Abstract: A lockout mechanism for a fastener driving tool having a magazine for storing and sequentially urging fasteners toward a nosepiece through which a driver blade impacts and drives the fasteners into a workpiece, the lockout mechanism is configured for preventing the firing of the fastener driving tool when the magazine is empty or nearly empty of fasteners. A fastener track is defined in the magazine for the passage of the fasteners toward the nosepiece. A biased follower urges the fasteners in the fastener track toward the nosepiece. The fastener track has a bypass portion dimensioned for receiving the follower whereby upon reaching the bypass portion, the follower becomes disengaged from the fasteners and moves into engagement with the nosepiece for preventing operation of the tool. The bypass portion is located near a magazine driving end to indicate when the magazine is empty or nearly empty.

Abstract: A strapping machine for positioning a strapping material around an associated load and sealing the strapping material to itself around the load, includes a modular strapping head and a modular feed assembly. The strapping head and feed assembly are readily installed on and removed from the strapping machine without tools. The Strapping machine includes a frame, a chute mounted to the frame and defining a strap path, the feed assembly mounted to the frame by a first aligning and mounting assembly, the strapping head assembly mounted to the frame by a second aligning and mounting assembly independent of the first mounting assembly, and a guide mounted to the frame adjacent the feed assembly. Both the feed assembly and the strapping head are independently removable from the frame.

Abstract: An appliance packaging assembly and method therefor, including a reinforced tray disposed under the appliance, a plurality of rigid posts disposed between the tray and alongside the appliance, a transparent film disposed about the posts and the appliance, a reinforced cover having a lifting flange member on a side portion thereof, the cover disposed over the plurality of wrapped posts and appliance, and tensioned strap disposed along side the posts and about the tray and cover and over the lifting flange member thereof.

Abstract: A strapping machine for positioning a strapping material around an associated load and sealing the strapping material to itself around the load includes a frame, a chute mounted to the frame, a feed assembly mounted to the frame a guide mounted to the frame adjacent the feed assembly and a strapping head mounted to the frame independent of the feed assembly and the guide. The feed assembly is configured to feed the strapping material therethrough. The guide receives the strapping material from the feed assembly and provides a path for the strapping material toward the strapping head. The strapping head includes a body and provides a first conveyance path for the strapping material from the guide to the chute. The head includes a second conveyance path to receive a free end of the strapping material to seal the strapping material to itself. The strapping head has an anvil pivotally mounted to the body that forms a part of the second conveyance path.

Abstract: A strap detector is used with an automatic strapping machine. The strap detector includes a strap detector mounting bracket mounted to the automatic strapping machine, and a pivot block attached to the mounting bracket. The pivot block has an aperture formed therein. A shaft is positioned in the pivot block aperture, and a finger is mounted to a free end of the shaft. A guide block is positioned along the shaft and spaced from the free end, and a sensor is operatively coupled to the detector mounting bracket proximal the guide block. The finger is engaged by sealed strapping material and, when the strapping material is properly sealed, movement of the strapping head away from the articles moves the guide block into a position to change a state of the sensor.

Abstract: A support device for use within a fastener driving tool is fixedly attached to the tool's workpiece contact element so as to be movable therewith between extended and retracted positions. When the workpiece contact element, and the support device mounted thereon, are moved to the retracted position, a pocket or recessed portion of the support device will envelop a tip portion of a second uppermost fastener disposed within the tool magazine, while the first uppermost fastener is disposed within the tool drive bore, such that the second uppermost fastener, as well as the remaining fasteners within the magazine, is properly supported and stabilized such that shock and vibrational forces, attendant the driving of the first uppermost fastener, are effectively prevented from being transmitted to the second uppermost and remaining fasteners.

