MOBILE STRAPPING DEVICE HAVING A HANDLE

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a mobile strapping device for wrapping material to be packed with a strap, the device comprising: a tensioning unit for applying a strap tension to a loop of a strap, a welding unit for producing a welded connection on two superimposed regions of the strap loop, a housing with a front housing region formed as a cover for the tensioning unit and a rear housing region for receiving a rechargeable energy store, and a handle arranged between the front and the rear housing regions for holding the strapping device. To achieve improved ergonomic properties for the strapping device, as viewed in relation to a plan view onto the strapping device and in relation to a provided longitudinal direction of the course of the strap running through the strapping device, the profile of the handle is nonparallel to the strap.

Description

This application is a national stage entry of PCT/CH2014/000057, filed on May 5, 2014, which claims priority to and the benefit of Switzerland Patent Application Nos.: (1) 443/14, filed on Mar. 24, 2014; (2) 1630/13, filed on Sep. 24, 2013; (3) 1629/13, filed on Sep. 24, 2014; (4) 911/13, filed on May 5, 2013; and (5) 910/13, filed on May 5, 2013, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The invention relates to a mobile strapping apparatus for strapping articles for packing with a strapping band, which strapping apparatus has a tensioning device for applying a band tension to a loop of a strapping band, and has a welding device for producing a welded connection, in particular a friction-welded or vibration-welded connection, on two regions, situated one above the other, of the loop of the strapping band, has energy supply means of the strapping apparatus, for example a chargeable energy store for storing electrical energy, wherein the energy, such as electrical energy, is provided at least inter alia as drive energy for motor-imparted drive movements of the strapping apparatus, and a housing with a front cover part for the tensioning device, and a rear housing part, which is preferably provided for accommodating the energy store, and a handle for holding the strapping apparatus, which handle is arranged between the front housing part and the rear housing part.

Strapping apparatuses of said type have a tensioning device by means of which an adequately high band tension can be applied to a band loop that has been placed around the respective article for packing. By means, preferably, of a clamping device of the strapping apparatus, it is then possible for the band loop to be fixed to the article for packing for the subsequent connecting process. In the case of generic strapping apparatuses, the connecting process is performed by way of a vibration welding device, in particular by way of a friction welding device. Here, pressure is exerted on the band by means of a friction shoe which moves in oscillating fashion in the region of two ends of the band loop. The pressure and the heat generated by the oscillating movement of sections of the two band sections causes the band, which generally has plastic, to locally melt for a short period of time. This gives rise to a permanent connection, which can be released again at most with high force, between the two band layers.

Generic strapping apparatuses are provided for mobile use, wherein the appliances are intended to be carried by a user to the respective usage location and, there, should generally not be dependent on the use of externally supplied energy. In the case of known strapping appliances, the energy required for the intended use of such strapping appliances for tensioning a strapping band around articles for packing of any type and for producing a fastening is generally provided by an electric battery or by compressed air. By means of said energy, the band tension introduced into the band by means of the tensioning device is generated, and a fastening is produced on the strapping band. Generic strapping apparatuses, and thus also strapping apparatuses according to the invention, are furthermore provided for connecting only weldable plastics bands to one another.

In the case of mobile appliances, a low weight is of particular importance in order that the user of the strapping apparatus is subjected to the least possible physical burden when using the apparatus. Likewise, for ergonomic reasons, the most uniform possible distribution of the weight over the entire strapping apparatus should be provided, in particular in order to avoid a concentration of the weight in the head region of the strapping apparatus. Such a concentration leads to adverse handling characteristics of the apparatus. Furthermore, the most ergonomic possible and user-friendly handling of the strapping appliance is always sought. In particular, the possibility of incorrect operation and malfunctions should be as low as possible, and information regarding the operating state should be visible to the user of the strapping appliance.

To meet these requirements, it has hitherto been substantially conventional to equip mobile strapping appliances with a handle by which the strapping appliance can be carried and in particular operated during strapping processes. Here, embodiments are conventional in which the handle is arranged between a front and a rear end of the strapping appliance, wherein, at the front end, there is or are situated at least one or more functional units of the strapping appliance, such as a tensioning device for imparting a band tension, a fastening device for connecting the band ends, and a severing device for severing the strap from a band supply. Here, in the region of the other end of the handle, at the rear end of the strapping appliance, there is situated a receptacle for a battery. Even though, with this embodiment of mobile strapping appliances, it is already possible to achieve good handling characteristics and the appliances have a balanced weight distribution, they cannot be fully satisfactory in particular with regard to ergonomic aspects.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a generic strapping appliance which has improved ergonomic characteristics.

In the case of a strapping appliance of the type mentioned in the introduction, said object is achieved in that, with respect to a plan view of the strapping apparatus and with respect to an intended longitudinal direction of the profile of the band through the strapping apparatus, the profile of the handle is non-parallel with respect to the band. In the case of this orientation obliquely with respect to the profile of the strapping band, the handle may in particular have a rectilinear form or else a curved/bent form.

