Exhibit B

Case 2:24-cv-00080-JRG Document 20-2 Filed 05/15/24 Page 1 of 35 PageID #: 175
c12) United States Patent 

Neeser et al. 

(54) STRAPPING APPARATUS 

(71) Applicant: Signode Industrial Group LLC, 

Tampa, FL (US) 

(72) Inventors: Mirco Neeser, Ehrendingen (CH); 

Dimitrios Takidis, Dubendorf (CH); 

Andreas Keller, Birr (CH) 

(73) Assignee: Signode Industrial Group LLC, 

Tampa, FL (US) 

( *) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis 

patent is extended or adjusted under 35 

U.S.C. 154(b) by O days. 

(21) Appl. No.: 18/151,259 

(22) Filed: 

(65) 

Jan. 6, 2023 

Prior Publication Data 

(63) 

US 2023/0147635 Al May 11, 2023 

Related U.S. Application Data 

Continuation of application No. 17/446,049, filed on 

Aug. 26, 2021, now Pat. No. 11,560,246, which is a 

(Continued) 

(30) Foreign Application Priority Data 

Sep. 18, 2016 (CH) ..................................... 01213/16 

(51) Int. Cl. 

B65B 13122 

B65B 13/18 

(2006.01) 

(2006.01) 

(Continued) 

(52) U.S. Cl. 

CPC .......... B65B 131322 (2013.01); B65B 13/185 

(2013.01); B65B 13122 (2013.01); B65B 

131327 (2013.01); B65B 65102 (2013.01) 

( 58) Field of Classification Search 

CPC ....... B65B 13/00; B65B 13/02; B65B 13/025; 

B65B 13/185; B65B 13/187; B65B 13/22; 

B65B 13/322; B65B 13/327; B65B 65/02 

(Continued) 

I 1111111111111111 1111111111 lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111 111111111111111111 

US011667418B2 

(IO) Patent No.: US 11,667,418 B2 

(45) Date of Patent: Jun.6,2023 

(56) 

CN 

CN 

References Cited 

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(Continued) 

Primary Examiner - Stephen F. Gerrity 

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - Neal, Gerber & 

Eisenberg LLP 

(57) ABSTRACT 

A strapping apparatus for strapping articles with a strapping 

band having a tensioning device for imparting a band 

tension to a loop of the strapping band, the tensioning device 

including a driveable tensioning element provided for 

engaging the strapping band to impart a band tension. The 

strapping apparatus including a connecting device for generating a permanent connection, in particular a welded 

connection, at two regions, situated one above the other, of 

the loop of the strapping band. The strapping apparatus is 

configured to achieve the release of the tensioning element 

from the strapping band reliably to avoid or reduce adverse 

characteristics attributed to the release of the tensioning 

device from the band. 

29 Claims, 22 Drawing Sheets 

Case 2:24-cv-00080-JRG Document 20-2 Filed 05/15/24 Page 2 of 35 PageID #: 176
US 11,667,418 B2 

Page 2 

Related U.S. Application Data 

continuation of application No. 16/331,002, filed as 

application No. PCT/US2017/050473 on Sep. 7, 

2017, now Pat. No. 11,104,460. 

(51) Int. Cl. 

B65B 13132 

B65B 65102 

(2006.01) 

(2006.01) 

(58) Field of Classification Search 

USPC .............. 53/580, 582, 588, 592; 100/29, 32, 

100/33 PB; 140/93.2; 254/216 

See application file for complete search history. 

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dated May 7, 2020. 

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* cited by examiner 

Case 2:24-cv-00080-JRG Document 20-2 Filed 05/15/24 Page 3 of 35 PageID #: 177
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1 

STRAPPING APPARATUS 

PRIORITY CLAIM 

This application is a continuation of, claims priority to 

and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/446, 

049, filed on Aug. 26, 2021, which is a continuation of, 

claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patent application 

Ser. No. 16/331,002, having a 371c date of Mar. 6, 2019, 

now U.S. Pat. No. 11,104,460, issued on Aug. 31, 2021, 

which is a national stage application of PCT /US2017 / 

050473, filed on Sep. 7, 2017, which claims priority to and 

the benefit of Swiss Patent Application No. 01213/16, filed 

Sep. 18, 2016, the entire contents of each of which are 

incorporated herein by reference. 

FIELD 

The present disclosure relates to a strapping apparatus for 

strapping articles for packing with a strapping band, which 

strapping apparatus has a tensioning device for imparting a 

band tension to a loop of a strapping band, wherein the 

tensioning device is equipped with a tensioning wheel that 

can be driven in rotation about a tensioning axis and that is 

provided for engaging into the strapping band, the tensioning device furthermore has a tensioning plate, wherein, 

during a tensioning process performed by the tensioning 

device, it is provided that a single-layer or multi-layer 

section of the strapping band is situated between the tensioning wheel and the tensioning plate and is in contact both 

with the tensioning wheel and with the tensioning plate, and 

a connecting device for producing a permanent connection, 

in particular a welded connection, at two regions, situated 

one above the other, of the loop of the strapping band by way 

of a connecting element, such as a welding element, which 

is provided for locally heating the strapping band. 

BACKGROUND 

Strapping apparatuses of said type are used for strapping 

articles for packing with a plastics band. For this purpose, a 

loop of the respective plastics band is placed around the 

article for packing. In general, the plastics band is in this 

case drawn off from a supply roll. After the loop has been 

placed all the way around the article for packing, the end 

region of the band overlaps a section of the band loop. The 

strapping apparatus is then applied to said two-layer region 

of the band, and here, the band is clamped in the strapping 

apparatus, a band tension is imparted to the band loop by 

way of the tensioning device, and a fastening is produced by 

friction welding on the loop between the two band layers. 

Here, pressure is exerted on the band by way of a friction 

shoe that moves in oscillating fashion in the region of two 

ends of the band loop. The pressure and the heat generated 

by the movement causes the band, which is generally of 

plastic, to locally melt for a short period of time. This gives 

rise between the two band layers to a permanent connection, 

which can be released again at most with high force, 

between the two band layers. Thereafter, or approximately at 

the same time, the loop is severed from the supply roll. The 

respective article for packing has thereby been strapped. 

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 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 

2 

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 way of said energy, the 

band tension introduced into the band by way of the clamp5 ing device is generated, and a fastening is produced on the 

strapping band. Generic strapping apparatuses are furthermore provided for connecting only weldable plastic bands to 

one another. 

After a tensioning process has been performed and after 10 a fastening has been formed, the band must be removed from 

the strapping apparatus again. Here, the problem exists that 

the tensioning device must release the band which has been 

loaded with a high band tension. The band tension acts on 

15 the tensioning device as a force or torque directed oppositely 

to the drive direction of the tensioning device. A release of 

the tensioning device from the band by way of known 

freewheels provided for this purpose therefore has the result 

that the tensioning device is relieved of load abruptly. Such 

20 an abrupt release firstly constitutes a high dynamic load on 

the fastening between the two band layers of the strap, which 

fastening has just been manufactured and has possibly not 

yet fully cooled down and thus does not yet exhibit its 

maximum load-bearing capability. Secondly, the abrupt 

25 release also acts as a high dynamic load on the tensioning 

device of the strapping apparatus, which, in particular after 

a high number of strapping cycles, can lead to damage and 

wear and to adjustment of presets. Finally, the tensile stress 

of the band, which acts on the tensioning wheel and on the 

30 tensioning plate, can lead to jamming of the rocker that is 

provided in many known portable strapping devices and on 

which either the tensioning plate or the tensioning wheel are 

pivotably arranged. Such jamming can have the effect that 

the tensioning wheel and the tensioning rocker can no longer 

35 be lifted off from the band. 

SUMMARY 

The present disclosure is therefore based on the object of 

40 improving generic, in particular mobile, strapping apparatuses of the type mentioned in the introduction with regard 

to their functional reliability, such that the release of the 

strapping band can be realized reliably and adverse characteristics attributed to the release of the tensioning device 

45 from the band are avoided, or at least reduced. 

According to the present disclosure, said object is 

achieved in the case of a strapping apparatus of the type 

mentioned in the introduction by way of the features 

described herein. Thus, in the case of a strapping apparatus 

50 as per certain embodiments the mechanism of a freewheel 

for releasing the tensioning element from the strapping band 

may be provided, which, during an actuation, with at least 

initial slippage, eliminates an operative connection between 

a drive of the tensioning element and the tensioning element, 

55 and, as a result of the restoring movement of said mechanism, generate the operative connection again. By way of 

the slippage or some other type of non-abrupt release of the 

tensioning element from its drive or from a locking mechanism, the mechanism of the strapping device is less highly 

60 loaded, and the mechanism can be relieved of tension gently. 

