US2202194A - Box strapping tool - Google Patents

Description

May 28, 1949. H. c. DOOLITTLE BOX STRAPPING TOOL 2 Shets-Sheetl Original Filed June -14, 1937 Q Q f? w? p ZIWWW HOWARD 6717001317725 May 28 1940- H. c. DOOLITTLE aox STRAPPING TOOL Original Filed June 14, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Patented May 28, 1949 UNITED STATES BOX STRAPPING roor.

Howard C. Doolittle, New Britain, Conn, assignor to The Stanley Works, New Britain, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Original application June 14, 1937, Serial No. 148,078. Divided and this application June 3, 1938, Serial No. 211,541

25 Claims.

This invention relates to a tool for tensioning metal straps about packages, boxes, or other articles and for maintaining the straps under tension while they are being secured in tensioned relation.

The aim of the invention is to provide an improved tool by means of which straps may be more quickly tensioned With greater facility about boxes and the like and the tension maintained while the straps are being sealed or otherwise secured.

To these ends, there is provided a simple, compact, easily portable, sturdy, and effective machine by means of which the straps may be very quickly tensioned to the desired degree with relativelyslight effort and the tension maintained during the sealing operation. The tensioning device shown herein may be used with the sealing device shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 148,078, filed June 14, 1937, in which the tensioning device is shown in conjunction with the sealing means; this application being a di-.

vision of said prior application. The machine, however, can be readily used with any type of sealing means, which means may be either carried on the same base or may be separate therefrom.

The improved machine has many features of novelty and advantage, is relatively small, compact, and of light weight, and may be readily operated to apply binding straps about packages, boxes, or the like, under any desired tension. The machine is further designed to permit it to be readily used with suitable types of sealing means.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplifled in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of Which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention showing the parts positioned with a strap fully tensioned;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation in a reverse position to Fig. 1; the position of the parts prior to the tensioning being indicated by dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a front end view of the frame and parts taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view partially'in section taken on the line 6-45 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing the for- 5 ward strap guide member;- and Fig. 8 is a fragmentary rear view of the movable stop member.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a tensioning device comprising a frame H] which has a substantially flat bottom face ll supporting the tool on a box or other article about which a strap S is to be tensioned with its ends S and S" threaded through the tensioning device, the end S overlying the end S. The base is provided adjacent therear end thereof with a laterally projecting foot I2 havinga substantially fiat strap supporting face I3. A dog it cooperates with the foot to rigidly secure one end S of the strap S to the frame during a tensioning operation; the dog having a laterally extending flange 15, the lower face thereof being parallel to and overlying the upper face l3 of foot 12 and provided with a plurality of strap engaging teeth.

The flange 15 projects from the lower end of an arm l6, which armdepends from a laterally extending cylindrical shank I! journalled in a bore l8 of the frame Ill. Arm [6 is angularly movable within a substantially triangular shaped recess l9; the arm having a curved upper end in mating slidable engagement with the curved upper surface of the recess, which surface forms a partial continuation of the surface of the bore 18 to aid in receiving thrusts when the strap end S is gripped by the dog M against the foot l2. The arm 16 is angularly disposed towards the forward end of the frame with reference to a vertical plane through the axis of the shank l I and the bottom so that a clockwise rotation of dog 14, as viewed in Fig. 1, moves the flange 15 into tighter strap gripping engagement. A spring 22 interposed between the forward wall of recess 19 and dog It further aids in urging the dog into strap gripping engagement and cooperates to prevent any slipping of the strap end S toward the rear of the frame during a tensioning operation. The extreme outer end of flange I 5 has an upwardly projecting lip 20, whereby there is provided on the upper'surface of the flange between the lip and the arm 18 a channel or groove 2! for receiving and guiding the opposite strap end S as hereinafter pointed out.

