Apparatus and method for securing a bundle with a strap

A method for binding a bundle comprising the steps of

• providing an elongate strap having a heat sensitive adhesive thereon which may be reactivated by the application of heat,
• extending said strap about the bundle,
• drawing the strap taut about the bundle with a first portion of the strap overlapping a second portion of the strap, said portions having contiguous facing inner surfaces and opposed outwardly facing outer surfaces;
• and
• pressing said first portion and second portion of the strap together and simultaneously applying heat externally to at least one of said outer surfaces of the overlapping portions of the tape to reactivate said adhesive to bond said first portion and second portion together at the inner surfaces in the region of overlap therebetween.

A method for binding a bundle of material comprising the steps of

• providing an elongate strap having a heat sensitive adhesive thereon which may be reactivated by application of heat,
• feeding said strap to form a loop about the bundle with a leading end portion and a trailing portion of strap,
• holding said leading end portion in a stationary position,
• pulling the strap trailing portion to tighten the loop about the bundle while said leading end portion is held to provide overlapping inner and outer strap portions, in a securing region, with said strap portions having inwardly facing surfaces positioned contiguous to each other and opposed outwardly facing external surfaces,
• providing a pair of opposed press elements disposed to opposite sides of the securing region with the overlapping inner and outer strap portions therebetween, with at least one of the press elements being shiftable toward and away from the other press element, and at least one of said press elements being heated,
• pressing said press elements against said overlapping inner and outer strap portions to press said inwardly facing surfaces of said strap portions together and simultaneously applying heat externally to at least one of said outwardly facing external surfaces from said heated press element to reactivate said adhesive to bond said inner and outer strap portion together, and
• severing the trailing portion of the strap from said outer strap portion.

A method for binding a bundle of material comprising the steps of

• providing an elongate strap having a heat sensitive adhesive thereon which may be reactivated by application of heat,
• feeding said strap to form a loop about the bundle with a leading end portion and a trailing portion of strap,
• holding said leading end portion in a stationary position,
• pulling the strap trailing portion to tighten the loop about the bundle while said leading end portion is held to provide overlapping inner and outer strap portions, in a securing region,
• providing a pair of opposed press elements disposed to opposite sides of the securing region with the overlapping inner and outer strap portions therebetween, with at least one of the press elements being shiftable toward and away from the other press element, and at least one of said press elements being heated,
• pressing said press elements against said overlapping inner and outer strap portions to press said strap portions together and simultaneously applying heat externally thereto from said heated press element to reactivate said adhesive to bond said inner and outer strap portion together,
• providing a pair of movably mounted separator elements movable between an extended position in which one of the separator elements is interposed between the strap portions and one of the press elements and the other separator is interposed between the strap portions and the other press element when the strap is fed to form a loop about the bundle, and a retracted position removed from such positions interposed between the strap portions and the press elements to allow pressing said press elements against said overlapping inner and outer strap portions;
• and
• severing the trailing portion of the strap from said outer strap portion.

A method for binding a bundle of material comprising the steps of

• providing an elongate strap having a heat sensitive adhesive thereon which may be reactivated by application of heat,
• feeding said strap to form a loop about the bundle with a leading end portion and a trailing portion of strap,
• holding said leading end portion in a stationary position,
• pulling the strap trailing portion to tighten the loop about the bundle while said leading end portion is held to provide overlapping inner and outer strap portions in a securing region,
• providing a pair of opposed press elements disposed to opposite sides of the securing region with the overlapping inner and outer strap portions therebetween, with at least one of the press elements being shiftable toward and away from the other press element, and at least one of said press elements being heated,
• pressing said press elements against said overlapping inner and outer strap portions to press said strap portions together and simultaneously applying heat externally thereto from said heated press element to reactivate said adhesive to bond said inner and outer strap portion together,
• providing a first separator element interposed between said overlapping inner and outer strap portions and a second separator element interposed between the heated press element and its associated strap portion, said second separator element being insulative to inhibit heat transfer from said heated press element to the strap portion, and prior to pressing said press elements against said inner and outer strap portions moving said first and second separator elements away from said overlapping inner and outer strap portions;
• and
• severing the trailing portion of the strap from said outer strap portion.