In the context of the invention, a handle may be understood to mean at least that part of the housing of the strapping apparatus which a user can grip using one hand in order to thereby hold and handle the strapping apparatus during the intended use thereof. In an alternative wording, the present invention can also be seen in the fact that the handle has at least two points which are arranged spaced apart from one another and which, with respect to a plan view of the strapping apparatus, have different spacings to the intended setpoint position of a centerline of the strapping band provided in each case for being processed by way of the strapping apparatus. In particular, the at least two points should be provided on the handle such that a front point of said points has a relatively small spacing, and a rear point has a larger spacing than the front point, to the centerline of the strapping band. Here, the setpoint position of the strapping band is generally defined by the orientation of the tensioning wheel and, if appropriate, also by the position of the connecting device in relation to the tensioning wheel. The strapping band should in this case generally be arranged such that—again with respect to a plan view of the strapping apparatus—in the region of the tensioning wheel, the centerline of the strapping band runs parallel to the centerline of the circumference of the tensioning wheel. Furthermore, normally, the strapping band should both be arranged below the tensioning wheel and run with the same band section through the connecting device.

Generic, previously known strapping apparatuses always have a handle which is oriented parallel to an intended band profile of the strapping band in the region of the strapping appliance. During the band strapping process, the mobile strapping apparatus is, at least at times, held and handled by way of said handle. It has hitherto been the case in generic strapping apparatuses that—at least with respect to a plan view—a parallel arrangement of the handle has been selected. A rectilinear profile of the handle parallel to the band profile constitutes the shortest connection between the front and the rear housing region, for which reason said previously known design of a handle is obvious, this presumably being the reason it has been selected up until now. Such a parallel arrangement of the handle has presumably also been provided up until now because one could have assumed that the handle can be utilized as an orientation aid for the orientation of the strapping band to be placed in. As has been found in the context of the invention but not noticed previously, this is, in particular in the case of continuous usage of such strapping apparatuses, a major reason for premature symptoms of fatigue of the operator of the mobile strapping apparatus. In this context, the invention provides an improvement by virtue of the handle being oriented non-parallel, and with a non-0° angle, with respect to the intended band profile of the strapping band in particular in the region of the tensioning device and of the fastening device. Here, said relationship between the band profile and the profile of a longitudinal orientation of the handle is to be understood with respect to a plan view of the strapping appliance, in which the strapping appliance is situated in the processing position in which the strapping appliance is arranged with the underside of its base plate on a level surface. By means of this orientation of the handle, it is possible for the strapping appliance, during the use thereof for the strapping of articles for packing, to be held by the user in such a way that, by contrast to before, the user no longer has to bend the wrist of the hand that is holding the strapping apparatus, or at least does not have to bend said wrist to such a great degree. Rather, owing to the changed profile of the handle, the user can hold and operate the mobile strapping apparatus with less expenditure of force. In this way, the user experiences less fatigue, and, with unchanged concentration and attention, is capable of performing a greater number of strapping operations. This also increases working safety, and helps to prevent workplace accidents.

An advantage that likewise results from the design of the housing according to the invention consists in the possibility of easier insertion of the strapping band into, and removal of the strapping band from, the strapping apparatus. The oblique profile of the handle that preferably results, with respect to a plan view of the strapping apparatus and of the strapping band in the strapping apparatus, yields an offset between the rear region, adjoining the handle, of the housing, in relation to the front housing region. In this way, it is possible in a simple manner—again with respect to the plan view—to provide a spacing, in particular an adequately large spacing, between the rear region of the housing and the strapping band. By contrast to previously known solutions, the invention thus makes it possible for the housing of the strapping apparatus to be designed such that the rear housing region does not pose an obstruction to the handling of the strapping band

Preferred strapping apparatuses according to the invention may have a front housing region and a rear housing region which are connected to one another by way of a central housing region. In particular, the tensioning wheel of the tensioning device may be arranged in the front housing region. It is also preferable for there to be provided in the front housing region a vibration element which, by way of a vibration movement, introduces energy into the band in order to generate a fastening by way of local melting of the band on the two band layers thereof. The rear housing region may in particular be provided for accommodating a battery or some other energy supply. In other embodiments, it is also possible for constituent parts of the mobile strapping apparatus other than those specified above to be arranged in the front and rear housing regions. The front and the rear housing regions should be connected to one another by way of the central housing region, and have the handle arranged between the front and rear housing regions. The connection between the front and rear housing regions may be realized by way of the handle and/or by way of some other section of the central housing region. The handle, which is oriented obliquely with respect to the band profile, may also be connected only to the front housing region, only to the rear housing region or else only to the central housing region.

The orientation of the handle according to the invention may also, with respect to a plan view of the strapping apparatus, be defined by the resulting different spacings of the two ends of the handle, which is elongate in a longitudinal direction, from the intended profile of the strapping band. Said profile of the strapping band may be reflected by a straight line. With respect to a plan view of the strapping apparatus, a straight connecting line of the two ends of the handle may be oriented non-parallel with respect to the straight line of the band profile, for example with respect to the centerline of the strapping band. If one of the ends is connected to the front or rear housing part, the respective end of the handle can be assumed to be a point of a transition region of the handle into the respective housing region to which the handle is connected, or into the surface of said respective housing region. Said one or more points used for defining the straight connecting line should, in a respective width of the handle as seen in a plan view, lie in the center of the width of the handle.

If the ends of the handle have different spacings to the straight line of the band, an at least regionally oblique profile of the handle is present, in the case of which the straight connecting line from a point of a transition region of the handle into the front housing region to a point of a transition region of the handle into the rear housing region runs non-parallel with respect to the straight line which is defined by the intended band profile through the strapping appliance. A centerline of the handle, at least one section of the centerline, should preferably enclose an acute angle with the intended longitudinal direction of the profile of the band through the strapping appliance. The angle by which the handle is oriented with respect to the straight line of the band may be selected from an angle range of 3° to 89°, preferably 5° to 70°, and particularly preferably from an angle range of 6° to 40°. All individual angle values that lie in the stated ranges should be regarded as being explicitly disclosed. An explicit statement of said values at this juncture will be omitted, merely in order to avoid an unnecessarily extensive list of angle values. Here, the angle should be oriented such that it opens toward the rear housing region, that is to say the rear end of the handle preferably has a greater spacing to the straight line of the band than the front end of the handle.