The frame 10 is provided forwardly of foot 12 with a recess 23 across which the strap parts to place the strap under tension. similar in operation to dog I4 but grips the strap end S" in opposed relation to strap end S and able strap guide I95.

are drawn and wherein they overlie to permit the sealing and cutting operations to be performed by any suitable sealing and cutting means. A foot 24 extends laterally from the frame at the forward side of recess 23 and provides a support for the forward strap end S of the strap S. In order to prevent the strap end S from riding over foot 24, there is provided a bladelike stop member 99 pivotally mounted so that its lower edge 9| rests on the top surface 25 of foot 24 and the forward surface of the member 99 is at right angles to the top surface 25. The inner end of blade 99 is provided with an upwardly facing shoulder 92 which fits beneath an outwardly projecting shoulder 93 on the rotatable blade carrier 94 which is mounted in the circular opening 95 in the frame I9 and to which the blade is secured by the rivet 94. The blade carrier 94 is cut away to provide rearwardly extending wing members 91 having downwardly facing shoulders 91', between which there is located the upper end of a pin 98. The lower end of the pin has an enlarged head 99 which is screw-threadedly secured in the frame 19. The downwardly facing shoulders 91' and Wings 91 provide stops for one end of a spring I99 which is mounted on the pin 98 between the shoulders and the enlarged head 99 of the pin. The spring tends to rotate the merifiher 94 and blade 99 in a counterclockwise direction to stop position with the lower edge 9| thereof in engagement with the foot 24. The pin 98 further serves to maintain the blade carrier 94 positioned within the circular opening 95 of the frame ID. The forward end of the blade 98 is provided with a cam surface I9I to permit the opposite end S" of the strap S to be slid beneath the blade and lift the stop against the tension of the spring I99 as it is drawn through the device to overlie the strap end S.

grip the opposite strap end S" of the strap S and to be moved longitudinally within the frame Dog 21 is is angularly disposed rearwardly of a plane "through the axis of a supporting shaft 29 upon 'which it is mounted at its upper end. Shaft 29 is mounted in head 28, and the dog 21 has a rounded upper end slidably engageable with a rounded flange 39 projecting outwardly from head 28 to cooperate with shaft 29 in receiving thrusts imparted upon the dog during a strap gripping operation.

The bottom of dog 27 is provided with strap gripping teeth 3I disposed above a strap supporting face 32 of laterally projecting foot 33. There is interposed between the depending rear wall 34 of the flange 39 and the dog 27 a spring 35 normally urging the dog into strap gripping position. Located forwardly of the dog and positioned beneath the depending forward wall of flange 39 is a removable and rotatable adjust- The strap guide is generally in the form of a T-headed pin having a rounded body portion I95, the inner end of which is received within a bore I 97 in the head 28 and secured therein by a set screw I99 which projects into a groove I98 in the body portion ,of the pin. The rounded head H9 of the pin is connected to the body part I95 by a shoulder III which tapers outwardly from the body portion to the periphery of the head and thus forms a lip extending downwardly and outwardly from the body portion I99 and is so spaced from the side wall of head 28 to define a channel or groove 39 adapted to receive the strap end S and locate it beneath the dog 21. As the surface of member I95 becomes worn or scored due to the tensioning of the strap, the set screw I99 may be loosened and the member I95 turned to pre sent a smooth rounded surface over which the strap is guided. When the entire surface of member I95 becomes worn, a new pin may readily be substituted to provide a new guide surface and thereby eliminate any wearing or scoring of the permanent parts of the frame 59 or head 29.

The head 28 is slidable in a recess 39 in the forward end of the frame and is positioned therein by a tensioning rod II which fits within a bore 52 within the head 28; the rod having a reduced portion 93 extending through the head and provided with a threaded portion adapted to receive a nut 44 to secure the head 28 against the shoulder 45 of the tensioning rod at the end of the reduced portion.

The rod l! is slidably mounted in abo're 46 which terminates at a recess 41 at the rear end of the frame. The rearward end of the tensioning rod has a reduced portion 39 slidably extending through a bore 49 in a plunger 59; .the plunger 59 being mounted for longitudinal slidable movement in a recess i'I in frame [9 and being prevented from rotation therein by a key 5! received within a key slot 52 in the wall of the frame 19.

