QUICK RELEASE STRAP TUBE MOUNT

Abstract

A quick release strap tube mount is for mounting a strap tube to an equipment item. The strap tube has a notch formed therein and provides a channel for conveyance of strapping material. The mount includes a housing defining a strap tube channel. At least one locking arm is mounted to and disposed within the housing. The locking arm is disposed outside of the strap tube channel. A locking hub is operably connected to the locking arm and extends into the strap tube channel. The locking hub engages the strap tube at the notch. The locking arm and hub are pivotable relative to the housing between a latched position and a release position. A biasing element is coupled to the locking arm and the housing to bias the locking arm into the latched position and a release member is operably connected to the locking arm to move the locking arm and hub from the latched position to the release position to release the strap tube.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a strap tube or strap guide mount device. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a quick release mount for a strap tube or strap guide.

In strapping systems it is often necessary to enclose the strapping material, from, for example, the dispenser to the strapping head, in order to prevent the strap from becoming entangled or damaged. Previous methods of mounting strap tube have used rigidly fixed brackets with fastener mounted covers at both the dispenser and strapping head.

One disadvantage of this type of implementation of strap tube mount is that it is necessary to have and use tools to install and remove the strap tube. This increases the time required to install or remove the tube from the strapping head or dispenser, thereby reducing productivity.

Accordingly, there is a need for a quick release strap tube mount. Desirably, such a mount securely holds the strap tube while in use and allows for easy installation and removal of the strap tube when desired. More desirably, installation and removal of the strap tube is carried out without the need for tools and disassembly of the mount.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A quick release strap tube mount is used to mount an associated strap tube to an equipment item, such as a strapping machine, strapping head, strap dispenser or the like. The strap tube has a notch formed therein and provides a channel for conveyance of strapping material between equipment items.

The mount is a quick release device that securely holds the strap tube while in use and allows for easy installation and removal of the strap tube when desired. Advantageously, installation and removal of the strap tube is carried out without the need for tools and disassembly of the mount.

The mount includes a housing that defines a strap tube channel. At least one and preferably two locking arms are pivotally mounted to and disposed within the housing outside of the strap tube channel. A locking hub is associated with each arm. The locking hubs are operably connected to their respective locking arms and extend into the strap tube channel. The locking hubs engage the strap tube at the notches. The locking arms and hubs are pivotable relative to the housing between a latched position and a release position.

A biasing element such as a spring is coupled to each locking arm and the housing to bias the locking arm into the latched position. A release member is operably connected to the locking arm to move the locking arm and hub from the latched position to the release position.

The housing can include a latch carriage and a latch body such that the strap tube channel is defined by and between the latch carriage and the latch body. The strap tube channel can be defined by walls in the carriage and/or body having a chamfer to direct the strap tube into the channel. A dowel pin in the housing anchors the spring to the housing.

In one embodiment, a release tab is disposed on each locking arm to pivot the locking arm from the latched position to the release position. In an alternate embodiment, a release lever has a cam operably mounted thereto. By rotating the lever, the cam contacts the locking arms to pivot the locking arms from the latched position to the release position.

Each hub is a cylindrical element extending rearwardly from its arm and can be mounted to the arm by a pin for rotation about the pin relative to the arm or to remain rigid relative to the arm.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C are perspective views of one embodiment of the quick release strap tube mount invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the mount of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D are front, side, rear, and perspective views, respectively, of an alternate embodiment of the mount, illustrating insertion of the strap tube into the mount;

FIG. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D are views similar to those of 3A-D showing insertion of the strap tube into the mount;

FIG. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D are views similar to those of 3A-D illustrating the strap tube being secured in the mount; and

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D are views similar to those of 3A-D showing the strap tube being removed from the mount.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated.

It should be further understood that the title of this section of this specification, namely, “Detailed Description of the Invention”, relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein.

Referring now to the figures, and in particular to FIGS. 1A-1C, there is shown one embodiment of a quick release strap tube mount embodying the principles of the present invention. The mount allows the strap tube to be rigidly mounted, but quickly and easily installed on and removed from the mount. It will be appreciated that the mount is affixed to equipment components (not shown), such as strapping machines, strapping machine heads, strap dispensers and the like, to permit mounting the strap tube between such equipment components.

Strap tube S is inserted in the mount 10 through an opening or channel 36 in the housing 11. The housing 11 includes a latch body 12, a latch carriage 14, and a front cover 28. The channel 36 is formed from the coupling of the latch body 12 with the latch carriage 14. The walls the define the channel 36 can be chamfered, as at 37, to permit easy insertion of the strap tube S into the channel. The mount is shown with and without the front cover 28 attached in FIGS. 1B and 1C. Lever 34 is mounted for rotation in the housing 11, mounted to the carriage 14 and extending through the cover 28.

A cam 17 having opposing lobes 19 (one shown) is mounted to the lever 34 for rotation with the lever. The cam 17 rotates and contacts the locking arms 20 to urge the arms outward. The arms 20 pivot about pins 16 that mount the arms 20 to the housing 11.

Locking hubs 18 are mounted to the locking arms 20 with fasteners 22 such as cap screws. The locking hubs 18 extend rearwardly of the arms 20, through notches 15 in the carriage 14 and into the tube channel 36. As such, the arms 20 lie outside of the channel 36 whereas the hubs 18, when in the latched position, lie in recesses 15 that extend into the channel 36 (see FIG. 1B and FIGS. 2 and 6C). The hubs 18 are cylindrical elements and are mounted to the arms 20 by fasteners that can rigidly mount the hubs 18 to the arms 20 or can mount the hubs 18 to allow the hubs 18 to rotate (e.g., spin) about the screws 22.

