Patent GB-1470560-A (GB)
Title: Articulated strap chute and guide means therefor
IPC: B65B13/06
Filed: 1974-09-24
Abstract: 1470560 A strapping installation comprising an articulated strap chute and guide means therefor SIGNODE CORP 24 Sept 1974 [11 Dec 1973] 41435/74 Heading B8C A strapping installation comprises means defining a strapping station S a flexible strap chute 72 for guiding a length of strapping ST endwise and forwardly across the strapping station S and beneath an article A disposed at the station, a guide channel 70, 66, 68, for said chute and within which the latter is slidable endwise between a retracted position wherein the chute 72 is disposed substantially wholly within the confines of the channel, Fig. 3, and a projected position, Fig. 1, wherein at least a major portion of the chute is projected forwardly from the channel, the channel embodying a relatively short horizontal distal section 68 the forward end of which is disposed below the level of the article, at said station, and a relatively long proximate vertical storage section 70 which extends upwardly alongside the article in close proximity thereto. The chute 72, according to the invention also, is unidirectionally flexible so that it may follow the contour of the guide channel during retraction thereinto and projection therefrom and so that the projected portion thereof is self-supporting in cantilever, guide means 33 being disposed between the channel 66 and article A for directing the length of strapping endwise into the proximate end of a projected portion of the chute 72, and means 120, 128, 134, 140, Fig. 9, being provided for selectively projecting, and retracting, said chute 72. As shown, the power feeding mechanism for the strapping 12 is conventional and comprises horizontal and vertical chute sections 28, 26 which are supported respectively on a bracket 22 and an upright column 20, and an intermediate curved section 30, yieldable stop gates 32 retaining the strapping within the chute. The strapping ST is fed over pulleys 34, 36, and, when the end of a loosely-hanging portion ST1, is fed by an operator through the funnel 42 and between a pair of pinch rolls 40 of a strapping feeding head 24 supported at the bracket 22, the strapping is advanced automatically through the chute sections 22, 30, 26 to the guide 33 which directs the strapping along the flexible strap chute 72 which is in its extended position, Fig. 1, where it extends through a space 44 in a pallet 16 which supports the article A. The latter is advanced into the strapping station S, e.g. by rollers 14, or by a conveyer. The flexible strap chute 72 comprises a number of chute and gate sections 74 which are hinged together by pins 84 carrying follower rollers 85 which travel in guide tracks provided in the side walls of the guide channels 70, 66, 68 abutment pins 86 limiting the reverse bending of the flexible chute 72 to an angle of 180 degrees. The upper surfaces of the block-like bodies 80 of the sections 74 form a continuous smooth surface, a pair of spring-loaded gate sections 94, 96, Fig. 8, which complete the guide channel for the strapping, being yieldable to allow a length of strapping ST2 to be pulled upwardly out of the sections 74. To facilitate the passage of the leading end of the strapping through the chute 72 the rear surface of each blank 80 is bevelled and the ends of the gate sections 94, 96 are upturned, the other ends of the sections 94, 96 being also upturned to allow release of the strapping. The means for projecting, and retracting, the articulated chute 72 comprises a reversible-direction value CV which is adapted to apply air pressure to the opposite ends of a cylinder 120 having a hydraulically-dampened piston 122 therein which is connected, by cables 126, 132, to a bracket 130 connected to the uppermost 131a of an articulated series of draw links 131 associated with the blocks 80 in the guide channel 66. Stops 136, 138 limit the retraction and projection of the flexible chute 72. After an operator has manipulated the value CV to extend the chute 72, and has fed the end of the strapping ST1 to the pinch rolls 40 so that the strapping is fed through the chute 28, 26 and the chute 72 to project at ST2, Fig. 1, the operator grasps the strapping between the pulley 36 and the head 24 and, pulls it past the gates 32 and out of the chute sections 28, 26, to lie above the article A and form a loop with the strapping ST2 which, upon being pulled upwardly, is released by the gate sections 92, from the chute 72. The loop is then tensioned and shrunk around the article A by a strapping tool 50 during which operation the operator may partially retract the chute 72.