Particular advantages can be attained with preferred embodiments according to the invention in which at least one display means is arranged on the rear housing region. The display means is thus expediently situated behind the handle with respect to a longitudinal extent of the strapping apparatus. Owing to the obliquity of the profile of the handle, the display means is in the field of view of the user even during the use of the mobile strapping apparatus, and is not concealed by the user's arm. The user can thus read off information from the display means even during the strapping processes, whereby a further improvement in the ergonomics of the strapping apparatus can be attained.

In a further preferred embodiment according to the invention, the display means may comprise a touchscreen. The touchscreen may extend over a certain area and display different items of information on said area. It may also display different items of information alternately on the same area regions, for example in selectable different display levels. With the touchscreen, it may furthermore be provided that it displays actuable operation elements that can be selected by touching the touchscreen. It may also be possible for said operating elements to be displayed and selected in different logical operation levels. For this purpose, the touch screen may be equipped with a GUI (graphical user interface). In the context of the invention, a touchscreen may therefore be understood to mean an input and display device, in the case of which, by touching a predeterminable area region of said device, inputs can be made which either generate inputs for the control of the strapping apparatus and/or trigger functions of the strapping apparatus. The inputs may be made in particular by way of a touch action using a finger.

According to a further aspect of the invention, which also has independent significance, the mobile strapping apparatus, may be equipped with a structural unit which comprises the display and operating device and the controller, at least parts thereof, of the strapping apparatus. The structural unit may preferably be equipped with all of the electronics of the strapping apparatus. Since a structural unit of said type can be preassembled, the installation of the display and operating device and of the controller into the strapping apparatus is possible particularly easily and quickly. A further significant advantage arises from the fact that, in the event of a defect, the defective structural unit can be exchanged for a new structural unit quickly and with little effort. Since the structural unit is preferably arranged in the rear housing region, the strapping apparatus mechanism which is arranged preferably in the front housing region does not pose an obstruction even during such maintenance processes.

Further preferred refinements of the invention will emerge from the claims, from the description and from the drawing.

The invention will be discussed in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments which are illustrated purely schematically in the figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of one embodiment of a mobile strapping apparatus.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the strapping apparatus from FIG. 1 with a strapping band placed therein.

FIG. 3 shows the strapping apparatus with a housing having been removed.

FIG. 4 shows the operating and display panel of the strapping apparatus from FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration of a rear housing region with a structural unit, provided for installation into the housing, of the operating and display device.

FIG. 6 is an illustration as per FIG. 5, with the structural unit inserted into the housing and with a battery provided for insertion into the housing.

FIG. 7 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the apparatus, shown partially in an exploded illustration, from the illustrations of FIGS. 10 and 11.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of the rear region of the second exemplary embodiment of the strapping apparatus, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

FIG. 9 is an exploded illustration of major parts of a possible display and operating device for the illustrated exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 10 shows a side view of one embodiment of the mobile strapping apparatus.

FIG. 11 shows a plan view of the strapping apparatus from FIG. 10 with a strapping band placed therein.

One embodiment of the manually actuatable mobile strapping appliance 1 (strapping apparatus) shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 has a housing 2 which surrounds the mechanism of the strapping appliance and on which there is formed a handle 3 for the handling of the appliance. The strapping appliance is furthermore equipped with a base plate 4, on the underside of which there is provided a base surface 5 for arrangement on an article to be packaged. All of the functional units of the strapping appliance 1 are fastened on the base plate 4 and on the carrier (not illustrated in any more detail) of the strapping appliance, said carrier being connected to the base plate.

By means of the strapping appliance 1, a loop (not illustrated in any more detail in FIG. 1) of a plastic band 10, composed for example of polypropylene (PP) or polyester (PET), which loop has, beforehand, been placed around the article to be packaged, can be tensioned by means of a tensioning device 6 of the strapping apparatus. For this purpose, the tensioning device 6, which is provided as a constituent part of the strapping appliance, has a tensioning wheel 7 as a tensioning tool by means of which the band 10 can be gripped for a tensioning process. Here, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the tensioning wheel 7 interacts with a rocker 8 which can, by means of a rocker pushbutton 9, be pivoted about a rocker pivot axis 8a from an end position with a spacing to the tensioning wheel into a second end position in which the rocker 8 bears against the tensioning wheel 7. Here, the band 10 situated between the tensioning wheel 7 and the rocker 8 also lies against the tensioning wheel 7. By rotation of the tensioning wheel 7, it is then possible for the band to be pressed against the tensioning wheel 7 and, by rotation of the tensioning wheel 7, for a pulling-back movement of the band to be generated, by means of which the band loop can have imparted to it a high band tension which is adequate for the purposes of the packaging operation.

Subsequently, at a point of the band loop at which two layers of the band 10 lie one above the other, welding of the two layers can be performed by means of the fastening device, which is formed as a friction welding device 13 of the strapping appliance. The band loop can hereby be permanently closed. For this purpose, the friction welding device 13 is equipped with a welding shoe 11 which, by way of mechanical pressure on the strapping band and a simultaneous oscillating movement with a predetermined frequency, causes the two layers of the strapping band 10 to melt. The plasticized or molten regions of the two band layers flow into one another and, after the band 10 cools, a connection between the two band layers then forms during a cooling period. If necessary, the band loop may then simultaneously be severed from a supply roll (not illustrated) of the band 10 by means of a severing device 12 of the strapping appliance 1. Subsequently, the strapping appliance 1 can be removed from the article for packing and from the band strap produced.

