EXHIBIT 1

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(19) United States 

US 201601 07775A1 

(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2016/0107775 A1 

Amacker et al. (43) Pub. Date: Apr. 21, 2016 

(54) STRAPPING ARRANGEMENT 

(71) Applicant: ORGAPACKGMBH, Dietikom (CH) 

(72) Inventors: Pascal Amacker, Kuttingen (CH): 

Andreas Keller, Birr (CH) 

(73) Assignee: Orgapack GmbH, Dietikon (CH) 

(21) Appl. No.: 14/787,966 

(22) PCT Filed: May 5, 2014 

(86). PCT No.: PCT/CH2O14/OOOO59 

S371 (c)(1), 

(2) Date: Oct. 29, 2015 

(30) Foreign Application Priority Data 

May 5, 2013 (CH) ......................................... 910/13 

May 5, 2013 (CH) ......................................... 91.1F13 

Sep. 24, 2013 (CH) ....................................... 1629/13 

Sep. 24, 2013 (CH) ... ... 1630/13 

Mar. 24, 2014 (CH) ......................................... 443/14 

Publication Classification 

(51) Int. Cl. 

B65B 13/02 (2006.01) 

B65B I3/32 (2006.01) 

B65B I3/8 (2006.01) 

(52) U.S. Cl. 

CPC ............. B65B 13/025 (2013.01); B65B 13/187 

(2013.01); B65B 13/327 (2013.01) 

(57) ABSTRACT 

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to 

a mobile strapping device for wrapping material to be packed 

with a strap. The device includes a tensioning wheel and a 

tensioning plate, at least one of which is mounted on a pivot 

able rocker. The strapping device includes a motor opera tively coupleable to the tensioning wheel to rotate the ten 

sioning wheel and to the rocker to pivot the rocker. The 

strapping device includes an actuating device actuatable to 

Switch the state of gearing from operatively coupling the 

motor to the tensioning wheel to operatively coupling the 

motor to the rocker. 

 

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S 3. - & 

 

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US 2016/0107775 A1 

STRAPPING ARRANGEMENT 

0001. This application is a national stage entry of PCT/ 

CH2014/000059, filed on May 5, 2014, which claims priority 

to and the benefit of Switzerland Patent Application Nos.: (1) 

443/14, filed on Mar. 24, 2014; (2) 1630/13, filed on Sep. 24, 

2013; (3) 1629/13, filed on Sep. 24, 2014; (4) 911/13, filed on 

May 5, 2013; and (5) 910/13, filed on May 5, 2013, the entire 

contents of each of which are incorporated herein by refer CCC. 

0002 The invention 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 ten 

Sioning device is equipped with a tensioning wheel which can 

be driven in rotation about a tensioning axis by means of a 

motor and which 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, 

furthermore, the tensioning wheel and/or the tensioning plate 

are/is arranged on a rocker which is pivotable about a by means of a motor about a rocker axis in order to either 

increase or decrease a spacing between the tensioning wheel 

and the tensioning plate by way of a pivoting movement of the 

rocker, 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. 

0003 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 

means 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 means of a friction 

shoe which moves in oscillating fashion in the region of two 

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

the movement causes the band, which generally has 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 hereby been strapped. 

0004 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 tension 

ing a strapping band around articles for packing of any type and for producing a fastening is generally provided by an 

electric battery or by compressed air. By means of said 

energy, the band tension introduced into the band by means of 

Apr. 21, 2016 

the clamping device is generated, and a fastening is produced 

on the strapping band. Generic strapping apparatuses are 

furthermore provided for connecting only weldable plastics 

bands to one another. 

0005. In the case of mobile appliances, a low weight is of 

particular importance in order that the user of the strapping 

apparatus is subjected to the least possible physical burden 

when using the apparatus. Likewise, for ergonomic reasons, 

the most uniform possible distribution of the weight over the 

entire strapping apparatus should be provided, in particular in 

order to avoid a concentration of the weight in the head region 

of the strapping apparatus. Such a concentration leads to 

adverse handling characteristics of the apparatus. Further 

more, the most ergonomic possible and user-friendly han 

dling of the strapping appliance is always sought. In particu 

lar, the possibility of incorrect operation and malfunctions 

should be as low as possible. 

0006. The invention is therefore based on the object of 

providing a generic, in particular mobile, strapping apparatus 

of the type mentioned in the introduction, which exhibits high functional reliability and in the case of which the intended 

belt tensions can be imparted to the belt reliably and with the 

least possible slippage. 

0007 According to the invention, said object is achieved, 

in the case of a strapping apparatus of the type mentioned in 

the introduction, by means of an actuating device of the 

strapping apparatus, which actuating device is equipped with 

a pushbutton/Switch by means of which a Switching state of a 

gearing of the Strapping apparatus can be changed such that a 

drive movement of the drive device of the strapping apparatus 

leads either to the rotation of the tensioning wheel or to the 

pivoting movement of the rocker. Such a solution firstly has 

the advantage that the same gearing can be utilized both for 

the speed increase or speed reduction of the drive movement 

provided for the tensioning wheel by the drive device and for 

the driven movement of the rocker, and thus, despite the 

convenient Solution of a driven rocker, no additional, separate gearing is required for this purpose. Despite the increase in 

comfort and functional reliability, these are not associated 

with any significant increase in weight. On the contrary, as the 

hitherto conventional long lever for the manual opening of the 

tensioning device can be omitted, weight reductions may 

even be possible with the invention, depending on the specific embodiment of the respective preferred strapping apparatus 

according to the invention. In further preferred embodiments, 

said advantage can be further enhanced if, for all of the driven 

movements provided in the respective strapping apparatus, 

the respective drive movement is provided by only one motor 

of the strapping apparatus, in particular by only one electric 

motor or by only one pneumatic motor. 

0008 A further embodiment of the strapping apparatus 

may provide that, in one of the Switching states of the gearing, 

the pivoting movement, driven by the drive device, of the 

gearing leads to an increase in the spacing between the ten 

Sioning wheel and the tensioning plate. 

0009. A further embodiment of the strapping apparatus 

may provide that, by means of the pushbutton/switch, two 

Switching elements provided for acting on the gearing, Such 

as for example clamps, can be actuated, in particular can be 

actuated at least Substantially simultaneously. 

0010. A further embodiment of the strapping apparatus 

may provide that, by means of the pushbutton/switch, switch 

ing elements which are provided for acting on different gear 

ing elements of the gearing can be actuated. 

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0011. A further embodiment of the strapping apparatus 

may provide that the at least two Switching elements can be 

actuated by means of only one pushbutton/Switch of the actu 

ating device—and in particular with only one actuation of the 

pushbutton/switch. 

0012. A further embodiment of the strapping apparatus 

may provide that, after a tensioning process of the strapping 

band has been performed, an actuation of the pushbutton/ 

switch leads to a reduction of the band tension in the band 

section that is in engagement with the tensioning wheel. 

0013. A further embodiment of the strapping apparatus 

may provide that an actuation of the pushbutton/switch for 

generating the Switching state of the gearing is also provided 

for triggering further functions of the strapping apparatus, in 

particular for triggering the tensioning process and/or for 

triggering the production of the connection on the strapping 

band. 

0014. A further embodiment of the strapping apparatus 

may provide that an actuation of the pushbutton/Switch is also 

provided for transferring the connecting device into its rest 

position and/or into its working position. 

0015. A further embodiment of the strapping apparatus 

may provide that, in addition to the pushbutton/switch, the 

actuation of which leads to the change in the Switching state 

of the gearing, at least one further pushbutton/Switch is pro vided, in particular for triggering the tensioning process and/ 

or for triggering the production of the connection on the 

strapping band. 

0016 A further embodiment of the strapping apparatus 

may provide that, in addition to the pushbutton/switch, the 

actuation of which leads to the change in the Switching state 

of the gearing, and in addition to a further pushbutton/switch, which is provided for triggering the tensioning process, at 

least one yet further pushbutton/switch is provided for trig 

gering the production of the connection on the strapping 

band. 

0017. According to a further aspect of the invention, the 

invention also relates to a strapping apparatus in which the 

only one drive device, in particular the only one motor, can be 

triggered by means of an actuating device of the strapping 

apparatus, by means of which the tensioning wheel can be 

driven, by means of which the connecting device can be 

transferred into its working position, in which, by means of 

the connecting device, the permanent connection can be pro 

duced on the strapping band, the energy for the connecting device for producing the permanent connection is provided, 

and by means of which the rocker can be driven so as to 

generate the spacing between the tensioning wheel and the 

tensioning plate. 

0018. In the invention, it may expediently also be provided 

that, at least at times during the transmission of the motor 

imparted drive movement to the tensioning wheel, preferably 

for as long as the tensioning wheel is in engagement with the 

band, a drive movement is transmitted by means of at least 

one transmission means of the strapping apparatus to the 

rocker, which is pivotable at least at times during the duration 

of the tensioning process, wherein the drive movement is 

provided for exerting a torque on the rocker. According to the 

invention, the torque exerted on the rocker can be utilized to 

increase the contact pressure force of the tensioning device 

against the strapping band. In a structurally simple solution, 

the torque exerted on the rocker by transmission means may originate from a motor, the drive torque of which is variable, 

increases the contact pressure force of the rocker against the 

Apr. 21, 2016 

band during the course of the tensioning process. It is prefer 

able here if the motor-induced increase is realized such that it 

occurs in particular during or after an increase in the band 

tension. It is advantageous here if, for the generation of the 

motor-imparted torque for the rocker, a motor is used which 

also performs other drive movements. It is particularly expe 

dient if the motor, and the drive movement thereof, used for 

driving the tensioning wheel is utilized here too. Firstly, it is 

possible in this way to eliminate a further motor, but never 

theless impart the function according to the invention. Sec 

ondly, the motor-imparted torque, which with increasing 

band tension normally also increases, can be utilized for 

increasing the contact pressure force. This permits, in a par 

ticularly simple manner terms of construction, a variable, tension-dependent contact pressure of the rocker against the 

band. Said contact pressure may preferably be proportional to 

the respectively acting band tension. 

