Material Receiving Loop Channel Patents (Class 100/26)
  • Patent number: 5249518
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Signode Corporation
    Inventor: Jack S. Abrams
  • Patent number: 5247729
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a wreath from a plurality of elongated objects, such as boughs by securing the boughs to a frame with a securing member such as a wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Callison's Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Carmichael
  • Patent number: 5236329
    Abstract: The band delivery apparatus has two separate band stores, namely a band forward store (10.1) and a band return store (10.2). The two stores are constructed as chambers, which is controllable manner can receive a predetermined band material quantity. The filling and emptying of the stores is brought about by a coordinated cooperation of a buffer store separator (3) and the conveyor rollers (17.1, 17.2). The buffer separator (3) blocks the band passage upstream of the supply/exit openings of the two band stores (20.1, 20.2) and consequently leads to a bulging of the band in the storage areas. The filling of at least the band forward store is preferably assisted by a delivery means (11). The necessary band material quantity during prestorage can be precisely determined by means of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: B. V. Metaverpa
    Inventor: Willem F. Sylvester
  • Patent number: 5172179
    Abstract: An image recorder having a paper bundling device which bundles a stack of recording sheets sequentially driven out of a body of the recorder by using a strip. The recording operation of the image recorder is interrupted when recording sheets are left on a tray included in the bundling device, when the strip is short, or when a fault occurs in the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Tani, Yasuaki Ishii
  • Patent number: 5146847
    Abstract: A strap feed assembly wraps a flexible strap around an item. A drive wheel is connected to a reversible drive motor for feeding and reversing the strap to wrap the strap around the item and to tension the strap once it is wrapped therearound. A controller operates the drive motor to control the speed, acceleration, direction of rotation, and tensioning of the strap. The velocity and acceleration of the drive motor are varied depending on the nearness of completion of the feeding and tensioning. Variable tension is achieved by monitoring the current drawn by the drive motor and comparing same to predetermined values to stop reversal and therefore tensioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Lyon, Warren L. Gawve
  • Patent number: 5121682
    Abstract: A twist tie feed device is provided for twisting together the ends of a tie ribbon which encircles a product including a base plate. A twist head assembly is mounted on the base plate and receives a first end of a tie ribbon which encircles the product and a second end of the encircling tie ribbon and will rotate about itself to twist the tie ribbon about the article. Two positive drive wheels feed the ribbon in one of a first direction towards the twist head assembly and a second direction away from the twist head assembly so that the wheels contact the ribbon at its top and bottom to apply a positive drive force to the drive ribbon as it passes between the drive wheels. A drive assembly is operatively coupled to the twist head assembly and the drive wheels for driving the positive drive wheels and twist head assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignees: Clements Industries, Inc., Ben Clements & Sons, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander L. Parker, Fredric Cody
  • Patent number: 5078058
    Abstract: A tensioning device for a packaging tape, which is slung around a stack of goods in a packaging station and of which the free end is held there, has a driving plate drivable by a motor around an axis of rotation with a bearing surface for the tape. Clamping elements each having a clamping surface are associated with the driving plate. At least one guiding element is provided for the clamping elements, by means of which, in a closing area smaller than the surrounding angle of the tape around the bearing surface, the clamping elements can be brought into a position, in which the tape is non-positively held between the clamping surfaces and the bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Inventors: Horst Schwede, Roland Schwede, Helmut Schmetzer
  • Patent number: 5078057
    Abstract: A binding machine, such as a strapping machine, for binding a bundle of newspapers or magazines by applying crossed straps around the bundle. Means are provided for conveying the bundle into and from a strapping zone. Means including a strapping head for each strap are provided for applying a transverse strap and a longitudinal strap around the bundle. A transverse chute is provided, which receives the transverse strap, which guides the transverse strap around the bundle, and which releases the transverse strap when the transverse strap is applied. A longitudinal chute is provided, which receives the longitudinal strap, which guides the longitudinal strap around the bundle, and which releases the longitudinal strap when the longitudinal strap is applied. The transverse chute arches from a given side of the strapping zone to its other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy B. Pearson
  • Patent number: 5056426