The actuation of the tensioning device 6, the advancement of the friction welding device 13 by means of a transfer device of the friction welding device 13, and also the use of the friction welding device per se, and the actuation of the cutting device, are performed using only one common electric motor 14, which provides a respective drive movement for these components. The structural solution provided for this purpose may correspond to that described in WO2009/129634 A1, the content of disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. For the supply of electricity, an exchangeable battery 15, which can in particular be removed in order to be charged, is arranged on the strapping appliance. A supply of other external auxiliary energy, such as for example compressed air or further electricity, is duly not provided in the case of the preferred strapping appliance as per FIGS. 1 to 3, though may be provided in other embodiments of the invention.

In the present case, the portable, mobile strapping appliance 1 has an actuation element 16, configured as a press switch, which is provided for setting the motor in operation and which will hereinafter be referred to as tensioning pushbutton. For the actuation element 16, it is possible to set three modes by means of a mode switch 17 (FIG. 4) which, in this exemplary embodiment according to the invention, is contained in the operating and display panel 25. In the first mode, through subsequent actuation of the actuation element 16, both the tensioning device 6 and the friction welding device 13 are triggered in succession and in automated fashion, without further activities on the part of an operator being necessary. To set the second mode, the switch 17 is switched into a second switching mode. The switching state of the switch 17 is, with its settable modes and likewise the switching state of the actuation element 16, presented and displayed on the display panel. Then, in the second possible mode, actuation of the tensioning pushbutton 16 causes only the tensioning device 6 to be triggered. For the separate triggering of the friction welding device 13, it is necessary for the tensioning pushbutton 16 to be actuated by the operator for a second time. The third mode is a type of semi-automatic mode, in which the actuation element provided as tensioning pushbutton 16 must be depressed until the tensioning force or tensile stress in the band, which can be preset in stages, is attained. In this mode, it is possible to interrupt the tensioning process by releasing the tensioning pushbutton 16, for example in order for corner protectors to be fitted, under the strapping band, onto the article for strapping. The tensioning process can then be resumed by pressing the tensioning pushbutton 16. Said third mode may be combined both with a separately triggered friction welding process and with an automatically following friction welding process. The electrical supply is ensured by the battery 15, which is in the form of a lithium-ion battery.

During the formation of a fastening, after the band has been placed, in the form of a loop, around the article for packing, is guided here in a predetermined manner in one layer through the tensioning device 6 and in two layers through the fastening device. In other embodiments of the invention, it may also be provided that the strapping band is arranged in two layers between the tensioning wheel and the tensioning plate—or some other counter support which interacts with the tensioning wheel—for the tensioning process. The intended band tension is imparted by engagement of the tensioning device 6 into the upper layer, guided through the tensioning device 6, of the band and by way of a pulling-back movement of the band. Thereafter, the welding shoe 11 is lowered in the direction of a counter support surface 22 of the base plate 4. Depending on the activated operating mode of the strapping appliance 1, this takes place automatically following the completion of the tensioning process or as a result of separate triggering of the friction welding process by actuation of the pushbutton provided for the purpose. During the friction welding process, the band remains clamped between the tensioning wheel 7 and the tensioning counter support 23, and is held there during the formation of a fastening. During this method step of forming the strapping, the tensioning device has the function of a band clamp or of a clamping device which, by way of two interacting clamping elements, clamps the band between them. As a result of the lowering of the welding shoe 11, the two band layers that have been guided through the fastening device are pressed against one another and against the counter support surface 22.

In the fastening device, the band is arranged in two layers, wherein the lower band layer lies with its lower band surface against the inclined counter support surface 22 and is pressed against the latter. With the upper surface, the lower band layer lies against the lower surface of the upper band layer. The welding shoe 11 presses against the upper surface of the upper band layer. In said position of the band, the friction welding device 13 commences the formation of a fastening by way of the oscillating movement of the welding shoe 11 transversely with respect to the longitudinal profile of the band. In this way, the two band layers bearing against one another are melted. The materials of the band layers flow into one another and form a cohesive connection during the subsequent cooling process when the oscillating movement of the welding shoe has been stopped. Subsequently, the welding shoe 11 is moved away from the counter support surface 22 and the tensioning device 6 is removed from the band, whereby the clamping action is eliminated, and the two band layers are released.

The strapping appliance according to the invention is equipped with the operating and display panel 25, which may also be in the form of a touchscreen. The touchscreen may be a resistive or capacitive touch-sensitive areal screen (display), wherein other forms of touchscreen could also be used. In the exemplary embodiment, the touchscreen has a substantially rectangular display and operating surface 25a. Such touchscreens are marketed for example by the company Ad Metro, 1181 Parisien Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K 1B 4W4, which can be sourced in Germany from the company Interelectronix e.K., Ottostrasse 1, 85649 Hofolding.

In other embodiments, the display and operating device may also have conventional switch pushbuttons or other operating elements, in particular foil pushbuttons and other pushbuttons in the case of which the position of the pushbutton is fixedly and invariantly predefined, and a mechanical change in the switching state of said switching pushbutton is effected not just by touch but (also) by pressure. In such alternative embodiments, information regarding the state of the strapping apparatus may likewise be performed by way of conventional display devices without operating elements integrated into the display area, such as for example by way of LCD or TFT displays.