Apparatus for binding a bundle with an elongate strap formed of multiple elongate elements secured together by a heat sensitive adhesive which may be reactivated by the application of heat, the apparatus comprising

• mechanism for feeding the strap to form a loop about the bundle with a leading end portion and a trailing portion of strap,
• a gripper for gripping and holding said leading end portion,
• mechanism for pulling the strap trailing portion to tighten the loop about the bundle to produce overlapping first and second strap portions with the first strap portion being positioned closest to the bundle and the second strap portion being positioned outwardly therefrom in a direction away from the bundle, said first and second strap portions being situated in a securing region, with said strap portions having inwardly facing surfaces positioned contiguous to each other and opposed outwardly facing external surfaces,
• a pair of opposed press elements disposed on opposite sides of said securing region with the first and second strap portions positioned between said press elements, at least one of said press elements being heated,
• clamping mechanism for shifting at least one of the press elements toward the securing region to clamp the first and second strap portions between said opposed press elements with said heated press element supplying heat and pressure externally to at least one of said outwardly facing external surfaces of said first and second strap portions to reactivate the adhesive therein to secure the first and second strap portions together, and
• a cutter for severing a strap trailing portion from the second strap portion.

Apparatus for binding a bundle with an elongate strap formed of multiple elongate elements secured together by a heat sensitive adhesive which may be reactivated by the application of heat, the apparatus comprising

• mechanism for feeding the strap to form a loop about the bundle with a leading end portion and a trailing portion of strap,
• a gripper for gripping and holding said leading end portion,
• mechanism for pulling the strap trailing portion to tighten the loop about the bundle to produce overlapping first and second strap portions with the first strap portion being positioned closest to the bundle and the second strap portion being positioned outwardly therefrom in a direction away from the bundle, said first and second strap portions being situated in a securing region,
• a pair of opposed press elements disposed on opposite sides of said securing region with the first and second strap portions positioned between said press elements, at least one of said press elements being heated,
• a pair of spaced separator elements mounted for movement between extended positions in which one of the separator elements is interposed between the strap portions in the securing region and one of the press elements and the other separator element is interposed between the strap portions in the securing region and the other press element, and a retracted position removed from such positions interposed between the strap portions and the press elements,
• clamping mechanism for shifting at least one of the press elements toward the securing region to clamp the first and second strap portions between said opposed press elements with said heated press element supplying heat and pressure to said first and second strap portions to reactivate the adhesive therein to secure the first and second strap portions together, and
• a cutter for severing a strap trailing portion from the second strap portion.

Apparatus for binding a bundle with an elongate strap formed of multiple elongate elements secured together by a heat sensitive adhesive which may be reactivated by the application of heat, the apparatus comprising

• mechanism for feeding the strap to form a loop about the bundle with a leading end portion and a trailing portion of strap,
• a gripper for gripping and holding said leading end portion,
• mechanism for pulling the strap trailing portion to tighten the loop about the bundle to produce overlapping first and second strap portions with the first strap portion being positioned closest to the bundle and the second strap portion being positioned outwardly therefrom in a direction away from the bundle, said first and second strap portions being situated in a securing region,
• a pair of opposed press elements disposed on opposite sides of said securing region with the first and second strap portions positioned between said press elements, at least one of said press elements being heated,
• a movable insulating separator element interposed between said one heated press element and said securing region to inhibit heat transfer from said heated press element to a strap portion adjacent said heated press element,
• clamping mechanism for shifting at least one of the press elements toward the securing region to clamp the first and second strap portions between said opposed press elements with said heated press element supplying heat and pressure to said first and second strap portions to reactivate the adhesive therein to secure the first and second strap portions together, and
• a cutter for severing a strap trailing portion from the second strap portion.