The present disclosure may in particular, and preferably, 

comprise a freewheel which is provided with a wrap spring 

and that serves for releasing the tensioning wheel from a 

torque-absorbing support of the tensioning wheel on an 

65 immovable element of the strapping apparatus, such as for 

example the base plate. Furthermore, the present disclosure 

may be equipped with a mechanism for actuating the wrap 

Case 2:24-cv-00080-JRG Document 20-2 Filed 05/15/24 Page 26 of 35 PageID #: 200
US 11,667,418 B2 

3 

spring in order to eliminate and generate frictional engagement of the wrap spring with at least one contact partner. 

According to the present disclosure, it may thus be 

provided that a wrap spring as a constituent part of a 

freewheel is arranged in the region of a torque-supporting 

bearing arrangement of the tensioning device, which wrap 

spring connects a bearing arrangement of the tensioning 

wheel rotationally conjointly to the base plate for the execution of the tensioning process. After a tensioning process has 

been performed, the wrap spring and thus the freewheel may 

be actuable in order to temporarily release the torquesupporting bearing arrangement, such that the tensioning 

wheel or some other tensioning element is rotatable freely 

relative to the band without drive. The tensioning wheel can 

thus be released from the band with little expenditure of 

force, and the drive train of the tensioning wheel can hereby 

be relieved of tension. 

By way of the wrap spring, it is possible here to realize a 

gradual-rather than an abrupt-release of the connection 

that is fixed in terms of torque. Proceeding from a slip-free, 

frictionally engaging, rotationally conjoint connection of the 

wrap spring to its at least one contact partner, the wrap 

spring, when actuated, initially permits slippage before the 

frictionally engaging connection is fully eliminated and the 

wrap spring and its contact partner are freely rotatable 

relative to one another. Both for the band from which the 

tensioning wheel is to be lifted off, and for the tensioning 

device, it is thus possible, owing to the avoidance of abrupt 

changes in load, for the release of the strapping band from 

the strapping apparatus to be performed in a more materialconserving manner. 

In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the 

wrap spring may have at least one, and preferably two, 

contact partners. One of the contact partners is in this case 

connected rotationally conjointly to the tensioning wheel, 

whereas the optional other contact partner should be connected rotationally conjointly to a positionally fixed component such as a carrier of the strapping apparatus. A 

frictionally engaging connection to both contact partners 

should exist during the tensioning process, such that the 

tensioning wheel can be supported by way of the wrap 

spring and its two contact partners in order to exert the 

torque, which is provided by a drive of the tensioning 

device, on the band on the positionally fixed component, for 

example a base plate. With at least one of the two contact 

partners, it may be possible for the frictionally engaging 

connection to be eliminated by actuation of the wrap spring 

and to subsequently be generated again by way of a restoring 

movement. The second contact partner may in particular 

also be provided for ensuring the dimensional stability of the 

wrap spring and for preventing a change in position of the 

wrap spring during the actuation thereof. 

The at least one contact partner, preferably both of the 

contact partners that are provided, may each be in the form 

of a cylindrical element, wherein the two contact partners 

should preferably be arranged within the wrap spring. With 

inner sides of their windings, the wrap springs can generate 

the frictional engagement with outer circumferential surfaces of the preferably cylindrical contact partners. The wrap 

spring is, for this purpose, arranged under preload on the 

contact partners. In other embodiments according to the 

present disclosure, it is also possible to utilize outer sides of 

the windings for generating frictional engagement, wherein 

said outer sides should then come to bear against inner sides 

of hollow cylindrical contact partners. 

In particularly preferred refinements of the present disclosure, the freewheel may be equipped with a rotatable 

4 

toothing mechanism to which the wrap spring is connected 

by way of one of its ends, wherein the toothing mechanism 

is provided for engaging with one of the actuation mechanisms. Here, it may particularly expediently be provided that 

5 the toothing mechanism is a cylindrical element which is 

formed substantially coaxially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the wrap spring and which, in the region of its 

outer circumference, is equipped with a toothing, in particular with a toothing which runs around the full circumference 

10 or over part of the circumference. It may furthermore be 

expedient for one actuation mechanism to have a pivotable, 

circular-arc-shaped toothing element which, on its circulararc-shaped circumferential region, is equipped with a toothing for engaging into the toothing of the cylindrical element. 

15 In these preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, for 

the actuation of the freewheel, it is thus provided that a 

rotational movement is transmitted to one of the ends of the 

wrap spring by way of engagement of intermeshing gearwheels. In this way, a particularly functionally reliable and 

20 reproducible actuation of the wrap spring can be made 

possible. 

It should advantageously be provided here that, during the 

actuation of the freewheel, the preferably circular-arcshaped toothing element enters into engagement with the 

25 toothing of the cylindrical element only when the freewheel 

is also to be switched and thus the tensioning wheel is to be 

released from its support on the strapping apparatus. It 

should likewise advantageously be provided that, during the 

automatic turning-back of the wrap spring, and thus during 

30 the restoration of the frictionally engaging connection, the 

circular-arc-shaped toothing element passes out of engagement with the toothing of the cylindrical element arranged 

on the wrap spring before the frictional engagement is 

generated again. In particular, by way of the latter measure, 

35 it can be ensured that, by way of the spring force of the wrap 

spring, complete abutment of the windings against their at 

least one contact partner is achieved, specifically even if, for 

this purpose, the end of the wrap spring assumes a different 

rotational position than was the case in its initial position 

40 before the actuation of the freewheel. In particular, owing to 

possible frictionally induced wear to the inner side of the 

wrap spring, it may be necessary after a multiplicity of 

actuations have been performed for the wrap spring to 

automatically tum back ever further beyond the original end 

45 position of the wrap spring end in order to generate the 

frictional engagement that is desired according to the present 

disclosure. Since the sleeve with its toothing should, at least 

toward the end of its turning-back movement, no longer be 

in engagement with the toothing element, and is thus freely 

50 rotatable, the turning-back can, in the described manner, be 

performed into new end positions every time, which end 

positions are dependent on the state of wear of the wrap 

spring and possibly also of its at least one contact partner. 

This embodiment of the present disclosure thus includes 

55 self-adjusting wear compensation of the freewheel. In conjunction with such a preferred embodiment of the present 

disclosure, it is in particular not necessary for readjustments 

to be repeatedly performed as maintenance work on the 

strapping apparatus owing to wear. Such maintenance work 

60 may then be necessary at most when the wrap spring has 

been worn to such an extent that sufficient frictional engagement is no longer realized, and thus the wrap spring must be 

exchanged. 

In the case of two intermeshing toothings being used for 

65 transmitting a rotational movement, a blockage may occur 

upon the initial engagement of the toothings because teeth 

strike one another by way of their tooth tips but the spacing 

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US 11,667,418 B2 

5 

of the two axes of rotation is smaller than the sum of the radii 

of the tip circles of the two toothings. The rotatability 

necessitates that each tooth engages in each case into the gap 

between two teeth of the rolling partner. If tooth tips strike 

one another, it is not possible for a rotational movement to 5 

be transmitted, and the gearing becomes blocked. Therefore, 

in a further preferred embodiment, the present present 

disclosure provides compensation mechanisms which, in the 

event of such mutual blockage of the toothings, preferably 

automatically eliminate said blockage. For this purpose, it 10 may advantageously be provided that the forces that arise 

between the toothings owing to a blockage of the toothing 

elements are utilized in order to generate a torque of one of 

the two toothings about its axis of rotation and relative to the 

respective other toothing. This relative movement of one 

toothing results in a changed position of the mutually 15 

opposite teeth of the toothings, in particular such that, now, 

the first tooth of one toothing engages between two teeth of 

the other toothing, and the blockage is thus eliminated. It is 

preferable here for one of the two toothings to be turned 

back in relation to the direction of rotation that is actually 20 

intended. By way of this preferred refinement according to 

the present disclosure, it is thus possible for the functional 

reliability of the freewheel, which is equipped according to 

the present disclosure with a wrap spring, for releasing the 

operative connection between the tensioning wheel and the 25 

drive thereof, to be increased. Blockages of the toothing 

elements can thus be prevented or eliminated automatically 

and without the need for manual intervention by operating 

personnel. 

