Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding and tensioning strap in a strapping machine is provided. The apparatus includes a rotatable feed wheel and means for rotating the feed wheel, a first pinch roll associated with the feed wheel, and a first strap pressing means for moving the pinch roll between a strap engaging position and a position wherein the strap is not engaged. Also provided is a rotatable take-up wheel and means for rotating the take-up wheel in a direction opposite to the feed wheel rotation. A second pinch roll is provided adjacent the take-up wheel and is movable between a first position for engaging the strap and a second position wherein the strap not engaged. A high tension member is mounted for rotation between the feed wheel and take-up wheel. The high tension member defines a slot for accommodating the strap and defines a strap engaging surface on the periphery of the high tension member at an end of the slot.

Abstract: A pneumatic fastener driving tool of the hand held gun type having means for positively insuring against accidental firing when the fastener magazine is empty or detached, or when the nosepiece is not pressed against a workpiece. The means comprises a linkage train including an intermediate link carried by the magazine and movable by a first link reciprocably associated with the nosepiece to move a second link associated with the trigger assembly to render the trigger operational for firing the tool. There are locking means associated with the feeder of the fasteners for locking the intermediate link in an inoperative position when the magazine is empty of fasteners.

Abstract: A stapling tool which includes an anvil assembly that is pivotally mounted and which can be positioned to secure items together through which a staple received from a magazine assembly is driven. The tool is trigger-operated and sequentially positions the anvil assembly to retain the items, after which a motor is actuated to drive the staple to connect the items. Following the driving action, the anvil assembly is removed to permit assembly of the connected items.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a nail driving tool preferably operable in pneumatical manner, comprising a magazine for nails composed to form straight rows or straight strips, which nails are successively forced from the front end of a guide, possibly corresponding to the staggered arrangement of the nails, and obliquely terminating into a drive-out channel via a lateral inlet channel into a presenting composition for being, e.g., pneumatically forced out of the drive-out channel. For increasing the magazine capacity while maintaining a handy volume, it is provided that the magazine be formed as a box-type magazine of a width suitable for accommodating two or more nail strips or rows in side-by-side relationship and that the nail strips or rows can be successively forced in a direction normal to the planes of the nail strips or rows into alignment with the inlet channel of the drive-out channel.

Abstract: A fastener applying tool driven by air in a driving stroke and a return stroke featuring noise and recoil reduction and increased efficiency, driving force, and speed of operation. Air directed into the main cylinder to force the main piston through its driving stroke is stored in a chamber to rapidly return the main piston. Air compressed by the main piston at one end of the main cylinder is used to form an air cushion to keep the main piston from striking the bottom of the cylinder. The main piston cycles within a slidably mounted main cylinder. Pressurization of one end of the main cylinder during the driving stroke repositions the main cylinder to close the main valve to shut off high pressure air from the main piston and open a valve to vent the air above the piston to atmosphere. Upward movement of the cylinder and rapid return of the piston significantly reduces the recoil force normally experienced in such a tool.

Abstract: A machine and method are disclosed for securing a loop of thermoplastic strap around an article so that two overlapping portions of strap are bonded together. One form of an apparatus in the machine has a strap engaging weld pad with spaced-apart, parallel strap-engaging ribs for effectively making a friction-fusion weld in thin film strap. Another form of the apparatus in the machine includes a rack gear associated with a weld pad and engaged with an arc of teeth on a torsion bar for utilizing the torsional oscillation kinetic energy to reciprocate the weld pad along a linear path of motion. Another form of the apparatus in the machine includes a strap carrier chain for forming the strap in a loop about an article and the chain may include a resilient lug positioned between each pair of adjacent cross pins in the chain.

Abstract: An automated bag filling mechanism particularly adapted to handle reclosable zipper lock-type plastic bags fed into the machine in a bag chain has a bag opening station, a filling station, a bag reclosing station, and a bag separation station, all successively serially arranged in the machine along a transport path in which the bag chain is conducted through the machine. Mechanical means are provided at each station to perform the functions of that station. The mechanical means are sequentially actuated and controlled by the movement of individual cam members keyed for rotation to a continuously driven rotary driveshaft. Means are provided to assure proper alignment or registration of each bag of the chain before the various work stations of the filling mechanism, despite tolerance variations in bag size, slippage in the drive devices, and/or slack development in the chain.

Abstract: An efficient, portable, easy to operate tool employing a linear motor is disclosed that is powered by the gases produced from the internal combustion of a fuel and air mixture. A supply of liquified gas stored under pressure in a cylinder provides the source of power. The linear motor is slidably mounted within a cylinder to move reciprocally downwardly and upwardly through a driving and return stroke. A combustion chamber is formed at the upper end of the cylinder. A spark plug powered by a piezo-electric firing device is located within the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber features a turbulence generator, such as a fan, driven by an electric motor which is continuously in operation when the tool is in use. A main valve mechanism actuated by a set of lifting rods that are moved upwardly and downwardly when the tool is moved towards and away from the workpiece, is used to control the opening and closing of the combustion chamber and to control the flow of fresh air through the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A strap chute is provided for an automatic strapping machine and comprises a plurality of sections adapted to be assembled together with the machine to form a loop-like strap guide path around an article to be strapped. Each section comprises a mounting frame having a pair of opposed fulcrum members, a pair of strap guides each having at least an outer retaining wall for guiding and retaining the strap when the strap guides are located in a closed position, and a biasing means for biasing the strap guides into the closed position. Each strap guide includes a lever member disposed adjacent one of the fulcrum members of the frame to accommodate pivoting movement of the strap guide between the closed position and an open position. The biasing means is disposed between the lever members of the strap guides for biasing each strap guide lever member against one of the fulcrum members and for pivoting the lever members so as to normally maintain the strap guides in the closed position.

Abstract: An automated bag filling machine particularly adapted to handle reclosable fastener strip profile-type plastic bags fed into the machine in a bag chain employs stations for opening, filling, reclosing, and separating filled and closed bags from the remainder of the chain. The drive means for conveying the chain through the filling mechanism include stroke control devices which enable the operation of the machine to be changed over for handling bags of different width sizes. Means are also provided for automatically preventing the bags in the chain from excessively over traveling their proper registration points with the various work stations.

Abstract: A machine and method are disclosed for securing a loop of thermoplastic strap around an article so that two overlapping portions of strap are bonded together. One form of an apparatus in the machine has a strap engaging weld pad with spaced-apart, parallel strap-engaging ribs for effectively making a friction-fusion weld in thin film strap. Another form of the apparatus in the machine includes a rack gear associated with a weld pad and engaged with an arc of teeth on a torsion bar for utilizing the torsional oscillation kinetic energy to reciprocate the weld pad along a linear path of motion. Another form of the apparatus in the machine includes a strap carrier chain for forming the strap in a loop about an article and the chain may include a resilient lug positioned between each pair of adjacent cross pins in the chain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatically operable fastener driving tool which uses a safety device which prevents the operation of the tool until it is in engagement with the workpiece. More particularly, the safety mechanism includes a safety nose that is normally retained in a retracted position prior to the tool being operated. When the tool is to be operated, the safety nose is extended to be engaged by the workpiece. Subsequent engagement of the safety nose by the workpiece permits the trigger mechanism to effect driving movement of the driver. The mechanism includes a first valve which controls the flow of high-pressure air to the driving piston and a second valve which controls the flow of air to the safety mechanism. The trigger mechanism initially operates the second valve to move the safety nose to the operative position and when the safety nose engages the workpiece it effects operation of the first valve to control the operation of the driving piston.

