Strap chute opening device for a strapping machine

Abstract: A strapping machine apparatus includes a single actuating lever action (10), which allows the machine strapping chute (175) to be fully opened to expose the strap cutter (130) and sealing mechanism for rapid obstruction removal, and/or servicing.

Description: The present invention relates to strapping machines for positioning and securing a binding strap and more specifically to an apparatus for opening and exposing critical machine components in order to facilitate inspection and repair in a safer, yet more timely manner. A problem common to all prior art strapping machines, as shown for example in document GB-A-1 023 120, concerns the situation where the internals of the machine must be exposed in order to perform some sort of repair or maintenance, or clearing loose or jammed strap from the sealer mechanism. Typically, there are several concerns which must be addressed before the machine internals can be exposed. First, the strap itself must be completely cleared from the operating components of the machine or else it most likely interferes with the desired inspection/maintenance . Secondly, the sealer mechanism, being hot enough to melt the strap's ends together, is usually advanced to a servicing mode by indexing through a partial cycle. This is usually achieved by electronically driving the mechanism, which usually involves complicated and difficult procedures. Moreover, in addressing the above-mentioned concerns, it is most typical for prior art machines to require manual removal of one or more operating guards in order to initially expose the key components. The guards are usually attached by some sort of anchoring means, i.e., clips, screws, bolts, which have a natural tendency to get lost or delay the removal of the guarding. Even then, after the guarding is removed, a separate series of functions are required in order to cut and remove the strap existing in the machine, and then to swing pinch rolls, cutters, etc., away from their co-acting components. All of these secondary functions require expenditure of time, which becomes costly in terms of strapping machine down-time and lower production levels. Furthermore, introduction of worker safety issues presents itself whenever lock-out of machine components becomes necessary in order to reach critical areas. In light of the above-mentioned concerns, attempts have been made to improve the described situation. For example, a certain manufacturer has introduced an apparatus which partially avoids a complete reliance on manual machine manipulation by introducing two lever arm components as a means for opening and clearing. One of the lever arms is arranged such that mechanical manipulation of said arm causes the strap chute to be driven open, thereby eliminating the need for a service technician to perform several manual steps in order to accomplish the same results. A second lever arm is manipulated to actuate the strap cutter. However, this arrangement still requires manual manipulation of the levers to open the machine, which is problematic if not performed in the right sequence. Further, the anvil or separator components do not open while in the service mode. This restricts access to an area critical for service in order to remove the loose strapping fragments and dust which accumulate there. Moreover, the prior art devices are sliding motion designs which require timely lubrication, or else they can become inoperative. Furthermore, a concern from a safety point of view is present since prior arrangements do not lock out these components. According to this invention a strapping machine having a vertical and horizontal axis and a strap chute extending through said apparatus, said chute having an inboard and an outboard side and containing a strap therein for wrapping about a package, said machine including a central portion, wherein said strap is severed and sealed about said package, comprises: a frame disposed below said strap chute; a strap chute support bracket for supporting said chute; an anvil member received within said strap chute support bracket; a main axle disposed in a generally parallel direction to said strap chute on said outboard side thereof, said main axle interconnecting said anvil and said strap chute support bracket, said connection allowing pivotable rotation thereabout; a strap separator disposed on said inboard side of said chute; a lever actuating assembly, said assembly comprised of a plate pivotably attached to said frame, an actuating lever arm attached to said plate, and a cut-off lever, said cut-off lever comprised of a horizontal portion having a top surface and a vertical portion having a top end, said cut-off lever having a generally L-shaped configuration wherein said cut-off lever is pivotably pinned where said sections join, said top end of said vertical portion having a roller bearing attached thereto, said roller bearing in confronting relationship to a platen surface of an actuator plate when said assembly is in a first detent position, said first detent position representing a closed and operable condition of said strapping machine; wherein said lever actuating assembly of said apparatus has a second detent position, said second position representing an open and locked-out servicing condition of said strapping machine. Thus the present invention facilitates the opening and exposure of key machine components in one relatively convenient motion or manipulation. The pivoting apparatus eliminates the use of screws, bolts, or clips to secure machine guarding components and the problems associated with removing or reinstalling such devices, as well as the need to lubricate. In a preferred embodiment manipulation of a single actuating lever causes a series of simultaneous events to occur within the strapping machine so that the strapping chute can be opened, the cutting anvil and strap separator chute can be opened, the cutting anvil and strap separator removed and locked out in the open position, and the cutter advanced to sever the strap so that the strapping path becomes entirely exposed. In this way, a single procedure allows a service technician to immediately begin his internal inspection of the machine for obstructions, or to begin normal repair and replacement of key components and have the components locked open so not to create safety concerns through inadvertent cycling during cleaning or inspection. An example of the present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the following drawings; wherein:- Figure 1 is an end schematic view of the apparatus in the normal, closed, and operating position; Figure 2 is a front view; Figure 3 is a schematic view showing the actuating lever relative to the anvil and support bracket; Figure 4 is an end view of the apparatus of Figure 1 wherein the actuating lever is initially manipulated into the first detent position; Figure 5 is a schematic of how the strapping machine pivots open; Figure 6 is an end view of the apparatus of Figure 4 wherein the lever is fully displaced into the second detent position and the machine is completely locked open; and, Figure 7 is an isometric view of the separator carrier and strap separator. The apparatus of the present invention will now be described, but a basic overview of what the invention is attempting to operationally accomplish is necessary before providing a detailed description of the components. Turning attention to Figure 5, this schematic top view illustrates that a strapping chute 175 is provided above a strapping machine framework 200. The framework has various components anchored to it which will generally be referred to when necessary within this disclosure, but will not be discussed with any detail, since they are not part of the actual invention presented herein. Nevertheless, it should be understood that the strap chute 175 receives the travelling strap or strapping strip, which when in this area of the machine, will or can be severed in order to join two strip ends about a package, the joining process being the well-known hot gluing or hot sealing method. Occasionally during the operation of the strapping machine, several conditions arise wherein access to internals need to be addressed. For example, problems with the glue sealing mechanism anvil or else the cutting knife needs replacement, or maybe plastic chips from previously severed strip sections build-up and create strip movement problems. For whatever reason, the present invention provides a means to quickly open the machine internals for inspection/repair through the manipulation of a single lever actuating assembly. Although the details of the assembly will be described later, suffice it to say that when the lever arm of the assembly (See Figure 1, reference character 10) is pulled downwardly, the simultaneous opening of the major machine components that are disposed on each side of the strap chute are opened. By that it is meant that Figure 5 shows that downward lever movement causes a simultaneous application of outwardly directed forces F, wherein the chute support bracket and the anvil member on the outboard side of chute 175, are pulled in the direction of F 1 while on the inboard side, the strap separator 158 is pulled in the direction of F 2 . The frame 200 is stationary and is not affected. The components 50 and 90 move in unison to each other and with strap separator 158, although as it will become clearer later, that the separator is pivotably connected to the frame (not shown here), while the anvil member and chute support bracket are pivotably connected to each other. Thus, it should generally be understood at this point that the lever arm 10 (Figure 1) is capable of operating against the strap separator and the support bracket and the anvil members in simultaneous fashion. Turning attention now to Figures 1 and 2, the lever actuating assembly of the invention will now be described in greater detail. The assembly is comprised of an actuating lever 10 having a handle 12 at its first end, while its second end 14 is attached by conventional means to a plate 16. Plate 16 has a generally parallelogram configuration, having an outside corner surface 17 and a side surface 19. The internal corner 20 is pivotably pinned to frame 200 by pin 15, thereby holding plate 16 and lever 10 along the side of the strapping apparatus. A shaft 25 projects normal to plate 16, having a first end 22 and a second end 24. The schematic sketch of Figure 3 best shows the significance of shaft 25 in relation to anvil member 90 and strap chute support bracket 50 wherein it is seen that second end 24 is provided with a roller bearing 26 for making rolling contact against the internal surface 92 on anvil 90. A second roller bearing 28 is located intermediate the shaft ends so as to be in rolling contact against the edge surface 52 of support bracket 50. When handle 12 is downwardly pulled, it should be clear from considering Figures 2 and 3, that each bearing will contact their respective mating surface 92, 52. Simultaneously, the actuating assembly also includes a biasing spring 30 which has one end connected around catch 34, and the other end about first end 22 of shaft 25. As Figure 2 shows, it is also important to understand that anvil member 90 and support bracket 50 are tied together by the main axle 80, which means that when the force F 1 (Figure 5) is effectively provided through manipulation of actuating lever 10, both members 50 and 90 will outwardly rotate about main axle 80, in unison. Turning attention now to Figure 4, it is seen that lever 10 is in a downwardly depressed position, herein considered a first detent position. The first detent position is characterized by the outer corner surface 17 of plate 16 being in contact against the top surface 62 on the outboard end 64 of cut-off lever 60. Cut-off lever 60 is schematically shown in Figure 4 to include a horizontal portion 61 and a vertical portion 63, forming a generally L-shaped member. The inboard end 66 is pivoted at B to a rear axle 67 that extends between the frame of the apparatus. The vertical portion 63 has a top end 65 accepting a roller bearing 69. Comparing Figure 1 to Figure 4, it is seen that bearing 69 makes contact against platen surface 120 when handle 12 is pulled downwardly. During the downward handle movement, surface 17 pushes down on surface 62, causing cut-off lever 60 to rotate counterclockwise around pivot point B. Likewise, roller bearing 69 moves in the same direction, contacting platen surface 120. As should be understood from again referring to Figure 5, the force F 1 is actually the result of cut-off lever 60 having its vertical portion bearing 69 pushing platen surface 120 towards the strap chute 175. Figure 4 also illustrates that actuation plate 100 is comprised of a base portion 110 that has a top end 112 and a base end 114, the platen 118 projecting from base 114. A pin 105 creates a rotation point C for the actuator to rotate about when bearing 65 contacts and pushes against