Abstract: A method and implementing system are described in which planar board or motherboard stiffness is provided through a support structure mounted to the planar. The support structure includes support bars connected together to form a stiffening structure for the motherboard. The support bars are mounted within planes which are substantially perpendicular to the plane of the motherboard and in proximity to electrical connectors on the motherboard which are arranged to have circuit boards connected thereto. A board mounting apparatus is connected to the support structure to enable and guide the insertion and extraction of circuit boards to the motherboard with only enclosure side panel access. In one example, the circuit boards include guide pins which are inserted into slots of a mounting bracket, and the mounting bracket is selectively moved to exert an insertion or extraction force on a pin connector attached to the circuit board relative to a corresponding connector on a motherboard.

Abstract: An improved tensioning method, for tensioning the tying medium of a package tying machine, results from mounting a novel tensioning device on the tying machine's rotatable twine arm. The tensioning device utilizes a funneling structure to gather the tying medium, whether twine or tape or other material, into a prescribed volume while tensioning the same, thereby allowing a relatively high uniform tension value to be maintained in the tying medium throughout the package tying cycle.

Abstract: An improved tensioning device, for tensioning the tying medium of a package tying machine, is mounted on the tying machine's rotatable twine arm. The tensioning device utilizes a funneling structure to gather the tying medium, whether twine or tape or other material, into a prescribed volume while tensioning the same, thereby allowing a relatively high, uniform tension value to be maintained in the tying medium throughout the package tying cycle.

Abstract: An automatic clutch lock out and clutch release mechanism for package tying machines of the type utilizing handles or foot pedals to initiate a machine cycle. The automatic clutch lock out mechanism includes a cam gear rotatably mounted atop the forked clutch lever and a wedge-shaped release rack lever controllably operated by the tying machine's foot pedal or handle and which both meshes with the cam gear and slidably engages the associated cam follower lever, the combination of the two effecting gradual, quiet, and smooth engagement of the machine's clutch at the beginning of a tying cycle and further providing a safe and inexpensive clutch lock out that eliminates unreliable electrical components.

Abstract: The operation of the twine catcher and knife trap assembly for a package tying machine is improved by providing a specially configured operating hole in the support structure associated with the stringholder button to control the self-camming action of the button whereby the button is prevented from excessively clamping the associated tie material during the tying machine's knotting cycle yet able to provide a desired clamping action during the machine's wrapping cycle. The cutter and pull out elements on a tying machine's knife trap assembly are displaced relative to one another so as to sequentially effect the tie material dislodgement and severing operations thereby preventing any premature pull out and resultant misties.