Abstract:
A lobster banding machine having a tube feeder for feeding a tube of elastic material, a guillotine assembly to cut individual elastic bands from the tube material, jaws to grip and move the tube of elastic material, the gripping assembly having first and second arms, each arm having a finger mechanism mounted at a distal end for gripping a single elastic band.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to an apparatus and method, and more particularly relates to an apparatus suitable for placing an elastic about the pincers of a claw on a crustacean such as a lobster.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A lobster is a crustacean which has found great favour with gourmets as a delicacy. The lobsters are lured to a trap placed on the bottom of the ocean with a buoy extending therefrom. The lobsters enter the trap and are unable to escape. Periodically, the lobster fishermen will raise the trap and remove therefrom any lobsters meeting the required size limitations.  
         [0003]     With their powerful claws, lobsters represent a danger to the fishermen, the consumer and anyone else handling the lobster. Indeed, they represent a danger even to other lobsters as lobsters will attack each other.  
         [0004]     In order to obliviate the above problem, the lobster fisherman will place an elastic band about the claws such that they are unable to be opened. To date, this has been done in a manual manner wherein the lobster fisherman has a supply of rubber bands and a tool is utilized to stretch the band and place it about the pincers of the claw.  
         [0005]     There have been proposals to automate the placement of the rubber bands on the claws. However, the machines developed for such a purpose have not received commercial acceptance.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is an object of the present invention to provide an automated apparatus adapted to place an elastic band about the claws of a lobster.  
         [0007]     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lobster banding machine comprising a tube feeder for feeding a tube of elastic material, a guillotine assembly, the guillotine assembly being operative to cut individual elastic bands from the tube material, and a gripping assembly comprising first and second arms, a drive motor for pivotably driving each of the arms, and a finger mechanism mounted at a distal end of each of the arms, means for axially moving each of the fingers between a retracted position and an extended position.  
         [0008]     The machine of the present invention is designed to be utilized with a tubular band of elastic material. Such tubular bands are well known in the art and readily available commercially.  
         [0009]     The band is fed into the machine through a pair of rollers which are essentially one-way rollers—i.e. they will permit the advancement of the rubber tube therethrough but they prevent withdrawal.  
         [0010]     A pair of jaw assemblies are utilized to advance the elastic tube within the machine. The jaw assemblies are designed to clamp down on opposite sides of the rubber band, advance the same for a length equivalent to the desired width of the elastic band. The jaws then move away from the tube and return to their original position.  
         [0011]     The guillotine assembly is designed to cut the elastic tube into the individual bands. To this end, there are provided a pair of knife assemblies. Though both knife assemblies could be moveable, it is preferred that only one of the knives move to meet the other. In a preferred embodiment, the knives operate in a scissor like fashion.  
         [0012]     Following the production of the individual elastic bands, each one is moved to a position whereby it may be placed about the claw of a lobster. In the preferred embodiment, a pair of arms having retractable fingers are moved into position after the formation of the elastic band to tension the same and move it to a position where it may be placed about the lobster claw. In order to activate the same, a proximity sensor may be utilized.  
         [0013]     Though the invention is described with respect to the claws of lobsters, it will be appreciated that the machine may be utilized to place elastic bands about any desired object. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the claw banding machine;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view thereof;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the machine with the middle compartment open illustrating the components of the machine;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the rear portion of the machine with the door open;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5   a  is a side elevational view of the middle compartment;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5   b  is a top plan view thereof;  
         [0021]      FIG. 6   a  is a front view similar to  FIG. 5   a  but with the arms moved to the banding position;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6   b  is a top plan view thereof;  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a view taken along the lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6   a;    
         [0024]      FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  are Figures illustrating use of the guillotine assembly;  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view showing operation of the jaws for advancement of the elastic tube;  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view illustrating placement of the claw for banding; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is a plan view of the banded claw. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]     Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in  FIG. 1 a  banding machine which is generally designated by reference numeral  10 . Banding machine  10  includes a rear housing generally designated by reference numeral  12 , a central housing generally designated by reference numeral  14 , and a front housing generally designated by reference numeral  16 .  
         [0029]     In general, central housing  16  houses the operational components of the machine with rear housing  12  generally having the control mechanisms mounted therein.  
         [0030]     Mounted on the exterior of rear panel  12  is a power switch  18  as is conventional.  