In a preferred refinement of this embodiment of the 

present disclosure, it may be provided that a tooth, in 30 

particular a tooth which comes into contact first with the 

other rolling partner, of a toothing element is arranged on 

said toothing element in a deflectable manner, in particular 

a resiliently elastically deflectable manner. With the restoring force, generated owing to the resiliently elastic deflec- 35 

tion, of the deflected tooth, a force can be exerted on the 

rolling partner, which force leads to a relative movement, in 

particular a rotational movement, of the rolling partner. In 

alternative embodiments, it may also be provided that, by 

way of the restoring force, the component on which the 40 

restoring force is generated itself performs a rotational 

movement relative to its rolling partner. Regardless of which 

component performs the relative movement, said movement 

may involve movements of small magnitude, which are 

however sufficient to change the rotational position of the in 45 

each case one toothing such that the first engagement tooth 

is arranged in the region between two teeth of the rolling 

partner, such that an engagement of said one tooth into the 

toothing of the rolling partner becomes possible. 

In a particularly advantageous refinement of the above 50 

preferred exemplary embodiment, it may be provided that 

the restoring force acts on the rolling partner such that the 

direction of action of said restoring force runs with a spacing 

to the axis of rotation of the rolling partner. In this way, it is 

possible, with the restoring force, to generate a torque which 55 

acts about the axis of rotation of the rolling partner and 

which leads to an elimination of the blockage and to an 

orientation of the two toothings for correct engagement. 

Further preferred refinements of the present disclosure 

will emerge from the claims, from the description and from 60 

the drawing. 

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 

6 

FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a strapping 

appliance according to one example embodiment of the 

present disclosure; 

FIG. la shows a partial view of the strapping appliance 

from FIG. 1, in which a tensioning device and a connecting 

device of the strapping appliance can be seen; 

FIG. 2 shows a perspective partial illustration of the front 

region, which comprises the tensioning and wear device of 

the strapping appliance from FIG. 1, of said strapping 

appliance, with an actuation mechanism assuming a first end 

position; 

FIG. 3 shows a sectional illustration through a cantilever 

and the base plate of the strapping appliance from FIG. 1; 

FIG. 4 shows a detail as per the line X from FIG. 3; 

FIG. 5 shows an illustration as per FIG. 3 with an 

actuation mechanism in a second end position; 

FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section through a freewheel 

for a support mechanism of a tensioning wheel of the 

strapping appliance from FIG. 1; 

FIG. 7a shows a toothed sleeve-like element of the 

freewheel; 

FIG. 7b shows a detailed illustration of the toothing of the 

sleeve-like element from FIG. 7a; 

FIG. 8 shows a perspective illustration as per FIG. 2 of a 

second example embodiment of the present disclosure 

according to the present disclosure; 

FIG. 9 shows a sectional illustration as per FIG. 3 of the 

second embodiment according to the present disclosure from 

FIG. 8, with an actuation mechanism assuming a first end 

position; 

FIG. 10 shows an illustration as per FIG. 9 with an 

actuation mechanism in a second end position; 

FIG. 11 shows a perspective partial illustration as per FIG. 

2 of a further exemplary embodiment; 

FIG. 12 shows a sectional illustration as per FIG. 3 of the 

further embodiment according to the present disclosure from 

FIG. 11, with an actuation mechanism assuming a first end 

position; 

FIG. 13 shows an illustration as per FIG. 4 of the further 

embodiment according to the present disclosure from FIG. 

11, with an actuation mechanism in a second end position; 

FIGS. 14a, 14b, and 14c show detailed illustrations of a 

sleeve for receiving a wrap spring, and the toothing of said 

sleeve, from the exemplary embodiment as per FIG. 11; 

FIG. 15 shows a perspective partial illustration as per 

FIG. 2 of a further exemplary embodiment; 

FIG. 16 shows a sectional illustration as per FIG. 3 of the 

further embodiment according to the present disclosure from 

FIG. 15, with an actuation mechanism assuming a first end 

position; 

FIG. 17 shows an illustration as per FIG. 4 of the further 

embodiment according to the present disclosure from FIG. 

15, with an actuation mechanism in a second end position; 

FIG. 18 shows a multi-part toothing element of the 

exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 15, 16, and 17 in a 

perspective illustration; 

FIG. 19 shows a perspective partial illustration as per 

FIG. 2 of a further exemplary embodiment; 

FIG. 20 shows a sectional illustration as per FIG. 3 of the 

further embodiment according to the present disclosure from 

FIG. 19, with an actuation mechanism assuming a first end 

position; 

The present disclosure will be discussed in more detail on 

the basis of exemplary embodiments which are illustrated 

purely schematically in the figures, in which: 

FIG. 21 shows an illustration as per FIG. 4 of the further 

65 embodiment according to the present disclosure from FIG. 

19, with an actuation mechanism in a second end position; 

and 

Case 2:24-cv-00080-JRG Document 20-2 Filed 05/15/24 Page 28 of 35 PageID #: 202
US 11,667,418 B2 

7 

FIG. 22 shows a multi-part toothing element of the 

exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 19, 20, and 21 in a 

perspective illustration. 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 

While the systems, devices, and methods described herein 

may be embodied in various forms, the drawings show and 

the specification describes certain exemplary and non-limiting embodiments. Not all of the components shown in the 

drawings and described in the specification may be required, 

and certain implementations may include additional, different, or fewer components. Variations in the arrangement and 

type of the components; the shapes, sizes, and materials of 

the components; and the manners of connections of the 

components may be made without departing from the spirit 

or scope of the claims. Unless otherwise indicated, any 

directions referred to in the specification reflect the orientations of the components shown in the corresponding 

drawings and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. This specification is intended to be taken as a whole 

and interpreted in accordance with the principles of the 

present disclosure and as understood by one of ordinary skill 

in the art. 

The strapping appliance 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is used 

merely as an example for the present present disclosure. The 

description of the specific embodiment of the features of the 

strapping appliance 1 discussed below serves merely for the 

understanding of the present disclosure and does not represent a restriction to embodiments of the present disclosure 

which would imperatively have to have the features below. 

The exclusively manually actuable strapping appliance 1 

according to the first example embodiment of the present 

disclosure illustrated here merely by way of example has a 

housing 2 which surrounds the mechanism of the strapping 

apparatus 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, the underside of 

which is provided 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 way of the strapping appliance 1, a loop (not illustrated in any more detail in FIG. 1) of a plastic band (not 

shown), 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 way 

of a tensioning device 6 of the strapping apparatus. In other 

embodiments of the present disclosure, it is also possible for 

bands composed of other materials, in particular of other 

plastics or of metallic materials, to be processed, wherein, in 

such embodiments, the respective strapping appliance may 

be adapted to the respectively provided band material. The 

tensioning device of the strapping appliance shown here has 

a tensioning wheel 7 (concealed by the housing in FIG. 1), 

tensioning mandrel or some other tensioning element of the 

tensioning device 6, by way of which the band can be 

gripped for a tensioning process. The tensioning wheel 7 

interacts with a tensioning plate 8 such that the strapping 

band can, for tightening of the strapping band loop, be 

clamped between the tensioning wheel 7 and the tensioning 

plate 8, in particular while the tensioning wheel 7 is driven 

in rotation and, during said movement, by engaging into the 

strapping band and retracting the latter, applies said strapping band to the respective article to be packaged and 

imparts a band tension to the band of the band loop. 

8 

In the exemplary embodiment, the tensioning plate 8 is 

arranged on a pivotable rocker R (not illustrated in any more 

detail) which can be pivoted about a rocker pivot axis. The 

tensioning plate 8 can, by way of a pivoting movement of the 

5 rocker R about the rocker pivot axis, be transferred from an 

end position spaced apart from the tensioning wheel 7 into 

a second end position, in which the tensioning plate 8 is 

pressed against the tensioning wheel 7. By way of a corresponding motor-driven or manually driven movement in the 

10 opposite direction of rotation about the rocker pivot axis, the 

tensioning plate 8 can be moved away from the tensioning 

wheel 7 and pivoted back into its initial position, whereby 

the band situated between the tensioning wheel 7 and the 

tensioning plate is released for removal. In other preferred 

15 embodiments of the present disclosure, it is also possible for 

the tensioning wheel 7 to be arranged on the movable, in 

particular pivotable, rocker R and for the tensioning plate 8 

to be arranged so as to be positionally fixed. 

During the use of the illustrated embodiment of a ten20 sioning apparatus, it is provided that two layers of the 

strapping band are situated between the tensioning wheel 7 

and the tensioning plate, and are pressed against the tensioning plate by the tensioning wheel 7 or are pressed 

against the tensioning wheel 7 by the tensioning plate. By 

25 rotation of the tensioning wheel 7, it is then possible for the 

band loop to have imparted to it a band tension which is high 

enough for packaging purposes. 