    Abstract: A strapping band or binding strap for use in connection with automatic strapping or binding machines or apparatus for strapping or binding packaged articles or stacks of articles by means of at least one closed loop of the strapping band or binding strap, comprises the fabrication thereof from a suitable thermoplastic material which has a suitable nucleation agent added thereto. The agent serves as a camber effect inhibitor so as to suppress any camber effect from being imposed or impressed upon or generated within the binding strap or strapping band by means of the roller conveyors conventionally incorporated within the looping frame of the automatic strapping or binding machine or apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Signode System GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Warych
  • Patent number: 5027701
    Abstract: In a binding machine for binding bundles of elongate articles, a switchover device for switching between a one-loop mode and a two-loop mode is provided. The switchover device is moved fore and aft relative to the twisting head of the binding machine so as to place the switchover device into a first position and a second position. In the first position, a binding wire is guided through a guide way into first and second annular passages therein, thereby making two loops around the elongate articles. In the second position, the binding wire is guided through the guide way into only the first annular passage therein, thereby making a single loop around the elongate articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Takigawa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Izui, Akimitsu Hara
  • Patent number: 5001974
    Abstract: A hay bale recompacting system comprises an elongated compression chamber having a generally rectangular cross-section defined by top, bottom, and end walls, an inlet end and an outlet end, an inlet opening at the inlet end in one side of the chamber, an outlet at the outlet end in the other side of the chamber, a ram at the inlet end of the chamber for compressing bales therein, an indexing apparatus for weighing a charge to be introduced into the compressor, a ram for moving a selected amount of a bale into the chamber, a strapping chamber at the outlet disposed at right angle to the compression chamber for receiving compressed bales, an extruder ram for extruding bales from the compression chamber into and from the strapping chamber, and strapping units associated with the strapping chamber for strapping bales in the strapping chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: A.C.X., Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Gombos
  • Patent number: 4938009
    Abstract: A package strapping machine draws a thermoplastic strap off of a reel, loops the strap around a package, clamps a leading end of the strap, and then tightens the strap around the package with a strap tightening mechanism. A trailing end of the strap is cut underneath the leading end, and then both these ends are automatically welded together. When the strap is tightened, a portion of the strap is fed back towards the reel. The reel is provided with a device for rewinding this portion of the strap. A spiral spring stores energy from the rotation of the reel when the strap is drawn off, and when the strap is fed back the spiral spring causes the reel to rotate so as to rewind the strap. Because the strap is fed back towards the reel faster than the reel can rewind the strap, a loose strap portion accumulates between the reel and the strap tightening mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Inventor: Masaho Takami
  • Patent number: 4867053
    Abstract: An automatic strapping machine applies a band around object. Application of the band is achieved by retracting a band from a U-shaped arch surrounding the object. A slidable guide bar unit is mounted on the arch for movement toward and away from the object. The guide bar unit includes a guide passage which receives and guides the band as the band travels toward the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Strapack Corporation
    Inventors: Osatomi Kawai, Junji Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 4850179
    Abstract: A package strapping machine is capable of strapping a package with an adjusted, gentle force by welding ends of a thermoplastic strap. The machine is provided with a strap-elevating member in proximity to a strap-receiving element mounted on a pivotal member. Overlapping ends of a thermoplastic strap are looped around the strap-receiving element and the package, and are then welded under the strap-receiving element. The strap-receiving element is then withdrawn from between an under surface of the package and the welded portion of the strap. The strap-elevating member elevates the welded portion of the strap, slackened due to gentle tightening, from a point below to a point above the height of the strap-receiving element, with the result that the slackened, welded portion of the strap is held above the strap-receiving element as it returns to its original position. The strap thus does not impede the movement of the strap-receiving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Inventor: Masaho Takami
  • Patent number: 4850180
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a package strapping machine suitable for tying a package or bundle into a circular shape. A concave base supports the package in the circular shape. A synthetic resin tape is looped around the package and the base, and a leading end of the tape is held against a lower surface of the base by a clamping mechanism. The tape is then tightened, and the leading end of the tape is clamped together with a trailing end of the tape. These tape portions are then heated and pressed to weld them together, and thus the packae is tied in a circular shape. The concave base is then pivoted out from between the package and the tape. As the base pivots, stoppers adjacent the base contact portions of the tape to hold the tape and package in place and allow the base to be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Inventor: Masaho Takami