Abstract: A corrosion-resistant coated strap is formed from an elongated metal strap base element having a width and a thickness and defining first and second sides and a pair of edge regions. A coating is sprayed and cured onto the base element. The coating has a substantially consistent thickness at the first and second sides and at about the edge regions. A method for making the coated strap includes providing a metal strap and conveying the strap through a coating apparatus. A powder is electrostatically applied on the first side of the strap, which covers the first side and the opposing edges. The powder is applied on the second side of the strap, covering the second side and the opposing edges. The powder is melted to form a flowable material and is cured on the strap. The coating method is carried out in an in-line strap manufacturing process.

Abstract: A strap detector is used with an automatic strapping machine. The strap detector includes a strap detector mounting bracket mounted to the automatic strapping machine, and a pivot block attached to the mounting bracket. The pivot block has an aperture formed therein. A shaft is positioned in the pivot block aperture, and a finger is mounted to a free end of the shaft. A guide block is positioned along the shaft and spaced from the free end, and a sensor is operatively coupled to the detector mounting bracket proximal the guide block. The finger is engaged by sealed strapping material and, when the strapping material is properly sealed, movement of the strapping head away from the articles moves the guide block into a position to change a state of the sensor.

Abstract: A progressive punch is used in a strapping machine for positioning and sealing an associated strap material around a load. The punch is positioned in a jaw assembly that includes a movable punch support and a fixed punch support configured to receive the associated strap therebetween. The movable and fixed supports each include at least one punch having at least two punching heads. The punching heads each have a height that is defined by a distance between an outermost peripheral point of the punching head and a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement. The heights of the punching heads are different from one another so that the punching heads progressively engage the strap, with the punching heads initially engaging the strap material at a different times from one another.

Abstract: A strapping tool includes an integral, removable cleaning element. The strapping tool forms a seal between two portions of associated strapping material, which strapping material is tensioned by a feed wheel prior to forming the seal. The tool includes a strapping machine body, a subassembly operably coupled to the strapping machine body. A feed wheel is carried by the subassembly and is rotatable within the subassembly. A feed lever is operably connected to the subassembly and to the feed wheel for rotating the feed wheel. A cleaning element is supported by the subassembly and is disposed for continuous contact with the rotating feed wheel.

Abstract: A transfer pad printing systems, pad printing plates and methods therefor including forming a metal plate having a Rockwell C scale hardness not less than approximately 55 and a thickness between approximately 0.015 inches and approximately 0.020 inches, preferably from a cold rolled strip steel, etching an image on the metal plate and mounting the metal plate on a base plate prior to transferring images therefrom with a transfer pad.

Abstract: A compression triggered powder driven fastening tool having a firing mechanism with a sleeve axially movable between first and second positions, a lever cam coupled to the sleeve or some other reciprocating portion of the tool and movable therewith, an indexing lever pivotally coupled to the tool, the indexing lever having a magazine strip engagement portion extending into a magazine channel of the tool, the indexing lever having a cam follower portion engaged with the lever cam, the magazine strip engagement portion of the indexing lever moves between first and second positions in the magazine channel as the sleeve moves with the reciprocating portion of the tool to which it is coupled, the magazine engagement portion of the indexing lever indexes a magazine strip through a channel of the tool.

Abstract: Holographic patterns are produced by utilizing a laser to illuminate a workpiece with an interference pattern, with sufficient laser power to ablate the workpiece where it is illuminated by the laser, and moving the workpiece and the interference pattern relative to each other.

Abstract: A strapping machine for positioning a strapping material around an associated load and sealing the strapping material to itself around the load includes a frame, a chute defining a strap path that is mounted to the frame, and a feed assembly mounted to the frame. The feed assembly is configured to operate in a feed mode to feed the strapping material and to operate in a take-up mode to retract the strapping material. A strapping head is configured to seal the strapping material to itself. A controller is operably connected to the feed assembly and controls the operation of the strapping machine. A sensor is disposed to sense the presence and absence of strapping material at the strapping head. The sensor includes first and second movable biased elements cooperating with one another and movable between a first position in which the sensor senses the presence of strapping material and a second position in which the sensor senses the absence of strapping material.