The rearward end of the rod ll is provided with an adjustment screw 53 having an enlarged head 54, and mounted intermediate of the head 54 and the rear wall of the plunger 59 is a coiled spring 55 which normally maintains the inner end of plunger 59 abutting against the shoulder 56 at. the inner end of the reduced portion 49 of the rod 45. The tensioning rod is movable longitudinally within the frame by a tensioning lever 57, which lever is journalled at its inner end upon a short shaft 58 having flattened outer ends 59 slidably and nonrotatably received Within slots 89 in the frame; one slot being shown in Fig. 3 and the other lying above the cut away portion 6| of the rod 5|. The operative end of the tension lever 57 is formed as a gear segment 62, which segment is adapted to mesh with a rack 63 rigidly secured to the bottom of the frame by rivets 64.

The lever 51 is interconnected by a link 95 to the plunger 59; the link having its forward end 5 85 journalled in a recess 65 in the lever 57; the recess being located to the rear of the shaft 58 and having an upper shoulder 81 arranged to abut the top of the link '65 to limit the link movement in one direction and hold the link in position. The opposite end of link 65 has a laterally projecting pivot 98 journalled within a bore 69 in the forward end of the plunger 59.

From the foregoing it will be seen that as the upper end of the lever 57 is moved rearwardly it 1 against spring 55 and bolt 56 to thus shift the tensioning rod 4| longitudinally in the frame and draw head 28 rearwardly from the dotted line position to the full line position shown in Fig. 2. The forward end 85 of the toggle link 65 is thus rotated from a plane above the pivot of lever 51 until it reaches a point wherein the toggle, comprising the link 65 and that portion of the operating lever between the shaft 58 and the link end 85, approaches a straight line which passes through the centers of the pivotal ends of the link 65 and shaft 58, thus greatly multiplying the energy exerted by the operator. and obtaining tremendous power with slight effort during the final portion of the tensioning operation. If at any time the tension exerted on the strap should overcome the force exerted, further movement of the tensioning lever 5'! will force the plunger rearwardly to compress the spring 55 without moving the rod 4|; the actuating lever thus being, in effect, flexibly connected to the tensioning rod 4!.

As the operating handle 5'? is brought to its extreme rearward and bottom position, the pivot 85 passes through dead center and below the pivot of the lever 5'1, with the result that the parts are automatically locked in position with shoulder E! of the lever recess 66 overlying the link. As the tension of the strap tends to move the plunger 59 forwardly and the line of thrust through the link 65 is between the axes of the tensioning lever 51 and the rack '53, the segment cannot move forwardly due to its meshing engagement with-the rack. During this final movement, the plunger 50 will move. rearwardly away from the shoulder 56 of the rod 4|, placing the spring 55 under compression; at which time the pivot 85 is beneath dead center and the compression of the spring urges the shoulder 67 tightly against the link 65 to lock the lever 51 in tensioned position.

As it is not always desirable to take up all the slack with a single stroke of the lever 51, there is provided a supplemental dog pivotally supported on its upper end on a shaft H to the rear of and above shank H of dog M. The dog it has on its lower face a tooth portion 12 overlying a projection 13 and adapted to cooperate therewith to grip the strap. The dog H! is angularly disposed generally similar to dog 2'1, and the strap supporting projection 13 is located rearwardly and slightly above the channel or groove 2! of the dog M. The tooth face l2 of the dog it is normally urged into gripping engagement by a suitable spring M mounted on the end of a stud l5 carried on the frame It. The dog iii cooperates with dog 21 in the capacity of a ratchet to prevent release of take-up of strap end S" by the movement of the head 28. Thus, if the tension lever is swung upwardly'to move the dog 27 away from the dog Iii, the previously accumulated tension on strap S is maintained by dog Ill. Similarly, during the following downward movement of lever 51 the dog 21 again grips the strap end S to provide further tensioning of the strap which now freely slides over the groove 2i and under dog It; the dog Hi preventing any loss of slack upon opposite movement of the tensioning lever 51.

