Strapping tool

Claim 2

A strapping tool for applying a length of strap around an object in a loop with overlapping end portions, said strapping tool comprising tensioning means for tensioning the loop of strap about the object, sealing mechanism for sealing together the overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to secure the strap about the associated object, strap guide means movable between a retracted position away from the strap loop and a strap guiding position alongside the opposite side edges of both of the overlapped portions of the strap for limiting lateral movement of both of the overlapped portions of the strap while freely accommodating longitudinal movement thereof, and means for moving said strap guide means to the strap guiding position thereof at the initiation of operation of said tensioning means after the end portions of the strap have been placed in overlapping relationship and for moving said strap guide means back to the retracted position thereof after sealing of the tensioned strap, whereby said strap guide means insures that the end portions of the strap loop will remain in overlapping relationship during tensioning of the loop to facilitate the sealing thereof.

Claim 3

The strapping tool set forth in claim 1, wherein said strap guide means includes a guide plate having a strap-receiving opening therein.

Claim 4

The strapping tool set forth in claim 1, wherein said strap guide means comprises a guide plate disposed perpendicular to the plane of the overlapped portions of the strap, said guide plate being provided with a generally U-shaped notch therein having a width only slightly greater than the width of the strap for receiving the overlapped portions of the strap therein.

Claim 5

The strapping tool set forth in claim 1, wherein said strap guide means includes a guide plate having a strap-receiving opening therein, said guide plate being movable between the retracted and strap guiding positions thereof in directions substantially normal to the plane of the overlapped portions of the strap.

Claim 6

A strapping tool for applying a length of strap around an object in a loop with overlapping end portions, said strapping tool comprising tensioning means for tensioning the loop of strap about the object, sealing mechanism for sealing together the overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to secure the strap about the object, strap guide means movable between a retracted position away from the strap loop and a strap guiding position alongside the opposite side edges of both of the overlapped portions of the strap for limiting lateral movement of both of the overlapped portions of the strap while freely accommodating longitudinal movement thereof, drive means coupled to said strap guide means for effecting movement thereof between the retracted and the strap guiding positions thereof, and control apparatus coupled to said drive means and actuating same to move said strap guide means to the strap guiding position thereof at the initiation of operation of said tensioning means after the end porTions of the strap have been placed in overlapping relationship and for moving said strap guide means back to the retracted position thereof after sealing of the tensioned strap, whereby said strap guide means insures that the end portions of the strap loop will remain in overlapping relationship during tensioning of the loop to facilitate sealing thereof.

Claim 7

A strapping tool for applying a length of strap around an object in a loop with overlapping end portions, said strapping tool comprising tensioning means for tensioning the loop of strap about the object, sealing mechanism for sealing together the overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to secure the strap about the object, strap guide means movable between a retracted position away from the strap loop and a strap guiding position alongside the opposite side edges of both of the overlapped portions of the strap for limiting lateral movement of both of the overlapped portions of the strap while freely accommodating longitudinal movement thereof, drive means coupled to said strap guide means for effecting movement thereof between the retracted and the strap guiding positions thereof, and control apparatus coupled to said drive means and actuating same to move said strap guide means to the strap guiding position thereof at the initiation of operation of said tensioning means after the end porTions of the strap have been placed in overlapping relationship and for moving said strap guide means back to the retracted position thereof after sealing of the tensioned strap, whereby said strap guide means insures that the end portions of the strap loop will remain in overlapping relationship during tensioning of the loop to facilitate sealing thereof.

Claim 8

A strapping tool for applying a length of strap around an object in a loop with overlapping end portions, said strapping tool comprising tensioning means for tensioning the loop of strap about the object, sealing mechanism for sealing together the overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to secure the strap about the object, strap guide means movable between a retracted position away from the strap loop and a strap guiding position closely adjacent to the side edges of the overlapped portions of the strap for limiting lateral movement thereof while freely accommodating longitudinal movement thereof, pneumatically operated drive means coupled to said strap guide means for effecting movement thereof between the retracted and the strap guiding positions thereof, and control apparatus coupled to said drive means and actuating same to move said strap guide means to the strap guiding position thereof at the initiation of operation of said tensioning means and for moving said strap guide means back to the retracted position thereof after sealing of the tensioned strap, whereby said strap guide means insures that the end portions of the strap loop will remain in overlapping relationship during tensioning of the loop to facilitate sealing thereof.