Subsequently, at a point of the band loop at which two 

layers of the band lie one above the other, welding of the two 

30 layers can be performed, in a manner known per se, by way 

of the friction welding and severing device 12 of the 

strapping appliance. The band loop can hereby be permanently closed. In the preferred exemplary embodiment 

shown here, the friction welding and severing device 12 can 

35 be driven by the same, only one motor M of the strapping 

appliance, by way of which all other motor-driven movements are also performed. For this purpose, in a manner 

known per se, in the transmission direction from the motor 

M to the points at which the motor-imparted drive move40 ment, there is provided a freewheel (not illustrated in any 

more detail) which has the effect that the drive movement is 

transmitted in the drive direction of rotation, respectively 

provided for the purpose, to the corresponding functional 

unit of the strapping appliance, and no transmission takes 

45 place in the other drive direction of rotation, respectively 

provided for this purpose, of the motor M. 

For this purpose, the friction welding device 12 is 

equipped with a welding shoe (not illustrated in any more 

detail) which is, by way of a transfer device 13, transferred 

50 from a rest position, with a spacing to the band, into a 

welding position, in which the welding shoe is pressed 

against the band. The welding shoe, which in this case is 

pressed against the strapping band by mechanical pressure, 

and the simultaneously performed oscillating movement of 

55 the welding shoe with a predetermined frequency, cause the 

two layers of the strapping band to melt. The locally 

plasticized or molten regions of the band flow into one 

another and, after the band cools, a connection between the 

two band layers then forms. If necessary, it is then possible 

60 for the band loop to be severed from a supply roll of the band 

by way of a cutting element (not illustrated in any more 

detail) of the friction welding and severing device 12 of the 

strapping appliance 1. 

The advancement of the tensioning wheel 7 in the direc65 tion of the tensioning plate, the rotary drive of the tensioning 

wheel 7 about the tensioning axis, the opening of the rocker 

R with the tensioning wheel 7 or the tensioning plate, the 

Case 2:24-cv-00080-JRG Document 20-2 Filed 05/15/24 Page 29 of 35 PageID #: 203
US 11,667,418 B2 

9 

advancement of the friction welding device 12 by way of the 

transfer device 13, and also the use of the friction welding 

device 12 per se, and the actuation of the severing device, 

are performed using only one common electric motor M, 

which provides a respective drive movement for these 5 

components of the strapping appliance. For the supply of 

electricity to the motor M, there is arranged on the strapping 

appliance an exchangeable battery 14, which can in particular be removed and exchanged for charging purposes, and 

which serves for storing electrical energy. A supply of other 10 

external auxiliary energy, such as for example compressed 

air or further electricity, may be provided, but is not provided in the case of the strapping appliance as per FIGS. 1 

and 2. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, 

however, it is also possible for other forms of energy, in 15 

particular compressed air, to be utilized as drive energy 

instead of electrical energy. 

On the drive shaft of the motor, behind the toothed belt 

drive to the welding device as viewed from the motor M, 

there is situated a bevel gear 16, which belongs to a bevel 20 

gear mechanism of the tensioning device 6, in the same way 

10 

movement along a circular segment about the axis of the 

shaft 24. The movement along the circular segment takes 

place here with a radius, wherein the toothing 28a of the 

toothing element 28 is formed along a circular arc with the 

same radius. The length of the circular arc of the toothing 

element 28 is shorter than the length of the circular arc 

segment along which the toothing element moves. 

The toothing element 28 meshes with an external toothing 

30 of a sleeve 31. Said external toothing 30 is formed along 

a complete circumferential line or a partial circumferential 

line of the outer shell surface 32 of the sleeve 31. The width 

of the external toothing 30 may in this case preferably be 

smaller than the length of the sleeve 31. The toothing 

element 28, during its movement along the circular arc 

segment, initially moves without engaging with the toothing 

30 of the sleeve 31, and it is only on its path from its initial 

end position into its end position that said toothing element 

enters into engagement with the toothing 30 of the sleeve. As 

soon as the toothing element 28 and the sleeve 31 are in 

engagement with one another, the toothing element 28 

rotates the sleeve 31 about its longitudinal axis. 

As per the illustration in FIG. 6, the sleeve 31 is arranged 

on a wrap spring 33 which, in the manner of a helical spring, 

has a multiplicity of windings. The windings have a small 

as a second bevel gear 17, with which the former bevel gear 

meshes. On the same shaft as that on which the second bevel 

gear 17 is arranged, there is also arranged a downstream 

gearing device (not illustrated in any more detail) by way of 

which the motor drive movement is utilized for driving the 

tensioning wheel. A gearing device of said type is included 

in the strapping appliance with the product designation 

OR-T 250 from Signode Industrial Group GmbH, Dietikon 

(Switzerland), and as described for example in WO 2009/ 

129634 Al. The content of said document is hereby incorporated by reference. 

25 pitch and bear against one another. In the exemplary 

embodiment, the wrap spring 33 has at least 13 windings, 

and in other embodiments of the present disclosure, it is also 

possible for any other desired number of windings to be 

provided with which the wrap spring 33 can perform the 

The tensioning apparatus is furthermore equipped with a 

manually actuable hand lever 20, by way of the actuation of 

which a torque-absorbing support of the tensioning wheel on 

a cantilever 21 of the base plate 4 can be eliminated and, 

subsequently, the spacing between tensioning plate 8 and the 

tensioning wheel 7 can also be increased. This process is 

provided, after the tensioning of the band has been performed and after a fastening has been formed, in order to 

enable the tensioning wheel, which is now stationary and 

possibly braced with the band, to be released despite the 

band tension present in the band. This is a prerequisite in 

order that the band can be removed from the strapping 

appliance and, subsequently, in turn, strapping band can be 

inserted into the strapping appliance in order to form a new 

band loop. 

The hand lever 20 is arranged on a shaft 22 and is 

pivotable about an axis of the shaft 22. On the same shaft 

there is also situated a circular-arc-shaped toothed segment 

23 which is connected rotationally conjointly to the shaft 22 

and which can be set in rotation by a rotational movement 

introduced by way of the hand lever 20. Arranged parallel to 

and with a spacing to the shaft 22, there is a further shaft 24, 

30 function of a switching element, as will be discussed below. 

A sleeve-like blocking roller 35 and a threaded bushing 36 

are arranged coaxially within the wrap spring 33, which 

blocking roller and threaded bushing are situated one behind 

the other along the longitudinal axis and with in each case 

35 one of their face sides facing one another within the wrap 

spring 33. The wrap spring 33 can be actuated as a switching 

element of a freewheel 34 and, in its non-actuated state, 

bears with inner surfaces of its windings both against the 

blocking roller 35 and against the threaded bushing 36. In 

40 this way, a frictionally engaging and rotationally conjoint 

connection between the blocking roller 35 and the threaded 

bushing 36 is produced by way of the wrap spring 33. The 

threaded bushing 36 is screwed onto a bearing bolt 37, 

which in turn is arranged rotationally fixedly on the canti45 lever 21 of the base plate 4. Owing to this arrangement, the 

tensioning wheel 7 can, by way of the elements blocking 

roller 35 and threaded bushing 36 which are connected 

rotationally fixedly to one another by way of the wrap spring 

33, be supported on the cantilever 21 of the base plate 

50 4-and thus on the base plate 4 itself-during the tensioning 

process in order to exert the required torque on the strapping 

band. 

The wrap spring 33 has in each case a first end region 33a 

(shown in FIG. 3) and a second end region (not shown) on 

each of its face ends. The second end region is fixed to the 

cantilever 21 of the base plate 4. The first end region 33a of 

the other face side of the wrap spring 33 is fastened to the 

sleeve 31. By way of a pivoting movement of the hand lever 

20, it is thus possible, by way of the engagement of the 

toothed segment 23 into the toothing element 26 and of the 

circular-arc-shaped toothing element 28 into the toothing 30 

of the sleeve 31, and the rotationally fixed arrangement of 

the second wrap spring end 33b on the cantilever 21, for the 

first end 33a of the wrap spring 33 to be actuated. Here, the 

on which a lever element 25 is rotatably arranged. The lever 55 

element 25 is equipped, in the region of its bearing arrangement on the shaft 24, with a circular-arc-shaped toothing 

element 26 which meshes with the toothed segment 23 and 

can thus be set in rotation by a rotational movement of the 

toothed segment 23. On the lever element 25 there is formed 60 

a first lever arm 25a which projects substantially radially 

from the shaft 24. On a second lever arm 25b of the lever 

element 25, on the free end thereof, there is arranged a 

circular-arc-shaped toothing element 28. The toothing element 28 has only a small number of teeth 28a. A rotational 

movement of the lever arm 25 about the axis of its shaft 24 

causes the toothing element 28 to perform a rotational 

65 circular-arc-shaped toothing element 28 performs a movement from the first end position shown in FIG. 4 into the 

second end position shown in FIG. 5. 