It will be seen from the foregoing that with sion is not obtained, by oscillating lever 51 any desired degree of tension may be obtained, and

should the tension become too great thedevice will act to compress the spring 55 without moving the head 28 and thus prevent breakage of the 5 strap.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is '10 intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a'matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim as my invention;

1. In a box strappingtool, a frame, a strap lock for securing one end of a strap thereto, a,

member slidable in the frame, a strap lock carried by said member and arranged to hold the other end of the strap and to be moved relative to the first mentioned lock for a strap tensioning operation, a rack fixed to the frame, a tensioning lever having a gear segment enmeshed with said rack, means movably maintaining said lever in enmeshed rolling engagement with the rack, and a toggle connection between said lever and said member.

2. In a box strapping tool, a frame, a strap lock for rigidly securing one end of a strap thereto, a member slidably mounted in the frame, a strap lock carried by said member and arranged to hold the other end of the strap and to be moved relative to the first mentioned strap :40

look, a tensioning lever having a movable pivot, a rack fixed to said frame, said lever having a gear segment enmeshed with the rack, and a toggle connection between said lever and said member and adapted to approach a straight line .45

position during the final tensioning movement of said lever.

3. In a box strapping tool, a frame, a strap lock for securing one end of a strap thereto, a

member slidable on the frame, a strap lock carried .by said member and arranged to hold the other end of the strap and to be moved relative to the first mentioned lock for a strap tensioning operation, a rack fixed to the frame, a shaft disposed transversely of the movement of saidmember and supported in the frame for movement substantially in the line of movement of said member, a tensioning lever mounted on said shaft and having a gear segment in enmeshed rolling engagement with the rack, and a link pivotally connected between the lever and said member.

4. In a box strapping tool, a frame, a strap lock for holding one end of a strap thereto, a

member slidable in the frame, a strap lock car- 1 ried by said member and arranged to hold the other end of a strap and to be moved relative to the first mentioned strap lock for a strap tensioning operation, a rack rigidly secured to the frame, a tensioning lever having a gear segment enmeshed for rolling engagement on the rack, and a toggle connect-ion between the lever and said member for transmitting movement therebetween and adapted to be swung by the lever past a dead center to a locked position. I

5. In a box strapping tool, a frame, clamping means for holding one end of a strap to the frame, a member slidably mounted in the frame, clamping means carried by said member and arranged to hold the other end of the strap, a rack secured to the frame, a tensioning lever having a gear segment enmeshed with said rack, means securing said lever for enmeshed rolling engagement on the rack, and a toggle connection between the lever and said member arranged to be shifted through a dead center position by the lever, and a shoulder on said lever engaging said toggle after it has shifted through dead center position for limiting further movement thereof.

6. In a box strapping tool, a frame, a strap lock for securing one end of a strap thereto, a member slidable in the frame, a strap lock carried by said member and arranged to hold the other end of the strap for movement relative to the first mentioned strap look, a rack secured to the frame, a tensioning lever mounted for pivotal slidable movement in the frame and having a gear segment enmeshed for rolling movement on the rack, a toggle connection between the lever and said member, and resilient means between the toggle and said member arranged to yield when the strap has been brought to a predetermined tension.

7. In a box strapping tool, a frame, a strap lock for securing one end of a strap thereto, a member slidable in the frame, a strap lock secured to said member and arranged to hold the other end of the strap for movement relative to the first mentioned lock, a rack fixed to the frame, a tensioning lever movably supported in the frame and having a gear segment enmeshed in rolling engagement with said rack, means for operatively connecting said member and lever, means on the lever including a sleeve slidably mounted on said member rearwardly of said lever, a link having its ends respectively pivoted on said lever and the adjacent end of said sleeve, and resilient means disposed between the other end of said sleeve and said member.

