Patent ID: 7270054
Filing Date: 2007-09-18
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. A package pacer for use with an automatic strapping machine, the strapping machine having a strap chute through which strap material is fed and from which strap material is tensioned onto a package, the strapping machine having an in-feed belt conveyor defining an in-feed conveyor plane and configured to automatically move a package into a packaging region bounded by the chute, the pacer comprising: a frame, the frame mountable to the strapping machine; a plurality of rollers mounted to the frame in a stationary plane about coplanar with the in-feed conveyor plane, the rollers extending forwardly of the strapping machine, the rollers configured to permit conveyance of the package therealong and onto the in-feed conveyor; a pacing element movable between a stop position in which the pacer element is out of the in-feed conveyor plane and interferes with movement of the package onto the plurality of rollers and the in-feed conveyor and a feed position in which the pacing element resides about coplanar with the plurality of rollers and the in-feed conveyor, wherein the pacing element is mounted to a pacing element carriage, the pacing element carriage being pivotally spring mounted to the frame by a plurality of pins and springs, each of the pins is connected to the respective spring such that the pacing element carriage can move side to side within the frame; and means for moving the pacing element between the stop position and the feed position, wherein the means for moving the pacing element is mounted to the pacing element carriage by a universal joint.