Abstract: A multiple coil dispenser supports a pair of coils for dispensing a flexible material from one of the coils. The dispenser includes a frame and at least one coil support for supporting the coils for rotation. A fixed arm is mounted to the frame and includes a plurality of rollers positioned longitudinally therealong. A movable arm is pivotally mounted to the frame for movement toward and away from the fixed arm. The movable arm has a plurality of rollers positioned longitudinally therealong and is biased away from the fixed arm. A bifurcated chute directs the strapping material from one of the coils to the arms. A brake assembly is operably connected to the movable arm between an engaged position when the movable arm is moved away from the fixed arm and a disengaged position when the movable arm is moved toward the fixed arm. A space between the fixed arm and the movable arm defines an accumulation region that varies in size as the movable arm moves toward and away from the fixed arm.

Abstract: A strapping machine for positioning a strap material around an associated load and tensioning the strap material around the load includes a frame for supporting the load, a chute positioned on the frame for receiving the strap material and orienting the strap material around the load, a strap supply and a strapping head for extracting the strap from the supply, feeding the strap through the chute around the load, passing the strap from the chute around the load, retracting and tensioning the strap. The strapping head includes feed rollers and retraction rollers for feeding and retracting the strap and a winder for tensioning the strap around the load. The winder is positioned between the feed and retraction rollers and the strap supply. The winder includes a rotating head portion having a stationary element and a pivotal element. The stationary and pivotal elements each define an outer surface around which the strap material is wound and a slot therebetween for receiving the strap material.

Abstract: An electric strapping tools and methods therefor having an electric motor with an output shaft coupled to a feed wheel, a modulator circuit coupled to a power input of the motor for controlling strap tension. A magnet is disposed on an end of the motor armature and offset from the rotation axis thereof, and a magnetic field detector is disposed near magnet to detect rotation of the armature. The motor rotates the feed wheel and vibrates a welding jaw when the shaft rotates in the same direction, and tool parameter adjustment potentiometers are isolated from abuse by the tool user by corresponding control knobs coupled thereto.

Abstract: A strapping head for a strapping machine of the type having a feed assembly and a chute that is configured to position, tension and seal strapping material around a load, includes a body and an anvil mounted to and movable relative to the body. A sealing member is disposed in the anvil for oscillating movement. A drive is operably connected to the sealing member and movable relative to the body to provide oscillating movement to the sealing member. First and second courses of strapping material overlie one another adjacent the sealing member, and oscillation of the sealing member effects a seal of the first and second courses of strapping material to one another.

Abstract: An edge or corner protector comprises an apex portion and a pair of leg members extending away from the apex portion so as to define an angle of approximately 90° therebetween. The apex portion and leg members are defined by a plurality of paper plies which have at least two different width dimensions. Relatively narrow and relatively broad paper plies are alternatively arranged with respect to each other whereby the apex portion and proximal portions of the leg members are formed by both the broad and narrow paper plies whereas distal portions of the leg members are formed only by the broad paper plies. In this manner, increased thickness and strength is provided within the apex and proximal portions of the leg members as needed, the distal portions of the leg members nevertheless facilitate mounting, positioning, and orientation of the edge or corner protectors upon edge or corner regions of articles to be protected, and a substantial reduction in the overall raw material cost is achieved.

Abstract: A fuel cell adapter system for a combustion tool which includes a housing enclosing a fuel metering valve. The fuel cell is provided with an adapter having a generally cylindrical nozzle and a base configured for engagement upon the fuel cell. The nozzle has a free end and defines a passageway. A frangible membrane is provided for blocking the passageway. The adapter also has a gripping formation that is configured for engagement with a latch, so that the adapter is accommodated in the housing in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve. The latch is disposed in the housing for releasably securing the adapter in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve. The latch includes a latch body having at least one locking tang movable between a closed position and an open position, and a release member for moving the locking tang to release said engagement with the adapter and permitting withdrawal of said fuel cell from said tool.