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US 11,667,418 B2 

11 

Here, the actuation is performed substantially as a rotational or pivoting movement of the wrap spring end 33a 

about a longitudinal axis of the wrap spring 33 in a direction 

12 

toothing, that is to say a tooth flank 40b which has a more 

pronounced curvature than its other toothing flank 40a. The 

tooth flanks 40a, 40b may taper to a point in the tip region 

of of the tooth flanks, such that the risk of mutual striking of rotation which causes at least some of the windings of the 

wrap spring 33 to increase in diameter. These are at least 

those windings of the wrap spring 33 which are arranged on 

the blocking roller 35 and which, in the non-actuated state 

of the wrap spring, produce a frictionally engaging connection with the blocking roller 35. As a result of the actuation 

of the wrap spring 33, said frictional engagement is entirely 

5 tooth tips of gearwheels which mesh with one another but 

which block one another is reduced. Here, the tooth flank 

40a with the less pronounced curvature in each case should 

be arranged in a switching direction, that is to say in a 

direction of the rotational movement in which the release of 10 the tensioning wheel is effected. During the switching process, the teeth of the toothing element 28 thus strike in each 

case that tooth flank 40a of the teeth 40 of the sleeve 31 

which have the less pronounced curvature. This described 

or partially eliminated. The elimination of the frictional 

engagement should occur at least to such an extent that the 

blocking roller 35 that is indirectly connected to the tensioning wheel 7 can rotate about its own longitudinal axis 

relative to the wrap spring 33. The elimination of the 15 

frictional engagement thus has the result that the tensioning 

wheel 7 can no longer hold the torque that is exerted back 

on the tensioning wheel 7 by the already-tensioned band 

owing to the band tension. In this state, the tensioning plate 

8 can be pivoted away from and lifted off the tensioned band. 20 

In alternative preferred embodiments according to the present disclosure, in which the tensioning wheel 7 rather than 

the tensioning plate 8 is arranged pivotably on the rocker R, 

it is possible for the tensioning wheel 7 to be pivoted away 

for the purposes of generating a spacing between the ten- 25 

sioning wheel 7 and the tensioning plate. Regardless of 

whether the tensioning wheel 7 or the tensioning plate 8 is 

articulated in pivotable fashion, it is possible in various 

embodiments of the present disclosure, owing to the interruption of the operative connection between the tensioning 30 

wheel 7 and the motor, for the tensioning wheel to possibly 

also be automatically rotated backward counter to the original drive direction of the tensioning wheel before the 

pivoting movement. The tensioning wheel is thus released 

from the tensioned band, and the band can subsequently be 35 

removed from the strapping appliance 1. 

Owing to the movement originating from the release of 

the tensioning wheel, in this case a pivoting movement, of 

the hand lever 20, the wrap spring 33 does not abruptly pass 

entirely out of engagement with its contact partner, the 40 

blocking roller 35. Owing to the rotational movement of the 

actuated wrap spring end 33a, a gradual widening of diameters of successive windings of the wrap spring occurs. In 

this way, slippage between the blocking roller 35 and the 

wrap spring 33 is generated that increases with a progression 45 

of the actuation movement of the hand lever 20. The 

increasing slippage simultaneously yields decreasing frictional engagement between the blocking roller 35 and the 

wrap spring 33. As a result, an abrupt release of the 

tensioning wheel 7 can be prevented, and a gradual release 50 

of the tensioning wheel 7 can be achieved. Both the band and 

the mechanism of the strapping apparatus 1 are thereby 

protected against abrupt unloading of the band and thus 

against a highly dynamic change in load. 

It is basically possible for any desired toothings, which 55 

must however fit with one another, to be provided for the 

circular-arc-shaped toothed segment 23, the toothing element 26, the circular-arc-shaped toothing element 26 and for 

the external toothing 30 of the sleeve 31. Involute toothings 

in particular may be provided. In the preferred embodiment 60 

according to the present disclosure illustrated in the figures, 

an asymmetrical toothing is provided for the external toothing 30 of the sleeve 31, wherein all teeth 40 of the sleeve 31 

have geometrically identically designed teeth 40. Said teeth 

40 have, on one engagement side, a toothing flank 40a 65 

similar to a straight toothing and, on the other engagement 

side, a tooth flank 40b of similar design to an involute 

basic tooth geometry is also configured for preventing 

blockage of gearwheels. 

During the restoring movement of the wrap spring 33 

owing to the restoring spring force built up during the 

switching process, it is then the case that the tooth flanks 40b 

with the more pronounced curvature come into contact, for 

transmitting movement, with the teeth 28a of the toothing 

element 28 and transmit the torque which is exerted by the 

sleeve 31 on the toothing element 28 owing to the spring 

restoring force. Both the sleeve 31, together with the end 33a 

of the wrap spring 33, and the lever element 25 then rotate 

backward in each case in the opposite direction of rotation. 

Likewise, the lever element 25, via the toothing element 26, 

pivots the hand lever 20 back into its initial position. The 

rotational movement of the lever element 25 occurs until the 

toothing element 28, during its rotational movement, passes 

out of engagement with the external toothing 30 of the 

sleeve 31. By contrast, the sleeve 31 rotates backward until 

the wrap spring 33 bears against the outer surface of the 

blocking roller 35 again and a further reduction in the 

diameter of the windings is no longer possible. In the 

drawing, this is shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, wherein FIG. 5 

shows the initial position of the restoring movement and 

FIG. 4 shows the end position of the restoring movement. 

Since, during its backward rotational movement, the lever 

element 25 passes out of engagement with the toothing 30 of 

the sleeve 31, the sleeve 31 and thus the wrap spring 33 can 

rotate backward independently of the lever element 25 and 

of the hand lever 20 until, and to such an extent that, the 

wrap spring 33 bears against the shell surface of the blocking 

roller 35 again and the frictional engagement between the 

blocking roller 35 and the wrap spring 33 has been fully 

established. In particular, possible limitations of the pivoting 

travels of the lever element 25 or of the hand lever 20 cannot 

prevent or impede a complete restoration of the frictional 

engagement. Since an elimination of the frictional engagement and the restoration of said frictional engagement is 

necessary during every production of a strap and, in the 

process, wear of the inner sides of the wrap spring 33 and/or 

of its contact partner, the blocking roller 35, occurs, it is in 

particular the case that a large number of produced straps 

can lead to abrasion of the wrap spring inner sides and/or of 

the blocking roller 35. This in tum has the result that the 

wrap spring end 33a must rotate backward further than 

before the onset of the wear in order to restore the intended 

frictional engagement of the wrap spring 33 with its at least 

one contact partner, in this case at least with the blocking 

roller 35. The wrap spring end 33a must thus possibly rotate 

beyond a previously assumed initial position, wherein said 

new position may, with progressive wear, move ever further 

away from the initial position without wear. This embodiment of the present disclosure thus includes compensation 

for progressive wear of the freewheel provided for the 

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US 11,667,418 B2 

13 

release of the tensioning wheel from the band, such as may 

arise owing to the repeated actuation of the wrap spring. 

FIGS. 8-10 illustrate a further exemplary embodiment of 

the present disclosure. This is in principle of the same 

construction as the exemplary embodiment discussed above, 5 

for which reason substantially only the differences will be 

discussed below. By contrast to the exemplary embodiment 

presented above, said further exemplary embodiment is 

however not equipped with the sleeve arranged on the wrap 

spring 133, and is not equipped with a circular-arc-shaped 10 

toothing element on the lever element 125. In this exemplary 

embodiment, the free end 127 of the lever element 125 acts 

directly on the free end 133a of the wrap spring 133. A 

pivoting movement of the hand lever 120 thus leads, via the 

engagement of toothings, to a rotational movement of the 15 

lever element 125 and of the free end 127 thereof. On its 

pivoting travel proceeding from the position shown in FIG. 

14 

As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 14a and 14b, the 

sleeve 231 is equipped with a recess 231a which is arranged 

eccentrically with respect to the bearing axis, by way of 

which recess the sleeve 231 is pushed onto the wrap spring. 