8. In a box strapping tool, a frame, a strap lock thereon for holding one end of a strap, a tension rod slidable in the frame and having a reduced end provided with a shoulder, a strap lock carried by the other end of the rod for holding the other end of the strap and movable towards said first look for tensioning the strap, a rack on the frame, a tensioning lever movably supported in the frame and having a gear segment enmeshed with said rack, a plunger slidably mounted on the reduced end of the rod, a link pivotally connected to the plunger and to said lever, and a spring between the plunger and the rod tending to maintain the plunger against said shoulder, said spring yielding when the strap is brought to a predetermined tension to prevent strap breakage.

9. In a box strapping tool, a frame, clamping means for holding one end of a strap thereto, a member slidably mounted in the frame, clamping means carried by said member for holding the other end of the strap, a rack secured to the frame, a tensioning lever having a gear segment enmeshed with said rack, means securing said lever for enmeshed rolling engagement on the rack, an operative connection between the lever and said member including spring actuated means mounted on said member, a toggle connection between the lever and said spring actuated means arranged to be shifted through a dead center position by said lever, and a shoulder on said lever engaging said toggle after it has shifted through dead center position for limiting further movement thereof.

10 In a box strapping tool, a frame, clamping means for holding one end of the strap thereto, a tension rod slidable in the frame, a shoulder on said rod, clamping means carried by the rod for holding the other end of the strap, a rack on the frame, a tensioning lever movably mounted in the frame and having a gear segment enmeshed with the rack, a plunger slidable on said rod and engageable with a shoulder, a toggle connection between the lever and plunger arranged to be shifted through a dead center position by the lever, means on the lever abutting the toggle when the lever is shifted to a predetermined setting past dead center and limiting further movement thereof, and a spring normally urging the plunger against the shoulder.

11. In a box strapping tool, a frame having a longitudinal recess therein, a member slidable in the recess, a front strap lock supported by the member for movement towards and from the frame and adapted to clamp against one end of a strap, a rear strap lock on the frame cooperating with said front lock and clamping against the strap end extending through said front lock, and an intermediate strap lock mounted on the frame substantially between said other strap locks and arranged to rigidly secure the other end of the strap to the frame, said rear strap lock cooperating with the front strap lock to positively hold said first mentioned strap end against movement when the front strap lock is moved away from the other strap locks to get another grip on the strap.

12. In a box strapping tool, a frame having a laterally projecting foot adapted to support one end of a strap, a dog pivotally mounted in the frame for movement towards and from said foot to grip the strap end, a second foot forwardly of said first foot, 3, stop associated with said foot and against which the free strap end abuts, a second strap look forward of said second foot and arranged to grip the other end of the strap and move it relative to said second foot to produce a strap tensioning operation, and means to operate said second strap lock.

13. In a box strapping tool, a frame, a rear strap lock comprising a foot extending laterally from the frame and adapted to support a strap end, a pivoted dog cooperating with said foot and engageable with the strap end, a forward strap lock for receiving the other strap end and movable relative to said rear strap lock and including a foot and a dog cooperating with the foot and an intermediate foot interposed between said first two mentioned feet and having an upwardly facing surface adapted to support the first-mentioned strap end, a pivoted stop associated with said intermediate foot and having its lower edge in engagement with said upwardly facing surface and its forward face at right angles thereto and against which said strap end is adapted to abut.

14. In a box strapping tool, a frame having a base adapted to rest on a fiat surface, a strap lock for holding one end of a st ap thereto, a second strap lock for holding the other end of the strap and adapted to be moved longitudinally in the frame, an actuating lever extending above said frame, means mounting said lever in the frame for limited pivotal and longitudinal movement, and means connecting said lever and second strap lock, whereupon movement of the actuating lever will move said strap lock.

15. In a box strapping tool, a frame having a I base adapted to rest on a fiat surface, a strap lock for holding one end of a strap, a second strap lock for holding the other end of the strap, and means for moving said second strap lock relative to the first and comprising a lever extending above said frame and means mounting said lever for limited pivotal and longitudinal movement inthe frame.

