US3718526A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for friction fusing
Assignee: Signode Corp
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Filing: 1971-02-25
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Granted: 1973-02-27
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Expires: 1991-02-25
Abstract
Abstract A strapping machine for feeding strap from a supply, tensioning a strap loop around an article, friction fusing overlapping end portions of the strap and cutting the loop of strap from the supply. The machine includes a strap engaging wheel, with an anvil and a feed pad supported adjacent the periphery of the wheel and biased towards the wheel to frictionally grip strap between the anvil and wheel or the feed pas and wheel. A unidirectional motor drives the feed wheel, and a drive mechanism between the motor and the wheel is capable of (1) rotating the wheel in one direction while the feed pad forces the strap into engagement with the periphery of the wheel, (2) rotating the wheel in a second direction while the anvil frictionally grips over-lapping portions of the strap to tension the strap loop about an article and (3) automatically converting rotation in the second direction to oscillating movement to friction fuse the overlapping strap portions.
Inventors
- 👤 J Annis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:34
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B13/00; B65B13/18; B65B13/24; B65B13/32; B65B13/322
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for use in providing a strap about an article and for friction-fusion sealing of overlapping portions of the strap, comprising a source of strap; an element engaging said strap; a drive means cooperating with said element; first means between said drive means and said element for intermittently rotating said element in one direction to feed strap from said source in sufficient quantity to encompass said article with a free end in overlapping relation with a portion of said strap engaged by said element; and second means between said drive means and said element for reciprocating said element to friction-fuse overlapping portions of said strap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for use in providing a strap about an article and for friction-fusion sealing of overlapping portions of the strap, comprising a source of strap; an element engaging said strap; a drive means cooperating with said element; first means between said drive means and said element for intermittently rotating said element in one direction to feed strap from said source in sufficient quantity to encompass said article with a free end in overlapping relation with a portion of said strap engaged by said element; and second means between said drive means and said element for reciprocating said element to friction-fuse overlapping portions of said strap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including third means for rotating said element in an opposite direction to tension said strap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which first means includes a feed pad; biasing means biasing said feed pad toward a surface of said element with said strap interposed between said surface and pad to frictionally grip said strap and feed said strap while said element is rotating in said one direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, in which said second means includes an anvil; second biasing means biasing said anvil toward said surface to frictionally grip the overlapping portions of said strap and cause relative movement between said overlapping portions in response to oscillation of said element, and cooperating means between said anvil and said pad for (1) maintaining said anvil spaced from said surface while said strap is frictionally gripped between said surface and said pad and (2) maintaining said pad spaced from said surface while said anvil is frictionally gripping said overlapping portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, in which said second means includes means for initially rotating said element in an opposite direction while said anvil is frictionally gripping said overlapping portions to tension said strap about a package.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, further including cutter means adjacent said anvil; a lever having a first position for feeding strap and a second position for tensioning and sealing said strap; and means interposed between said cutter means and said lever for actuating said cutter means when lever is moved from said second to said first position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said second means includes means for initially rotating said element in an opposite direction to tension said strap.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7, in which said first means includes an oscillating member; an intermediate member between said oscillating member and said element; connecting means between said intermediate member and said element; and clutch means between said oscillating member and said intermediate member for converting oscillating motion of said oscillating member to unidirectional intermittent rotary motion of said intermediate member and said element in said one direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8, in which said second means includes positive unidirectional drive means between said oscillating member and said intermediate member and clutch means between said intermediate member and said element; and said connecting means includes a friction drive between said element and said intermediate member, further including means for producing a frictional force between said strap and said element whereby said frIctional force prevents rotation of said element in said one direction until a predetermined level of tension is produced in said strap and said element is oscillated to fuse overlapping portions of said strap when said strap is tensioned to said predetermined level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, further including first adjustable means for varying the frictional force of said friction drive and second adjustable means for varying the frictional force between said strap and said element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, in which said means for producing a frictional force between said strap and said element includes an anvil and in which said first means includes a feed pad for engaging said strap and forcing said strap into engagement with said element, the further improvement of manual means for simultaneously moving said anvil and feed pad between (1) a first position in which said anvil is spaced from said strap and said feed pad is in engagement with said strap and (2) a second position in which said anvil is in engagement with said strap and said feed wheel is spaced from said strap.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11, further including cutter means adjacent said anvil; and means actuating said cutter means to cut said strap when said anvil and feed pad are moved from said second to said first position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, in which said drive means includes a unidirectional motor having a rotating output shaft and means between said shaft and oscillating member for converting rotary motion of said shaft to oscillating motion of said oscillating member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a strapping machine having a strap engaging wheel and an anvil adjacent said wheel cooperating with each other for tensioning a strap loop about an article and oscillating overlapping strap portions relative to each other to effect interface melting, the improvement of a feed pad cooperating with said wheel to produce frictional engagement between the wheel and strap so that rotation of said wheel will feed strap from a source for encompassing said article.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a strapping machine having a strap engaging wheel and an anvil adjacent said wheel cooperating with each other for tensioning a strap loop about an article and oscillating overlapping strap portions relative to each other to effect interface melting, the improvement of a feed pad cooperating with said wheel to produce frictional engagement between the wheel and strap so that rotation of said wheel will feed strap from a source for encompassing said article.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