The eccentricity is in this case arranged such that a crosssectionally relatively thin region 231b of the sleeve 231 that 

arises from the eccentricity is arranged at least approximately on the side averted from the toothing element 228, 

and the cross-sectionally relatively thick region 231c is 

arranged on the side facing toward the toothing element 228. 

As in the preferred exemplary embodiment discussed 

above as per FIGS. 2 to 8, it is also the case here that an 

asymmetrical toothing has been selected for the sleeve 231, 

by way of which the risk of a blockage of the two toothings 

owing to tooth tips striking one another is reduced. In other 

exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, it is 

however also possible for conventional toothings, in particular involute toothings, to be provided. 

In order, depending on the embodiment of the present 

9, the hook-shaped free end 127 of the lever element comes 

into contact with the end 133a of the wrap spring 133 and 

drives the latter along on its pivoting travel until the free end 

127 of the lever arm has reached its second end position. The 

wrap spring end 133a hereby pivots substantially about the 

longitudinal axis of the wrap spring 133. Proceeding from 

the first winding, which adjoins the wrap spring end 133a, 

of the wrap spring 133, subsequent windings are thus 

successively also increased in diameter or size. In this way, 

the contact between the windings and the blocking roller 

(not shown) is reduced or eliminated at least to such an 

extent that the frictional engagement is eliminated and thus 

the blocking roller is rotatable about its longitudinal axis 

relative to the rotationally fixedly arranged wrap spring 133. 

In this exemplary embodiment, too, it is thus the case that 

the freewheel is switched by actuation of the wrap spring 

133. 

20 disclosure, to remove either the band from the tensioning 

wheel or the tensioning wheel 7 from the band and the 

tensioning plate, the toothing element 228 is pivoted about 

its pivot axis by way of the hand lever 220, and thus the 

toothing element 228 is placed in engagement with the 

It is likewise provided that, during its backward rotational 

movement, the lever element 125 passes out of contact, and 

out of operative connection, with the free end 133a of the 

wrap spring 133 before the free end of the wrap spring 133 

assumes its original initial position, in which the frictional 

engagement exists. Said restoring end positions of the wrap 

spring end and of the lever arm end 127 correspond to the 

positions of said elements shown in FIG. 9. Thus, it is also 

the case in this embodiment according to the present disclosure that the free end 133a of the wrap spring 133 can, 

owing to the spring restoring force, rotate backward unhindered and freely until the intended frictional engagement 

exists again between the wrap spring 133 and its contact 

partner. 

25 toothing of the sleeve 231. On the further pivoting travel, the 

two toothings mesh with one another, whereby the sleeve 

231 is rotated and the wrap spring operatively connected to 

the sleeve is actuated. The internal diameter of the wrap 

spring is hereby increased in size, and the contact between 

30 the internal diameter of the wrap spring and the outer surface 

of the blocking roller 35 is eliminated, whereby the operative connection between the motor and the tensioning wheel 

is eliminated. 

After a gap has thus been created between the tensioning 

35 wheel and the tensioning plate and the tension in the drive 

train of the tensioning wheel has been depleted in a nonabrupt manner, the band can be removed from the strapping 

appliance, and a new section of the strapping band can be 

inserted for a further strapping process. By way of a pivoting 

40 movement of the hand lever 220 in a now opposite direction, 

the gap between the tensioning wheel and the tensioning 

plate can be closed again, and the band can be clamped 

between said two elements in order to subsequently tension 

the band by way of a rotational movement of the tensioning 

45 wheel. 

FIGS. ll-14c illustrate a further preferred exemplary 

embodiment according to the present disclosure. The corre- 50 

sponding mobile strapping appliance is in principle of the 

same construction as the two exemplary embodiments of the 

present disclosure discussed above. Therefore, primarily the 

differences will be discussed below. 

If, in this exemplary embodiment, the two first teeth of the 

toothing of the sleeve 231 and of the toothing of the toothing 

element 228 which have come into contact with one another 

strike one another by way of their tooth tips, there is the risk 

of blockage. In this exemplary embodiment, however, such 

a blockage can, with high probability, be avoided because 

the teeth that press against one another by way of their tip 

sections generate a force, the resultant direction of action of 

which is utilized to exert a torque. Said force runs along a 

55 straight line that intersects the central point of the toothing, 

that is to say the central point or the longitudinal axis 231d 

of the sleeve. Owing to the eccentrically arranged arrangement of the recess 231a or bore of the sleeve 231 and of the 

In this exemplary embodiment, too, a sleeve 231 is 

arranged on the wrap spring (not shown), which sleeve is 

equipped, on the circumference, with a toothing. A circulararc-shaped toothing element 228, which is in principle of the 

same design as in the exemplary embodiment as per FIGS. 

2-8, can be actuated by way of the hand lever 220 and the 60 

toothed segment 223. The circular-arc-shaped toothing element 228 is not in engagement with the toothing of the 

sleeve 231 when the hand lever 220 is in a non-actuated 

state, and enters into engagement with said toothing during 

the actuation. During a restoring movement of the hand lever 

220, the toothing element 228 passes out of engagement 

with the toothing of the sleeve 231 again. 

wrap spring arranged therein, and owing to the operative 

connection of the sleeve 231 to the wrap spring, said force 

gives rise to a torque about the central point or longitudinal 

axis 233c of the wrap spring. The lever arm of the torque is 

in this case the spacing between the longitudinal axis 233c 

of the wrap spring and the axis of the direction of action of 

65 the generated force. Said torque results in a slight rotation of 

the wrap spring about its longitudinal axis 233c, which wrap 

spring is supported at one side on a carrier part of the 

Case 2:24-cv-00080-JRG Document 20-2 Filed 05/15/24 Page 32 of 35 PageID #: 206
US 11,667,418 B2 

15 

strapping apparatus and at the other side on the sleeve 231 

and thus drives the latter along during its slight rotation. The 

resulting relative movement between the sleeve 231 and the 

toothing element 228 results in the toothing of the sleeve 231 

rotating relative to the toothing of the toothing element 228, 5 

giving rise to a situation in which the two teeth that are in 

contact with one another no longer strike one another 

tip-to-tip. The first tooth of the toothing element 228 can 

now press against a flank of a tooth of the sleeve 231 and 

thus rotate the sleeve 231 as intended during the further 10 

movement of the toothing element 228. As in the exemplary 

embodiments discussed above, as a result of this, the frictional engagement of the wrap spring with the sleeve is 

eliminated with initial at least slight slippage, a backward 

rotation of the tensioning wheel is made possible, and thus 15 

the tension is released from the drive train of the tensioning 

wheel, and the bracing between tensioning wheel and the 

band is eliminated. 

FIGS. 15 to 18 show a yet further preferred exemplary 

embodiment. The arrangement of the sleeve 331 and of the 20 

wrap spring corresponds here in principle to the exemplary 

embodiment as per FIGS. 2 to 8. The wrap spring is in this 

case arranged concentrically and non-eccentrically with 

respect to the longitudinal axis of the externally toothed 

rotatable sleeve 331. Furthermore, a pivotable toothing 25 

element 328 is also provided here, which is designed for 

engaging into the toothing of the sleeve 331. 

In this preferred exemplary embodiment of the present 

disclosure according to the present disclosure, the first tooth 

328b, provided for engaging into the toothing of the sleeve 30 

331 during the pivoting movement, of the toothing of the 

toothing element 328 is of flexible form. Here, as first tooth 

328b, a strip-like sheet-metal element 329 is provided, the 

shape of which is adapted to the top side of the toothing 

element. One end of the strip-like sheet-metal element 329 35 

is in this case in the form of a tooth 328b, and is arranged 

16 

engagement of toothings occurs, as a result of which the 

sleeve 331 and the toothing thereof are driven along and 

rotated. By contrast, if, upon the initial contact of the 

toothing element 328, the first tooth 328b thereof, which is 

arranged on a separate component (sheet-metal element 

329), strikes a tip of a tooth of the sleeve 331, the sheetmetal element 329 is deflected about its fastening point and 

is resiliently elastically tensioned in the process. 