Even though the illustrations of FIG. 4 depict a rectangular touchscreen in the case of which three operating elements 17 to 19 are formed in the region of the lower face side, the same illustration could also depict an LCD display with three operating elements 17 to 19 in the form of pushbuttons adjoining the lower face side of said LCD display outside the display area. It would self-evidently also be possible for said pushbuttons to be arranged at some other location, in particular at some other point adjacent to the display area. It is likewise possible, as in the case of a touchscreen, for operating elements 17 to 19 to be provided in a number other than that illustrated, and also with operating functions that differ from those here. In this case, the LCD display is smaller than the illustrated touchscreen by the sub-area 25a′, in which the in this case positionally invariant pushbuttons are situated. Furthermore, it would be possible for a touchscreen to be provided which, aside from purely informative display elements, also displays all of the operating elements 17 to 19 on the surface, which serves both as a display and has a touch area, of the touchscreen and registers an actuation of said operating elements for the control of the strapping apparatus. The explanations given below are thus applicable both to the exemplary embodiment actually illustrated and to an exemplary embodiment with an LCD display surface or with some other display panel without operating function, which is then assigned separate operating elements.

On the display and operating panel 25a, it is possible for different items of information and touch-sensitive actuation or input elements to be displayed alternately or simultaneously. It is possible for different display and input levels to be provided, which can be selected and deselected and in which in each case different items of information and actuation and input elements can be displayed. The displayed elements may in particular provide information regarding the state and settings of the strapping appliance and of its components. As actuation elements, it is possible in particular for multiple pushbuttons 17 to 19, which can be triggered by touch, to be displayed. With said pushbuttons, it is possible to preselect and set the above-described different modes of manual (MAN), semi-automatic (SEM) and automatic (AUTO) of the strapping appliance, and parameters of the strapping processes. Settable and displayed parameters may for example be the tensioning force, the welding time and the cooling time. The setting may be performed by adding or subtracting predefined steps of the respective value by actuating the plus or minus pushbuttons 18, 19, and by confirming the value to be set by means of the mode switch 17, which in this case functions as a confirmation pushbutton. By actuation of the mode switch 17, the set value is stored in the controller in order to be utilized during the subsequent strapping process. Likewise, the band type used may be displayed and selected by selecting from a predefined list of band types 26. Furthermore, present operating states may be displayed, such as for example the state of discharge 27 of the battery and, during the tensioning process, by way of a progress bar 28, the tensioning force already attained as a fraction of the set tensioning force to be attained.

The values preset in this way are displayed by the strapping appliance on the display panel 32 and are utilized during strapping processes until the parameter values are changed again. The strapping processes themselves are triggered or started by way of the tensioning pushbutton 16, as a further actuation element, which is arranged in an ergonomically expedient manner in the region of the front end of the handle of the strapping appliance 1. To be able to place the band into the tensioning device, a rocker pushbutton 20 is arranged below the tensioning pushbutton 16, which rocker pushbutton may for example, and preferably, be in the form of a press button. By pressing the rocker pushbutton 20, the rocker 8 is opened, that is to say the rocker is pivoted with its tensioning plate 23 away from the tensioning wheel 7, such that a gap is formed between the tensioning plate 23 and the tensioning wheel 7. For as long as the rocker pushbutton 20 remains depressed, the tensioning plate 23 of the rocker is arranged with a spacing to the tensioning wheel 7, such that the band can be placed into the tensioning device between the tensioning plate 23 and the tensioning wheel 7. When the rocker pushbutton 20 is released, the rocker 8 pivots with the tensioning plate 23 in the direction of the tensioning wheel 7, whereby the tensioning plate 23 bears against the underside of the band, and the top side of the band bears against the tensioning wheel 7.

If the strapping appliance 1 is held by the handle 3, the tensioning pushbutton 16 can be actuated using the thumb of the hand that is holding the handle 3. The rocker pushbutton 20, which is arranged on the underside of the handle 3, can in this case be actuated in an ergonomically expedient manner by way of the index finger, without an adjustment of grip being necessary for this purpose. In other embodiments according to the invention, the rocker pushbutton 20 may also be arranged on the top side of the strapping appliance, in particular in the direct vicinity of the tensioning pushbutton 16, such that both the tensioning pushbutton 16 and the rocker pushbutton 20 can be actuated using the thumb of the hand that is gripping the handle 3. Here, the tensioning pushbutton 16 may be responsible for triggering both the tensioning process and the welding process, wherein, by setting the corresponding mode, it may be provided that a single press of the tensioning pushbutton triggers both the tensioning process and the subsequent connecting process. By selecting a different operating mode, it is also possible for only the tensioning process to be initiated by way of a single press of the tensioning pushbutton. To carry out the connecting or welding process, it is then necessary for the tensioning pushbutton to be pressed once again.

In an alternative embodiment to this, it is also possible for (only) one combination pushbutton to be provided on the strapping appliance, in particular in the region of the handle, which combination pushbutton has two actuation regions, one for the tensioning and welding, and one for the rocker actuation. In this case, too, it is optionally possible here for the tensioning and welding process to be triggered by way of only one actuation, or by way of mutually separate actuation processes, of one actuation region. The tensioning process may be triggered by way of a single actuation, and the connecting process may be triggered by way of a multiple actuation following the tensioning process, in particular by way of a double-click. The other actuation region is provided for the rocker actuation. Such a combination pushbutton may be situated for example at least approximately at that location on the strapping appliance at which the tensioning pushbutton 16 is arranged in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In a further alternative embodiment, it is possible, in particular in the region of the handle 3, for a dedicated pushbutton to be provided for each of the three functions. In this case, to trigger the respective process, it may be provided that only a single actuation of the respective pushbutton is required in each case.