  • Patent number: 4836873
    Abstract: An automatic binding apparatus produces a loop of tape and tightens the tape around an object that is inserted through the loop of tape. The apparatus has a bed-plate and a guide member which is swivelable into position on and off the bed-plate. Initially, the tape is guided through the guide member to form a small loop of tape. Thereafter the guide member is retracted and the loop of tape is enlarged by feeding more tape to the loop to accommodate large objects. Insertion of the object through the loop actuates a work detection switch and detection of the object produces an output signal which triggers a process whereby the tape is tightly bound around the object, is cut from the tape supply, and the ends of the tape are overlapped and pressure welded to one another. Removal of the bound object changes the state of the work detection switch and results in the repositioning of the guide member over the bed-plate and in the formation of a fresh loop of tape for a next object to be bound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sato
    Inventors: Makoto Mitanihara, Tatsuo Sekine
  • Patent number: 4823686
    Abstract: A device for wrapping a bale or the like with a wire or band held together by a tubular seal comprises an arrangement of units wherein wire is pushed through a metal tube held in readiness, then looped around the bale, and the free end of the wire is again moved through the metal tube. After the wire has been passed twice through feeding of the metal tube held in readiness; the wire is arrested by a limit switch; the portion of the wire end projecting out of the crimping jaws is bent around the metal tube; and tightening around the band is completed. Then the seal is produced by moving the crimping jaws toward each other and simultaneously severing the band from a supply coil. The wrapping operation takes place automatically by a holding device which holds the respectively next needed metal tube into the path of movement of the wire to be extended around the bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: VEPA Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerold Fleissner
  • Patent number: 4781110
    Abstract: An arch guide for a strapping machine comprises corner sections interconnected by linear sections. Each of those sections includes inner and outer peripheral portions disposed, respectively, closer to and farther from a center of the guide. The inner and outer portions form a guide passage for the band, the passage being open at a side facing a guide plate. The open side of the arch guide is yieldably urged against the guide plate to close the open side. The inner portion extends toward the guide plate at an inwardly directed inclination to facilitate movement of the arch guide away from the guide plate when the band is being withdrawn from the passage. A guide extends from the leading end of a linear section into a trailing end of a corner section for directing an advancing band toward the outer portion of the corner section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Assignee: Strapack Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunori Sakaki, Kenji Fujii, Seiichiro Koyama, Yosikatsu Aizawa, Tsutomu Tagomori
  • Patent number: 4727803
    Abstract: A conveyor apparatus has a conveying member on which an article such as a bundle of newspapers to be conveyed is laid, a driving device for driving the conveying member, and a lifting device to lift the article so as to separate at least a part of the article from the surface of the conveying member. Thyis lifting device is located near by the tail end of the conveyor member. This lifting device consists of a mechanical lifting unit or a pneumatic lifting unit, or the combination of them. This lifting device is actuated in accordance with a signal from a sensor for detecting the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Kabushikikaisha Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yousuke Nobuta, Kouichi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 4721038
    Abstract: A stacking station for positioning between the output of machinery for forming folded cartons, and a strapping machine for applying a strap about the stack of the folded cartons to form a bundle. The stacking station includes an upstream conveyor receiving the cartons from the machinery with the upstream conveyor having an input end disposed at substantially the same level as the output of the machinery, and an output end which is vertically adjustable. The station further includes an intermediate conveyor for moving stacks of cartons toward the strapping machine and having a receiving end aligned to receive cartons from the upstream conveyor with the receiving end being disposed at a lower level than the output end of the upstream conveyor. The station also includes a gate associated with the intermediate conveyor and defining with the intermediate conveyor a pocket for forming a stack of the cartons. The gate is positioned to define the downstream end of the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Post Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles W. Eldridge
  • Patent number: 4711071