0019. According to a further aspect of the invention, which 

is also of independent significance, it is also possible forthere 

to be exerted on and transmitted to the rocker a torque which 

is based on a force exerted on the tensioning device by the 

band at a point of engagement of the band with the tensioning 

device. Said force, which is a reaction to the tension force 

imparted to the band by the driven tensioning wheel, can be 

picked off at a suitable location and transmitted to the rocker 

by way of transmission means. Here, in order to expend the 

least possible effort in terms of construction, it is preferably possible for the band tension force acting on the tensioning 

wheel to even be utilized at the tensioning wheel itself. This 

may be utilized in particular as a respectively presently acting 

torque on the tensioning wheel, which torque is introduced 

from the tensioning wheel into transmission means of the 

tensioning device and transferred from said transmission means to the rocker. 

0020. According to the invention, it can thus advanta 

geously be provided that the motor-imparted drive movement 

for the tensioning device is, at least indirectly as a reaction, 

also used, utilizing the motor-driven rotational movement of 

the tensioning wheel and a pivotability of the rocker, in order, 

during the tensioning process, a torque derived from the ten 

Sioning wheel, which is in engagement with the strapping 

band, can be introduced by transmission means into the 

rocker, in order to increase a contact pressure force of the 

tensioning device against the band. 

0021. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a gear ing of the tensioning device, by means of which gearing a 

motor-imparted drive movement for the tensioning wheel is 

Subjected to a speed reduction or speed increase, may entirely 

or partially be a constituent part of the transmission means by which the force which acts on the tensioning wheel and which 

results from the band tension is transmitted from the band to 

the rocker. 

0022. According to a further aspect, the invention can also 

be seen in the provision of means for the variable pressing, in 

a manner dependent on band tension, of the tensioning wheel 

or of the tensioning plate against the strapping band. The 

invention thus provides, during the tensioning phase, variable 

pressing, in a manner dependent on the band tension, of the 

tensioning device against the strapping band. 

0023. In particularly advantageous embodiments of the 

invention, the band tension generated as a result of the ten 

Sioning process is thus utilized in order, in an advantageous 

manner, with continuously increasing band tension, to also 

increase the contact pressure force of the tensioning wheel 

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and/or of the tensioning plate against the band, whereby the 

risk of "slippage', or of slipping of the tensioning wheel 

during the tensioning process, which risk likewise increases 

per se with increasing band tension, can be counteracted. 

With increasing band tension, the pressing force of the ten 

Sioning wheel against the band and the tensioning plate thus 

also increases. In such embodiments, the invention thus 

makes it possible for a high pressing force to be exerted on the 

band specifically when the band tension is already high and 

thus, in the attempt to further increase the band tension, the 

risk of slippage between the tensioning wheel and the band is 

likewise particularly high. By means of the pressing force 

which likewise increases in preferably automated fashion, 

that is to say without manual intervention, the increasing risk 

of slippage can be counteracted and thus the functional reli 

ability and a rapid strapping process can be ensured even in 

the case of high band tensions. Since, for this purpose, the 

reaction of the strapping band to the action, specifically the 

introduced band tension, and transmission means are utilized 

which are derived from the tensioning device, in particular 

from the tensioning wheel, and are transmitted to the rocker, 

no intervention by a user is required in order to achieve the 

effect according to the invention; the effect according to the 

invention is advantageously realized automatically in the 

Strapping apparatus. 

0024. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the 

transmission means, which advantageously constitute an 

operative connection of the tensioning wheel to the rocker, 

may comprise a pivotable mounting of the rocker at least 

during the tensioning process and a rotatably mounted gear ing element which, during the tensioning process, is opera 

tively connected to the tensioning wheel. The reaction force 

of the band is preferably utilized as a torque and introduced 

into the rotatable gearing element, for example a planet car 

rier of a planetary gearing. The rotatable gearing element 

should be Supported, against the rotational movement, on a 

Support element. The reaction force of the tensioning wheel 

can then be introduced, by way of, or owing to, the Support, 

into the rocker, whereby an additional torque acts on the 

rocker, which additional torque can be utilized to increase the 

contact pressure force of the rocker against the strapping 

band. The transmission means may advantageously be 

entirely or partially a constituent of the tensioning gearing by 

means of which a motor-imparted drive movement, or a drive 

movement originating from some other energy source, is 

transmitted at a Suitable rotational speed to the tensioning 

wheel. 

0025. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the inven 

tion, which is also of independent significance, motor-im 

parted drive movements, with identical directions of rotation, 

of the only one motor may be utilized not only for driving the 

tensioning wheel during the tensioning of the strapping band 

but also for lifting the rocker. In addition to this, it is also 

possible, with the same drive movement, to realize the vari 

able pressing, in a manner dependent on the band tension, of 

the tensioning wheel against the band to be tensioned. Here, 

the dependency is such that, with increasing band tension, the 

pressing force exerted on the band by the tensioning wheel 

also increases. Since, with increasing band tension, the risk of 

slippage occurring between the tensioning wheel and the 

band also increases, the risk of slippage can be counteracted 

through the measure of an increasing contact pressure. It is 

particularly preferable for the same motor direction of rota 

tion as for the tensioning process to be utilized here. The 

Apr. 21, 2016 

motor-imparted drive movement during the tensioning of the 

belt may preferably be utilized such that, during the tension 

ing process of the strapping band by means of the tensioning 

wheel which engages into the tensioning band and which 

rotates counter to a band tension, an opposing force exerted 

on the tensioning wheel by the strapping band is utilized to 

increase the contact pressure of the tensioning wheel in the 

direction of the tensioning plate. 

0026. According to a further aspect of the invention, it is 

sought to make it possible, with little outlay in terms of 

construction and with easy handling, for a force which results 

from the band tension and which reacts on a gearing, and by means of which a drive movement is transmitted to the ten 

sioning wheel, to be held and released. The invention thus 

relates to a blocking device for use in a strapping apparatus, 

by means of which blocking device a rotatable wheel, which 

is provided for transmitting a drive movement, in particular a 

gearing wheel of a tensioning device of the strapping appa 

ratus, can be clamped. The blocking device according to the 

invention should have at least one clamping body which is 

pivotable about a pivot axis and which is arranged with a 

spacing to the wheel and which is pivotable from an enabling position into a blocking position in which it preferably with 

a part of an arcuate contact surface—comes into contact with 

a Substantially planar circumferential clamping Surface, 

which is thus free from positive locking elements, of the 

wheel, wherein the clamping body has a pivot radius greater 

than a spacing of the pivot axis of the clamping body to the 

circumferential clamping surface of the wheel, and the direc 

tion of rotation of the clamping body around the pivot axis 

during the movement from the enabling position into a clamp 

ing position runs in an opposite direction of rotation to the 

wheel to be clamped. 

0027. With a blocking device of said type, it is possible in 

a simple manner in terms of construction to realize highly functionally reliable locking of rotating gearing wheels. The 

locking in the direction of rotation of the wheel can be main 

tained with little expenditure of force. The clamping force of 

the clamping body even automatically increases if it is 

attempted to rotate the wheel further by increasing the torque. 

0028. The blocking device according to the invention can 

advantageously be utilized in particular for the releasable 

blocking of a wheel of a gearing, which wheel belongs to a 

gearing intended for the transmission of a drive movement to 

a tensioning wheel of the tensioning device of a strapping 

apparatus. It may in this context be provided in particular for 

the clamping of a wheel of a planetary gearing intended for 

the transmission of the drive movement to the tensioning 

wheel. By means of, or at least with the aid of, clamping of the 

wheel to be clamped, it is preferably possible for one of at 

least two drive output directions of the gearing to be deter 

mined, in particular a drive output direction of the gearing to 

the tensioning wheel. Such that the band can be tensioned. 

0029. It may furthermore advantageously be provided 

that, with a release of the clamping action, the band tension 

acting on the tensioning wheel and the gearing is also at least 

partially, preferably entirely, eliminated. Since, with such 

locking devices, relatively low release forces are required for 

eliminating the clamping action even in the presence of high 

band tension values, the invention yields particularly func 

tionally reliable and easy-to-operate strapping apparatuses. 

The low operating or actuating forces also make it possible to 

dispense with a rocker lever such as has hitherto been used, in 

the case of already known strapping apparatuses, to generate 

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high torques for lifting the rocker from the tensioned band. 

Instead of a long rocker lever, it is now possible for a push 

button or key to be used by means of which the tension releasing process is performed. 

0030. Further preferred refinements of the invention will 

emerge from the claims, from the description and from the 

drawings. 

0031. The invention will be discussed in more detail on the 

basis of exemplary embodiments which are illustrated purely schematically in the figures, in which: 

0032 FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a strapping appa 

ratus according to the invention in a perspective illustration. 

0033 FIG. 1a shows a further example embodiment of a 

strapping apparatus according to the invention. 

0034 FIG.1b shows a yet further example embodiment of 

a strapping apparatus according to the invention. 

0035 FIG. 2 is an exploded illustration of the tensioning device of the strapping apparatus from FIG. 1 together with 

the motor. 

0036 FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of the tensioning and fastening device of the strapping apparatus from FIG. 1. 

0037 FIG. 4 is a further perspective illustration of the 

tensioning and fastening device of the strapping apparatus 

from FIG. 1. 

0038 FIG. 5 is an exploded illustration of a further exem 

plary embodiment of the tensioning device of the strapping 

apparatus from FIG. 1 together with the motor. 

0039 FIG. 6 is a perspective illustration of the tensioning 

and fastening device of the strapping apparatus from FIG. 1. 

0040 FIG. 7 is a further perspective illustration of the 

tensioning and fastening device of the strapping apparatus 

from FIG. 1. 

0041 FIG. 8 shows a side view of the tensioning device 

from FIG.5, in which a rocker is situated in a first pivoting end position. 

0042 FIG. 9 shows a side view of the tensioning device 

from FIG. 5, in which the rocker is situated in a second 

pivoting end position. 

0043 FIG. 10 shows a side view of the tensioning device 

from FIG. 2, in which the rocker is situated in a position with 

a high contact pressure force against a tensioning plate. 

0044 FIG. 11 shows a side view of the tensioning device 

from FIG. 2, in which the rocker is situated in a position with 

a lower contact pressure force against a tensioning plate than 

in FIG. 10. 

0045 FIG. 12 is a perspective partial illustration of the 

tensioning device and of the blocking device. 

0046 FIG. 13 is a sectional illustration of the tensioning and blocking device. 

0047 FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic illustration of the geo metric relationships in a preferred blocking device. 

