US 5,400,706 AGranted

Machine for strapping load-carrying skid

AssigneeSignode Corporation

InventorsAllison D. Tipton, Margaret Fialko, Brian H. Hamlin, Ray A. Yeackley

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Abstract

In a machine for strapping a skid and a supported load by the use of a strap passing through aligned openings in the skid runners, a conveyor is provided for conveying the skid through a feeding zone. A turntable including powered rollers is provided for receiving the skid and the supported load from the conveyor, for positioning same within a strapping zone, and for rotating same within. A vertical scanner comprising a vertical array of photoelectric transmitters spaced from one another, on one side of the feeding zone, and a vertical array of photoelectric receivers spaced from one another, on the other side of the feeding zone, is provided for scanning the skid being conveyed. Two horizontal scanners, each comprising a single photoelectric transmitter and a single photoelectric receiver on each side of the strapping zone, are provided for scanning the skid being conveyed after it has been scanned by the vertical arrays. Two strap guides are provided, each extending transversely and each being movable along a transverse between an extended position, in which it extends across the strapping zone, and a withdrawn position, in which it does not interfere with the skid being conveyed. The horizontal scanners and the strap guides are adjustable vertically and conjointly in response to the vertical scanners. The horizontal scanners are movable into and from operative positions in the paths of the strap guides.

A strapping machine for strapping a skid having parallel runners including two outer runners and having aligned openings in the respective runners, together with a load supported by the skid, the strapping machine being operable with a conveyor for conveying the skid and the supported load longitudinally through a feeding zone defined by the conveyor,

(a) means including a turntable with powered rollers for receiving the skid and the supported load from the conveyor, for positioning the skid and the supported load in a girth-strapping position within a strapping zone defined by the turntable, by means of the powered rollers of the turntable, and for rotating the skid and the supported load to a cross-strapping position within the strapping zone, by means of the turntable,
(b) means including a strap guide for guiding a strap through aligned openings in the respective runners, when the skid and the supported load are positioned in the girth-strapping position, the strap guide extending transversely and being movable along a path of transverse movement between an extended position, in which the strap guide extends across-the strapping zone, and a withdrawn position, in which the strap guide is withdrawn so as not to interfere with the skid or the supported load, the strap guide having a channel with a distal end and including means for counteracting tendencies of the distal end to be downwardly deflected by gravity, so as to adapt the strap guide to extend through aligned openings in the respective runners when the skid and the supported load are positioned in the girth-strapping position and to extend between the outer runners when the skid and the supported load are positioned in the cross-strapping position, and
(c) means including a strapping head for passing a strap through the strap guide in the extended position, so as to pass the strap through aligned openings in the respective runners when the skid and the supported load are positioned in the girth-strapping position within the strapping zone and so as to pass the strap between the outer runners when the skid and the supported load are positioned in the cross-strapping position, the strapping head being operable to apply the strap around the supported load.

Abstract

Claims16