Apparatus and method for encasing an object in a case

A machine configured to clamp a case around an object having a contour, the machine comprising

• a spacer mount defining an encasement region and being adapted to receive an object and a case in the encasement region,
• an actuator coupled to the spacer mount to move the spacer mount between first and second positions, and
• a spacer coupled to the spacer mount to move with the spacer mount between the first and second positions, the spacer having a first surface coupled to the spacer mount and a second surface adapted to face toward the object and case, the second surface having a contour that is substantially identical to the contour of the object, the spacer mount and spacer comprising a strap unit that is coupled to the actuator, and the strap unit including a first end coupled to the actuator at a first location and a second end coupled to the actuator at a second location that is spaced apart from the first location, and
• further comprising a wall coupled to the second surface of the spacer, wherein the wall and spacer mount define a spacer container region and the spacer is positioned to lie in the spacer container region.

A machine configured to clamp a case around an object having a contour, the machine comprising

• a spacer mount defining an encasement region and being adapted to receive an object and a case in the encasement region,
• an actuator coupled to the spacer mount to move the spacer mount between first and second positions, and
• a plurality of spacers coupled to the spacer mount to move with the spacer mount between the first and second positions, the spacers having a first surface coupled to the spacer mount and a second surface adapted to face toward the object and case, the second surface having a contour that is substantially identical to the contour of the object, at least two of the plurality of spacers having their first surfaces with a differently shaped contour from each other, the spacer mount and spacer comprising a strap unit that is coupled to the actuator, and the strap unit including a first end coupled to the actuator at a first location and a second end coupled to the actuator at a second location that is spaced apart from the first location,
• wherein the actuator includes first and second jaws and a power mechanism configured to move the first and second jaws relative to each other and the spacer mount and spacer comprise a strap unit that is coupled to the actuator and the strap unit includes a first end coupled to the first jaw and a second end coupled to the second jaw and the first and second ends define a gap.

A machine configured to clamp a case around an object having a contour, the machine comprising

• a spacer mount defining an encasement region and being adapted to receive an object and a case in the encasement region,
• an actuator coupled to the spacer mount to move the spacer mount between first and second positions,
• a spacer coupled to the spacer mount to move with the spacer mount between the first and second positions, the spacer having a first surface coupled to the spacer mount and a second surface adapted to face toward the object and case, the second surface having a contour that is substantially identical to the contour of the object, the spacer mount and spacer comprising a strap unit that is coupled to the actuator, and the strap unit including a first end coupled to the actuator at a first location and a second end coupled to the actuator at a second location that is spaced apart from the first location,
• wherein the actuator includes first and second jaws and a power mechanism configured to move the first and second jaws relative to each other and the spacer mount and spacer comprise a strap unit that is coupled to the actuator and the strap unit includes a first end coupled to the first jaw and a second end coupled to the second jaw and the first and second ends define a gap, and
• further comprising a mechanism coupled to one of the first and second jaws and configured to extend in and out of the gap defined by the first and second ends of the strap unit to one of engage and disengage the case.

A machine configured to clamp a case around an object having a contour, the machine comprising

• a spacer mount defining an encasement region and being adapted to receive an object and a case in the encasement region,
• an actuator coupled to the spacer mount to move the spacer mount between first and second positions,
• a spacer coupled to the spacer mount to move with the spacer mount between the first and second positions, the spacer having a first surface coupled to the spacer mount and a second surface adapted to face toward the object and case, the second surface having a contour that is substantially identical to the contour of the object, the spacer mount and spacer comprising a strap unit that is coupled to the actuator, and the strap unit including a first end coupled to the actuator at a first location and a second end coupled to the actuator at a second location that is spaced apart from the first location,
• wherein the actuator includes first and second jaws and a power mechanism configured to move the first and second jaws relative to each other and the spacer mount and spacer comprise a strap unit that is coupled to the actuator and the strap unit includes a first end coupled to the first jaw and a second end coupled to the second jaw and the first and second ends define a gap, and
• further comprising a welder configured to extend in and out of the gap defined by the first and second ends of the strap unit.

