Production line banding system
First Claim
1. A production line banding system comprising:
- a stationary platform;
a strapping machine mounted to said platform in a fixed position;
a guide element mounted to move horizontally between first and second positions during movement of banding material around product to be banded;
a generally vertical conveyor system for delivering product to be banded to a position adjacent said strapping machine;
a first generally horizontal conveyor system for moving product toward said vertical conveyor system; and
a second generally horizontal conveyor system for moving banded product away from said vertical conveyor system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for banding fence posts are disclosed. The apparatus includes a pair of vertically disposed conveyor systems with U-shaped cradles for delivering the fence posts in a horizontal disposition to a pair of stationary strapping machines. Opposite the strapping machines are horizontally movable guide elements for directing banding material dispensed from the strapping machines around the fence posts. The strapping machines tighten the bands and connect the bands to themselves. The vertically disposed conveyor systems then move the banded fence posts to an exiting horizontally disposed conveyor system. The method includes providing the bands, the strapping machines, the guide elements and the vertical conveyor systems, maintaining the strapping machines in a stationary position, moving the fence posts to the strapping machines, moving the guide elements to straddle the fence posts, dispensing the bands, retrieving the bands, moving the guide elements away from the strapping machines and depositing the banded fence posts on a horizontal conveyor system to move the banded fence posts to a stacking station.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A production line banding system comprising:
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a stationary platform;
a strapping machine mounted to said platform in a fixed position;
a guide element mounted to move horizontally between first and second positions during movement of banding material around product to be banded;
a generally vertical conveyor system for delivering product to be banded to a position adjacent said strapping machine;
a first generally horizontal conveyor system for moving product toward said vertical conveyor system; and
a second generally horizontal conveyor system for moving banded product away from said vertical conveyor system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A production line banding system comprising:
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a stationary support;
a strapping machine mounted to said support in a fixed position for dispensing a band, for retrieving said band and for tightening said band around product to be banded;
a guide element mounted to said support and movable horizontally between a first position and a second position, where in the first position said guide element is adjacent said strapping machine and guides a dispensed band around a product and back to said strapping machine and during movement from the first position to the second position said guide element releases the band while moving away from said strapping machine; and
a delivering mechanism mounted to said support for moving product to be banded toward a position adjacent to said strapping machine and for moving banded product away from said strapping machine. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A production line banding system for elongated product to be banded comprising:
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a stationary platform;
a strapping machine mounted to said platform in a fixed position;
a guide element mounted to move horizontally between first and second positions during movement of banding material around product to be banded;
a generally vertical conveyor system for delivering elongated product to be banded to a position adjacent said strapping machine, said product being disposed in a generally horizontal position;
a first generally horizontal conveyor system for moving said elongated product toward said vertical conveyor system, said elongated product being disposed in a generally horizontal position on said first horizontal conveyor system; and
a second generally horizontal conveyor system for moving banded elongated product away from said vertical system, said elongated banded product being disposed in a generally horizontal position on said second horizontal conveyor system. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification