Abstract: For a strapping machine, a mechanism is disclosed for mounting a movable chute to a fixed wall and for biasing the chute toward the wall while permitting the chute to move away from the wall so as to allow a strap to be pulled from the chute. The mechanism comprises a wall-mounted bracket, a chute-mounted bracket, and a pivot arm having an end portion connected pivotally to the wall-mounted bracket, an end portion connected pivotally to the chute-mounted bracket, and an intermediate portion, to which a coiled spring is connected at one end so as to bias the chute toward the wall but so as to permit the chute to move away from the wall. The coiled spring is connected at its other end to the first bracket and extends between the brackets.

Abstract: In a strapping machine comprising a fixed wall and a movable chute, a mechanism is provided for stripping the strap from the chute. The chute has two sections defining a gap straddled by a bracket connecting the sections. A lever is mounted pivotally on the bracket so as to extend through the gap. A pin in fixed relation to the fixed wall extends through an elongate slot in the lever. The lever is arranged to pivot toward an inoperative position as the chute is moved toward the closed position and to pivot away from the inoperative position and to strip a strap from the space between the flanges of the chute as the chute is moved away from the closed position.

Abstract: A movable strap-engaging member is provided for being connected at a first pivot axis to a vibrator arm for accommodating pivot movement of the vibrator arm about the pivot axis while the movable strap-engaging member is pressing a first length of flexible thermoplastic strap against a second length such strap in an elongate strap-receiving path. The movable strap-engaging member is reciprocated generally transversely of the path to effect a friction-fusion weld of the strap lengths. The movable strap-engaging member has a configuration in which first and second centers of mass are spaced apart on a line that passes through the pivot axis and that is oriented generally perpendicular to the path. The product of the square of the distance along the line between the pivot axis and the mass of the first center of mass is substantially equal to the product of the square of the distance along the line between the pivot axis and the mass of the second center of mass.

Abstract: A tensioning mechanism for a strapping tool. The tensioning mechanism comprises a housing structure, a shaft mounted rotatably to the shaft, a handle coupled to the shaft, and a coupler for coupling the handle to the shaft. The handle is a tension-sensing handle comprising plural members capable of pivotal movement relative to each other and biased in such manner that tension limits can be user-adjusted within a separately adjustable range. Pivotal movement of the handle is limited in such manner that the handle cannot be further pivoted, even in small increments, after sufficient tension has been sensed by the handle.

Abstract: A timing control circuit for a pneumatically-operable device, which is manually actuable so as to provide fluid flow to a revervoir through means of a variable flow control valve and a line-pressure-operable, normally-open valve disposed within the primary fluid flow, is disclosed. The pressure operable valve is closed at a sensed line pressure so as to interrupt fluid flow to the tool so as to terminate an operating cycle.

Abstract: In a mechanism for converting oscillatory rotation of an input shaft to unidirectional rotation of an output shaft, two bevel gears are mounted around the input shaft and a bevel gear intermeshed therewith is coupled to the output shaft. Each bevel gear mounted around the input shaft can be alternately coupled to and uncoupled from the input shaft via an associated pawl disposed in a socket in the input shaft and biased toward an operative position wherein such pawl is extended into a single recess in a bearing surface of such bevel gear. Paired pawls and paired recesses may be optionally employed where high torque is encountered. Oscillatory rotation of the input shaft is limited to a range of approximately 180.degree. between two limiting positions. Camming surfaces on the pawls and the gears respectively provide for movement of each pawl from its operative position.

Abstract: A strap, which can be a strip of metal, is provided for forming a tight loop about an object and for forming a sealless strap connection between overlapping strap portions. The strap has first and second oppositely facing surfaces and two connecting regions spaced apart lengthwise on the strap. Each connecting region has at least one joint element for engaging a corresponding joint element on the other connecting region to connect the regions together upon displacement of the connecting regions lengthwise in opposite directions tending to increase the loop size. An engaging member projects from the strap first surface at one of the connecting regions. A cavity is defined in the strap at the other of the connecting regions and opens to the strap second surface for receiving the engaging member. The cavity is defined at one end by an abutment surface for being engaged by the engaging member.

Abstract: A seal is provided for joining a pair of overlapping plastic strap portions. The seal includes a body of sheet material having a strap engaging surface which engages the strap portions when the seal is closed about the strap portions. The body has a plurality of teeth projecting from the strap-engaging surface. Each tooth is formed of material displaced outwardly from the strap-engaging surface to define a recess therein. Each tooth has a solid configuration defined by converging side surfaces and truncated along a top surface.

Abstract: In a strapping head, slitting dies and a slitting punch on a punch holder cooperate to make a sealless connection in two overlapped layers of a tensioned loop of steel strap. A sealing yoke moves the punch holder via a connection allowing lost motion between the sealing yoke and the punch holder. A strap cutter on a cutter holder and an anvil cooperate to cut an outer layer of the tensioned loop. The sealing yoke moves the cutter holder via a connection allowing lost motion between the sealing yoke and the cutter holder. A spring member biases the strap cutter in a forward direction, via a plunger engaging the strap cutter upon forward motion of the sealing yoke for a sufficient distance to take up lost motion between the sealing yoke and the cutter holder, whereby overtravel of the strap cutter flattens the strap tail.

