Patent GB-663501-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to package binding tools
IPC: B65B13/34
Filed: 1949-11-24
Abstract: 663,501. Bale-tying machines. SIGNODE STEEL STRAPPING CO. Nov. 24, 1949 [Dec. 15, 1948], No. 30195/49. Class 45 [Also in Group XV] A . packing binding tool comprises a main frame A adapted to rest upon a package to be bound and which pivotally supports a binder tensioning mechanism B and an auxiliary frame C which carries sealing jaws D, an operating handle 98 being provided which is movable with the auxiliary frame C through a first range of movement for pivoting the frame C and operating the mechanism B to tension a package encircling binder and which, at the end of the first range of movement in one direction when the frame C and sealing jaws D have been swung into sealing position, is movable in the same direction through a second range of movement to move the jaws D relative to the frame C to actuate the jaws to form a joint in the overlapping 'ends of the binder, a reaction handle being provided which is secured to the auxiliary frame C for applying a force throughout the second range of movement in a direction to counter-balance the force exerted on the handle 98 and thereby to relieve the package of pressure exerted on the handle 98 while the joint is formed. General features. The frame A rests upon the package to be bound on a foot 22 over which a steel band is passed in overlapping fashion, and the auxiliary frame C carries in addition to the sealing jaws D, a 'seal magazine E and seal feeding means F. Tensioning means. This comprises a domed serrated plug 26 which protrudes from the foot 22 and a pair of serrated wheels 82. The plug 26 holds the lower of the overlapping parts of the band and the wheels move the upper part. The wheels 82 and a ratchet wheel 84 which is mounted between them are secured on an eccentric part of a bolt 16 which is pivotally mounted in the frame C and is biassed by a spring in a housing 54 so that the wheels 82 are normally in contact with the band. A handle 65 is secured to the bolt 16 to raise the wheels 82 from the band. A handle 56 is secured to the bolt 16 to raise the wheels 82 from the band; this handle may be locked to hold the wheels clear of the band by a spring biassed pivoted latch 62 which engages a projeection 72 on the handle. The latch is released by an integral handle 74. The overlapping parts of the band are aligned on the foot 22 by means of a guide plug 28 at the rear end of the foot, a notched guide plate 30 at the front of the foot and a pivoted lever 32 adjacent the tensioning wheels. When the lever is lowered, a part 44 enters a slot in the foot so that a shoulder 42 engages the outer edges of the overlapping band moves the band so that the inner edges contact the guides 28, 30. The lever 32 is lowered by a lug on the handle 56 when the tensioning wheels 82 are moved into contact with the band and is kept in its lowered position by a cam surface 80 on the handle 56 which engages its end. The wheels 82 are unidirectionally rotated to tension the band by the interaction of a holding pawl 94 ori the frame A and a feed pawl 86 on the frame C, both of which engage the ratchet wheel 84. The frame C is pivotally mounted on the bolt 16 and is oscillated to operate the tensioning means by a lever 98 which is pivotally mounted on the frame C by a pin 100 but which for the tensioning operation is locked to the frame C by a latch 112. A reaction lever 102 which is shorter than the lever 96 and which is rigidly secured to the frame C rests in the hollow underside of lever 96 when it is locked by the latch 112. The latch 112 is spring-biassed and engages a pin 116 on the lever 98 and is shaped so. that when the frame C reaches the limit of its movement with the sealing mechanism D engaging the band, further pressure on the handle 98 releases the latch and allows the lever 98 to pivot on the frame C to operate the sealing mechanism. The latch automatically re-engages when the lever is returned to its initial position. Sealing and cutting mechanism. This comprises a pair of holding jaws 138 to prevent the seal buckling and two pairs of sealing jaws 140 for deforming the seal and band, one pair on each side of the holding jaws 138 and spaced from it by plates 148 on the forward ends of which act as an anvil. The paws 138, 140 pivot on fixed pins 144 and the holding jaws, which are shorter than the sealing jaws are fixed to the sealing jaws by pins 146. The sealing jaws are connected by links 150 to a slidably mounted cross head 156 which in turn is connected to the lever 98 by a link 160. Mounted above the jaws 138, 140 is a cutter 170 for scoring the band so that it may be easily broken and slots in this engage the ends of the pins 146 by which the holding jaws are fixed to the sealing jaws so that when the jaws are pivoted the cutter is moved forwardly. To avoid pressure on the package the frame C may be held by the reaction lever 102, while the lever 98 is operated for the sealing process. Seal magazine and ejecting means. The seal magazine is a box-like member open at both ends and mounted above the sealing mechanism. It contains a spring- loaded follower 190 to press the seals to the outlet end and has a spring-closed door 204 on one side for loading purposes and for removing jammed seals. Guides on the door and opposite part of the box hold the topmost seal in position for the ejector. The ejector comprises a spring-loaded blade 234 which engages the seal and which is pivotally mounted on an arm 240 of a bell crank 224 which is pivoted on the top of the magazine E. The other arm 252 of the bell crank is moved against the pressure of a spring 232 by a cam 248 secured to the pivot pin 100 of the lever 98. The shape of the cam is such that during the tensioning movement of the lever 98 the ejector is not moved but during the sealing movement of the lever 98, the cam moves the ejector bell crank 224 against the spring 232 so that the blade 234 is moved above the front seal in the magazine. During the return movement of the lever 98 the cam allows the blade 234 to engage the first seal in the magazine and press it against the sealing jaws and when these jaws are sufficiently opened by the return movement of the lever 98 the seal is snapped in position between them by the action of spring 22 ready for the next binding operation. Operation. With the tensioning device B locked in a raised position by the latch 62 a band is manually looped about a package and positioned with its overlapping ends on the foot 22 as shown in Fig. 1. The latch 62 is then released by its handle 74 which releases the handle 56 and the pressure of its spring on bolt 16, causes the tensioning wheels 82 to engage the upper end of the band, the lower end being held by the serrated plug 26 on the foot 22. Movement of the handle 56 also causes the lever 32 to align the overlapping ends of the band. The band is then tensioned by oscillating the lever 98 backwards and forwards to rotate the wheels 82 through pawl 86 and ratchet wheel 84. When the band has been tensioned the lever 98 is swung in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 1 which moves the sealing mechanism D into contact with the band. Further movement of the lever 98 in the same direction causes the latch 112 to release so allowing the lever 98 to pivot relatively to the sealing mechanism to actuate the holding jaws 138, sealing jaws 140 and cutter 170 through link 160 and crosshead 156, so folding and deforming a seal about the band and scoring the band so that it may easily be broken from the supply reel. Pressure on the package may be counterbalanced by pressure on lever 102. The sealwas positioned between the jaws in the previous cycle. During the sealing operation, the ejector blade 234 is raised above the front seal in the magazine E by the came 248 operated by lever 98 and bell crank 224. When the sealing is completed the lever 98 is returned to its initial, position; this allows the blade 234, actuated by spring 232 on bell crank 224 to snap a seal between the jaws of the sealing means when these have been sufficiently opened by movement of the leer to release the completed joint. The latch 112 catches automatically during this movement of the lever 98. The handle 56 is then moved against a spring to raise the tensioning device from the completed band and to release the aligning lever 32 so that the foot 22 may be slipped from under the band. The handle 56 is locked with the tensioning means in raised position by latch 62. Specification 534,420 is referred to.