The spring force that acts on the sleeve 331 as a result can 

lead to a relative rotation of the sleeve 331 with respect to 

the toothing element 328, whereby subsequent teeth of the 

engagement partners each strike one another by way of their 

tooth flanks, and thus an engagement of the two toothings 

occurs as intended. It is likewise possible that, owing to the 

resiliently elastic deflection of the sheet-metal element 329 

and the spring force that is generated as a result, the 

sheet-metal element 329 jumps over said tooth of the sleeve 

331. In this way, too, a relative movement of the two 

toothings can occur and subsequent teeth of the engagement 

partners can engage into one another by way of the tooth 

flanks rather than the tooth tips. A further mechanism of 

action that prevents a blockage in conjunction with a first 

flexible tooth 328b and tip-to-tip striking of the first tooth 

328b against a tooth of the sleeve toothing 331 may consist 

in that the tooth spacing of the first flexible tooth 328b with 

respect to the subsequent tooth and with respect to the 

further subsequent teeth of the toothing elements 328 varies. 

Owing to the flexibility of the first tooth 328b, the latter can 

be elastically deformed owing to the drive movement by the 

hand lever 320, wherein the toothing element 328, during 

the pivoting movement thereof, moves onward. In the case 

of this mechanism of action, the sleeve 331 does not yet 

move at this point in time. The first tooth 328b of the 

toothing element 328 can hereby be resiliently elastically 

tensioned, wherein the tip of the first tooth 328b initially 

remains positionally fixed, despite the fact that the toothing 

element 328 moves onward. In this way, the original spacing 

of the first tooth 328b to the subsequent tooth of the toothing 

element 328 temporarily changes. As a result of the relative 

movement of the toothing element with respect to the sleeve 

toothing, it is hereby the case that firstly the second tooth of 

the toothing element and then also the subsequent teeth each 

pass into a position relative to the sleeve toothing that is 

correct for engagement, and can thus engage into the sleeve 

45 toothing and thus begin to rotate the sleeve 331 and actuate 

the wrap spring. 

so as to form a continuation of, or a beginning of, the 

toothing formed on the circular arc of the toothing element 

328. By way of the adaptation of the sheet-metal element 

329 to the face-side shape of the toothing element 328, said 40 

sheet-metal element is of doubly angled configuration. Both 

the tooth section of the sheet-metal element 329 and the first 

and second limbs 329a, 329b, which enclose an obtuse 

angle, bear in each case against a face-side top side of the 

toothing element 328. At its second limb 329b, the sheetmetal element 329 is fixed to the toothing element 328. In 

the exemplary embodiment, this is realized by way of a 

screw 345, though it would basically also be possible for any 

other fastening mechanism to be provided for this purpose. 

The strip-like sheet-metal element 329 with at least one 

tooth 328b of the toothing is thus fastened with a spacing to 

the intended contact point of the toothing element 328 with 

the toothing of the sleeve 331. Thus, owing to the resiliently 

elastic characteristics of the sheet-metal element 329 and the 

fastening thereof to the toothing element 328 with a spacing 

to the engagement or contact point of the fastening point, the 

at least one tooth 328b is deflectable relative to the toothing 

element 328. 

In the case of each of the possible mechanisms of action, 

a blockage of the toothing element 328 with respect to the 

toothing of the sleeve 331 can be avoided, and the driving50 along or rotation of the sleeve 331, and actuation of the wrap 

spring connected to and arranged in the sleeve 331, as 

intended according to the present disclosure can be realized. 

FIG. 17 shows the upper end position of the toothing 

element 328, in which it is still in engagement with the 

55 sleeve. The functional reliability of the wrap spring, and the 

release, realized by way thereof, of the tension or of the 

bracing in the drive train of the tensioning wheel can be 

enhanced by way of the resiliently elastically deflectable 

As in the embodiments as per FIGS. 2-8, it is also the case 

here that, by way of a manually initiated pivoting movement 60 

of the hand lever 320 and the engagement of the toothed 

segment 323 into the toothing element 328, the toothing 

element is moved from a first end position, in which it is not 

tooth of the toothing element 328. 

FIGS. 19-22 illustrate a further preferred exemplary 

embodiment of the present disclosure. In this exemplary 

embodiment, too, a first tooth 428b of the pivotably mounted 

toothing element 428, which can be actuated by way of a 

in engagement with the toothing of the sleeve 331, into hand lever 420, is provided, which first tooth is formed 

engagement with said toothing. Here, as long as the tooth tip 

of the first tooth 328b of the sheet-metal element strikes a 

tooth flank of the toothing of the sleeve 331, a conventional 

65 separately from the other teeth on a separate component 429. 

In this case, too, the first tooth 428b is formed on the 

separate component 429, which has a resiliently elastic 

Case 2:24-cv-00080-JRG Document 20-2 Filed 05/15/24 Page 33 of 35 PageID #: 207
US 11,667,418 B2 

17 

material, such as for example spring steel. The separate 

component 429 of the two-part toothing element 428 may 

preferably in tum be manufactured from a metallic sheet. 

Said separate component is preferably arranged on and 

fastened to one side of the toothing element 428 such that, 5 

in a longitudinal direction of the toothing, the tooth 428b of 

the separate component is the first tooth that enters into 

engagement with the toothing of the sleeve 431. For this 

purpose, the toothing of the sleeve 431 preferably has a 

width which at least corresponds to the width made up of the 10 

width of the separate component 429 in the region of its 

tooth 428b and the toothing element in the region of its 

toothing. In the exemplary embodiment, the first tooth 428b 

is laterally offset in relation to the teeth of the toothing 

element 428, but is arranged with a spacing to the subse- 15 

quent tooth in a longitudinal direction of the toothing which 

is equal to the spacing with which the teeth of the toothing 

as a whole follow one another in each case. 

The component 429 of the first tooth 428b can be 

deflected laterally on the toothing element 428 about an axis 20 

of the fastening thereof, in this case of the screw 445. Said 

pivot axis runs at least substantially parallel to the axis of 

rotation of the toothing element 428. Furthermore, the 

separate component 429 has an elongate, lever-like rocker 

429a which is arranged with a spacing to the tooth 428b. In 25 

the region of a free end of the rocker 429a, the latter is 

mounted in a resting manner on a counterbearing 446 of the 

toothing element 428 and is supported thereon. Furthermore, 

the separate component 429 is guided on the toothing 

element 428, such that, during a deflection owing to an 30 

action of force on the tooth 428b, a predetermined and 

reproducible deflection travel is realized. 

As in the other exemplary embodiments, during the 

tensioning process of the band, the toothing element 428 and 

its separate first tooth 428b is not in engagement with the 35 

toothing of the sleeve 431, as illustrated in FIG. 20. Only as 

a result of the actuation of the hand lever 420 is the toothing 

element 428 placed in contact, initially by way of its first 

tooth 428b, with the toothing of the sleeve 431. Here, if a 

flank of the first tooth 428b strikes a tooth flank of the 40 

toothing of the sleeve 431, the engagement of the two 

toothings occurs as intended. The subsequent teeth in the 

direction of rotation of the two toothings also engage in each 

case with a tooth flank against a tooth flank of the contact 

partner of the respective toothing, whereby the toothing 45 

element 428 rotates the sleeve 431 and thus actuates the 

wrap spring. 

However, if the first tooth 428b, by way of its tooth tip, 

strikes a tooth tip of the toothing of the sleeve 431, then there 

is the risk of the two toothings becoming blocked and no 50 

longer being able to move. To avoid this risk, the first tooth 

428b of the toothing element is movable. In this exemplary 

embodiment, the mobility is realized in the form of a 

resiliently elastic deflection, in the case of which the first 

tooth 428b can be elastically deflected by a tooth of the 55 

sleeve 431. That tooth of the sleeve toothing 431 which 

presses against the tooth tip of the first tooth deflects the first 

tooth around the fastening point, in this case the screw 445. 

By way of a guide 447, in this case a slot with a pin guided 

therein, a reproducible and always constant deflection travel 60 

is realized here. As a result of said deflection, the lever-like 

rocker 429a bears against the pin-like counterbearing 446 of 

the toothing element 428. As a result, a restoring moment 

and a restoring force are generated with which the first tooth 

428b presses against the tooth of the sleeve 431. Since said 65 

restoring force which acts on the sleeve 431 at the tooth tip 

of the first tooth 428b has a direction of action that does not 

18 

intersect the axis of rotation 431a of the sleeve 431 and thus 

also does not intersect the longitudinal axis of the wrap 

spring, said restoring force imparts a torque about the sleeve 

431. Said torque leads to an at least slight rotation of the 

sleeve 431 about its longitudinal axis 431a. Owing to said 

rotation, the first tooth is subsequently no longer in contact 

with the tooth tip of the corresponding tooth of the sleeve 

toothing 431, and now engages between two successive 

teeth of the sleeve toothing 431. As in the previous exemplary embodiment, it is also possible here for the elastic 

deformation of the first tooth 428b to lead to a temporary 

change in the tooth spacing of the first tooth with respect to 

the tooth following it, which effects an elimination of the 

blockage. 

