Device to control the feeding of the strap in a strapping machine

• US 5,778,643 A
• Filed: 03/14/1997
• Issued: 07/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Officina Meccanica Sestese S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Officina Meccanica Sestese S.p.A.
• Inventors: Tacchini, Franco
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, LINDA B
• Application Number:
  US08/816,419
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 53/589, 53/582, 100/26, 100/29, 100/32, 100/4
• US Class Current: 53/589
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 13/22 Means for controlling tension of binding means

Abstract

Device to control the feeding of the strap in a strapping machine, comprising at least one fast driving wheel (4) and one slow driving wheel (2) which are mounted on fixed axes, the strap (R) being guided on the periphery of both driving wheels, and wherein pressure elements (5 and 14) are provided to press the strap (R) against the periphery of one and/or the other of the driving wheels, so as to ensure feeding thereof. The pressure elements are mounted on an oscillating sector (8) which is operated in response to tensioning of the strap. On the oscillating sector (8) there is also mounted a strap transmission wheel (13), located at a distance from the pressure elements, which imparts on the oscillating sector (8), according to the tension of the strap (R), an oscillation such as to transfer the contact pressure of the strap from the fast driving wheel (4)--for the fast recovery step--onto the slow driving wheel (2)--for the slow tightening step--merely through the alternative action of the pressure elements.

Claims

1. Device for controlling the feeding of a strap in a strapping machine, the device comprising:

at least one fast driving wheel and one slow driving wheel;

each wheel having a periphery for guiding the strap thereon;

said fast driving wheel and said slow driving wheel being mounted on fixed axes and rotated by respective drive shafts which are always active;

said slow driving wheel being mounted on the respective drive shaft through a freewheel mechanism;

pressure means for pressing the strap against the periphery of at least one of said driving wheels so as to insure feeding thereof;

said pressure means being moved by an oscillating member operating in response to tensioning of the strap;

said pressure means comprising a first and a second pressure element mounted on said oscillating member;

a strap transmission wheel mounted on said oscillating member and located at a distance from said pressure elements to form an angle of deviation of the strap path, whereby during a recovery step, the strap contacts the fast driving wheel, and tensioning of the strap causes, by action on the transmission wheel, the member to oscillate and transfer the contact pressure of the strap from the fast driving wheel onto the slow driving wheel, merely through an alternative action of said pressure elements.

2. Control device according to claim 1, wherein said first pressure element comprises a pressure wheel mounted freely rotating on a movable shaft.

3. Control device according to claim 1, wherein said shaft of the pressure wheel is supported by an arm mounted oscillating about the fixed axis of the slow driving wheel.

4. Control device according to claim 3, comprising adjustable spring pressure means, acting on the oscillating arm so as to determine the drawing pressure of the pressure wheel.

5. Control device according to claim 4, wherein said oscillating arm is connected to said oscillating member via an articulated link rod.

6. Control device according to claim 5, wherein said oscillating member is arched, has two ends, and pivots about a first end articulated on said link rod, onto the axis of a sliding roller, which is slideable along a fixed guide groove.

7. Control device according to claim 6, wherein said fixed guide groove comprises stopping means cooperating with said sliding roller at the end of its travel.

8. Control device according to claim 7, wherein said stopping means comprise a microswitch, a rod, and an adjustable spring element.

9. Control device according to claim 1, wherein said second pressure element comprises a pressure pad fixed on said oscillating member.

10. Control device according to claim 9, wherein said pressure pad has an arch-shaped surface, concentric and parallel to the peripheral surface of the slow driving wheel, and has a low coefficient of friction.

11. Control device according to claim 6, wherein said transmission wheel is mounted freely rotating at the second end of said oscillating member opposite to the end articulated on said link rod.