0048. The manually actuable strapping appliance 1 

according to one embodiment of the invention shown in 

FIGS. 1 and 2 has a housing 2 which surrounds the mecha 

nism 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. 

0049. By means of the strapping appliance 1, a loop (not 

illustrated in any more detail in FIG. 1) of a plastic band B, 

Apr. 21, 2016 

composed for example of polypropylene (PP) or polyester 

(PET), which loop has, beforehand, been placed around the 

article to be packaged, can be tensioned by means of a ten 

Sioning device 6 of the strapping apparatus. For this purpose, 

the tensioning device has a tensioning wheel 7 by means of 

which the band B can be gripped for a tensioning process. The 

tensioning wheel 7 is arranged on a pivotable rocker 8 which 

can be pivoted about a rocker pivot axis 8a. The tensioning 

wheel 7, which is arranged with its axis of rotation having a 

spacing to the rocker pivot axis 8a, can, by means of a pivot 

ing movement of the rocker 8 about the rocker pivot axis 8a, 

be transferred from one end position, with a spacing to a 

preferably curved tensioning plate 9 mounted on the base 

plate 4, into a second end position, in which the tensioning 

wheel 7 is pressed against the tensioning plate 9. By means of 

a corresponding motor-driven movement in the reverse direc 

tion of rotation about the rocker pivot axis 8a, the tensioning 

wheel 7 can be moved away from the tensioning plate 9 and 

pivoted back into its initial position, whereby the band situ 

ated between the tensioning wheel 7 and the tensioning plate 

9 is released such that it can be removed. 

0050. During the use of the illustrated embodiment of a 

tensioning apparatus, 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. By 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. The 

tensioning process, and the tensioning device and rocker 8 

designed advantageously for this purpose, will be discussed 

in more detail below. 

0051. Subsequently, at a point of the band loop at which 

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

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

means of the friction welding device 12 of the strapping appliance. The band loop can hereby be permanently closed. 

In the preferred exemplary embodiment shown here, the fric 

tion welding and severing device 12 can be driven by the 

same, only one motor M of the strapping appliance, by means 

of which all other motor-driven movements are also per 

formed. 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 movement, 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 place in the other drive direction of 

rotation, respectively provided for this purpose, of the motor. 

0.052 For this purpose, the friction welding device 12 is 

equipped with a welding shoe 13 (illustrated only in highly 

schematized form) which is, by means of the transfer device 

14, transferred 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 

the welding shoe with a predetermined frequency, cause the 

two layers of the strapping band to melt. The locally plasti 

cized or molten regions of the band B flow into one another 

and, after the band B cools, a connection between the two 

band layers then forms. If necessary, it is then possible for the 

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band loop to be severed from a supply roll of the band by 

means of a cutting device (not illustrated in any more detail) of the strapping appliance 1. 

0053. The advancement of the tensioning wheel 7 in the 

direction of the tensioning plate 9, the rotary drive of the 

tensioning wheel 7 about the tensioning axis 6a, the lifting of 

the tensioning wheel from the tensioning plate, the advance 

ment of the friction welding device 12 by means of the trans 

fer device 14 of the friction welding device 12, and also the 

use of the friction welding device 12 perse, and the actuation 

of the cutting device, are performed using only one common 

electric motor M, which provides a respective drive move 

ment for these components of the strapping appliance. For the 

supply of electricity to the motor M, there is arranged on the 

strapping appliance an exchangeable battery 15, which can in 

particular be removed and exchanged for charging purposes, 

and which serves for storing electrical energy. A Supply of 

other external auxiliary energy, Such as for example com 

pressed air or further electricity, may be provided, but is not 

provided in the case of the strapping appliance as per FIGS. 1 

and 2. 

0054 As illustrated in FIG. 4, in the case of the strapping appliance according to the invention, provision is made for 

the drive movement of the motor M to be picked off at two 

points along the drive axis thereof, either for the tensioning 

device 6 or for the friction welding device 12. For this pur 

pose, the motor M can be operated in both of the two direc 

tions of rotation. The changeover of the transmission of the 

drive movement to the tensioning device 6 or to the friction 

welding device 12 is performed automatically, by way of a 

freewheel arranged on the drive shaft of the motor M (and not 

illustrated in any more detail), in a manner dependent on the 

direction of rotation of the drive shaft of the motor. In one 

direction of rotation of the drive shaft, the drive movement is 

transmitted to the tensioning device 6. Owing to the free 

wheel, no drive movement is transmitted to the friction weld 

ing device 12 in this case. In the other direction of rotation, the 

tensioning device 6 has no drive movement imparted to it, and 

the friction welding device 12 is driven. In this embodiment, 

no manually performed Switching processes are necessary in 

order to change the transmission direction of the motor-im 

parted drive movement. Such freewheels are already known 

in conjunction with strapping apparatuses, for which reason 

these will not be discussed in any more detail. 

0.055 As is likewise illustrated in FIG. 4, the motor trans 

mission of the drive movement to the friction welding device 

12 and transfer device 14 is performed by suitable means. 

Said means may for example be a toothed belt drive with an 

encircling, closed toothed belt which is guided over two 

toothedgears. One of the two toothedgears is arranged on the 

drive shaft of the electric motor M, and the other belongs to a 

gearing of the friction welding device 12, by way of which the 

motor-imparted drive movement moves both the transfer 

device 14 and the welding shoe 13 of the friction welding device 12. The welding shoe, pressed against two layers, 

lying one above the other, of the strapping band, can hereby be set in an oscillating motion with a predetermined fre 

quency and amplitude, with which the two band layers are, in 

the region of the welding shoe, locally melted and welded to 

one another as a result of the Subsequent cooling. 

0056. 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 19, which belongs to a bevel gear 

mechanism of the tensioning device, in the same way as a 

Apr. 21, 2016 

second bevel gear 20, with which the former bevel gear 

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

gear 20 is arranged, there is also situated a first toothed gear 

21 of a further toothed belt drive 22, which is furthermore 

guided over a second toothed gear 23. The first toothed gear 

21 of the toothed belt drive 22 is arranged rotationally con 

jointly on the shaft 24. 

0057 Pushed onto the other end of the shaft 24 is the 

rocker 8 of the strapping appliance, which rocker is a con 

stituent part of the tensioning device 6 and bears the tension 

ing wheel 7 and also a gearing, in this case a planetary gearing 

26, connected upstream of the tensioning wheel 7, for which 

purpose Suitable bearing points may be provided on the 

rocker8. The rocker 8 has been pushed onto the shaft 24 such 

that it is arranged and mounted so as to be pivotable about the 

longitudinal axis of the shaft 24. The longitudinal axis of the 

shaft 24 is thus simultaneously the rocker pivotaxis 8a about 

which the rocker 8 is pivotable. 

0058. The planetary gearing 26 may be in the form of a 

single-stage or multi-stage planetary gearing, in particular a 

two-stage or three-stage planetary gearing. An input-side 

externally toothed sun gear 30, which belongs to the planetary 

gearing 26, protrudes from that face side of the toothed gear 

23 which faces toward the tensioning wheel 7, the axis of 

rotation of which Sun gearis identical to the axis of rotation 6a 

of the input-side toothed gear 23. On a shaft of the toothed 

gear 23, on which shaft the sun gear 30 is also formed in the 

exemplary embodiment, there is a freewheel 45, which per mits only one direction of rotation of the sun gear 30, specifi 

cally the direction of rotation provided for the drive of the 

tensioning wheel. The Sun gear 30 is led through an internal 

gear 27 and through a central recess of a planet carrier 25, 

which internal gear and planet carrier are likewise constituent 

parts of the planetary gear 26. As viewed from the input side 

of the planetgear, the planet carrier 25 is arranged, on the axis 

of the planetary gearing 26, which corresponds to the tension 

ing axis 6a, behind the internal gear 27. It would also be 

possible for the planet carrier to be designed so as to consti 

tute a clamping gear, coupling gear or spur gear. 

0059. The internal gear 27 has, on its outer circumference, 

a cam 27c which is in engagement with a Support 46 fastened 

to the base plate 4 of the strapping apparatus. The internally 

toothed internal gear 27 is supported here such that the cam 

27c, within its engagement into the Support 46, for example 

into a recess 46a of the Support, can perform slight relative 

movements. The internal gear 27 furthermore has an annular 

shoulder 27a on which there is arranged a rolling bearing 28 

for the mounting of the planetary gear 26. 

0060. The planet carrier 25, the axis of which is in align 

ment with the tensioning axis 6a, is in engagement, by way of 

its three planet gears 25b, with an internal toothing of the 

input-side internal gear 27 of the planetary gearing 26. The 

planet gears 25b of the planet carrier 25 are furthermore in 

engagement with the Sun gear 30, from which said planet 

gears can receive a drive movement and transmit said drive 

movement, with a corresponding speed reduction, to the 

internal gear 27. In the case of a rotationally fixed arrange 

ment of the planet carrier 25, it is thus possible for a rotational 

movement of the sun gear 30 to be converted into a rotational 

movement of the internal gear 27. In the exemplary embodi 

ment, a first clamp 29 of a blocking or clamping device is in 

the form of a pivotable cam which can be placed in contact 

with a clamping surface 25a on the outer circumference of the 

planet carrier 25, or which can be pivoted away from the 

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latter, so as to be spaced apart therefrom. Here, the cam is 

arranged such that, when the cam is in contact with the clamp ing surface 25a, a rotation of the input-side planet carrier 25 

in the intended direction of rotation of the planet carrier 25 

causes a further intensification of the clamping action. As a 

result of an advancement of the cam against the clamping Surface 25a owing to a corresponding Switching process, the 

planet carrier 25 can be blocked against rotation. Likewise by 

means of a Switching process, the cam 29 can be moved away 

from the clamping surface 25a, and thus the planet carrier 25 

can be released for rotational movements. Here, the Switching 

process may trigger a pivoting movement of the clamp 29 

about a Switching axis 143, this being triggered by actuation 

of a pushbutton 144. 