71 words
A friction-fusion machine as defined in claim 14, further including a lever for moving said anvil and feed pad between (1) a first position in which said feed pad is in strap gripping relation with said wheel and said anvil is spaced from said wheel and (2) a second position in which said feed pad is spaced from said wheel and said anvil is in strap gripping relation with said wheel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A strapping machine as defined in claim 15, further including cutter means cooperating with said anvil and means on said lever for actuating said cutter means when said feed pad and anvil are moved from said second to said first position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
76 words
A strapping machine as defined in claim 15, further including means for (1) rotating said wheel in one direction when said feed pad is in strap gripping relation with said wheel, (2) rotating said wheel in an opposite direction when said anvil is in strap gripping relation with said wheel and (3) automatically converting rotating motion in said opposite direction to oscillating motion when a predetermined level of tension has been applied to the strap loop.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
80 words
A strapping machine as defined in claim 17, in which said last means includes an input member; means for oscillating said input member; an intermediate member; first unidirectional clutch means between said intermediate member and said input member for intermittently rotating said intermediate member in said one direction in response to oscillation of said input member; and drive means between said intermediate member and said wheel for intermittently rotating said wheel in response to intermittent rotation of said intermediate member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
66 words
A strapping machine as defined in claim 18, in which said last means further includes latch means between said intermediate member and said input member and cooperating with said first clutch means for oscillating said intermediate member in response to oscillation of said input member; and second clutch means for intermittently rotating said wheel in said opposite direction in response to oscillation of said intermediate member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
67 words
A strapping machine as defined in claim 19, in which said drive means between said intermediate member and said wheel includes a friction clutch, said friction clutch accommodating relative rotation in said one direction when the tension in said loop is below said predetermined tension and providing a drive connection between said intermediate member and said wheel when the tension in the loop reaches said predetermined level.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
68 words
A strapping machine as defined in claim 20, in which said lever is pivoted about a fixed pivot axis further including cooperating means between said lever and anvil for moving said anvil between first and second positions; and means between said anvil and said feed pad for moving said feed pad between first and second positions in response to movement of said anvil between first and second positions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
121 words
A drive mechanism for use in a machine for feeding strap from a source, tensioning the strap about an article and friction-fusion sealing of overlapping portions of the strap, comprising an input member; reciprocating means to reciprocate said input member between extreme positions; an output member adapted to engage the strap; first means between said input and output members for intermittently rotating said output member in one direction to feed strap from a source; second means between said input and output members for intermittently rotating said output member in an opposite direction for tensioning the strap about an article; and third means for reciprocating said output member by said input member for effecting relative motion between overlapping portions of the strap.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
121 words
A drive mechanism for use in a machine for feeding strap from a source, tensioning the strap about an article and friction-fusion sealing of overlapping portions of the strap, comprising an input member; reciprocating means to reciprocate said input member between extreme positions; an output member adapted to engage the strap; first means between said input and output members for intermittently rotating said output member in one direction to feed strap from a source; second means between said input and output members for intermittently rotating said output member in an opposite direction for tensioning the strap about an article; and third means for reciprocating said output member by said input member for effecting relative motion between overlapping portions of the strap.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for automatically tensioning a thermoplastic strap loop about an article and friction-fusion sealing overlapping portions of the strap comprising a wheel; an anvil; biasing means biasing said anvil into strap comprising relationship with said wheel to produce a frictional force between overlapping portions of the strap; a driven member oscillated between extreme positions; unidirectional clutch means between said member and said wheel for intermittently rotating said wheel in one direction in response to oscillation of said member; and friction drive means accommodating relative movement between said member and said wheel when the tension on said loop is below a predetermined level, said friction drive means cooperating with said unidirectional clutch means to oscillate said wheel when the tension in said loop reaches said predetermined level.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for automatically tensioning a thermoplastic strap loop about an article and friction-fusion sealing overlapping portions of the strap comprising a wheel; an anvil; biasing means biasing said anvil into strap comprising relationship with said wheel to produce a frictional force between overlapping portions of the strap; a driven member oscillated between extreme positions; unidirectional clutch means between said member and said wheel for intermittently rotating said wheel in one direction in response to oscillation of said member; and friction drive means accommodating relative movement between said member and said wheel when the tension on said loop is below a predetermined level, said friction drive means cooperating with said unidirectional clutch means to oscillate said wheel when the tension in said loop reaches said predetermined level.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 23, in which said biasing means includes adjustable means for varying the frictional force between overlapping portions of the strap and said friction drive means includes adjustable means for varying friction force between said member and said wheel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-27 | 1976-08-28 | 1977-02-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-27 | 1980-08-28 | 1981-02-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-27 | 1984-08-28 | 1985-02-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |