Drive-through strapping machine and method for securing a load
AssigneeQuad/Tech, Inc.
InventorsDale Norman Hernke, Paul James Rick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drive-through strapping machine for use in securing materials together on a pallet and for securing stacked pallets together and a method for securing materials together for shipment or storage and for delivering those materials to a location. The drive-through strapping machine provides a strapping device for wrapping straps around a pallet or stacks of pallets while the pallets are supported on a forklift. The strapping machine also provides for movement of the forklift through the strapping machine for delivery of the pallets to a storage location or for shipment.
Claims19
A method for securing materials to a pallet while the pallet is supported on a manned material handling vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a strapping machine having a frame defining an opening large enough to accommodate the manned vehicle, the pallet and the materials, wherein said strapping machine includes a channel that extends entirely around the opening;
- supporting the materials on the pallet;
- supporting the pallet on a load carrying portion of the manned vehicle;
- driving the manned vehicle in a first direction into the opening of the strapping machine such that the pallet supported by the manned vehicle is surrounded by the channel;
- feeding a strap through the channel such that the strap surrounds the pallet and the materials;
- tightening the strap around the materials and the pallet to produce strapped materials;
- and
- driving the manned vehicle and the strapped materials in the first direction such that the entire manned vehicle passes through the opening of the strapping machine and the channel.
A strapping machine for securing materials to a pallet comprising:
- a floor having an upper surface capable of supporting a manned material handling vehicle;
- a frame positioned above said floor and defining an opening large enough to accommodate a manned material handling vehicle such that the manned material handling vehicle carrying a pallet and materials can be driven across said upper surface in a first direction of said floor and through said opening and out of said opening in said first direction;
- a strap feeding channel defined by said frame and said floor, said channel extending around said opening and having a lower section positioned below said upper surface of said floor;
- and
- a strap feeder connected to said frame and mounted for feeding a strap into said channel such that the strap surrounds said opening.
A strapping machine for securing materials to a pallet comprising:
- a frame that defines an opening large enough to accommodate a manned material handling vehicle such that the manned material handling vehicle carrying the pallet and the materials can be driven through the opening;
- a floor having an inlet path on one side of said opening and an outlet path on another side of the opening, the floor intended to support the material handling vehicle for movement through the opening from the inlet path to the outlet path;
- a guide wall defining at least a portion of the inlet path;
- a strap feeding channel defined by said frame, the channel extending around the opening, a portion of the strap feeding channel being below the floor;
- and
- a strap feeder connected to said frame and mounted for feeding a strap into the channel such that the strap surrounds a portion of the opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.