platen surface 120. Top end of base portion 110 includes a pinned separator carrier 150 that is pivotable about D due to pin 113. The bottom end 114 of base portion 110 also includes a cutter 130 connected at 135 by conventional means. Figure 7 shows the separation carrier in greater detail where it is seen that pin 113 allows rotation about point D, as indicated by the heavy, arcuate arrow. A projection 154 is of a generally cylindrical shape and includes hole 155. As seen from Figures 1, 4, and 6, a spring loaded rod 160 is received therein. Rod 160 is secured to projection 154 through set-screw 156. As best seen from Figures 1, 4, or 6, it is seen that respective springs 165 A and 165 B are concentric to rod 160, although they are not shown in Figure 7. This figure illustrates that one rod end is fitted with nuts and washers 162 in order to keep spring 165 B retained thereon. The other rod end is attached by typical means to an extension plate 164 on strap chute support bracket 50, as best seen in Figures 1, 4 and 6. Each of the rod springs 165 are of the type which want to keep the obstruction assembly components continuously closed until acted upon by the lever actuating assembly. It is important to note that the spring-loaded rod, being connected to separator carrier 150, is horizontally displaced in the direction the handle 12 is moved, when the handle is pulled. This causes the separator carrier 150 to pivot clockwise about point F thereby causing the strap separator 158 to pull away from strap chute 175 at the same moment anvil member 90 and support bracket 50 displace, as illustrated in Figure 5. Operationally, the lever actuating assembly also has a second detent position, which will now be described. Turning attention to Figure 6, it is seen that lever 10 is now vertically displaced lower than that of Figure 4. Plate 16 now has side surface 19 in contact against top surface 62 of cut-off lever 60. No further swinging motion is imputed to members 50, 90, or 150 when in the second detent position. However, the inwardly-directed, horizontal movement of roller bearing 69 against platen surface 120 causes the cutter 130 to reach a fully vertical or upright position, wherein the pivoting action of actuator plate 100 about point C causes the upward projection of cutter 130 towards the strap. The top, razor-like edge 134 severs the strap, and it is automatically rewound onto its supply spool. Although the end view of Figure 6 does not clearly show, it should be understood by viewing the schematic of Figure 5, that the strap separator 158 is attached to the top of the separator carrier 150, and that the cutter traverses the strap separator approximately at the point of the arrowed line designated at F 2 . The remainder of the strap chute is open (since detent position 1), and now that the strap is severed, the internals of the strapping machine 5 are easily reached. Closing of the anvil member, strap chute, support bracket and strap separator are easily accomplished by reversing the direction of the handle 12, to the fully closed position shown in Figure 1.

Claims: A strapping machine having a vertical and horizontal axis and a strap chute (175) extending through said apparatus, said chute (175) having an inboard and an outboard side and containing a strap therein for wrapping about a package, said machine including a central portion, wherein said strap is severed and sealed about said package, said apparatus comprising: a frame (200) disposed below said strap chute (175); a strap chute support bracket (50) for supporting said chute (175); an anvil member (90) received within said strap chute support bracket (50); a main axle (80) disposed in a generally parallel direction to said strap chute (175) on said outboard side thereof, said main axle (80) interconnecting said anvil (90) and said strap chute support bracket (50), said connection allowing pivotable rotation thereabout; a strap separator (158) disposed on said inboard side of said chute; a lever actuating assembly (10), said assembly comprised of a plate (16) pivotably attached to said frame (200), an actuating lever arm (12) attached to said plate (16), and a cut-off lever (60), said cut-off lever (60) comprised of a horizontal portion (61) having a top surface (62) and a vertical portion (63) having a top end (65), said cut-off lever (60) having a generally L-shaped configuration wherein said cut-off lever (60) is pivotably pinned where said sections join, said top end (65) of said vertical portion (63) having a roller bearing (69) attached thereto, said roller bearing in confronting relationship to a platen surface (120) of an actuator plate (100) when said assembly (10) is in a first detent position, said first detent position representing a closed and operable condition of said strapping machine; wherein said lever actuating assembly (10) of said apparatus has a second detent position, said second position representing an open and locked-out servicing condition of said strapping machine. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said anvil member (90), strap chute (175), support bracket (150) and strap separator (158) are respectively pivoted away from said strap chute (175) when said actuating lever (10) is pulled downwardly into said second detent position. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said strap chute (175) is open when said lever (10) is in said second detent position. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cut-off lever (60) pivots in a generally counterclockwise direction when said actuating lever (10) is pulled, thereby causing said roller bearing (69) to contact said platen surface (120). An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said actuating lever (10) is pulled downwardly so that a side surface (19) on said plate (16) rests upon a top surface (62) of said horizontal portion (61) of said cut-off lever (60), whereby said platen surface (120) is rotated towards said strap chute (175), thereby causing said actuator plate (100) to rotate. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further including a cutter (130) attached to said actuator plate (100), said cutter (130) rotating with said plate (100) and being uprightly positioned and projected so as to sever said strap within said chute (175).

Inventors: HABERSTROH JAMES, RENZ MARK, HABERSTROH, JAMES, RENZ, MARK
Applicants: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS, ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B65B13
IPC codes: B65B13