Biasing elements, such as the illustrated extension springs 26 bias the locking arms 20 toward the closed or latched position, as shown in FIG. 1B. A dowel pin 24 resting in cavity 27 serves to anchor the extension springs 26 in the latch carriage 14. Hook-like fingers 29 on the arms 20 provide a location to which the springs 26 are mounted to the arms 20 to bias the arms 20. A front cover 28 retains the components in the latch carriage 14 while lock washers 30 and socket head cap screws 32 secure the front cover 28 and the latch carriage 14 to the latch body 12.

An alternate embodiment of the mount 110 is illustrated in FIGS. 2-6D. In this embodiment 110, rather using a cam-action (that is, rather than using the lever 34 and cam 17 shown in FIG. 1C) to move the arms and hubs outward, the arms 120 each include a manual actuator or finger tab 121, to facilitate pivoting the arms 120 (and hubs 118) outward. Accordingly, the central lever and cam are not needed.

Operation of the quick release strap tube mount is illustrated for the embodiment 110 in FIGS. 3A-D, 4A-D, 5A-D, and 6A-D. The strap tube S is inserted into the quick release mount 110, into the tube channel 36 between the body 12 and carriage 14. As the tube S is inserted, it contacts the locking hubs 118. The insertion force acts upon the locking hubs 118 to urge the arms 120 and locking hubs 118 outwardly by rotation about the dowel pins 16.

As the strap tube S continues to travel through the channel 36, the locking hubs 118 engage the notches N in the strap tube S. The springs 26 urge the arms 120 (and hubs 118) inward, which in turn pull the hubs 118 into the notches 15 of the carriage and the strap tube notches N as the notches N and hubs 118 align (see FIG. 6C).

Once the hubs 118 are in place in the mount notches 15 and the strap tube notches N, (with the strap tube S fully inserted into the mount 110), the hubs 118 reside in the notches N in such a manner that if a force F₀ is applied to the strap tube S in a direction opposite to that of insertion (as seen in FIG. 6C), the spring 26 force inward will prevent the locking hubs 118 (and arms 120) from pivoting to open and thus prevents the strap tube S from being inadvertently removed.

Once inserted, as desired, removal of the strap tube S from the mount 110 is readily carried out. A finger placed on the tabs 121, to pivot the arms 120 in the direction indicated at 129 (see FIG. 6C) will pivot the arms 120 and move the hubs 118 out from the housing notches 15 and the tube notches N. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1C. rotating the lever 34 to move the cams 19 into contact with the arms 20 will likewise urge the arms 20 outwardly to move the hubs 18 from the housing notches 15 and the strap tube notches N.

It will be appreciated that although finger actuated tabs 121, and a lever 34 and cam 17 arrangement are disclosed, other configurations can be used to pivot the locking arms 20, 120 and the hubs 18, 118, directly or indirectly, from engagement with the strap tube S and that such other configurations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

All patents referred to herein, are hereby incorporated herein by reference, whether or not specifically done so within the text of this disclosure.

In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular.

From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A quick release strap tube mount for mounting an associated strap tube to an associated equipment item, the strap tube having at least one notch formed therein, the strap tube providing a channel for conveyance of strapping material, the mount comprising:

a housing, the housing defining a strap tube channel;

at least one locking arm disposed within the housing, the locking arm being disposed outside of the strap tube channel;

at least one locking hub, the locking hub being operably connected to the locking arm and extending into the strap tube channel, the locking hub engaging the strap tube at the at least one notch, the locking arm and hub pivotable relative to the housing between a latched position and a release position;

at least one biasing element coupled to the locking arm and the housing to bias the locking arm into the latched position; and

a release member operably connected to the locking arm to move the locking arm and hub from the latched position to the release position.

2. The quick release strap tube mount of claim 1 wherein the housing has a latch carriage and a latch body and wherein the strap tube channel is defined by and between the latch carriage and the latch body.

3. The quick release strap tube mount of claim 2 including a front cover.

4. The quick release strap tube mount of claim 1 wherein the at least one locking arm pivots about a latch pin.

5. The quick release strap tube mount of claim 1 including a dowel pin for anchoring the at least one biasing element to the housing.

6. The quick release strap tube mount of claim 1 wherein the at least one biasing element is a spring.

7. The quick release strap tube mount of claim 6 including two locking arms and two springs, wherein the two springs bias the two locking arms into the latched position.

8. The quick release strap tube mount of claim 1 wherein the locking hub is rigidly mounted to the locking arm.

9. The quick release strap tube mount of claim 1 including a lever and a cam operably mounted thereto, the cam adapted to contact the at least one locking arm to pivot the locking arm from the latched position to the release position.

10. The quick release strap tube mount of claim 7 including a lever and a cam operably mounted thereto, the cam adapted to contact both of the locking arm to pivot the locking arms from the latched position to the release position.

11. The quick release strap tube mount of claim 10 wherein the lever is operably attached through the front cover.

12. The quick release strap tube mount of claim 1 including a tab disposed on the at least one locking arm to pivot the locking arm from the latched position to the release position.

13. The quick release strap tube mount of claim 7 including a tab disposed on each locking arm to pivot the locking arm from the latched position to the release position.

14. The quick release strap tube mount of claim 1 wherein the at least one hub is cylindrical and wherein the hub is mounted to the arm by a pin for rotation about the pin relative to the arm.

15. The quick release strap tube mount of claim 1 wherein the strap tube channel is defined by walls having a chamfer to direct the strap tube into the channel.

16. The quick release strap tube mount of claim 1 including a hook element on the at least one locking arm for securing the biasing element to the locking arm.

17. The quick release strap tube mount of claim 1 wherein the locking hub is mounted to the locking arm to pivot relative to the locking arm.