0061 The sun gear 30 is furthermore arranged in the 

region of the axis of rotation 31 of an internal gear 32, the 

non-toothed outer Surface 32a of which is assigned to a sec 

ond clamp 33. The axis of rotation 31 is identical to, or in 

alignment with, the tensioning axis 6a. The clamp 33 which 

interacts with the outer surface 32a may, in basically the same 

way as the first clamp 29, be in the form of a switchable cam 

which can be moved between two end positions, wherein in 

one position, the internal gear 32 is blocked against rotation, 

and in the other position, said internal gear is released for 

rotational movements. Furthermore, an internal toothing of 

the internal gear 32 is in engagement with three planet gears 

34, which are mounted on that face side of the following 

planet carrier 35 which faces toward the internal gear 32. The 

planet gears 34 of the planet carrier 35 are furthermore in 

engagement with the Sun gear 30 of the input-side toothed 

gear 23, which projects into the internal gear 32. 

0062. In the preferred embodiment described, the block 

ing device is designed such that always one, and only one, of 

the gears 25.32 is clamped against rotation, and the respective 

other gear 25, 32 is free to perform rotational movements. It 

is thus possible, in a manner dependent on the positions of the 

blocking devices 29, 33, for a rotational movement of the 

toothedgear 23 and of the sun gear 30 to lead, on the one hand, 

to a rotation of the planetgear 35 about the tensioning axis 6a 

and axis of rotation 31 owing to a movement of the planet 

gears 34 in the internal toothing of the internal gear 32. 

Alternatively, the rotation of the sun gear 30 leads, in a man 

ner dependent on the positions of the locking device, to a 

rotation of the internal gear 32. If the planet carrier 25 is not 

clamped by the blocking device, the rotating Sun gear drives 

the planetgears 25b concomitantly such that the planet carrier 

25 rotates and the internal gear 27 remains positionally fixed. 

By contrast, if the internal gear 32 is not clamped, a rotation 

of the sun gear 30 causes the planet gears 34 to be driven 

concomitantly, which planetgears in turn set the internal gear 

32 in rotational motion. As the resistance to rotation in the 

further course of the planetary gear 26 to the tensioning wheel 

7 is greater than the torque that has to be overcome in order to 

set the internal gear 32 in rotation, it is primarily the internal 

gear 32 that rotates in this case, and the tensioning gear 7 at 

least Substantially does not rotate. 

0063. On the other face side, averted from the tensioning 

wheel 7, of the planet carrier 35, a further sun gear 36 is 

arranged rotationally conjointly on said planet carrier, which 

Sun gear meshes with planet gears 41 of a further planet 

carrier 42. A further sun gear 43, which is directed toward the 

tensioning wheel 7 and which is connected rotationally con 

jointly to the planet carrier 42, is led through a recess of the 

further planet carrier 37, which is in the form of an internal 

Apr. 21, 2016 

gear. The Sun gear 43 is in meshing engagement with planet 

gears 38, facing toward the tensioning wheel 7, of the further 

planet carrier 37. The planet gears 38 of the second planet 

carrier 37 in turn mesh with an internal toothing of the ten 

sioning wheel 7, and drive the latter such that it performs its 

rotational movement about the tensioning axis 6a. Said rota 

tional movement of the tensioning wheel 7, which is equipped 

with a fine toothing (not illustrated) on its outer circumferen 

tial surface, is utilized in order, by way of the circumferential 

surface, to grip the band B and pullback the band of the band 

loop, whereby a band tension in the band loop is increased. 

0064. The third planet carrier 37 has, on its outer surface, 

a shoulder 37a which, by way of a rotational movement, can 

be placed in contact with a stop element 39. The stop element 

39 itself is fixed not to the rocker but to the base plate 4 or to 

Some other carrier which does not participate in the pivoting 

movement of the rocker 8. The stop element 39 is thus posi tionally fixed relative to the shoulder 37a. 

0065 During use for the strapping of articles for packing, 

the strapping appliance 1 operates as follows: After the 

respective article for packing has had a band loop with a 

commercially available plastic strapping band placed around 

it, said band loop is, in the region of the band end, in which the 

band loop is, in sections, in two layers, placed into the band 

strapping appliance, and the band end is held fixed in the 

strapping appliance by way of a band clamp (not illustrated 

any more detail). A section of the band B directly adjoining 

the band loop is placed, in two layers, over the tensioning 

plate 9 of the tensioning device 6. The rocker 8 with the 

tensioning wheel 7 and the upstream gearing 26 is in this case 

situated in its upper end position, in which the tensioning 

wheel 7 is arranged with a spacing (with its greatest intended 

spacing) to the tensioning plate 9, giving rise to the largest possible opening gap, which permits simple, convenient and 

thus also rapid placement of the band into the tensioning device. Subsequently, the rocker is lowered onto a tensioning 

plate 9, which faces the tensioning wheel 7, and is pressed against the band arranged between the tensioning plate 9 and 

the tensioning wheel 7. Both said transfer movement of the 

tensioning wheel and the magnitude of the pressing force 

exerted on the band by the tensioning wheel at the start of the 

tensioning process may, in the described embodiment of the 

invention, be generated by one or more prestressed spring 

elements 44 (not illustrated). By actuation of a pushbutton 10, 

the spring element can be enabled, and the strapping process 

as a whole, with its successively performed process steps “tensioning”, “production of a fastening”, “cutting, release 

of the tension from the band in the region of the tensioning device, and “lifting the rocker, can be triggered. It is possible 

for embodiments of the invention to be provided in which, 

then, there is preferably no need for further intervention by 

the user of the strapping appliance. By contrast, in the exem 

plary embodiment shown, for the initiation of the “release of 

the tension from the band' process, a further actuation of a 

further pushbutton is required; in the exemplary embodiment, 

this is the pushbutton 144. Here, in the preferred exemplary embodiment, with the mechanically acting rocker pushbutton 

144, the blocking device with its two clamps 29, 33 is acted 

on, and the latter is Switched into or out of engagement with 

the planetary gearing. 

0066. After the tensioning wheel 7 automatically from the 

open position into its tensioning position (cf. tensioning posi 

tion in FIG. 10 and open position in FIG. 11), in which it lies 

on the band B and presses via the band against the tensioning 

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plate 9, the motor-imparted drive movement is transmitted to 

the tensioning wheel 7. The second clamp 33 is then trans 

ferred into its position in which it presses against the internal 

gear 32. The internal gear 32 is hereby locked against rota 

tional movements, and is blocked. By contrast, the first clamp 29 remains in a position spaced apart from the input-side 

planet carrier 25, and releases the internal gear 27 for rota 

tional movements. The motor-imparted drive movement, 

which, owing to the particular direction of rotation of the 

motor M provided, is transmitted via the bevel gear mecha 

nism 19, 20, 21 to the second toothed belt drive 22 and thus to 

the toothed gear 23, passes from here, in the sequence of the 

gearing elements mentioned below, via the input-side gear 

wheel 23, the sun gear 30, the planetgears 34, the sun gear 36, 

the planetgears 41, the Sun gear 43 and via the planetgears 38 

to the tensioning wheel 7. The tensioning wheel 7 can, inter 

alia by way of the multi-stage planetary gearing, be driven in 

the predetermined direction of rotation with a greatly speed 

reduced rotational movement of the motor—and thus, if 

required, with correspondingly high torque. 

0067. In the “tensioning operating state, as described just 

above, of the strappingapparatus, the driventensioning wheel 

7, which is in engagement with the band, gives rise, depend 

ing on resistance force, which results from the band tension 

and which reacts on the tensioning wheel 7, to a correspond ing opposing force acting in the opposite direction on the 

tensioning wheel 7. Said opposing force acts, in the opposite 

transmission direction to the motor-imparted drive move 

ment, on all of the gearing elements of the multi-stage plan 

etary gearing which participate in the transmission of the 

drive movement. If use is made of a gearing type other than a 

single-stage or multi-stage planetary gearing, the opposing 

force, which results from the already applied band tension 

and which is introduced into the respective gearing via the 

contact with the tensioning wheel, is also available at said 

gearing for utilization in the sense of the present invention. 

According to the invention, said opposing force can be used to 

improve the method conditions, in particular the functional 

reliability even in the case of high band tensions to be 

imparted. To utilize said opposing force for the purpose 

described below, it would thus be possible, in principle, to use 

each of said gearing elements for this purpose, in particular to 

pick off said opposing force and use it at each of said gearing 

elements. 

0068. In the exemplary embodiment, the planet carrier 37 

is used for this purpose. Here, the planet carrier 37 is Sup 

ported via the stop element 39 on the base plate 4, whereby the 

entire tensioning device 6 is, about the rocker axis 8a, pressed against the band proportionally to the resistance force (band 

tension). The tensioning wheel 7 is thus pressed against the 

band B proportionally to the band tension. The band tension 

generated as a result of the tensioning process is utilized in 

order, in an advantageous manner, with continuously increas 

ing band tension, to also increase the contact pressure force of 

the tensioning wheel 7 against the band B, whereby the risk of 

'slippage', or of slipping of the tensioning wheel 7 during the 

tensioning process, which risk likewise increases perse with 

increasing band tension, can be counteracted. 

0069. For this purpose, the planet carrier is formed with 

the engagement element 37a, which interacts with the posi tionally fixed stop element 39. The engagement element, 

which is in the form of a cam and which is arranged on the 

outer circumference of the planet carrier and which projects substantially radially therefrom, is supported on the stop ele 

Apr. 21, 2016 

ment 39. As can be seen interalia from FIG.3, the positionally fixed stop element 39 is, for this purpose, situated in the 

region of the head end of the strapping appliance. In the 

exemplary embodiment shown, the stop element 39 is situ 

ated on one side, specifically on the head-side end, of the 

tensioning axis 6a, and the rocker pivot axis 8a, which runs 

Substantially parallel to said pivotaxis, is situated on the other 

side of the tensioning axis 6a. The rocker 8, on which the 

planet carrier 37 is arranged by way of a rolling bearing so as 

to be rotatable about the tensioning axis 6a, is also pivotable 

at least during the tensioning process, that is to say is not 

blocked against pivoting movements but is released for piv oting movements. Furthermore, during the tensioning pro 

cess, the planet carrier 37 is rotatable about the tensioning 

axis 6a. The band tension generated in the band B in reaction 

to the tensioning process exerts on the tensioning wheel 7 a 

force which opposes the direction of rotation of the tension 

ing wheel during the tensioning process. Said reaction force is 

exerted by the tensioning wheel, via the planet carrier 37, on 

the rocker 8 as a torque directed about the rocker pivotaxis 8a, 

by means of which torque the planet carrier 37 is pressed with 

increased force against the band in the direction of the ten 

sioning plate 9. Here, the higher the band tension that has 

already been introduced into the band, the higher is the torque which results from this and from the motor-imparted drive 

movement that continues to act on the tensioning wheel 7. 