In all embodiments, it is preferable if the pushbuttons assigned to the tensioning process and to the welding process trigger electrical switching processes which are supplied to the controller. By contrast, the actuation of the rocker pushbutton may preferably be electromechanically transmitted to the rocker and trigger a pivoting process of the rocker. It is likewise possible for one or more additional drive elements to be provided which trigger and perform the pivoting process of the rocker and which are electrically actuated.

All refinements of the described operating concepts may also be of independent significance and constitute independent inventions.

As illustrated in particular in FIGS. 5 to 11, the electronics, which may for example be in the form of an electronics board, for the control of the strapping appliance may be arranged below the display and operating device 43, in particular directly below the display and operating panel 25 and above the battery 15, said display and operating device being arranged behind the handle 3 as viewed in the longitudinal direction of extent of the strapping appliance and on the rear housing region 37. In the exemplary embodiment, power electronics for the electric motor are also accommodated on the electronics board, and the board can therefore also be referred to as control/power printed circuit board 44. As can be seen in the illustrations, it is thus the case in this exemplary embodiment according to the invention that said electronics board is situated between the receptacle for the battery 15 and the display and operating device 43. When the battery 15 is in the inserted state in its receptacle on the housing, such as is the case during the use of the strapping appliance, the control/power printed circuit board 44 is situated between the display and operating device 43 and the battery 15. Owing to the arrangement of the display and operating device 43 at a position close to the controller and close to the battery 15, less cabling is required in relation to previously known solutions. If cables are required or at least provided, it is furthermore the case that shorter cables are required for the cabling of the strapping appliance. Furthermore, the assembly process is made easier and quicker by way of this measure.

Likewise, it is now possible, according to the preferred refinement of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 11, for the display and operating device also be in the form of a modular assembly 29 or structural unit together with the controller and/or the electronics board provided for the same, which considerably simplifies the assembly process and any necessary repair work. In a preferred refinement of the invention, the single electronics board, or the single control/power printed circuit board 44, may also, if appropriate, comprise power electronics of the preferably only one electric motor. Said structural unit 29 may also be of multi-part form and inserted into a receptacle 46 provided for the purpose on the rear housing region 37 and detachably fastened to the housing by means of fewer screws, for example four screws 47. It is self-evidently also possible for releasable fastening elements other than screws 47 to be provided, for example clip elements. In the exemplary embodiment, the control/power printed circuit board 44 is by means of separate screws 48 It may likewise be provided that the board or the printed circuit board 44 is merely placed into the receptacle 46 and fixed in said position without further fastening means by way of the cover 39 and by way of the subassembly arranged on the cover 39.

FIG. 9 shows, in an exploded illustration, that subassembly of the cover 39 which is a constituent part of the display and operating device 43. As can be seen here, said subassembly has a foil 50 of the display, which foil covers a touch glass 51. The touch glass 51 and the foil 50 are inserted from above into a recess of the frame-like cover 39. An LCD display 52—or a display based on a technology other than LCD—is inserted into the cover 39 from below. This is followed, in a downward direction, by a holder 53 and by a foil 54 and by a display printed circuit board 55. A cover is screwed onto the latter from below. The display printed circuit board 55 furthermore has, on its underside, a tab 56 which is oriented substantially vertically with respect to the underside and which is provided as a contact element for producing electrical contact to the control/power electronics printed circuit board 44. The tab 56 is inserted into the control/power electronics printed circuit board 44 (cf. also FIG. 7) and serves in particular for the transmission of signals between the display and operating device 43 and the control/power electronics printed circuit board 44.

An electrical contact for the supply of electricity and for data transfer between the strapping appliance and the assembly 29 may be provided by way of one or more electrical plug connections 30, 31, 32. In the exemplary embodiment, for this purpose, four detachable plug connections 30, 31, 32 are provided; in other embodiments of the invention, a number of electrical plug connections that differs from this may also be provided. For this purpose, the housing preferably has, in the region of the board, plug connectors 30b, 31b, 32b which are detachably connectable to corresponding plug connector counterparts 30a, 31a, 32a of the board of the control/power printed circuit board 44. The board or the structural unit 29 can be pushed by way of its plug connectors 30b, 31b, 32b onto the plug connector counterparts 30a, 31a, 32a that are fastened to the housing. Here, one of the plug connections 30 serves for the supply of electricity to the motor, and the second plug connection 32 serves for the transmission of signals generated by sensors of the motor, in particular by Hall sensors. The third plug connection 31 is provided for the transmission of signals from sensors which are situated in the region of the mechanism of the strapping appliance, in particular in the region of the tensioning device and/or of the connecting device and of their respective drive trains. A fourth plug connection may serve for the transmission of signals of pushbuttons which trigger particular functions, in particular the tensioning pushbutton 16 and the rocker pushbutton 20. In other preferred embodiments, signals from different components of the strapping apparatus may also be transmitted via one or more plug connections.

Provided on the housing directly below the structural unit 29 is a receptacle 59 for the battery 15, into which receptacle the battery 15 can be pushed from the rear of the housing and arranged securely by means of a releasable snap-action connection. Within the recess 59 there are provided further electrical contacts of the strapping appliance for the connection of the battery, for example a contact plate.