Apparatus for binding a bundle with an elongate strap formed of multiple elongate elements secured together by a heat sensitive adhesive which may be reactivated by the application of heat, wherein the strap is substantially flat having a thickness and a width several times the thickness, the apparatus comprising

• mechanism for feeding the strap to form a loop about the bundle with a leading end portion and a trailing portion of strap,
• a gripper for gripping and holding said leading end portion,
• mechanism for pulling the strap trailing portion to tighten the loop about the bundle to produce overlapping first and second strap portions with the first strap portion being positioned closest to the bundle and the second strap portion being positioned outwardly therefrom in a direction away from the bundle, said first and second strap portions being situated in a securing region,
• a pair of opposed press elements disposed on opposite sides of said securing region with the first and second strap portions positioned between said press elements, at least one of said press elements being heated,
• clamping mechanism for shifting at least one of the press elements toward the securing region to clamp the first and second strap portions between said opposed press elements with said heated press element supplying heat and pressure to said first and second strap portions to reactivate the adhesive therein to secure the first and second strap portions together, and
• a cutter for severing a strap trailing portion from the second strap portion,
• the gripper, press elements and cutter are mounted on a common mounting frame for movement with the mounting frame toward and away from the securing region along a path substantially parallel to a flat surface of a strap portion in the securing region, and which further comprises an insulating separator element which is mounted on the mounting frame for movement therewith and for movement laterally of the mounting frame substantially parallel to a flat surface of the strap between a first position interposed between said one heated press element and said securing region and a second position spaced laterally therefrom.

Apparatus for binding a bundle with an elongate flat strap having heat sensitive adhesive thereon which may be reactivated by the application of heat, the apparatus comprising

• mechanism for feeding the strap to form a loop about the bundle with a leading end portion and a trailing portion of strap,
• a gripper for gripping and holding said leading end portion,
• mechanism for pulling the strap trailing portion to tighten the loop about the bundle to produce overlapping first and second strap portions with the first strap portion being positioned closest to the bundle and the second strap portion being positioned outwardly therefrom in a direction away from the bundle, said first and second strap portions being situated in a securing region, with said strap portions having inwardly facing surfaces positioned contiguous to each other and opposed outwardly facing external surfaces,
• a pair of opposed press elements disposed on opposite sides of said securing region with the first and second strap portions positioned between said press elements, at least one of said press elements being heated, and
• clamping mechanism for shifting at least one of the press elements toward the securing region to clamp inwardly facing surfaces of said first and second strap portions together between said opposed press elements with said heated press element supplying heat and pressure to said first and second strap portions to reactivate the adhesive therein to secure the first and second strap portions together.

Apparatus for binding a bundle with an elongate flat strap having heat sensitive adhesive thereon which may be reactivated by the application of heat, the apparatus comprising

• mechanism for feeding the strap to form a loop about the bundle with a leading end portion and a trailing portion of strap,
• a gripper for gripping and holding said leading end portion,
• mechanism for pulling the strap trailing portion to tighten the loop about the bundle to produce overlapping first and second strap portions with the first strap portion being positioned closest to the bundle and the second strap portion being positioned outwardly therefrom in a direction away from the bundle, said first and second strap portions being situated in a securing region,
• a pair of opposed press elements disposed on opposite sides of said securing region with the first and second strap portions positioned between said press elements, at least one of said press elements being heated,
• a pair of spaced separator elements mounted for movement between extended positions in which one of the separator elements is interposed between the strap portions in the securing region and one of the press elements and the other separator element is interposed between the strap portions in the securing region and the other press element, and a retracted position removed from such position interposed between the strap portions and the press elements, and
• clamping mechanism for shifting at least one of the press elements toward the securing region to clamp the first and second strap portions between said opposed press elements with said heated press element supplying heat and pressure to said first and second strap portions to reactivate the adhesive therein to secure the first and second strap portions together.