Said torque, which is generated as a reaction, is in turn pro portional to the resultant contact pressure force which is 

exerted by the tensioning wheel 7 on the band B and with 

which the band B is pressed against the tensioning plate 9 by 

the tensioning wheel 7. A band tension increasing from the 

motor-imparted drive movement on the tensioning wheel 7 is 

thus associated, in the case of the invention, with an increas 

ing contact pressure force of the tensioning device on the 

band. 

0070. After an end of the tensioning process and of the 

welding process which follows it in order to form a fastening, 

and after a motor-driven cutting process has been performed 

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

detail) which is integrated into the strapping apparatus, it 

should be possible for the band to be removed from the 

strapping apparatus without complication and quickly. To 

achieve this, a motor-imparted lifting movement of the ten 

sioning wheel 7 out of the tensioning position is provided. For 

this purpose, the pushbutton 144 is actuated, and for as long as 

the pushbutton 144 is actuated, the rocker also remains in the 

open position, in which there is an adequate distance between 

the tensioning plate 9 and the tensioning wheel 7. Releasing 

the pushbutton 144 causes the rocker to be closed, for 

example by spring force. 

0071. In the exemplary embodiment, for this purpose, the 

operative connection between the electric motor M and the 

tensioning wheel 7 is initially eliminated, and an operative 

connection is created between the electric motor M and the 

rocker8. This is achieved by switching the clamps 29, 33. The 

prior clamping of the internal gear 32 is eliminated by virtue 

of the second clamp 33 being removed from the outer surface 

32a of the internal gear 32 and thereby releasing the internal 

gear 32 for rotational movements. Substantially at the same 

time or immediately thereafter, the first clamp 29 is lowered 

onto the clamping surface 25a of the planet carrier 25 and is 

placed in clamping contact with the latter. In this way, the 

input-side planet carrier 25 is fixed and blocked against a 

rotational movement about the tensioning axis 6a, along 

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which the planetary gearing as a whole is situated. This 

Switching process is also performed by actuation of the rocker 

pushbutton 144. The rocker pushbutton 144 may, for this 

purpose, be moved into a Switching state other than that 

assumed previously, which rocker pushbutton may thus alto 

gether have at least two different Switching states. 

0072 The tensioning wheel 7 can thus rotate freely with 

out drive and no longer has an operative connection, which 

could transmit a drive movement, to the electric motor Mand 

to the sun gear 30. A drive movement of the electric motor M 

in the same direction of rotation as during the tensioning 

process is now utilized, owing to the blocking of the input 

side planet carrier 25 of the planetary gear set, such that the 

planet gears 25b of the spur gear 25, during the rotational 

movement thereof, concomitantly drive the input-side inter 

nal gear 27. The input-side internal gear 27 thus performs a 

rotational movement owing to the rotating planet gears 25b. 

The abutment and Support of the internal gear 27 against the 

Support element 46 leads to a pivoting movement of the 

internal gear 27 about the rocker axis 8a. The input-side internal gear 27, which owing to the clamping is also con 

nected rotationally conjointly to the rocker 8, drives the 

rocker 8 concomitantly during said movement. This leads to 

lifting of the rocker 8 and of the tensioning device 6 fastened 

thereto, including the tensioning wheel 7. The rotational 

movement of the rocker 8 may be limited by a stop or by an 

end position encoder, which, after the end position is reached 

in the open position of the rocker 8, shuts down the motor M 

and triggers locking of the rocker. Owing to the motor-im 

parted lifting movement of the rocker 8 counter to the direc 

tion of action of the spring element 44, the spring element 44 

is also provided with an increased prestress force again. The 

strapping band B can now be removed from the strapping appliance 1. 

0073. The strapping appliance is now ready for a subse 

quent new strapping operation, which can be performed in the 

same way as the strapping operation described above. For the 

subsequent lowering of the rocker 8 after the insertion of a 

new section of the strapping band B into the strapping appa 

ratus 1, the spring element 44 must be enabled again, which 

may be performed for example by way of an operable push 

button on the strapping appliance. In the exemplary embodi 

ment, for this purpose, the previously actuated pushbutton 

144 is released. The spring force then pivots the rocker 8 in the 

opposite pivoting direction toward the tensioning plate, and, 

for the Subsequent tensioning process, clamps the band with 

an initial contact pressure force between the tensioning wheel 

7 and the tensioning plate 9. The contact pressure force, 

which is variable during the further course of the tensioning 

process, increases in the described manner. 

0074 The actuation of the tensioning device 6, the 

advancement of the friction welding device 13 by means of a 

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

use of the friction welding device perse, and the actuation of 

the cutting device, are performed using only one common 

electric motor 14, which provides a respective drive move 

ment for these components. The structural solution provided 

for this purpose may in principle correspond to that described 

in WO2009/129634A1, the content of disclosure of which is 

hereby incorporated by reference. 

0075. In the present case, the portable, mobile strapping 

appliance 1 has an actuation element 10, configured as a press Switch, which is provided for setting the motor in operation 

and which will hereinafter be referred to as tensioning push 

Apr. 21, 2016 

button. For the actuation element 10, it is possible to set three 

modes by means of a mode Switch which, in this exemplary 

embodiment according to the invention of a, is contained in 

the operating and display panel 25. In the first mode, through 

Subsequent actuation of the actuation element (pushbutton) 

10, both the tensioning device 6 and the friction welding 

device 13 are triggered in Succession and in automated fash 

ion, without furtheractivation on the part of an operator being 

necessary. To set the second mode, the mode Switch (not 

illustrated in any more detail) is Switched into a second 

Switching mode. The Switching state of the mode Switch is, 

with its settable modes and likewise the switching state of the 

actuation element 10, presented and displayed on the display 

panel. Then, in the second possible mode, actuation of the 

pushbutton (tensioning pushbutton) 10 causes only the ten 

Sioning device 6 to be triggered. For the separate triggering of 

the friction welding device 13, it is necessary for the tension 

ing pushbutton 10 to be actuated by the operator for a second 

time, by double-clicking the tensioning pushbutton 10 in the 

exemplary embodiment. The third mode is a type of semi 

automatic mode, in which the actuation element provided as 

tensioning pushbutton 10 must be depressed until the tension 

ing force or tensile stress in the band, which can be preset in 

stages, is attained. In this mode, it is possible to interrupt the 

tensioning process by releasing the tensioning pushbutton 10, 

for example in order for corner protectors to be fitted, under 

the strapping band, onto the article for Strapping. The tension 

ing process can then be resumed by pressing the tensioning 

pushbutton 10. Said third mode may be combined both with a 

separately triggered friction welding process and with an 

automatically following friction welding process. The elec 

trical supply is ensured in each case by the battery 15, which 

is in the form of a lithium-ion battery. 

0076. During the formation of a fastening, after the band 

has been placed, in the form of a loop, around the article for 

packing, is guided here in a predetermined manner in two 

layers through the tensioning device 6 and in two layers 

through the fastening device. In other embodiments of strap ping appliances, it may also be provided that the band is 

guided in one layer through the tensioning device. The 

intended band tension is imparted by engagement of the ten 

Sioning device 6 into the upper layer, guided through the 

tensioning device 6, of the band and by way of a pulling-back 

movement of the band. Thereafter, the welding shoe 13 is 

lowered in the direction of a counter support surface of the 

base plate 4. Depending on the activated operating mode of 

the strapping appliance 1, this takes place automatically fol 

lowing the completion of the tensioning process or as a result 

of separate triggering of the friction welding process by actuation of the pushbutton provided for the purpose. During 

the friction welding process, the band remains clamped 

between the tensioning wheel 7 and the tensioning plate (ten 

Sioning counter Support) 9. and is held there during the for 

mation of a fastening. During this method step of the forming 

the strapping, the tensioning device has the function of a band 

clamp or of a clamping device which, by way of two inter 

acting clamping elements, clamps the band between them. As 

a result of the lowering of the welding shoe 13, the two band 

layers that have been guided through the fastening device are 

pressed against one another and against the counter Support 

Surface. 

0077 On the display and operating panel 25a, it is possible 

for different items of information and touch-sensitive actua 

tion or input elements to be displayed alternately or simulta 

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neously. It is possible for different display and input levels to 

be provided, which can be selected and deselected and in 

which in each case different items of information and actua 

tion and input elements can be displayed. The displayed ele 

ments may in particular provide information regarding the 

state and settings of the strapping appliance and of its com 

ponents. AS actuation elements, it is possible in particular for 

multiple further pushbuttons, which can be triggered by 

touch, of the operating panel 25a to be displayed. With said 

pushbuttons, it is possible to preselect and set the above 

described different modes of manual (MAN), semi-automatic 

(SEM) and automatic (AUTO) of the strapping appliance, and 

parameters of the strapping processes. Settable and displayed 

parameters may for example be the tensioning force, the 

welding time and the cooling time. The setting may be per formed by adding or subtracting predefined steps of the 

respective value by actuating plus or minus pushbuttons, and 

by confirming the value to be set by means of the mode 

Switch, which in this case functions as a confirmation push 

button. By actuation of mode switch 17, the set value is stored 

in the controller in order to be utilized during the subsequent strapping process. Likewise, the band type used may be dis 

played and selected by selecting from a predefined list of band 

types 26. Furthermore, present operating states may be dis 

played. Such as for example the state of discharge of the 

battery and, during the tensioning process, by way of a 

progress bar, the tensioning force already attained as a frac 

tion of the set tensioning force to be attained. 

