Patent ID: 7048015
Filing Date: 2006-05-23
Classification: B25B,B65B

Abstract:
1. A clamp applicator comprising: a housing having a motor with an ON/OFF and a FORWARD/REVERSE switch; a stationary first gripper located near a band entry port in the housing; a second gripper having a linkage to the motor to move forward by means of a mobile gripper housing toward the entry port and backward; a cutter in the housing for cutting a tightened clamp; wherein a clamp tightening mode of operation powers the second gripper backward while gripping a segment of a clamp, thereby tightening the clamp; wherein a clamp cutting mode of operation powers the second gripper forward, thereby releasing its grip on the clamp segment and activating the cutter to cut the clamp segment; wherein the cutter further comprises a pivot mount in the housing, and the second gripper has a mechanical interface with one end of the cutter to pivot a cutting end of the cutter into contact with the segment of the clamp during the cutting mode of operation; and wherein the mobile gripper housing further comprises a release lever actuator which in the clamp cutting mode contacts a pivotable stationary gripper release lever, thereby releasing the stationary first gripper from the segment of the clamp after the cutting mode operation.