    Abstract: A tape guidance duct (16) disposed in the manner of an arch bridging the object (20) to be strapped is provided to guide strapping tape (13) when it is being advanced and which releases the tape when it is tensioned around the object (20). The tape guidance duct (16) is assembled in modular manner from a plurality of monolithically formed, sequentially arranged, detachably linked segments (22, 23) which connect with each other by arms extended to fit into corresponding recesses so that, upon such forced engagement, neighboring segments butt together securely at planar end faces and have no lateral play. In this manner the shape and the path of the tape guidance duct (16) is adapted to particular circumstances e.g., different heights or widths of objects being strapped, in simple manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Assignee: Strapex AG
    Inventor: Bruno Kagi
  • Patent number: 4697510
    Abstract: A bale binding machine for waste material has a bale encircling guide track for a band to bind the bale wherein the bottom portion of the guide track under the bale is provided with a pair of deflectors to intercept contaminating liquids and solids falling from the bale and prevent contamination of the guide track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Cranston Machinery Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Albert E. Cranston, III, Mark L. Kudlicka
  • Patent number: 4665815
    Abstract: A method for wrapping a bale or the like with a wire or band held together by a tubular seal is described wherein wire is pushed through a metal tube held in readiness, then looped around the bale, and the free end of the wire is again moved through the metal tube. After the wire has been passed twice through the metal tube held in readiness; the wire feed is arrested by means of a limit switch; the portion of the wire end projecting out of the crimping jaws is bent around the metal tube; and tightening around the band is completed. Then the seal is produced by moving the crimping jaws toward each other and simultaneously severing the band from the supply coil. The wrapping operation takes place fully automatically. For this purpose, an apparatus is provided which holds the respectively next needed metal tube exactly into the path of movement of the wire to be extended around the bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: Vepa Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerold Fleissner
  • Patent number: 4661185
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for securing together overlapping portions of a thermoplastic strap loop around an object. After the strap is fed to form the loop, the upper strap portion is restrained while pulling the strap trailing portion to tension the loop. Lengths of the upper and lower strap portions are then gripped together in face-to-face contact to hold the loop in tension. The trailing portion is severed from the loop lower strap portion, and the restraint of the upper strip portion is terminated. A heating member is extended between the upper and lower strap portions in a direction generally parallel to the strap length. The upper and lower strap portions are pressed against the heating member to melt regions of the strap. The heating member is withdrawn, and the melted regions are pressed together as the melted regions solidify to form a joint. Included in the apparatus are coacting first and second gripper means, an anvil, a cutter, and a heating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: Signode Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Kobiella
  • Patent number: 4655264
    Abstract: A ring encircles produce placed on a work table. Tie ribbon is fed by pressure rollers around the inner periphery of the ring to form a complete loop. A first gripper clamps and retains the free end of the ribbon against a second gripper. The pressure rollers operate in reverse retracting excess ribbon about the produce. A friction clutch, operative only for reverse ribbon feeding, allows for ribbon slippage as the ribbon tightens around the produce. Then the second gripper clamps the other end of the ribbon against a twister head and a twister mechanism rotates the clamped ends of the ribbon about a common axis twisting the ribbon ends together. Shearing edges sever the engaged ribbon from a ribbon supply during twisting. The grippers and twister mechanism are at ends of the concentric support rods and tubes, and the grippers in clamping move along the rotational axis of the twister mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: Ben Clements & Sons, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald G. Dilley
  • Patent number: 4655873
    Abstract: A device for applying a wrapping tape (14) around an object (2), comprising a substantially closed trough (6) surrounding a support (1) for the object (2) to be wrapped, said trough (6) being adapted for guiding the tape (14) to be wrapped which is driven through said trough (6) by means of an air flow, clamping means (9) for temporarily retaining the free tape end (21), said trough (6) being adapted to be opened thereafter for releasing said tape (14), means (26; 25; 30) for tightening said tape (14) around said object (2) and returning it towards a buffer storage (19), means (19; 24) for attaching said tape end (21) to the opposite tape part and cutting loose the latter, means (22; 26) for refilling said storage (19) to the maximally required tape length, and control means for controlling said sequence of operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: Sollas Holland, B.V.