0078. The values preset in this way are displayed by the 

strapping appliance on the display panel and are utilized 

during strapping processes until the parameter values are 

changed again. The strapping processes themselves are trig 

gered or started by way of the tensioning pushbutton 10, as a 

further actuation element, which is arranged in an ergonomi 

cally expedient manner in the region of the front end of the 

handle of the strapping appliance 1. To be able to place the 

band into the tensioning device, the rocker pushbutton 144 is 

arranged below the tensioning pushbutton 10, which rocker 

pushbutton may for example, and preferably, be in the form of 

a press button. By pressing the rocker pushbutton 144, the 

rocker 8 is opened, that is to say the rocker is pivoted with its 

tensioning plate 23 away from the tensioning wheel 7. Such 

that a gap is formed between the tensioning plate 23 and the 

tensioning wheel 7. For as long as the rocker pushbutton 144 

remains depressed, the tensioning plate 23 of the rocker is 

arranged with a spacing to the tensioning wheel 7. Such that 

the band can be placed into the tensioning device between the 

tensioning plate 23 and the tensioning wheel 7. When the 

rocker pushbutton 144 is released, the rocker 8 pivots with the 

tensioning plate 23 in the direction of the tensioning wheel 7. 

whereby the tensioning plate 9 bears against the underside of 

the band, and the top side of the band bears against the 

tensioning wheel 7. 

0079. The rocker pushbutton 144, which at the end of a 

strapping process is actuated interalia for the removal of the 

band from the Strapping apparatus, also gives rise, owing to 

the above-described change or elimination of the operative 

connection between the motor and the tensioning wheel, to a 

release of tension between the tensioning wheel 7 and the 

band, and Subsequently to a spacing, generated by way of a 

motor-imparted movement, between tensioning wheel 7 and 

tensioning plate 9. In the exemplary embodiment, the release 

of tension is a result of the mechanical Switching process of 

the clamps 29, 33 on the planetary gearing. Said process is 

Apr. 21, 2016 

performed regardless of whether the pushbutton 144 is in the 

form of a separate pushbutton or is in the form of a pushbutton 

with which further processes of the strapping appliance 1 can 

also be switched. 

0080. If the strapping appliance 1 is held by the handle3, 

the tensioning pushbutton 10 can be actuated using the thumb 

of the hand that is holding the handle 3. The rocker pushbut 

ton 144, which is arranged on the underside of the handle 3. 

can in this case be actuated in an ergonomically expedient 

manner by way of the index finger, without an adjustment of 

grip being necessary for this purpose. In other embodiments 

according to the invention, the rocker pushbutton 144 may also be arranged on the top side of the strapping appliance, in 

particular in the direct vicinity of the tensioning pushbutton 

10, such that both the tensioning pushbutton 10 and the rocker 

pushbutton 144 can be actuated using the thumb of the hand 

that is gripping the handle3. Here, the tensioning pushbutton 10 may be responsible for triggering both the tensioning 

process and the welding process, wherein, by setting the 

corresponding mode, it may be provided that a single press of 

the tensioning pushbutton 10 triggers both the tensioning 

process and the Subsequent connecting process. By selecting 

a different operating mode, it is also possible for only the 

tensioning process to be initiated by way of a single press of 

the tensioning pushbutton. To carry out the connecting or 

welding process, it is then necessary for the tensioning push 

button 10 to be pressed once again, for example by way of a 

double-click. 

0081. In an alternative embodiment to this, which is shown 

in FIG. 1a, is also possible for (only) one combination push 

button 10 to be provided on the strapping appliance 1, in 

particular in the region of the handle, which combination 

pushbutton has two actuation regions, one for the tensioning 

and welding, and one for the rocker actuation. A separate rocker pushbutton, Such as is provided as rocker pushbutton 

144 in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, can be omitted 

in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1a. Nevertheless, it is 

also optionally possible here for the tensioning and welding 

process to be triggered by way of only one actuation, or by 

way of mutually separate actuation processes, of one actua 

tion region of the pushbutton 10. The tensioning process may 

be triggered by way of a single actuation, and the connecting 

process may be triggered by way of a multiple actuation 

following the tensioning process, in particular by way of a 

double-click. The other actuation region is provided for the 

rocker actuation. Such a combination pushbutton may be 

situated for example at least approximately at that location on 

the strapping appliance at which the tensioning pushbutton 10 

is arranged in FIGS. 1 and 2. The various actuation regions 

10a, 10b of the combination pushbutton 10 may for example 

be different end regions of the combination pushbutton. 

I0082 In a further alternative embodiment, it is possible, in 

particular in the region of the handle 3, for a dedicated push 

button 10, 144, 145 to be provided for each of the three 

functions. In this case, to trigger the respective process, it may 

be provided that only a single actuation of the respective 

button 10, 144, 145 is required in each case. As shown in the 

corresponding exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1b, the push 

button 10 is provided such that, when actuated, it triggers the 

tensioning process, triggers the transfer device 14 for the 

transfer of the connecting device into its working position and 

back into its rest position, and triggers the connecting device 

to produce the connection on the strapping band. 

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US 2016/0107775 A1 

0083. In a yet further embodiment of multiple further 

embodiments, it is possible, by means of a separate pushbut 

ton 145, for only the connecting process, in this case the 

welding process, to be triggered, whereas all of the other 

processes in the strapping appliance, in particular the tension 

ing process and the movement of the rocker and the release of 

tension, are triggered by means of only one further pushbut 

ton 10 or pushbutton 144. The actuation of the pushbutton 10 

or of the pushbutton 144 of these embodiments may in this 

case involve only a single actuation or a multiple actuation. 

0084. In all embodiments, it is preferable if the pushbut 

tons assigned to the tensioning process and to the welding 

process trigger electrical Switching processes which are Sup 

plied to the controller. By contrast, the actuation of the rocker 

pushbutton 144 may preferably be electromechanically trans 

mitted to the rocker and trigger a pivoting movement of the 

rocker. It is likewise possible for one or more additional drive 

elements to be provided which trigger and perform the piv 

oting process of the rocker and which are electrically actu 

ated. 

0085 All refinements of the described operating concepts 

may also be of independent significance and constitute inde 

pendent inventions. 

I0086 FIGS. 5 to 9 illustrate a further exemplary embodi 

ment of a strapping appliance according to the invention. 

With regard to its external appearance, said further exemplary 

embodiment may also correspond to the illustration of FIG.1. 

The basic construction of said embodiment of the strapping appliance may also correspond to that of the preferred 

embodiment according to the invention discussed above. 

Accordingly, in this embodiment, too, only one motor M is 

used, which is provided the welding device 12 (not shown in 

FIG.5) and severing device, on the one hand, in one of the two 

motor directions of rotation, and the tensioning device 6, on 

the other hand, in the other motor direction of rotation. The 

selective drive of either the welding device and severing 

device, on the one hand, or of the tensioning device 6, on the 

other hand, is performed by way of a freewheel and different 

directions of rotation of the motor M. 

0087. Likewise, the embodiment has a pivotable rocker 

80, which is motor-driven about a rocker axis of rotation 80a, 

of the tensioning device 86. By contrast to the preferred 

exemplary embodiment discussed above, it is not the tension 

ing wheel 87 but the tensioning plate 89 that is arranged on the 

pivotable rocker 80 here, the rocker pivot axis 80a of which 

runs parallel to the tensioning axis 86a. The motor-imparted 

drive movement with the direction of rotation utilized for 

rotational movements about the tensioning axis 86a is utilized 

in this exemplary embodiment, too, for the pivoting move 

ment of the rocker 80. In this embodiment, too, the rocker 

pivot axis 80a runs substantially parallel to the tensioning 

axis 86a, about which the tensioning wheel is mounted so as 

to be rotatable. The rotational movement of the motor is, 

downstream of a point at which the motor-imparted drive 

movement is utilized for the welding device, transmitted via 

a bevel gear pair 99, 100 to a planetary gearing 106 and from 

the latter to the tensioning wheel 87. By means of a freewheel 

125 arranged on the shaft of an input-side sun gear 110, it is 

ensured that the inputside of the planetary gear 106 can rotate 

only in one direction of rotation. The planetary gear 106 is 

equipped with gearing elements which, as in the preferred 

exemplary embodiment described above, can be selectively 

locked by means of a blocking device which has of two 

Apr. 21, 2016 

clamps 29, 33, whereby the drive movement can be transmit 

ted either to the tensioning wheel 87 or to the rocker 80. 

I0088. To open the tensioning device 86, the internal gear 

107 is released by the blocking device, that is to say the clamp 

33 is not in clamping engagement with the internal gear 107. 

The tensioning wheel 87 can thus rotate freely, without an 

operative connection to the motor M. Any band tension still 

exerted, as a reaction, on the tensioning wheel 87 by the 

strapping band B from the immediately preceding tensioning 

process is thereby disengaged from the tensioning wheel 87 

and from the gearing 106 connected upstream of the tension 

ing wheel. By means of the clamp 29, the spur gear in the form 

of planet carrier 105 is blocked, the axis of rotation of said 

spur gear being in alignment with the tensioning axis 86a, that 

is to say the axis of rotation of the tensioning wheel 87. Owing 

to the releasable rotational locking of the planet carrier 105 

performed by means of the clamp 29, the motor-imparted 

drive movement transmitted by the bevel gear 100 to the 

input-side Sun gear 110 can not to a rotation of the planet 

carrier 105 but to rotational movements of the planet gears 

105b of the planet carrier 105. The internal toothing, which 

meshes with said planet gears 105b, of the internal gear 109 

sets the latter in rotational motion. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 7, an external toothing 109c of the internal gear 109 is 

in engagement with an external toothing 150c of a circular arc 

segment 150, which is arranged positionally fixedly on one 

end of a connecting shaft 151. The connection axis 151a of 

the connecting shaft 151 runs parallel to the positionally fixed 

tensioning axis 86a of this exemplary embodiment. Instead of 

the two external toothings 109c. 150c, it would also be pos 

sible for the internal gear 109 to be supported via a cam on a 

Support element, wherein then, either the cam or the Support 

element should be neither fastened to the internal gear 109 nor 

of movable form, and the other of the two elements should be 

arranged on the internal gear 109. 

I0089. The rotational movement of the internal gear 109 

and the engagement of the internal gear 109 into the circular 

arc segment 150 lead to a rotational movement of the con 

necting shaft 151 about the connection axis 151a. A spur gear 

152 arranged on the other end of the connecting shaft 151 

engages into an external toothing 117c of the planet carrier 

117 and hereby transmits the rotational movement about the 

connection axis 151a to the planet carrier 117. In relation to 

the tensioning axis 86a, the connection axis 151a is situated 

on one side and the rocker pivot axis 80a is situated on the 

other side of the tensioning axis 86a, wherein the rocker pivot 

axis 80a is situated on the side of the head-side end of the 

Strapping appliance. 

