pair of brake shoes respectively mounted on opposite sides of said brake plate and yieldably urged into engagement therewith for retarding rotation thereof, releasing mechanism coupled to said brake shoes for moving said brake shoes out of engagement with said brake plate for accommodating free rotation thereof, and control means responsive to the movement of said rocker arm from said first range of movement to said second range of movement for actuating said releasing mechanism and actuating said drive motor to effect rotation of the associated coil in an unreeling direction.

Claim 19

The coil unreeler set forth in claim 12, wherein said releasing mechanism comprises a fixed cam member mounted between said brake shoes, a pair of movable cam members respectively coupled to said brake shoes and disposed on opposite sides of said fixed cam member for camming engagement therewith, and means coupling said movable cam members to said rocker arm for moving said movable cam members in response to movement of said rocker arm, said movable cam members being responsive to movement of said rocker arm from said first range of movement to said second range of movement for urging said brake shoe out of engagement with said brake plate.

Claim 20

A coil unreeler for dispensing a continuous strip of strapping material from a coil thereof, said unreeler comprising a coil support for rotatably supporting an associated coil of strapping material having an unreeled portion extending therefrom, a drive motor coupled to said coil support for effecting rotation of the associated coil in an unreeling direction, a sprocket plate coupled to said drive motor and fixedly secured to said coil support for rotation therewith, a brake coupled to said coil support for retarding rotation of the associated coil, said brake including a pair of brake shoes receiving said sprocket plates therebetween for clamping engagement with said sprocket plate to retard the rotation thereof, a tension sensing device for sensing the tension in the unreeled portion of the strapping material, and control apparatus responsive to the sensing by said sensing device of a predetermined tension in the unreeled portion of strapping material for releasing said brake and thereafter actuating sAid drive motor to effect rotation of the associated coil in an unreeling direction.

Claim 21

A coil unreeler for dispensing a continuous strip of strapping material from a coil thereof, said unreeler comprising a coil support for rotatably supporting an associated coil of strapping material having an unreeled portion extending therefrom, a drive motor coupled to said coil support for effecting rotation of the associated coil in an unreeling direction, a sprocket plate coupled to said drive motor and fixedly secured to said coil support for rotation therewith, a brake coupled to said coil support for retarding rotation of the associated coil, said brake including a pair of brake shoes receiving said sprocket plates therebetween for clamping engagement with said sprocket plate to retard the rotation thereof, a tension sensing device for sensing the tension in the unreeled portion of the strapping material, and control apparatus responsive to the sensing by said sensing device of a predetermined tension in the unreeled portion of strapping material for releasing said brake and thereafter actuating sAid drive motor to effect rotation of the associated coil in an unreeling direction.