    Inventor: Pieter J. Oly
  • Patent number: 4635541
    Abstract: A feed roller is usually rotated at a high speed; a return roller is fitted to a return shaft rotated at a low speed through a one-way clutch; a rocker roller driven at a high speed is brought into press-contact with the return roller so that the return roller is rotated at a high speed in accordance with the high speed rotation of the rocker roller thereby performing the primary tightening operation for a band; then, the return roller is engaged with the return shaft by the function of the one-way clutch when the rotational speed of the return roller coincides with that of the return shaft, thereby performing the secondary tightening operation with a strong pulling force. The strapping machine having the above mentioned construction provides noiseless and speedy operations for strapping the band around a package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: Nichiro Kogyo Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kasuga
  • Patent number: 4625635
    Abstract: A band feeder and knotter having a band guide track mounted on one side of a banding area and an opposite guide track is mounted on the other side of the banding area in lateral alignment with the track of the band feeder and knotter. At least one of the band feeder and knotter or the opposite guide track is movable toward and away from the other for disposition of the tracks from a retracted position to a closely adjacent advanced position inside a banding area for direct advancement during a banding process of the end of the banding from one track into the other. Each of the band feeder and knotter and the opposite guide track can be mounted on carriages for cooperating movement in the advancing and retracting movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Inventor: Charles B. Lewis
  • Patent number: 4611534
    Abstract: In the illustrated embodiments, with a bale of material compressed between upper and lower press platens an end binder moves toward one end of the bale and a back track moves toward the opposite end to apply a loop of strap around the top, bottom and ends of the bale. Two side binders move from station to station along opposite sides of the bale to apply loops of strap around the top, bottom and sides of the bale at two strap positions at each station. Each side binder has a strapping section movable toward and away from the adjacent side of the bale. Strap guide tracks on the press platens are provided with covers which confine the straps during their feed movements and prevent premature release from the tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1986
    Assignee: Cranston Machinery Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Mark L. Kudlicka, Albert E. Cranston, III
  • Patent number: 4611533
    Abstract: An improved tyer includes a central station where loose stacks of signatures sre received. A pair of tying stations are disposed on opposite sides of the central station. A pair receiving stations are disposed adjacent to the tying stations. An improved shuttle assembly is used to sequentially move loose stacks of sheets from the central station to one or the other of the tying stations. The shuttle assembly includes three pusher arms which are movable along tracks between the central and tying stations. Gaps are provided in the tracks at the tying station to enable bands or straps to be moved through the tracks and secured around loose stacks of signatures at the tying stations. In order to provide for as compact a loose stack of signatures as possible at a tying station, the loose stack of signatures is compressed between a pair of pusher arms as it is moved to a tying station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1986
    Assignee: Harris Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Leonard Miaskoff, Richard J. Merwarth
  • Patent number: 4605178
    Abstract: The packaging band in packaging machines, especially when it is formed from plastic, was previously temporarily stored in meandering loops. According to the invention, the band is stored in coils in a spiral relationship to each other, whereby the center of the spiral is shifted and the coils have a free intermediary space between each other. The packaging band can be easily fed at a tangent to the start of the smallest coil without sharp bends and removed at the largest coil by means of shifting the center. The spiral can also be in a standing position. It is advantageous in this instance if the packaging band is fed in and removed in the vicinity of the lowest point. The innermost coil is not limited in its size by any fixed stop means, but rather the infeed of packaging band is cut in by a sensing switch when the radius of the inner coil has reached a certain minimum size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Assignee: Hoesch Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gunter Bartzick, Gerd Buhne, Reinhard Naydowski