Claim 9

A strapping tool for applying a length of strap around an object in a loop with overlapping end portions, said strapping tool comprising tensioning means for tensioning the loop of strap about the object, sealing mechanism for sealing together the overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to secure the strap about the object, strap guide means movable between a retracted position away from the strap loop and a strap guiding position closely adjacent to the side edges of the overlapped portions of the strap for limiting lateral movement thereof while freely accommodating longitudinal movement thereof, pneumatically operated drive means coupled to said strap guide means for effecting movement thereof between the retracted and the strap guiding positions thereof, and control apparatus coupled to said drive means and actuating same to move said strap guide means to the strap guiding position thereof at the initiation of operation of said tensioning means and for moving said strap guide means back to the retracted position thereof after sealing of the tensioned strap, whereby said strap guide means insures that the end portions of the strap loop will remain in overlapping relationship during tensioning of the loop to facilitate sealing thereof.

Claim 10

A strapping tool for applying a length of strap around an object in a loop with overlapping end portions, said strapping tool comprising tensioning means for tensioning the loop of strap about the object, sealing mechanism for sealing together the overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to secure the strap about the object, strap guide means movable between a retracted position away from the strap loop and strap guiding position closely adjacent to the side edges of the overlapped portions of the strap for limiting movement thereof while freely accommodating longitudinal movement thereof, bias means resiliently urging said strap guide means toward the strap guiding position thereof, fluid-actuated means coupled to said sealing mechanism having a first energized condition for normally holding said strap guide means in the retracted position thereof against the urging of said bias means and a second energized condition for permitting said strap guide means to move to the strap guiding position thereof under the urging of said bias means, and control apparatus coupled to said fluid-actuated means for shifting thereof from the first energized condition to the second energized condition thereof at the initiation of operation of said tensioning means and for shifting of said fluid-actuated means back to the first energized condition thereof after sealing of the tensioned strap, whereby said strap guide means insures that the end portions of the strap loop will remain in overlapping relationship during tensioning of the loop to facilitate sealing thereof.

Claim 11

A strapping tool for applying a length of strap around an object in a loop with overlapping end portions, said strapping tool comprising tensioning means for tensioning the loop of strap about the object, sealing mechanism for sealing together the overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to secure the strap about the object, strap guide means movable between a retracted position away from the strap loop and strap guiding position closely adjacent to the side edges of the overlapped portions of the strap for limiting movement thereof while freely accommodating longitudinal movement thereof, bias means resiliently urging said strap guide means toward the strap guiding position thereof, fluid-actuated means coupled to said sealing mechanism having a first energized condition for normally holding said strap guide means in the retracted position thereof against the urging of said bias means and a second energized condition for permitting said strap guide means to move to the strap guiding position thereof under the urging of said bias means, and control apparatus coupled to said fluid-actuated means for shifting thereof from the first energized condition to the second energized condition thereof at the initiation of operation of said tensioning means and for shifting of said fluid-actuated means back to the first energized condition thereof after sealing of the tensioned strap, whereby said strap guide means insures that the end portions of the strap loop will remain in overlapping relationship during tensioning of the loop to facilitate sealing thereof.

Claim 12

The strapping tool set forth in claim 7, wherein said fluid-actuated means comprises a pneumatic cylinder having a piston coupled to said sealing mechanism.

Claim 13

The strapping tool set forth in claim 7, wherein said fluid-actuated means comprises a pneumatic cylinder having a piston coupled to said sealing mechanism, said bias means comprising a spring disposed in engagement with said piston for urging said piston toward the strap guiding position of said strap guide means.