(0090. The planet carrier 117 belongs to the drive train 

which is provided for the drive movement of the tensioning 

wheel 87. The operative connection of said drive train to the 

motor M is presently interrupted owing to the above-de 

scribed switching position of the blocking device. Thus, at the 

above-described point in time in the method, there is no 

operative connection of the motor M to the tensioning wheel 

87 in order to drive the latter. As a result of the rotational 

movement transmitted to the planet carrier 117, the planet carrier 117 rotates about the tensioning axis 86a and, by way 

of its cam 117a arranged on its outer circumferential Surface, 

concomitantly drives a driver 80c of the rocker 80. The rocker 

80, which is arcuate in plan view, hereby rotates, and is 

opened. 

0091. The rocker 80, which is mounted so as to be rotat 

able about the rocker axis 80a and which has approximately 

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US 2016/0107775 A1 

the shape of anarc segment, is arranged with its lower free end 

below the tensioning wheel 87, such that the tensioning plate 

89 arranged in the region of the free end of the rocker 80 can 

likewise bearranged immediately below the tensioning wheel 

87. To arrange the tensioning plate 89 with a spacing to the 

tensioning wheel 87, the above-described motor-driven 

movement of the rocker 80 in the direction of rotation as per 

arrow 112 (FIG. 6) is utilized, by means of which the rocker 

80 is opened, as described, and a spacing between the ten 

sioning wheel 87 and the tensioning plate 89 is increased. The 

opening movement may be limited by a stop. The rocker 80, 

which is opened in motor-driven fashion, now permits a 

removal of the tensioned and closed strapping loop from the 

strapping appliance. After the finished strap has been 

removed, the end of a new strapping loop can be inserted 

between the tensioning plate and the tensioning wheel for a 

Subsequent tensioning process. Under the action of the restor 

ing force of the spring element 124, which was previously 

tensioned during the opening movement, the rocker 80 can be 

moved toward the tensioning wheel again and can press the 

band against the tensioning wheel with an initial contact 

pressure force for the tensioning process. To use the spring 

force and thereby move the rocker 80 in the direction of 

rotation as per arrow 113 in the direction of the tensioning wheel 87, it may be provided that a pushbutton or some other 

actuation element is actuated, by means of which the spring 

force is enabled for acting on the rocker. A release of the 

pushbutton 10 may also be implemented here. 

0092. For the tensioning of the strapping band B be 

arranged between the tensioning wheel 87 and the tensioning 

plate 89, the internal gear 107 is, at its outer circumferential 

Surface, clamped against rotational movements by means of 

the clamp 33. The planet carrier 105 is not clamped, and can 

thus rotate in the same way as the connecting shaft 8. The 

motor-imparted drive movement from the sun gear 30 into the 

planetary gearing 106 arranged on the tensioning axis 86a is 

transmitted through the planet carrier 105 and the internal 

gear 107 to the planet gears 114 of the second planet carrier 

115, and the latter is set in rotation. A sun gear (not visible in 

the illustration of FIG. 5) drives the planet gears 121 in a 

downstream further stage of the planetary gear 106. The 

planet carrier 122 of said stage also rotates. The Sun gear 123 

of the latter stage is also led through the further planet carrier 

117, and drives the planet gears 118 of said further stage, which in turn mesh with an internal toothing of the tensioning 

wheel 87. The tensioning wheel 87 is thus driven in the 

tensioning direction by way of the single-stage or multi-stage 

planetary gear 106, and the inserted band B is tensioned. 

0093. In the above-described “tensioning operating state, 

in which the tensioning wheel 87 is in engagement with the 

band B, the band tension gives rise to a resistance force, which 

is exerted in the form of a restoring torque on the rotating tensioning wheel 87 by the band B. The magnitude of said 

resistance force is variable, and is proportional to the magni 

tude of the imparted band tension. Said resistance force acts 

in opposition to the motor-imparted drive torque which acts in 

the gearing elements that participate in the transmission of the 

drive movement. In the exemplary embodiment, the planet 

carrier 117 is supported by way of a cam 117b, which has the 

function of a stop, against the rocker 80. The planet carrier 

117, which rotates in a suitable direction of rotation owing to 

the motor-imparted drive movement, bears by way of its cam 

117b against a driver 80b of the rocker, and thereby rotates the 

latter toward the tensioning wheel in a movement about the 

Apr. 21, 2016 

rocker axis 80a, as per arrow 113 (FIG. 6). It may be the case 

here that no noticeable rotational movement about the rocker 

axis 80a is actually performed, but rather substantially only 

the torque about the rocker axis 80a is increased. In both 

cases, however, the contact pressure force with which the 

rocker 80 presses the tensioning plate 89 or the band against 

the tensioning wheel 87 is increased. Said increase generally 

does not take place in a single step. The increase of the contact 

pressure force of the rocker against the band, which increase 

can ultimately be attributed to the motor-imparted drive 

movement and the already prevailing band tension and takes 

place as a result of engagement into the tensioning gearing 

106, is proportional to the resistance or restoring force which 

prevails in each case in the band and which, at the point of 

engagement into the band, is exerted by the band on the 

tensioning plate 89 and on the tensioning wheel 87 as a 

resistance force which opposes a maintaining or further 

increase of the band tension. For as long as an increase in the 

band tension occurs as a result of the tensioning process, the 

resistance force, and the contact pressure force resulting 

therefrom, also increase. 

(0094 FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the end positions of the 

rocker 80 that are possible owing to the pivotability of the 

rocker for opening and closing purposes, on the one hand, and 

for increasing the contact pressure force against the band, on 

the other hand. As is shown in FIG. 8, in one of the two end 

positions, the tensioning plate 89, owing to contact of the cam 

117b of the planet carrier 117 against a contour of the driver 

80b and a direction of rotation of the planet carrier clockwise 

(in relation to the illustration of FIG. 8), the rocker is rotated 

counterclockwise about its rocker pivot axis. Here, the driver 

80b and the cam 117b act in the manner of a lever which 

imparts a torque counterclockwise about the rocker pivotaxis 

80a. 

(0095 FIG. 9 shows the end position of the open rocker. 

Here, the planet carrier 117 is rotating in the opposite direc 

tion in relation to FIG. 8, and has thereby abutted against the 

driver 80c of the rocker 80. The driver 80c is, in relation to the 

rocker pivotaxis 80a and the other driver 80b, situated on the 

other side of the rocker pivotaxis 80a. In the usage position of 

the strapping appliance with a horizontal orientation of the 

base plate, the driver 80b is situated above the rocker pivot 

axis 80a, and the driver 80c is situated below the rocker pivot 

axis 80a. In this way, in the illustration of FIG. 9, the rocker 

has pivoted clockwise and has thereby formed a spacing to the 

tensioning wheel 87. 

(0096 FIG. 12 shows a perspective partial view of the 

tensioning device of the second exemplary embodiment, in 

which only one of the two clamps is illustrated. Here, the 

clamp 33 is in abutment against the planar circumferential 

surface 107b, which is substantially exactly circular in cross 

section, of the internal gear 107. FIG. 13 is a sectional illus 

tration through the internal gear 107 and the clamp 33. By 

means of the clamp 33 of the blocking device, the internal 

gear can be selectively clamped against rotational movements 

or released again. Each of the clamping means provided in the 

strapping apparatuses as per FIGS. 2-11 may preferably be 

designed correspondingly to the blocking device described 

here, though conventional blocking devices are also possible. 

In the case of the preferred clamping means according to the 

invention, an at least approximately planarcircular or circular 

arc-shaped circumferential surface of the wheel interacts with 

a pivotable clamping element or clamping body. The circum 

ferential surface 107b, which functions as clamping surface, 

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US 2016/0107775 A1 

of the illustrated preferred exemplary embodiment has no 

detent elements by means of which a clamping action based 

on positively locking engagement of a clamping element into 

a detent element or into a detent recess is provided. 

0097. The clamping element 33 is mounted so as to be 

pivotable about the switching and pivotaxis 143, wherein the 

switching axis 143 of the clamping element 33 runs parallel to 

the axis of rotation of the wheel 107 to be clamped. The 

Switching axis 143 runs in the region of an end of the cam 

shaped clamping element 33. In the region of the other end of 

the clamping element, there is provided an arcuate contact 

surface 33a which is provided for contact with the clamping 

surface 107b of the wheel to be clamped. Owing to the circu 

lar form of the clamping surface 109b and the arcuate form of 

the contact surface 33a (as seen in side view), substantially 

linear contact arises when the clamping element 33 comes 

into contact with the circumferential surface 107b, wherein 

said contact line runs perpendicular to the plane of the draw 

ing of FIG. 13. 

0098. As can be seen from FIG. 13, the clamping element 

33 is arranged relative to the wheel 107 to be clamped such 

that the contact line of the contact surface 33a has a spacing 105 to its pivotaxis 143, said spacing being greater than the 

spacing of the pivotaxis 143 to the clamping surface 107b. In 

this way, during a pivoting movement of the clamping ele 

ment 33 from its release position into a clamping position, 

comes into contact with the clamping surface 107b already at 

a point which lies ahead of a straight connecting line 156 

between the axis of rotation of the wheel 107 and the pivot axis 143 of the clamping element. In relation to the intended 

direction of rotation 157 of the wheel 107 to be clamped, the 

contact line is situated ahead of the (imaginary) connecting 

line 156. The rotation of the wheel 107 is braked, and can 

continue at most only slightly. A further rotation counter to 

the clamping action, which increases in the process, intensi 

fies the clamping action further and intensifies a wedging 

action, which increases in the process, of the clamping ele 

ment 33 against the wheel 107. Owing to these geometric relationships, the clamp 33 cannot pass the connecting line 

156 in the direction of rotation of the wheel, and the pivoting 

movement of said clamp stops before the connecting line 156 

and presses against the clamping Surface 107b. In an end 

position which Substantially corresponds already to the posi 

tion of initial contact with the clamping element 33, the wheel 

107 is clamped against the cam-shaped clamping element 33. 

A further movement is no longer possible, even with an arbi 

trarily high torque. 