  • Patent number: 4584935
    Abstract: A stock baler comprising a container having a bottom floor, two side walls, a stationary end wall and a movable end wall and a pair of side rams positioned in the side wall adjacent to the stationary end wall. Both the movable end wall and the pair of side rams include means to advance and retract one another respectively. The stationary end wall and the movable end wall have mating V-shaped grooves in which the open portion of the groove mates with the open end of the other groove, and the apex of each V-shaped groove is positioned on substantially the same horizontal plane. The pair of side rams are shaped to advance and retract within the mating V-shaped grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Inventor: Leo J. Luggen
  • Patent number: 4578933
    Abstract: An apparatus for strapping a cuboidal package by means of two intercrossing straps encircling the package in cross-sectional planes at right angles to one another. Two strap guide frames which, in respect to their frame plane, are disposed at right angles to a horizontal delivery plane extending in their clear frame opening, serve to transport the package, the strap being adapted to be guided, in each of the guide frames, around the clear frame opening. Associated with each strap guide frame is a device for inserting the strap into the strap guide frame and also for tensioning, locking, and cutting off the strap laid around the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1986
    Inventors: Georg Lang, Berthold Buhrle
  • Patent number: 4577554
    Abstract: Apparatus for effecting the knotting of wire strapping applied to a package is provided. The knotting function is motivated by means of a hydraulic cylinder which displaces a rack gear which, in turn, drives a pinion gear to which a splined shaft is affixed. The shaft runs through the knotter unit housing which includes a twister pinion for knotting the wire, wire gripping means, cutting means, wire ejecting means and a wire cover means. In the operation of the apparatus disclosed, the end portion of the wire is fed by a remote feeder through a guide area, engaged by a gripping means and the wire is tensioned by the feeder. The hydraulic cylinder causes the shaft to rotate in a first direction which turns a first drive hub that engages a twister gear having a uni-directional pawl, which twister gear turns a twister pinion gear thereby twisting the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1986
    Assignee: United States Steel Corporation
    Inventor: S. Bernard Brouse
  • Patent number: 4566378
    Abstract: A fiber bale press is equipped with a hooping mechanism for applying wire-hoops to a fiber bale produced by the press. The press has at least one pressing plate and a counter pressure plate as well as a hoop material supply device. The hoop material is steel wire cut to suitable lengths for forming hoops. The steel wire ends are secured to each other by a sealing member, such as a tubular metal sleeve, which receives one steel wire end in each of its ends. The tubular metal sleeve is rigidly secured to the ends of the hoop forming wire by a crimping mechanism. Preferably the steel wires are hooped around a bale in a cross-over relationship so that at least the wire-hoops close to and in parallel to a bale edge are held in place by wire-hoops running perpendicularly to the bale edge. This mechanism avoids loops at the ends of the baling wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Assignee: Vepa Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerold Fleissner
  • Patent number: 4561234
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for bundling and tying a product. A plurality of spaced product carriers are sequentially moved along a conveyor flight. At a first station along said flight, a product tie is inserted into each spaced carrier. Each carrier is then advanced to a second station and a product is inserted therein. Each carrier, containing a product and a product tie, is then advanced along said conveyor flight to a third station where the tie is secured about the product. Thereafter, the tied product is discharged from the apparatus at a delivery station. Tie insertion, conveyor operation, product tying, and product delivery are automatic operations, one in coordination with the other and at a selected rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1985
    Assignee: California Artichoke and Vegetable Growers Corp.