Claim 14

A strapping tool for applying a length of strap around an object in a loop with overlapping end portions, said strapping tool comprising tensioning means for tensioning the loop of strap about the object, sealing mechanism movable among a retracted position and a strap guiding position and a sealing position for sealing together the overLapped portions of the tensioned strap to secure the strap about the associated object, the strap guide means coupled to said sealing mechanism for movement therewith among the retracted and the strap guiding and the sealing positions thereof, said strap guide means in the strap guiding position of said sealing mechanism being disposed closely adjacent to the side edges of the overlapped portions of the strap for limiting lateral movement thereof while freely accommodating longitudinal movement thereof, and means for moving said sealing mechanism to the strap guiding position thereof at the initiation of operation of said tensioning means and for moving said sealing mechanism to the sealing position thereof at the termination of operation of said tensioning means and for moving said sealing mechanism back to the retracted position thereof after sealing of the tensioned strap, whereby said strap guide means insures that the end portions of the strap loop will remain in overlapping relationship during tensioning of the loop to facilitate the sealing thereof.

Claim 15

A strapping tool for applying a length of strap around an object in a loop with overlapping end portions, said strapping tool comprising tensioning means for tensioning the loop of strap about the object, sealing mechanism movable among a retracted position and a strap guiding position and a sealing position for sealing together the overLapped portions of the tensioned strap to secure the strap about the associated object, the strap guide means coupled to said sealing mechanism for movement therewith among the retracted and the strap guiding and the sealing positions thereof, said strap guide means in the strap guiding position of said sealing mechanism being disposed closely adjacent to the side edges of the overlapped portions of the strap for limiting lateral movement thereof while freely accommodating longitudinal movement thereof, and means for moving said sealing mechanism to the strap guiding position thereof at the initiation of operation of said tensioning means and for moving said sealing mechanism to the sealing position thereof at the termination of operation of said tensioning means and for moving said sealing mechanism back to the retracted position thereof after sealing of the tensioned strap, whereby said strap guide means insures that the end portions of the strap loop will remain in overlapping relationship during tensioning of the loop to facilitate the sealing thereof.

Claim 16

The strapping tool set forth in claim 10, wherein said strap guide means comprises a guide plate disposed perpendicular to the plane of the overlapped portions of the strap.

Claim 17

A strapping tool for applying a length of strap around an object in a loop with overlapping end portions, said strapping tool comprising tensioning means for tensioning the loop of strap about the object, sealing mechanism movable among a retracted position and a strap guiding position and a sealing position for sealing together the overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to secure the strap about the associated object, strap guide means coupled to said sealing mechanism for movement therewith among the retracted and the strap guiding and the sealing positions thereof, said strap guide means in the strap guiding position of said sealing mechanism being disposed closely adjacent to the side edges of the overlapped portions of the strap for limiting lateral movement thereof while freely accommodating longitudinal movement thereof, drive means coupled to said sealing mechanism for effecting movement thereof among the retracted and the strap guiding and the sealing positions thereof, and control apparatus coupled to said drive means and actuating same to move said sealing mechanism to the strap guiding position thereof at the initiation of operation of said tensioning means and for moving said sealing mechanism to the sealing position thereof at the termination of operation of said tensioning means and for moving said sealing mechanism back to the retracted position thereof after sealing of the tensioned strap, whereby said strap guide means insures that the end portions of the strap loop will remain in overlapping relationship during tensioning of the loop to facilitate the sealing thereof.

Claim 18

A strapping tool for applying a length of strap around an object in a loop with overlapping end portions, said strapping tool comprising tensioning means for tensioning the loop of strap about the object, sealing mechanism movable among a retracted position and a strap guiding position and a sealing position for sealing together the overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to secure the strap about the associated object, strap guide means coupled to said sealing mechanism for movement therewith among the retracted and the strap guiding and the sealing positions thereof, said strap guide means in the strap guiding position of said sealing mechanism being disposed closely adjacent to the side edges of the overlapped portions of the strap for limiting lateral movement thereof while freely accommodating longitudinal movement thereof, drive means coupled to said sealing mechanism for effecting movement thereof among the retracted and the strap guiding and the sealing positions thereof, and control apparatus coupled to said drive means and actuating same to move said sealing mechanism to the strap guiding position thereof at the initiation of operation of said tensioning means and for moving said sealing mechanism to the sealing position thereof at the termination of operation of said tensioning means and for moving said sealing mechanism back to the retracted position thereof after sealing of the tensioned strap, whereby said strap guide means insures that the end portions of the strap loop will remain in overlapping relationship during tensioning of the loop to facilitate the sealing thereof.