0099 FIG. 14 illustrates the geometric relationships in the 

clamping situation. Here, too, the connecting line between the 

axis of rotation 86a of the wheel 107 and the pivotaxis 143 is 

denoted by 156. The contact surface (circumference) of the 

wheel could be smooth or slightly structured. The radius of 

the wheel at the contact point with the cam is denoted by 158, 

and the pivot radius of the clamping element 33 at the contact 

point is denoted by 155. The pivot radius 155 at the contact 

point encloses an angle C. with the connecting line 156, and 

the radius 158 of the wheel 107 encloses an angle Y with the 

pivot radius 155 (in each case at the contact point). In the 

exemplary embodiment, the geometric relationships are con 

figured Such that, in the clamping position, in which the wheel 

107 is blocked against rotational movements in the intended 

direction of rotation, the angle Y is at least approximately 

155°. In tests, it was also possible to achieve good results with 

an angle from a range from 130° to 170°, in particular from 

Apr. 21, 2016 

148° to 163. The angle C. should advantageously be greater 

than or equal to 7. In the exemplary embodiment, it is 9°. In 

other embodiments, it may also be selected from a range from 

7o to 400. 

0100. In the preferred embodiments of the invention dis 

cussed here, if the wedging action is sufficiently intense, it is 

not imperatively necessary for the position of the cam in its 

clamping position to be held by way of an externally imple 

mented measure. This arises simply from the fact that the 

wheel 107 is rotatable only in one direction of rotation, and 

precisely this is releasably blocked by the clamp 33. In pre 

ferred embodiments of the invention, the cam-shaped clamp ing element is held in position by the spring force of a spring 

element 159. For this purpose, the spring element 159 bears 

against the clamping element above the Switching axis 143, 

and rotates and/or holds the clamping element 29 in its clamp ing position. To remove the clamping element from its clamp 

ing position, the spring force must be overcome by means of 

a switch 160. By means of the switch 160, both clamps 29 and 

33 can be actuated simultaneously. Depending on the 

arrangement of the Switch/pushbutton, it is possible, by pull 

ing or pushing the Switch, for the spring force to be overcome 

and for the internal gear 107 to be released from the clamp 33 

and for the planet carrier 105 to be blocked. In the case of the 

respective other movement of the switch/pushbutton, the 

spring force has the effect of releasing the clamp 29 and the 

planet carrier 105 again, while the clamp 33 blocks the inter 

nal gear 107. 

0101 The different operation concepts for a strapping 

appliance, in particular those shown in FIGS. 1, 1a and 1b, 

and operating concepts described above may also be provided 

for this exemplary embodiment of a strapping appliance 

according to the invention. 

List of reference designations 

1 Strapping apparatus 

2 Housing 

3 Handle 

4 Base plate 

6 Tensioning device 

6a Tensioning axis 

7 Tensioning wheel 

8 Rocker 

8a. Rocker pivotaxis 

9 Tensioning plate 

10 Pushbutton 

12 Friction welding device 

13 Welding shoe 

14 Transfer device 

15 Battery 

19 Bevel gear 

2O Bevel gear 

21 Toothed gear 

22 Toothed belt drive 

23 Toothed gear 

24 Shaft 

25 Planet carrier 

25a Clamping Surface 

25b Planetgears 

26 Gearing 

27 Internal gear 

27a. Shoulder 

27C Cam 

28 Rolling bearing 

29 First clamp 

29a Arcuate contact surface 

30 Sun gear 

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US 2016/0107775 A1 

-continued 

List of reference designations 

31 Axis of rotation of gearing and 

ensioning wheel 

32 internal gear 

32a Outer surface 

33 Second clamp 

34 Planetgear 

35 Planet carrier 

36 Sun gear 

37 Planet carrier 

37a Shoulder 

38 Planetgear 

39 Stop element 

40 Arrow 

41 Planetgear 

42 Planet carrier 

43 Sun gear 

44 Spring element (restoring spring) 

45 Freewheel 

46 Support 

46a Recess 

8O Pivotable rocker 

80a Rocker pivotaxis 

8Ob Driver 

8Oc Driver 

86 Tensioning device 

86a Tensioning axis 

87 Tensioning wheel 

89 Tensioning plate 

99 Bevel gear 

OO Bevel gear 

05 Spur gear (planet carrier) 

OSb Planet gear 

O6 Gearing 

O7 internal gear 

O7b Circumferential surface 

09 internal gear 

O9b Circumferential surface 

O9c. External toothing 

10 Sun gear 12 Arrow 

13 Arrow 

14 Planetgears 

15 Planet carrier 

17 Planet carrier 

17b Toothing 

17a. Cam 

17b Cam 

17C Toothing 

18 Planetgear 

21 Planetgear 

22 Planet carrier 

23 Sun gear 

24 Spring element 

25 Freewheel 

43 Switching axis 

44 Pushbutton 

50 Circular arc segment 

SOc Toothing 

51 Connecting shaft 

51a. Connection axis 

55 Spacing/Pivot radius 

56 Connecting line 

57 Direction of rotation 

58 Radius 

59 Spring element 

60 Switch 

B Band 

M Motor 

1-19. (canceled) 20: A Strapping apparatus comprising: 

a pivotable rocker; 

a tensioning device configured to apply aband tension to a 

loop of a strapping band, the tensioning device includ 

13 

Apr. 21, 2016 

ing: (1) a tensioning wheel rotatable about a tensioning axis and configured to engage the strapping band, and 

(2) a tensioning plate, wherein: 

(1) the tensioning wheel and the tensioning plate are 

positioned relative to one another such that, during a 

tensioning process, a portion of the strapping band 

positioned between the tensioning wheel and the ten 

Sioning plate is in contact with both the tensioning 

wheel and the tensioning plate; and 

(2) at least one of the tensioning wheel and the tension 

ing plate is arranged on the rocker, 

a motor operatively coupled to the rocker and configured to 

pivot the rocker about a rocker axis to change a spacing 

between the tensioning wheel and the tensioning plate; 

a connecting device configured to connect to one another 

two regions of the loop of the strapping band situated 

one atop the other; and 

an actuating device actuatable to change a Switching state 

of gearing of the strapping apparatus Such that a drive 

movement of the motor leads either to the tensioning wheel rotating or the rocker pivoting. 

21: The strapping apparatus of claim 20, wherein the motor 

is the only motor of the strapping apparatus and the drive 

movement from the only one motor can be transmitted to 

either the tensioning wheel or the rocker. 

22: The strapping apparatus of claim 20, wherein in one of 

the Switching states of the gearing, the pivoting movement, 

driven by the motor, of the gearing leads to an increase in the 

spacing between the tensioning wheel and the tensioning plate. 

23: The strapping apparatus of claim 20, wherein the actu 

ating device is actuatable to Substantially simultaneously 

actuate two Switching elements configured to act on the gear ing. 

24: The strapping apparatus of claim 23, wherein the two 

Switching elements are configured to act on different gearing 

elements of the gearing. 

25: The strapping apparatus of claim 23, wherein the two 

Switching elements are actuatable via only one actuation of 

the actuating device. 

26: The strapping apparatus of claim 20, wherein after the 

tensioning process has been performed, an actuation of the 

actuating device causes a reduction of the band tension in the 

portion of the strapping band in engagement with the tension 

ing wheel. 

27: The strapping apparatus of claim 20, wherein an actua 

tion of the actuating device is configured to trigger at least one 

additional function including initiation of at least one of the 

tensioning process and a connecting process for connecting 

the two regions of the loop of the Strapping band. 

28: The strapping apparatus of claim 20, wherein an actua 

tion of the actuating device is also configured to cause the 

connecting device to transfer between its rest position its 

working position. 

29: The strapping apparatus of claim 20, which includes a 

second actuating device actuatable to trigger at least one of 

the tensioning process and a connecting process for connect 

ing the two regions of the loop of the strapping band. 

30: The strapping apparatus of claim 20, which includes a 

second actuating device actuatable to trigger the tensioning 

process and a third actuating device actuatable to trigger a 

connecting process for connecting the two regions of the loop 

of the strapping band. 

Case 2:24-cv-00080-JRG Document 57-2 Filed 10/17/24 Page 27 of 28 PageID #: 1109
US 2016/0107775 A1 

31: A Strapping apparatus comprising: 

a pivotable rocker; 

a tensioning device configured to apply aband tension to a 

loop of a strapping band, the tensioning device includ 

ing: (1) a tensioning wheel rotatable about a tensioning axis and configured to engage the strapping band, and 

(2) a tensioning plate, wherein: 

(1) the tensioning wheel and the tensioning plate are 

positioned relative to one another Such that, during a 

tensioning process, a portion of the strapping band 

positioned between the tensioning wheel and the ten 

Sioning plate is in contact with both the tensioning 

wheel and the tensioning plate; and 

(2) at least one of the tensioning wheel and the tension 

ing plate is arranged on the rocker, 

a motor operatively coupled to the rocker and configured to 

pivot the rocker about a rocker axis to change a spacing 

between the tensioning wheel and the tensioning plate; 

a connecting device configured to connect to one another 

two regions of the loop of the strapping band situated 

one atop the other, and 

an actuating device actuatable to cause the motor to drive 

the tensioning wheel, cause the connecting device to 

transfer from a rest position into a working position, 

Apr. 21, 2016 

connect the two regions of the loop of strapping band, 

and drive the rocker to generate the spacing between the 

tensioning wheel and the tensioning plate. 

32: The strapping apparatus of claim 31, wherein the actu 

ating device is the only actuating device configured to cause 

the motor to operate. 

33: The strapping apparatus of claim 31, wherein the actu 

ating device is actuatable to cause multiple functions to be 

performed. 

34: The strapping apparatus of claim 33, wherein different 

quantities of Successive actuations of the actuating device 

cause performance of different functions. 

35: The strapping apparatus of claim 31, which includes a 

second actuating device actuatable to actuatable to trigger at 

least one of the tensioning process and a connecting process 

for connecting the two regions of the loop of the strapping 

band and a third actuating device actuatable to generate the 

spacing between the tensioning wheel and the tensioning plate. 

36: The strapping apparatus of claim 31, which includes a 

second actuating device actuatable to release tension in the 

portion of the strapping band in engagement with the tension 

ing wheel. 

Case 2:24-cv-00080-JRG Document 57-2 Filed 10/17/24 Page 28 of 28 PageID #: 1110