    Inventor: Egidio L. Tonus
  • Patent number: 4561349
    Abstract: A guide device comprises two portions (3A, 3B) each having two branches (6A.sub.1 -6A.sub.2, 6B.sub.1 -6B.sub.2) having internal faces (5A, 5B) that slide over each other and in which successive lengths (4A to 4E) of a guide channel (4) are alternately hollowed out and interconnected by slopes (14, 15) so that the central opening (9) can be closed exactly, lengthwise, over articles to be bound (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1985
    Inventor: Rene E. Grenon
  • Patent number: 4559977
    Abstract: A ring encircles produce placed on a work table. Tie ribbon is fed by pressure rollers around the inner periphery of the ring to form a complete loop. A first gripper clamps and retains the free end of the ribbon against a second gripper. The pressure rollers operate in reverse retracting excess ribbon about the produce. A friction clutch, operative only for reverse ribbon feeding, allows for ribbon slippage as the ribbon tightens around the produce. Then the second gripper clamps the other end of the ribbon against a twister head and a twister mechanism rotates the clamped ends of the ribbon about a common axis twisting the ribbon ends together. Shearing edges sever the engaged ribbon from a ribbon supply during twisting. The grippers and twister mechanism are at ends of concentric support rods and tubes, and the grippers in clamping move along the rotational axis of the twister mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Assignee: Ben Clements & Sons, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald G. Dilley
  • Patent number: 4554867
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling a stack of sheets, including the stacking of the sheets from a continuous incoming stream of sheets and on a lower endboard, and compressing the stack and restricting the sides of the stack while the stack is moved laterally to a station where an upper endboard is applied and the stack is strapped or bound and then moved further away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Assignee: Stobb, Inc.
    Inventor: Klaus A. Thumm
  • Patent number: 4538511
    Abstract: Sheet material handling apparatus comprising a transfer vehicle movable along a guide track between a stack pickup position and a stack discharge position. The transfer vehicle has a clamping mechanism for clamping a stack of signatures at the stack pickup position and for removing the stack of signatures from the stack pickup position. The clamping mechanism is adapted to maintain clamping engagement with the stack of signatures as the transfer vehicle is moved along the guide track away from the stack pickup position and to the stack delivery position, and the clamping mechanism is releasable from the stack of signatures at the stack delivery position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Assignee: Harris Graphics Corporation
    Inventor: James C. Wise
  • Patent number: 4534817
    Abstract: An automatic bundle-tying tool has a compact housing with a pair of curved pincer-shaped jaws, one of which pivots outward to accommodate a bundle of wires or similar elongated objects, and then pivots inward to abut the other, fixed jaw. Plastic tying tape drawn from a storage spool is fed around the tape guide groove formed on the internal surface of each of the mating jaws, encircling the bundle. A pair of thin tapered anvils clamp the overlapped tape against the tip of an ultrasonic welding transducer, and a reverse feed mechanism draws the tape tight around the bundle while slack tape is re-wound on the storage spool by a resilient spring biased spool hub. After ultrasonic welding, automatic spring-driven linkages unclamp and withdraw the anvils, sever the tied bundle from the tape supply and open the movable jaw to release the tied bundle. A preferred embodiment is lightweight, portable and easy to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1985
    Inventor: Denis P. O'Sullivan
  • Patent number: 4520720
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1985
    Assignee: Signode Corporation
    Inventors: Clement A. Urban, Gale W. Huson
  • Patent number: 4516488
    Abstract: Support and tensioning apparatus for a strapping band to be tensioned around a package. A band first pressed between a pair of wheels and advanced in a band guide that surrounds but does not contact the package. The band is subsequently retracted with its front end secured in place into a position against the package by reversing the sense in which the pair of wheels rotates, and is then tensioned with a separate tensioning wheel that rotates slowly and at high power. The strapping band is tensioned with a pair of wheels of which one wheel is an idler wheel and the other wheel is a tensioning wheel powered in the tensioning direction by a motor and with its shaft mounted in a pivoting lever in such a way that the wheel presses against the strapping band, which is to some extent looped around it, while the band is being tensioned and rests on the idler wheel, with a force that increases with the tension in the band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: Hoesch Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gunter Bartzick, Gerd Buhne, Reinhard Naydowski
  • Patent number: 4509415
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for supplying strap to an item, such as a bundle of sheets, and with two strapping mechanisms being made available to a fixed segment of a strap guide, such that either mechanism can be positioned in the operating position at any one time. Arrangement is made for shifting the two strapping mechanisms laterally into mating position with the fixed strap guide, and with each strapping mechanism carrying a segment of a strap guide for mating with and completing the fixed segment of strap guide. Provision is also made for removing the strapping mechanisms from a fixed strap guide or position, for servicing or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: Stobb, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter J. Stobb