In this way, the first tooth 428b can transmit the pivoting 

movement, introduced by the hand lever 420, of the toothing 

element 428 to the sleeve toothing, whereby subsequent 

teeth of the two toothings also engage into one another and 

continue the rotational movement of the sleeve 431 until an 

upper end position of the toothing element 428 is reached, 

as illustrated in FIG. 21. In this end position, the toothing 

element 428 is still in engagement with the sleeve toothing. 

The band of a finished strap can now be removed, and a new 

band section can be inserted into the strapping appliance for 

the production of a further strap. Here, too, as in the 

exemplary embodiments discussed above, the wrap spring 

can subsequently be relieved of tension again by way of a 

return movement of the toothing element 428 from its upper 

end position in FIG. 21 into the lower end position shown in 

FIG. 20 by way of a backward rotation of the sleeve 431. As 

a result, the wrap spring bears with its internal diameter 

against the outer surface of the blocking roller 35 again, and 

thereby produces the operative connection between the 

motor drive and the tensioning wheel. The tensioning wheel 

can hereby be supported on the frame of the strapping 

apparatus again for the purposes of absorbing torque. A 

subsequent tensioning and strapping process can thus be 

performed. 

What is claimed is: 

1. A strapping device comprising: 

a base plate; 

a tensioning plate on the base plate; 

a rocker pivotable about a rocker axis from a first rocker 

position to a second rocker position; 

a tensioning wheel pivotable with the rocker such that 

movement of the rocker from the first rocker position to 

the second rocker position moves the tensioning wheel 

away from the tensioning plate and movement of the 

rocker from the second rocker position to the first 

rocker position moves the tensioning wheel toward the 

tensioning plate, wherein the tensioning wheel is rotatable about a tensioning-wheel axis in a tensioning 

direction and in a reverse direction opposite the tensioning direction; 

a blocking element indirectly connected to the tensioning 

wheel and rotatable about a blocking-element axis in a 

first rotational direction; 

a shaft having a shaft axis; 

a lever movable between a first lever position and a 

second lever position, wherein when the lever is in the 

first lever position, the blocking element is prevented 

from rotating in the first rotational direction such that, 

after the tensioning wheel tensions strap around an 

object, the blocking element prevents the tensioning 

wheel from rotating in the reverse direction, wherein 

when the lever is in the second lever position, the 

Case 2:24-cv-00080-JRG Document 20-2 Filed 05/15/24 Page 34 of 35 PageID #: 208
US 11,667,418 B2 

19 

blocking element is rotatable in the first rotational 

direction to enable the tensioning wheel to rotate in the 

reverse direction; and 

a rotatable element rotatable about the shaft axis and 

configured to force the lever to move from the first 5 

lever position to the second lever position as the 

rotatable element rotates about the shaft axis. 

2. The strapping device of claim 1, wherein the rotatable 

element comprises an engaging element extending radially 

outwardly from the shaft axis. 

3. The_ strapping device of claim 2, wherein the engaging 

element 1s configured to force the lever to move from the 

first lever position to the second lever position as the 

rotatable element rotates about the shaft axis. 

10 

4. The strapping device of claim 3, wherein the lever is 15 

pivotable about a lever axis between the first lever position 

and the second lever position. 

5. The strapping device of claim 4, wherein the shaft axis 

and the lever axis are not coaxial. 

6. The strapping device of claim 5, wherein the rotatable 20 

element is connected rotationally conjointly to the shaft. 

20 

the first lever position to the second lever position gradually 

widens respective diameters of successive windings of the 

wrap spring. 

16. The strapping device of claim 15, further comprising 

a rotatable sleeve comprising external toothing, wherein the 

first end of the wrap spring is fixed in rotation with the 

sleeve, wherein the lever comprises an arm comprising 

multiple teeth, wherein movement of the lever from the first 

lever position to the second lever position causes the teeth of 

the arm to drivingly engage the external toothing of the 

sleeve and thereby cause the sleeve to rotate. 

17. The strapping device of claim 1, further comprising a 

motor configured to move the rocker from the first rocker 

position to the second rocker position and to rotate the 

rotatable element to cause the lever to move from the first 

lever position to the second lever position. 

18. The strapping device of claim 17, wherein the motor 

is configured to rotate the rotatable element to cause the 

lever to move from the first lever position to the second lever 

position before moving the rocker from the first rocker 

position to the second rocker position. 7. The strapping device of claim 5, wherein the lever axis 

is closer to the base plate than the shaft axis. 

8. The strapping device of claim 7, wherein the lever axis 

and the shaft axis are parallel. 

19. The strapping device of claim 17, wherein the motor 

is further configured to rotate the tensioning wheel in the 

25 tensioning direction. 

20. The strapping device of claim 17, wherein the rotatable element is connected rotationally conjointly to the 

shaft. 

9. The strapping device of claim 8, wherein none of the 

lever axis, the shaft axis, and the blocking-element axis are 

coaxial and all of the lever axis, the shaft axis, and the 

blocking-element axis are parallel. 

10. The strapping device of claim 1, wherein the rotatable 30 

element is connected rotationally conjointly to the shaft. 

11. The strapping device of claim 10, wherein the rotatabl~ element comprises an engaging element extending 

radrnlly outwardly from the shaft axis and configured to 

force the lever to move from the first lever position to the 35 

second lever position as the rotatable element rotates about 

the shaft axis. 

21. The strapping device of claim 20, wherein the rotatabl~ element comprises an engaging element extending 

radrnlly outwardly from the shaft axis and configured to 

force the lever to move from the first lever position to the 

second lever position as the rotatable element rotates about 

the shaft axis. 

22. The strapping device of claim 17, wherein the lever is 

pivotable about a lever axis between the first lever position 

and the second lever position. 

23. The strapping device of claim 22, wherein the shaft 

axis and the lever axis are not coaxial. 

12. The strapping device of claim 11, wherein the rotatable element comprises a gear element and the engaging 

element comprises one or more teeth. 

13. The strapping device of claim 12, wherein the lever 

comprises one or more teeth meshed with the one or more 

teeth of the gear element, wherein the lever is pivotable 

about a lever axis between the first lever position and the 

second lever position. 

40 24. The strapping device of claim 23, wherein the rotatable element is connected rotationally conjointly to the 

shaft. 

25. The strapping device of claim 24, wherein the lever 

axis is closer to the base plate than the shaft axis. 

14. The strapping device of claim 13, further comprising 

45 26. The strapping device of claim 25, wherein the lever 

axis and the shaft axis are parallel. 

a wrap spring having a first end, a second end, and a 

wrap-spring axis, wherein movement of the lever from the 

first lever position to the second lever position causes the 

fir~t end of_the wrap spring to rotate about the wrap-spring 50 

~xis, wherem the wrap spring frictionally engages the blockmg element when the lever is in the first lever position to 

prevent the blocking element from rotating in the first 

rota~ional direction such that, after the tensioning wheel 

tens10ns the strap around the object, the blocking element 55 

prevents the tensioning wheel from rotating in the reverse 

direction, wherein the frictional engagement between the 

w:a~ spring and the blocking element is at least partially 

ehmmated when the lever moves from the first lever position 

to the second lever position such that the blocking element 60 

is rotatable in the first rotational direction to enable the 

tensioning wheel to rotate in the reverse direction. 

15. The strapping device of claim 14, wherein the second 

end of the wrap spring is fixed in rotation about the wrapsp_rin? axis, wh~rein the wrap spring comprises multiple 65 

wu~dmgs, wherem the rotation of the first end of the wrap 

spnng about the wrap-spring axis as the lever moves from 

27. The strapping device of claim 25, wherein the motor 

is configured to rotate the rotatable element to cause the 

lever to move from the first lever position to the second lever 

position before moving the rocker from the first rocker 

position to the second rocker position. 

28. The strapping device of claim 1, further comprising a 

hand lever operably connected to the rocker and the rotatable element and movable from a first hand-lever position to 

a second hand-lever position to move the rocker form the 

first rocker position to the second rocker position and to 

rotate the rotatable element to cause the lever to move from 

the first lever position to the second lever position. 

29. The strapping device of claim 28, wherein the hand 

lever is operably connected to the rocker and the rotatable 

element such that movement of the hand lever from the first 

hand-lever position to the second hand-lever position causes 

the rotatable element to rotate to cause the lever to move 

from the first lever position to the second lever position 

before causing the rocker to move from the first rocker 

position to the second rocker position. 

* * * * * 

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