Apparatus for binding a bundle with an elongate flat strap having heat sensitive adhesive thereon which may be reactivated by the application of heat, the apparatus comprising

• mechanism for feeding the strap to form a loop about the bundle with a leading end portion and a trailing portion of strap,
• a gripper for gripping and holding said leading end portion,
• mechanism for pulling the strap trailing portion to tighten the loop about the bundle to produce overlapping first and second strap portions with the first strap portion being positioned closest to the bundle and the second strap portion being positioned outwardly therefrom in a direction away from the bundle, said first and second strap portions being situated in a securing region,
• a pair of opposed press elements disposed on opposite sides of said securing region with the first and second strap portions positioned between said press elements, at least one of said press elements being heated,
• a movable insulating separator element interposed between said one heated press element and said securing region to inhibit heat transfer from said heated press element to a strap portion adjacent said heated press element, and
• clamping mechanism for shifting at least one of the press elements toward the securing region to clamp the first and second strap portions between said opposed press elements with said heated press element supplying heat and pressure to said first and second strap portions to reactivate the adhesive therein to secure the first and second strap portions together.

Apparatus for binding a bundle with an elongate flat strap having heat sensitive adhesive thereon which may be reactivated by the application of heat, the bundle having an outer side surface disposed in a swapping region when positioned for binding, the apparatus comprising

• a mounting frame mounted for shifting between a swapping position and a release position, with a head portion of the frame being disposed adjacent said strapping region when in its swapping position,
• a swap gripper, a swap cutter, and a pair of opposed strap press elements mounted on said mounting frame, with said press elements positioned intermediate said swap gripper and strap cutter,
• mechanism for feeding the swap to form a loop about the bundle with a first swap path extending through said swap cutter and strap press elements and a second strap path extending through said swap press elements and into said strap gripper intermediate said first swap path and said strapping region, with a leading end portion of the strap passing through said first swap path, around the bundle, and being stopped within said second swap path adjacent said strap gripper, with a first swap portion in said first path adjacent and overlapping a second strap portion in said second path, and a trailing portion of the strap extending from the first swap portion, with said strap portions having inwardly facing surfaces positioned contiguous to each other and opposed outwardly facing external surfaces,
• said strap gripper comprising a gripping head shiftable between a gripping position to grip said leading end portion of the strap and a release position,
• said press elements being mounted for shifting between release positions spaced outwardly to opposite sides of said first and second overlapping strap portions and pressing positions clamping said inwardly facing surfaces of said first and second overlapping swap portions together, with at least one of said press members being heated to apply heat externally to at least one of said outwardly facing external surfaces, and
• said swap cutter being mounted for shifting between a first position out of said first path and a cutting position extending into said first path to sever a strap therein.

Apparatus for binding a bundle with an elongate flat strap having heat sensitive adhesive thereon which may be reactivated by the application of heat, the bundle having an outer side surface disposed in a strapping region when positioned for binding, the apparatus comprising

• a mounting frame mounted for shifting between a strapping position and a release position, with a head portion of the frame being disposed adjacent said strapping region when in its strapping position,
• a strap gripper, a strap cutter, and a pair of opposed strap press elements mounted on said mounting frame, with said press elements positioned intermediate said strap gripper and strap cutter,
• mechanism for feeding the strap to form a loop about the bundle with a first strap path extending through said strap cutter and strap press elements and a second strap path extending through said strap press elements and into said strap gripper intermediate said first strap path and said strapping region, with a leading end portion of the strap passing through said first strap path, around the bundle, and being stopped within said second strap path adjacent said strap gripper, with a first strap portion in said first path adjacent and overlapping a second strap portion in said second path, and a trailing portion of the strap extending from the first strap portion,
• said strap gripper comprising a gripping head shiftable between a gripping position to grip said leading end portion of the strap and a release position,
• said press elements being mounted for shifting between release positions spaced outwardly to opposite sides of said first and second overlapping strap portions and pressing positions clamping said first and second overlapping strap portions together, with at least one of said press members being heated,
• an insulating separator element movable between a first position interposed between said one heated press element and said securing region to inhibit heat transfer from said heated press element to a strap portion adjacent said heated press element, and a second position spaced therefrom, and
• said strap cutter being mounted for shifting between a first position out of said first path and a cutting position extending into said first path to sever a strap therein.