Strapping machine

Claim 2

In a strapping machine for applying a strap around an object wherein means are provided for holding the leading end of the strap encircled about the object and overlapping a supply portion of the strap and for feeding a seal having an opening therein and for applying the seal around the overlapped portion of the strap to form a seal joint therebetween, the combination therewith of a seal magazine for holding a stack of nested seals with the openings therein aligned to be fed individually to the seal joint forming means, and a seal positioning mechanism extending from the charging end of the magazine to near the discharging end thereof and extending through the aligned openings in the stack of nested seals housed in said magazine, whereby the nested seals in said magazine are maintained in alignment when said magazine is subjected to vibration.

Claim 3

The strapping machine set forth in claim 1, wherein the seal at the discharging end of said seal magazine is positioned at an angle other than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said seal magazine.

Claim 4

The strapping machine set forth in claim 1, wherein the openings in the seals are oversized with respect to said seal positioning mechanism so as to permit the seals in said seal magazine to be stored at an angle other than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said seal magazine with said seal positioning mechanism extending through the aligned apertures of the seals.

Claim 5

The strapping machine set forth in claim 1, wherein said seal positioning mechanism is a rod extending from the charging end of said magazine to near the dis-charging end thereof.

Claim 6

The strapping machine set forth in claim 1, wherein said seal positioning mechanism is an L-shaped rod with one end thereof extending outside of said seal magazine at the charging end thereof.

Claim 7

The strapping machine set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a weight positioned on the seal nearest the charging end of said seal magazine, said weight having an opening therein receiving said seal positioning mechanism therethrough.

Claim 8

In a strapping machine for applying a strap around an object wherein means are provided for holding the leading end of the strap encircled about the object and overlapping a supply portion of the strap and for feeding a seal having an opening therein and for applying the seal around the overlapped portion of the strap to form a seal joint therebetween, the combination therewith of a seal magazine for holding a stack of nested seals with the openings therein aligned to be fed individually to the seal joint forming means, a seal positioning mechanism extending from the charging end of the magazine to near the discharging end thereof and extending through the aligned openings in the stack of nested seals housed in said magazine, and a latch mechanism positioned on said seal magazine near the charging end thereof for latching said seal positioning mechanism in place when said seal positioning mechanism is in position in said seal magazine and extending through the aligned openings in the stack of nested seals housed in said magazine, whereby said seal positioning mechanism is maintained in position and the seals in said magazine are maintained in alignment when said magazine is subjected to vibration. 8. The strapping machine set forth in claim 7, wherein said latch mechanism includes a latch arm mounted for pivotal movement on said seal magazine between a latched position wherein said arm is in contact with said seal positioning mechanism and maintains it in position and an unlatched position wherein said latch arm is spaced away from said seal positioning mechanism a distance sufficient to permit withdrawal of said seal positioning mechanism from said seal magazine.

Claim 9

In a strapping machine for applying a strap around an object wherein means are provided for holding the leading end of the strap encircled about the object and overlapping a supply portion of the strap and for feeding a seal having an opening therein and for applying the seal around the overlapped portion of the strap to form a seal joint therebetween, the combination therewith of a seal magazine for holding a stack of nested seals with the openings therein aligned to be fed individually to the seal joint forming means, a seal positioning mechanism extending from the charging end of the magazine to near the discharging end thereof and extending through the aligned openings in the stack of nested seals housed in said magazine, hold-down mechanism associated with said seal magazine for providing a constant pressure on the stack of nested seals housed therein, independent of the number of seals in the stack of nested seals, whereby the nested seals in said magazine are maintained in alignment and under constant pressure within said magazine during the dispensing of all of the seals in said magazine and when said magazine is subjected to vibration.

Claim 10

In a strapping machine for applying a strap around an object wherein means are provided for holding the leading end of the strap encircled about the object and overlapping a supply portion of the strap and for feeding a seal having an opening therein and for applying the seal around the overlapped portion of the strap to form a seal joint therebetween, the combination therewith of a seal magazine for holding a stack of nested seals with the openings therein aligned to be fed individually to the seal joint forming means, a seal positioning mechanism extending from the charging end of the magazine to near the discharging end thereof and extending through the aligned openings in the stack of nested seals housed in said magazine, hold-down mechanism associated with said seal magazine for providing a constant pressure on the stack of nested seals housed therein, independent of the number of seals in the stack of nested seals, whereby the nested seals in said magazine are maintained in alignment and under constant pressure within said magazine during the dispensing of all of the seals in said magazine and when said magazine is subjected to vibration.

Claim 11

The strapping machine set forth in claim 9, wherein the openings in the seals are oversized with respect to said seal positioning mechanism so as to permit the seals in said seal magazine to be stored at an angle other than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said seal magazine with said seal positioning mechanism extending through the aligned openings of the seals.

Claim 12

The strapping machine set forth in claim 9, wherein said seal positioning mechanism is a rod extending from the charging end of said magazine to near the discharging end thereof.

Claim 13

The strapping machine set forth in claim 9, and further comprising a latch mechanism positioned on said seal magazine near the charging end thereof for latching said seal positioning mechanism in place when said seal positioning mechanism is in position in said seal magazine and extending through the aligned openings in the stack of nested seals housed in said seal magazine.

Claim 14

The strapping machine set forth in claim 9, wherein said hold-down mechanism includes a weight positioned on the seals in said seal magazine, said weight having an opening extending therethrough for accommodating said seal positioning mechanism, and a spring loaded reel operatively connected to said weight for exerting a constant pressure on said weight and thereby on the seals independent of the number of seals in said magazine.