  • Patent number: 4508030
    Abstract: Metal binding wire twisting device.Two clamps (17, 18) are disposed to clamp and retain the wire in the groove in a wire guide (19) close to the rotating head (1) which is associated with an abutment member (12) which stops feeding of the wire and cutting means (13) and has a central recess (4) open in the direction towards the object (S) to be bound and into which open inclined radial passages (2, 3) for the wire, the ends of which are twisted by rotation of the head (1) to form a twist whose configuration is imposed by the internal configuration of the central recess (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Inventor: Rene Grenon
  • Patent number: 4484518
    Abstract: A tying device is provided for mounting on a baling press for tying a plurality of wires having preformed interlocking ends around a bale formed in the press. The device includes a center plate mounted above the press chamber in which the bale is formed and a pair of wire bend assemblies pivotally mounted on opposite sides on the center plate. A wire closer assembly is mounted on the press ram below the bale and provides the floor of the baling chamber. The wire bend assemblies pivot from a fully raised to a fully lowered position to bend the preformed interlocking ends of the wires around the bale and to insert the interlocking ends into the wire closer assembly where the interlocking ends are joined together to form a knot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1984
    Assignee: Jenglo Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard W. Jaenson
  • Patent number: 4483245
    Abstract: A base frame supports pairs of parallel compressing arms having a pivoted depending support on an upper extension. These arms are operated between open and bale forming positions by fluid operated cylinders. An article holding cartridge has upstanding ribs arranged to confine articles therebetween for baling. The ribs are spaced such that upon moving the loaded cartridge into place on a cross conveyor, the compressing arms thread through the ribs and compress the articles. The upper extension has powered lifting and lowering means for operation of the compressing arms in a baling sequence and also to open the arms rearwardly for ejecting the bale. Upper straps are associated with the compressing arms to compress the top portion of the bale, and banding mechanism is supported on the frame for applying bands around the bale. The base frame is supported on a wheeled chassis and has longitudinal adjustment on the chassis for positioning between a rear baling position and a forward road traveling position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Inventor: Wayne A. Fetters
  • Patent number: 4476779
    Abstract: There is disclosed a compression bundling apparatus which can be used to compression pack or bundle such materials as waste paper, hair, cotton, plastics, crude rubber, city rubbish and the like. The apparatus can be used for lateral and vertical binding with polypropylene plastic bands. The apparatus has two main sections, the compression section and the bundling section. The two sections are connected by a guide space in which the compressed material is conveyed to the bundler where it is then bound by vertical and, if desired, lateral bands to form the bundle. There is means to discharge the banded bundle or to discharge the compressed bundle prior to banding. The vertical banding is accomplished by the cooperation of a plurality of band guides external to the compression chamber and movable into the bundling chamber which has a movable bundler for causing the bands to bind the compressed block into a bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Assignee: Tezuka Kosan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Hasebe, Teigo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 4473005
    Abstract: A strapping machine particularly adapted for strapping unstable stacks of magazines and the like includes a means for positive pushing of the unstable stack into position at the strapping station by sliding the stack over a surface having a low coefficient of friction. At the strapping station, a compactor compresses the stack and a strap is automatically applied around the stack. Then, a pusher bar moves to contact the rearward end of the stack and to remove the strapped stack from the strapping station. Bundle stops which are used to properly position the unstrapped stack in the strapping station are mechanically linked to the pusher bar to retract when the pusher bar is used to move the strapped bundle from the strapping station. These bundle stops automatically reposition themselves so that this machine is ready to receive another unstrapped stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1984
    Assignee: Ovalstrapping, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Pasic
  • Patent number: 4454808
    Abstract: A feed device for strapping bands for use in strapping machines is disclosed. A pressure device and a feed roller push the strapping band into a band channel behind the feed roller. A disengaging lever is connected to the pressure device so that when a loop in the band is formed in the band channel, it moves the disengaging lever causing the pressure device to be withdrawn from the band and feed roller permitting the band to reverse direction causing the loop to disappear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: Cyklop International Emil Hoffmann KG
    Inventors: Hubert Wehr, Rolf-Gunther Fritze