16. In a box strapping tool, a frame having a base adapted to rest on a flat surface, a strap lock for holding one end of a strap, a second strap lock for holding the other end of the strap and movable in the frame, an actuating lever extending above said frame and means mounting said lever for limited pivotal and longitudinal movement in the frame, and a flexible connection between said actuating lever and second strap lock.

1'7. In a box strapping tool, a frame having a bore therein, a strap guide comprising a T headed pin having the end thereof received within said bore, and means for locking said pin against rotation in said bore.

18. In a box strapping tool, a frame, clamp-ing means for holding one end of a strap tosaid frame, a member slidably mounted in the frame, clamping means carried by said member and .arranged to hold the other end of said strap, a plunger slidably mounted on said member, a spring mounted between said plunger and the end of said member, a tensioning lever, means mounting said'lever for pivotal and longitudinal movement in said frame, and a toggle connection between said lever and said plunger adapted to transfer the movement of said lever to said member and to move said plunger relative tosaid member when said lever has been shifted a predetermined distance.

19. In a box strapping tool, a frame, a strap lock for securing one end of said strap thereto,

a member slidable in the frame, a strap lock secured to said member and arranged to hold the other end of the strap for movement relative to the first-mentioned look, a rack fixed to the frame, a tensioning lever movably supported in the frame and having a gear segment enmeshed in rolling engagement with said rack, means operatively connecting said member and lever ineluding a link, and resilient means intermediate of said link and member.

20. In a box strapping tool, a frame, a tension rod slidably mounted in the frame, clamping means carried by one end of the rod for holding one end of thestrap, said rod being provided with a shoulder adjacent the other end thereof, a plunger slidably mounted on the other end of said rod, a spring normally urging said plunger against said shoulder, a tensioning lever, means mounting said tensioning lever for longitudinal and pivotal movement in said frame, and a tog gle connection between said lever and plunger for initially moving said rod to tension a strap and thereafter move said plunger relative to the rod.

,21. In a box strapping tool, a frame, a tension rod slidably mounted in the frame, clamlping means carried by the rod for holding one end of a strap, said rod being provided with a shoulder adjacent the other end thereof, a plunger slidably mounted on the rod, spring means normally urging said plunger into engagement with the shoulder, a tensioning lever movably mounted in the frame and having a gear segment, a rack carried by said frame adapted to be engaged by said segment, a toggle connection between said lever and said plunger and adapted upon movement of said lever to initially move said tension rod and thereafter move said plunger relative to said rod.

' 22. In a box strapping tool, a frame, a rear strap lock mounted on said frame for receiving one end of a strap, a forward strap lock for receiving the other end of the strap, and a member interposed between said strap locks and adapted to support the first-mentioned strap end, a pivoted stop associated with said member and having its lower edge in engagement with said member and its forward face at right angles thereto and against which said strap end is adapted to abut.

23, In a box strapping tool, a frame, a rear strap lock comprising a laterally extending foo-t adapted to support a strap end and a pivoted dog cooperating therewith and engageable with the strap end, a forward strap lock for receiving the other strap end and including a laterally extending foot, a dog cooperating with the foot, and an intermediate foot interposed between said strap locks and having an upwardly facing surface adapted to support the first-mentioned strap end, and a pivoted stop vertically arranged relative thereto and against which said strap end is adapted to abut to: limit the forward movement thereof.

24. In a box strapping tool, a frame, a strap lock carried thereby, a strap guide positioned forwardly of said lock and comprising a T headed circular-bodied pin having its inner end supported in said frame, said pin extending outwardly therefrom to present a rounded surface for guiding said strap to said lock, and means for locking said pin against rotation in said frame. 1

25. In a box strapping tool, a frame, a strap lock carried thereby, a strap guide positioned forwardly of said lock and comprising a pin ar- HOWARD C. DOOLIT'ILE.

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