From the contact plate, which is not visible in detail in the illustration of FIGS. 5 to 11, multiple cables 60 extend to the underside of the control/power printed circuit board. In this way, the electronics of the control/power electronics printed circuit board 44 are supplied with electrical current from the battery 15, and electrical current for the motor 14, for preparation by way of the power electronics, is provided, said electrical current passing via the plug connection 30 to the motor 14. The cables 60 may form a loop and may be fixed in their position by means of a clamping piece 61 which is fixedly screwed onto the underside of the receptacle.

The housing 2 of the strapping appliances 1 illustrated in the figures have the front region and the rear region, between which there is situated a central housing region 38 with a handle 3. In the two preferred exemplary embodiments according to the invention illustrated here, the front region and the rear region 36, 37 of the housing 2 are connected to one another by way of the handle 3. In these exemplary embodiments and in other exemplary embodiments, the housing may have two interconnected shells, and may preferably be composed of plastics shells of said type. The parting line or the parting plane at which the two shell halves are joined to one another and are connected to one another by suitable fastening means, such as for example screws, may preferably extend over the entire length of the strapping appliance, and may also run through the handle 3 over the entire length thereof.

The front region 36 of the housing 2 surrounds the tensioning, friction welding and severing device in such a way that the housing 2 exposes, or does not cover, only those mechanical components of the strapping appliance which a user should have access to, in particular parts which are provided for engaging into the two band layers during the strapping process. On one side of the front region 36 of the housing 2 there is provided an opening which can be detachably closed by way of a cover 63 and which can be utilized for maintenance purposes, for example for the exchange of wear parts.

At least in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 10, the rear region 37 of the housing 2 is, from a highly schematized perspective, of cuboidal form. The handle 3, by way of its rear end, adjoins or merges into the top side 37a of the rear region 37 of the housing 2. “Top side” 37a is to be understood to mean the side which is visible in a plan view when the strapping appliance is arranged with its base plate 4 on a horizontal plane. The opening or receptacle 59 in the housing is provided on a rear side of the rear housing region, the cross section of which opening or receptacle at least approximately corresponds to the cross section of a battery 15.

The handle 3, which is arranged substantially in the region of the top side of the strapping appliance, merges by way of its front end 3a into the front region of the housing, in particular into the top side of the front housing region 36. As seen in the opposite viewing direction, it is thus the case that the front housing region 36 merges into the handle 3. The rear end 3b of the handle 3 merges into the rear region 37 of the housing 2, in particular into the top side 37a of the rear housing region 37. In the preferred exemplary embodiment, in each case one half of the handle 3 belongs to one housing shell, and the other half of the handle belongs to the other housing shell. The respective half of the handle is connected in unipartite fashion to, or is integrated into, the respective housing shell.

The strapping appliance 1 has, in particular in the region of the tensioning device 6 and of the fastening or friction welding device 13, band-guiding means such as are known per se, by which band guiding means an at least substantially predetermined profile of the strapping band 10 in the strapping appliance, in particular of the band section between the tensioning device and the welding device 13, is realized. Said profile, in particular a centerline 10a, which at least in the plan view is in the form of a straight line, of a top side of the band 10 will hereinafter be provided as a reference line and definition aid for the orientation of the handle 3. In said plan view, said band orientation runs along a straight line.

If the transition regions of the handle 3 into the front housing region 36 and into the rear housing region 37 are connected to one another by a straight line 40, said straight line 40 runs non-parallel with respect to the centerline 10a of the band profile in the strapping appliance 1. Transition regions can be regarded as being the points at which, in each case, the profile of the surfaces of the top sides of the front and rear housing regions 36, 37 changes in order to transition here into the handle in each case. Alternatively, (front and rear) transition regions may also be understood as meaning the ends of the handle up to which it is possible for the handle to be entirely or at least partially gripped using the operating hand. Said transitions may be of continuous or discontinuous form. The two points 41, 42 of the transition regions that are utilized for forming the imaginary straight line 40 may, with respect to a plan view, be situated in the center of the respective width of the handle 3. With respect to the straight line 10a arising from the band profile, the two points 41, 42 have different spacings 62, 62 to the straight line 10a, and are thus offset with respect to one another in the direction of the band profile. With respect to a plan view of the strapping appliance, and with respect to the band profile in the strapping appliance that arises from the arrangement of the band, the straight lines 10a, 40 run non-parallel with respect to one another, and enclose a non-0° angle φ.