A method of encasing an object within a case, the case including spaced-apart first and second ends, and the object having a contour, the method comprising the steps of

• providing an encasement machine having an actuator and a plurality of strap units, the plurality of strap units having an inner surface adapted to face toward the object, the inner surface of the plurality of strap units having a contour,
• selecting one of the plurality of strap units that includes an inner surface having a contour substantially similar to the contour of the object,
• coupling the one of the plurality of strap units to the actuator,
• placing the object within the case,
• placing the object and case within the encasement machine so that the inner surface of the one of plurality of strap units faces toward the case and object, and
• operating the actuator to move the one of the plurality of strap units so that the one of the plurality of strap units clamps the case on the object so that the first end of the case is wrapped over the second end of the case.

A machine configured to clamp a case around an object including an outer surface defining a curved contour to conform the case to the outer surface of the object, the machine comprising

• a spacer mount having an inner surface defining a first contour and an encasement region sized to receive therein an object and a case around the object,
• an actuator coupled to the spacer mount to move the spacer mount from a first position to a second position while an object and a case are positioned to lie in the encasement region,
• a spacer coupled to the spacer mount to move therewith, the spacer including an outer end engaging the inner surface of the spacer mount and an inner surface defining a second contour that differs from the first contour and matches a curved contour of an outer surface of an object positioned to lie in the encasement region upon movement of the actuator to the second position and is adapted to clamp a case in the encasement region around an object in the encasement region to conform the case to the curved contour of the outer surface of the object and further comprising a wall lying in the encasement region and cooperating with the inner surface of the spacer mount to define a space therebetween and the spacer is positioned to lie in the space, wherein the spacer includes a plurality of spacer members, each spacer member includes a curved surface, the spacer members are arranged to present the curved surfaces toward a case received in the encasement region, the curved surfaces cooperate to define the inner surface of the spacer, and the wall is positioned to engage the inner surface of the spacer defined by the curved surfaces of the spacer members and is interposed between the spacer and a case received in the encasement region.

A machine configured to clamp a case around an object including an outer surface defining a curved contour to conform the case to the outer surface of the object, the machine comprising

• a spacer mount having an inner surface defining a first contour and an encasement region sized to receive therein an object and a case around the object,
• an actuator coupled to the spacer mount to move the spacer mount from a first position to a second position while an object and a case are positioned to lie in the encasement region,
• a spacer coupled to the spacer mount to move therewith, the spacer including an outer end engaging the inner surface of the spacer mount and an inner surface defining a second contour that differs from the first contour and matches a curved contour of an outer surface of an object positioned to lie in the encasement region upon movement of the actuator to the second position and is adapted to clamp a case in the encasement region around an object in the encasement region to conform the case to the curved contour of the outer surface of the object and further comprising a wall lying in the encasement region and cooperating with the inner surface of the spacer mount to define a space therebetween and the spacer is positioned to lie in the space, wherein the spacer mount includes a pair of grip portions coupled to the actuator and a mount portion positioned to lie between the grip portions and formed to include the inner surface of the spacer mount and the wall includes spaced-apart ends that are coupled to the actuator to cause the wall to move to engage a case received in the encasement region during movement of the spacer mount from the first position to the second position.

A machine configured to clamp a case around an object including an outer surface defining a curved contour to conform the case to the outer surface of the object, the machine comprising

• a spacer mount having an inner surface defining a first contour and an encasement region sized to receive therein an object and a case around the object,
• an actuator coupled to the spacer mount to move the spacer mount from a first position to a second position while an object and a case are positioned to lie in the encasement region,
• a spacer coupled to the spacer mount to move therewith, the spacer including an outer end engaging the inner surface of the spacer mount and an inner surface defining a second contour that differs from the first contour and matches a curved contour of an outer surface of an object positioned to lie in the encasement region upon movement of the actuator to the second position and is adapted to clamp a case in the encasement region around an object in the encasement region to conform the case to the curved contour of the outer surface of the object, wherein the spacer includes a first set of spacer members arranged in series and positioned to lie in a first location on the inner surface of the spacer mount and a second set of spacer members arranged in series and positioned to lie in a second location on the inner surface of the spacer mount in spaced-apart relation to the first set of spacer members and further comprising a wall lying in the encasement region and cooperating with the inner surface of the spacer mount to define therebetween a first spacer container region containing the first set of spacer members and a separate second spacer container region containing the second set of spacer members.