Abstract: A strap seal joint and method for applying a seal to the overlapping ends of a strap about a bale of resilient material are disclosed. The bale is initially restrained against expansion in a press. The strap is provided with two oppositely facing major side surfaces having predetermined frictional characteristics. The strap is looped around the bale to overlap inner and outer and end portions of the strap. The seal is applied to the overlapping end portions of the strap. The seal and one of the strap end portions are in an interlocking engagement sufficient to prevent withdrawal of the strap end portion from the closed seal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for forming an abrasion resistant sheet from a sheet of orientable thermoplastic polymer material in one continuous process which can be effected by a single continuous production line apparatus. A method and apparatus is also provided for treating the surface of an oriented sheet with heated rolls for creating a fused surface layer on each side of the sheet. A method and apparatus is also provided for slitting a wider sheet into a plurality of strips at elevated temperatures with the strap under tension and with a staggered array of fixed blades. Further, a method and apparatus is provided for treating an oriented strip having a non-uniform thickness so as to conform the surfaces of the strip in a substantially uniformly flat and parallel configuration.

Abstract: An automated bag filling method and mechanism particularly adapted to handle reclosable zipper lock-type plastic bags fed into the machine in a bag chain has a bag opening station, a filling station, a bag reclosing station, and a bag separation station, all successively serially arranged in the machine along a transport path in which the bag chain is conducted through the machine. Mechanical means are provided at each station to perform the functions of that station. The mechanical means are sequentially actuated and controlled by the movement of individual cam members keyed for rotation to a continuously driven rotary driveshaft.

Abstract: An efficient, portable, easy to operate fastener applying tool is disclosed that is powered by the gases produced from the internal combustion of a fuel and air mixture. The tool uses an internally contained supply of liquified gas stored under pressure in a cylinder. Air is drawn in from outside the tool and mixed with fuel in a combustion chamber with the aid of a fan powered by an electric motor. A spark plug powered by a piezo-electric firing device is used to ignite the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. Combustion gases are discharged from the cylinder at the end of the driving stroke and air is supplied to the lower face of the piston to return it to the original position. An interlock mechanism is provided to insure that the tool cannot be operated until the combustion chamber is closed and the combustion chamber cannot be reopened after ignition until the trigger is released.

Abstract: A joint is provided in first and second overlapping portions of a loop of thermoplastic thin film wide strap tensioned about an article. The joint comprises a plurality of fused regions at the interface of the overlapping portions. The fused regions are spaced apart across the width of the strap. Each fused region has the form of an interface layer of merged resolidified strap surface portions.

Abstract: A portable gas-fired fastener driving tool in which the tool cannot be operated until the combustion chamber is closed and the combustion chamber cannot be reopened after ignition until the trigger is released. The operation of the trigger is permitted by the actuation of a bottom trip mechanism which controls the movement of a sleeve mechanism that regulates the opening and closing of the combustion chamber. During the driving action, the combustion gases above the piston are evacuated through valved openings in the cylinder adjacent the bottom thereof. The piston contacts a bumper at the bottom of its travel and the difference between the vacuum in the combustion chamber and atmospheric air acts to return the piston to its driving position.

Abstract: An efficient, portable, easy to operate tool employing a linear motor is disclosed that is powered by the gases produced from the internal combustion of a fuel and air mixture. A supply of liquified gas stored under pressure in a cylinder provides the source of power. The linear motor is slidably mounted within a cylinder to move reciprocally downwardly and upwardly through a driving and return stroke. A combustion chamber is formed at the upper end of the cylinder. A spark plug powered by a piezo-electric firing device is located within the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber features a turbulence generator, such as a fan, driven by an electric motor which is continuously in operation when the tool is in use. A main valve mechanism actuated by a set of lifting rods that are moved upwardly and downwardly when the tool is moved towards and away from the workpiece, is used to control the opening and closing of the combustion chamber and to control the flow of fresh air through the combustion chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for securing a thermoplastic strap around a package by compressing the overlapping strap end portions together and moving one of the overlapping end portions in a transverse direction relative to the other at a very high frequency and small amplitude to melt and fuse the interface region therebetween. The transducer used to produce the ultrasonic vibrations is supported solely at its nodal point where it is vibration free.