Claim 19

The strapping tool set forth in claim 12, wherein said control apparatus includes a device for automatically terminating operation of said tensioning means and initiating movement of said sealing mechanism to the sealing position thereof when a predetermined strap tension is attained.

Claim 20

A strapping tool for applying a length of strap around an object in a loop with overlapping end portions, said strapping tool comprising tensioning means for tensioning the loop of strap about the object, sealing mechanism movable among a retracted position and a strap guiding position and a sealing position for sealing together the overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to secure the strap about the associated object, strap guide means coupled to said sealing mechanism for movement therewith among the retracted and the strap guiding and the sealing positions thereof, said strap guide means in the strap guiding position of said sealing mechanism being disposed closely adjacent to the side edges of the overlapped portions of the strap for limiting lateral movement thereof while freely accommodating longitudinal movement thereof, bias means resiliently urging saiD sealing mechanism toward the strap guiding position thereof, fluid-actuated means coupled to said sealing mechanism having a first energized condition for normally holding said sealing mechanism in the retracted position thereof against the urging of said bias means and a second energized condition for permitting said sealing mechanism to move to the strap guiding position thereof under the urging of said bias means and a third energized condition for moving said sealing mechanism to the sealing position thereof, and control apparatus coupled to said fluid-actuated means for shifting thereof from the first energized condition to the second energized condition thereof at the initiation of operation of said tensioning means and for shifting of said fluid-actuated means from the second energized condition to the third energized condition thereof at the termination of operation of said tensioning means and for shifting said sealing mechanism back to the first energized condition thereof after sealing of the tensioned strap, whereby said strap guide means insures that the end portions of the strap loop will remain in overlapping relationship during tensioning of the loop to facilitate the sealing thereof.

Claim 21

A strapping tool for applying a length of strap around an object in a loop with overlapping end portions, said strapping tool comprising tensioning means for tensioning the loop of strap about the object, sealing mechanism movable among a retracted position and a strap guiding position and a sealing position for sealing together the overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to secure the strap about the associated object, strap guide means coupled to said sealing mechanism for movement therewith among the retracted and the strap guiding and the sealing positions thereof, said strap guide means in the strap guiding position of said sealing mechanism being disposed closely adjacent to the side edges of the overlapped portions of the strap for limiting lateral movement thereof while freely accommodating longitudinal movement thereof, bias means resiliently urging saiD sealing mechanism toward the strap guiding position thereof, fluid-actuated means coupled to said sealing mechanism having a first energized condition for normally holding said sealing mechanism in the retracted position thereof against the urging of said bias means and a second energized condition for permitting said sealing mechanism to move to the strap guiding position thereof under the urging of said bias means and a third energized condition for moving said sealing mechanism to the sealing position thereof, and control apparatus coupled to said fluid-actuated means for shifting thereof from the first energized condition to the second energized condition thereof at the initiation of operation of said tensioning means and for shifting of said fluid-actuated means from the second energized condition to the third energized condition thereof at the termination of operation of said tensioning means and for shifting said sealing mechanism back to the first energized condition thereof after sealing of the tensioned strap, whereby said strap guide means insures that the end portions of the strap loop will remain in overlapping relationship during tensioning of the loop to facilitate the sealing thereof.

Claim 22

The strapping tool set forth in claim 14, wherein said fluid-actuated means comprises a pneumatic cylinder having a piston coupled to said sealing mechanism, said bias means comprising a spring disposed in engagement with said piston for urging said piston toward the strap guiding position of said strap guide means, said pneumatic cylinder in the first energized condition thereof having air pressure on one side of said piston for holding said sealing mechanism in the retracted position thereof against the urging of said bias means, said pneumatic cylinder in the second energized condition thereof having the same air pressure on both sides of said piston for permitting said sealing mechanism to be moved to the strap guiding position thereof under the urging of said bias means, and said pneumatic cylinder in the third energized condition thereof having air pressure only on the other side of said piston for driving said sealing mechanism to the sealing position thereof.