Abstract: An improved joint and method for providing the improved joint structure in joined or fused thermoplastic strap positioned about a package or article is disclosed. The improved joint includes means for increasing the peel separation resistance of overlapping portions of the joint above the peel separation resistance provided by a weldment between the overlapping portions providing for a joint strength that approaches the tensile strength of the strap material or weldment.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding bulk material, such as, for example, chips, shavings, or the like, into a spiral pump or press, comprises a supply funnel, a feed line, and a rotatably driven conveying and compacting means. The latter comprises a vertically oriented axial shaft which comprises a helicoid portion within the vicinity of the supply funnel, and a helical thread portion within the vicinity of the feed line. The helicoid portion is spaced from the inner peripheral surface of the supply funnel by means of a predetermined spacing, and the inner peripheral surface of the supply funnel is provided with a plurality of pins equiangularly disposed about the inner periphery or circumferential extent of the supply funnel. The pins are arranged within a horizontal plane, and may be disposed within multiple horizontal planes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for applying a fold-over seal about overlapping lengths of strap. The open seal is positioned with the strap lengths between the legs. Opposing jaws are pivoted about axes against the open seal legs toward the strap lengths to bend the seal legs inwardly while decreasing the distance between the seal and the pivot axes of the jaws. The decrease in the distance between the jaw pivot axes and the seal is limited at a predetermined minimum distance, but the jaws continue to be pivoted to fold the seal legs adjacent the strap lengths. As the jaws approach the fully closed position, the distance between the seal and the jaw pivot axes is increased, and this forces the seal crown and legs closer together as the crimping of the seal is completed.

Abstract: Strap binding apparatus is disclosed as including a traction wheel (2T) and a back-up wheel (2B) wherein the traction wheel (2T) is rotatably mounted upon an axis (t) which is fixed within a binding head framework, while the back-up wheel (2B) is rotatably mounted upon an axis (b) which is eccentrically disposed, by means of an eccentric shaft (10), with respect to a base axis (X) through means of an eccentric distance (x). A support plate (9) is pivotably mounted within the binding head framework about the axis (t) and is biased in its pivotable movement by means of a spring (8) interposed between the support plate (9) and the binding head framework.

Abstract: An improved joint and method for providing the improved joint structure in joined or fused thermoplastic strap positioned about a package or article is disclosed. The improved joint includes means for increasing the peel separation resistance of overlapping portions of the joint above the peel separation resistance provided by a weldment between the overlapping portions providing for a joint strength that approaches the tensile strength of the strap material or weldment.

Abstract: A shipping package system with at least one tier of vertically-stacked webbing rolls utilizes pads with an inner set of passages and an outer set of passages, which webbing rolls may have extended tubular core ends nesting in the pad passages. The outer set of passages accommodate radial webbing roll movement and inhibit circumferential movement about the pad center, which radial movement provides tangential contact between adjacent and/or inner passage webbing rolls.

Abstract: A strap binding machine for binding articles includes a traction operating wheel and a back-up operating wheel rotatable in opposite directions so as to achieve forward advancement and rearward retraction of the binding strap whereby feeding, retraction, and high-torque tightening of the binding strap is accomplished with respect to an article to be bound. The back-up wheel is mounted upon an eccentric shaft which is, in turn, mounted upon a connecting link by means of a lever, attached to the eccentric shaft, and a pin engaged within an arcuate slot defined within the lever. The connecting link is attached at one end thereof to a supporting plate upon which is mounted the traction wheel wherein the supporting plate is spring-biased so as to be pivotable in a counterclockwise direction, and the other end of the connecting link is attached to a pneumatic piston-cylinder mechanism.

Abstract: A method for bonding overlapped end portions of a binding strap encircled about articles to be bound and tightened to a tensioned state by means of a gripper disposed at a gripping station for gripping a leading end portion of the binding strap, and drive rollers driven in their reverse mode so as to retract a trailing end portion of the binding strap, comprises the steps of interposing a plate electrode between the article being bound and the overlapped portions of the binding strap, lowering a single electrode tip, disposed above the overlapped portions of the binding strap, into contact with the overlapped portions of the binding strap such that the latter is compressed between the electrode tip and the plate electrode, and energizing the electrodes so as to perform a spot-welding operation at a first location, upon said overlapped portions of the binding strap, which is remote from the gripping station.

Abstract: A method of gripping a leading end portion of a binding strap so as to facilitate the bonding of strap end portions to each other, and apparatus therefore, includes the provision of a movable jaw and a stationary cutter wherein the jaw and cutter are provided with convex and concave portions which intermesh with each other with the convex portions of the jaw and cutter being substantially longitudinally aligned or disposed opposite the concave portions of the other. In this manner, the strap portion being gripped is gripped in an undulated or corrugated manner so as to insure secure gripping thereof even under high-tension, high-torque conditions, such as, for example, as the binding strap is being tightened and tensioned in preparation for the bonding operation of the overlapped leading and trailing end portions of the binding strap encircling the article being bound.

Abstract: A strapping machine arranged to compress a load along a vertical axis, as well as along a longitudinal, horizontal axis, and to confine the load along a transverse, horizontal axis, before strapping the load. A platen is arranged for vertical movement toward and away from a roller table. Load-end formers are arranged, in pairs for relative movement toward and away from each other along a longitudinal, horizontal axis, and for relative movement along the platen, in engagement with the platen at least after the platen has been lowered partially. Load-confining doors are pivotable between closed positions, in which such doors confine opposite sides of the loads, along a transverse, horizontal axis, and opened positions. Strapping heads and coacting strap chutes are carried by the platen.