The angle φ is furthermore distinguished by the fact that the straight line 40 that defines it runs, with respect to the plan view and with respect to the band 10 and its centerline 10a, on the other side 31 of the centerline 10a in relation to the insertion side 32 from which the band is inserted into the strapping appliance. The handle 3 is thus, with respect to the band 10, situated on the other side 31 in relation to the insertion side 32. In the preferred embodiment of the invention in the illustration of FIGS. 2 and 11, the spacing of the straight line 40 to the centerline of the band increases in the profile of the handle 3 from the front housing region 36 to the rear housing region 37.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, said angle φ may be selected in particular from a range of 3° to 89°, particularly preferably from a range of 5° to 70°, and more preferably from a range of 7° to 35°. It is the intention here for each individual angle value from the above-stated angle ranges to be explicitly disclosed. An explicit listing of each individual angle value is omitted merely owing to a lack of practicability. As can be seen in particular in the lower plan-view illustration of FIG. 1, the obliquely running handle gives rise to an offset of the rear housing region 37 away from the strapping band 10, such that the rear housing region 37 does not pose an obstruction during the placement of the strapping band into the strapping appliance. In this way, the preparation time for the execution of a strapping operation is shortened, and the functional reliability of strapping appliances is improved.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show the second exemplary embodiment for a strapping appliance according to the invention and its housing, which differs from the exemplary embodiment according to the invention discussed above in particular with regard to the configuration of the handle. By contrast to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, the handle 3 in this case is not curved but has two substantially rectilinear sections 64, 65 of the handle 3, said sections adjoining one another at an obtuse angle. The front section of the two sections 64 comprises the front point 41 of the transition of the handle to the front region 36 of the housing, whereas the rear section 65 of the handle, said rear section being arranged behind said front section as viewed in the longitudinal profile direction of the handle, comprises the rear point 42 of the transition of the handle 3 into the rear region 37 of the housing.

The two substantially rectilinearly oriented sections of the handle enclose an angle of approximately 160° in the exemplary embodiment. Here, the orientation of the two sections 64, 65 is such that its centerline 64a, which corresponds to the longitudinal profile of the front section of the handle, encloses, with the centerline 10a of the band, the angle φ by which the handle is, with respect to a plan view, at least regionally inclined with respect to the band. The longitudinal profile of the rear section 65 itself, that is to say in particular the centerline 65a thereof, is by contrast oriented substantially parallel to the band section, situated opposite the handle, of the strapping band. This configuration of the handle 3 gives rise to an ergonomically expedient enlarged spacing between the strapping band and the operating hand that is holding the strapping appliance.

List of reference designations
1   Strapping appliance
2   Housing
3   Handle
3a  Front end
3b  Rear end
4   Base plate
5   Base surface
6   Tensioning device
7   Tensioning wheel
8   Rocker
8a  Rocker pivot axis
9   Rocker pushbutton
10  Band
10a Centerline
11  Welding shoe
12  Severing device
13  Friction welding device
14  Motor
15  Battery
16  Actuation element
17  Mode switch
22  Counter holder surface
23  Tensioning counter support
25  Operating and display panel
29  Assembly
30  Plug connection
30a Plug connector counterpart
30b Plug connector
31  Plug connection
31a Plug connector counterpart
31b Plug connector
32  Plug connection
32a Plug connector counterpart
32b Plug connector
36  Front region
37  Rear region
37a Top side
38  Central region
39  Cover
40  Straight line
41  Point
42  Point
43  Display and operating device
44  Control/power electronics printed circuit board
45
46  Receptacle
47  Screw
48  Screw
50  Foil
51  Touch glass
52  LCD display
53  Holder
54  Foil
55  Display printed circuit board
56  Tab
59  Receptacle
60  Cable
61  Clamping piece
62  Spacing
63  Spacing
64  Front section
65  Rear section

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A mobile strapping apparatus comprising:

a tensioning device configured to apply a band tension to a loop of a strapping band;

a welding device configured to produce a welded connection on two regions of the loop of the strapping band situated one atop the other;

an energy supply configured to provide drive energy for motor-imparted drive movements of the strapping apparatus; and

a housing having: (1) a front housing region in which at least part of the tensioning device is disposed; (2) a rear housing region in which at least part of the energy supply is disposed; and (3) a handle extending between the front and the rear housing regions, wherein with respect to a plan view of the strapping apparatus, at least part of the handle is not parallel to an intended longitudinal direction of the profile of the strapping band through the strapping apparatus.

18. The mobile strapping apparatus of claim 17, wherein, with respect to the plan view of the strapping apparatus, a line extending from a point of a first transition region of the handle into the front housing region to a point of a second transition region of the handle into the rear housing region is not parallel with respect to the intended longitudinal direction of the profile of the strapping band through the strapping apparatus.

19. The mobile strapping apparatus of claim 17, wherein, with respect to the plan view of the strapping apparatus, a centerline of the handle forms an acute angle with the intended longitudinal direction of the profile of the strapping band through the strapping apparatus.

20. The mobile strapping apparatus of claim 19, wherein the angle lies in an angle range from about 3 degrees to about 89 degrees.

21. The mobile strapping apparatus of claim 20, wherein the angle lies in an angle range from about 7 degrees to about 70 degrees.

22. The mobile strapping apparatus of claim 21, wherein the angle lies in an angle range from about 10 degrees to about 40 degrees.

23. The mobile strapping apparatus of claim 17, wherein, with respect to the plan view of the strapping apparatus, the tensioning device is located at a front end of the handle and a receptacle for the energy supply is located at a rear end of the handle, wherein the receptacle is offset relative to the tensioning device.

24. The mobile strapping apparatus of claim 17, which includes a display device supported by the rear housing region of the housing.

25. The mobile strapping apparatus of claim 24, wherein the display device is disposed on an external surface of the housing such that the display device is visible in the plan view of the strapping apparatus.

26. The mobile strapping apparatus of claim 24, which includes positionally-fixed operating elements separate from the display device.

27. The mobile strapping apparatus claim 24, wherein the display device includes a touchscreen.

28. The mobile strapping apparatus of claim 27, wherein the display device is equipped with, a graphical user interface sable to select from two operating modes via touch.

29. The mobile strapping apparatus of claim 17, wherein the tensioning device includes a rocker actuable by a pushbutton.

30. The mobile strapping apparatus of claim 29, wherein the pushbutton extends from a top side of the housing.