         [0031]     Leading into central housing  14  is a funnel  24  which is held in position by means of a pair of brackets  20 ,  22 . Brackets  20 ,  22  also journal an upper roller  26  and a lower roller  28 . Rollers  26 ,  28  are one-way rollers as in known in the art.  
         [0032]     As may be seen in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , there is provided an upper jaw assembly which is generally designated by reference numeral  29 . Upper jaw assembly  29  includes an upper jaw  30  and an upper jaw piston  32 . There is also provided a lower jaw assembly generally designated by numeral  34  and which includes a lower jaw  36  and a lower jaw piston  38 . Pistons  32  and  38  are designed to move their respective jaws towards and away from each other. Upper jaw assembly  29  is mounted on an upper rail  40  while lower jaw assembly  34  is mounted on lower rail  42 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , pistons  32  and  38  are designed to move their respective jaw members as shown by arrows  46 . Each of upper jaw assembly  29  and lower jaw assembly  34  are moveable along respective upper rail  40  and lower rail  42  as indicated by arrows  44 . The horizontal movement may be achieved through suitable pistons (not shown).  
         [0033]     The claw banding machine  10  also includes a guillotine or cutter assembly generally designated by reference numeral  48 . The guillotine assembly includes a lower blade  50  and an upper blade  52  with upper blade  52  being driven by means of a piston  54 . Lower blade  50  is essentially stationary. Each of lower blade  50  and upper blade  52  are angled so as to provide a scissor cutting action.  
         [0034]     Mounted about a frame member  56  is a resilient member  58  which is utilized to reposition the elastic tube material following a cutting action. Resilient member  58  may conveniently comprise a member formed of an elastic material.  
         [0035]     Following the guillotine assembly  48 , there is provided an exit funnel  62 . Exit funnel  62  changes from an oval shape to a circular shape at its output end.  
         [0036]     The elastic gripping assembly generally designated by reference numeral  63  includes a first arm  64  which is pivotably mounted and which has, at its extremity, a finger  66 . Finger  66  is moveable along the axis of arm  66  by means of a piston  68 . Similarly, there is provided a second arm  70  which is also pivotably mounted and which has an axially moveable finger  74  driven by piston  72 .  
         [0037]     The pivotable movement of first arm  64  and second arm  70  are achieved through use of respective motors  76 ,  78 .  
         [0038]     Front housing  16  includes an aperture  82  in its front wall and a proximity sensor  80  mounted adjacent thereto.  
         [0039]     Mounted in rear housing  12 , are the control mechanisms which would include a power supply  84 , a circuit board  86 , relays  88  and a manifold  90 . It will be understood that it is well within the skill of one knowledgeable in the art to devise suitable controls.  
         [0040]     Manifold  90  is supplied with air through an air entry  92 .  
         [0041]     In operation, an elastic tube  94  is fed through funnel  24  and between upper roller  26  and lower roller  28 . As previously mentioned, rollers  26  and  28  are one-way rollers to prevent any retraction of the elastic tube  94 .  
         [0042]     Elastic tube  94  is advanced by means of upper jaw  30  and lower jaw  36 . As best seen in  FIG. 9 , cylinders  32  and  38  are activated such that jaws  30  and  36  grip elastic tube  94 . Subsequently, upper jaw assembly  29  and lower jaw assembly  34  are moved along rails  40 ,  42  as indicated by arrows  44  to advance the elastic  94 .  
         [0043]     After one advancing motion, guillotine assembly  48  is activated such that upper blade  52  is driven in a scissor like movement towards lower blade  50  such that an individual elastic  96  is then formed. Elastic member  96  will then pass through exit funnel  62 . As previously mentioned, exit funnel  62  takes the oval configuration-of the elastic after cutting and forms into a circular configuration.  
         [0044]     First arm  64  and second arm  70  are then activated to move through the position shown in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b . Pistons  68  and  72  are then activated to push respective fingers  66  and  74  inside exit funnel  62 . A movement to stretch the elastic then occurs through motors  76  and  78  and arms  64  and  70  are pivotably driven to the position illustrated in  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the elastic is stretched and a lobster claw  98  is inserted through aperture  82 . Proximity sensor  80  detects this and causes movement of arms  64 ,  72  such that the elastic member  96  is placed thereabout as shown in  FIG. 11 . The cycle is then repeated as required.  
         [0045]     It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.