US 7,350,543 B2 · Reduced force sealless connection mechanism

Abstract

A reduced force sealless connection mechanism is used in a strapping machine for forming a sealless connection of strapping material overlapped onto itself. The mechanism includes an upper and a lower punch support. The upper punch support includes two punches for engaging the strapping material. The lower punch support includes one punch. The upper punch support incorporates a stepped design such that one of the two punches mounted to the upper punch support is at a different height than the other punch mounted to the upper punch support. Each of the punches includes a plurality of punching heads. At least one punching head of each of the plurality of punching heads is shorter than the other punching heads. A multi-step punching sequence is therefore created such that no more than two slits of any of the joints of the sealless connection are simultaneously punched during creation of the sealless connection. Thus, the operator force required to actuate the mechanism is reduced and wear on the strapping machine components is decreased.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A reduced force sealless connection mechanism for a strapper used to punch overlapping strapping material to create a sealless connection comprised of a plurality of slits, the reduced force sealless connection mechanism comprising:

an upper punch support;
a lower punch support;
at least two upper punches mounted on the upper punch support;
and
at least one lower punch mounted on the lower punch support;
wherein the at least two upper punches each include a plurality of punching heads;
wherein the at least one lower punch includes a plurality of punching heads designed to cooperate with the plurality of punching heads of the at least two upper punches;
wherein the plurality of punching heads of the at least two upper punches are of different heights relative to a top surface of the overlapping strapping material;
wherein the plurality of punching heads of the at least one lower punch are of different heights relative to a bottom surface of the overlapping strapping material;
wherein the upper punch support includes a step to create different heights between the at least two upper punches relative to the top surface of the overlapping strapping material;
and
wherein no more than two slits are simultaneously punched in the overlapping strapping material at one time.

9 more elements

A method for creating a reduced force sealless connection between overlapping strapping material, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a movable upper punch support having an upper inside punch and an upper outside punch, wherein the upper punch support is stepped to cause the upper inside punch to be lower than the upper outside punch relative a top surface of the overlapping strapping material;
providing a fixed lower punch support having a lower center punch;
providing a first upper inside punching head, a middle upper inside punching head, and a last upper inside punching head on the upper inside punch, wherein the middle upper inside punching head is shorter than the first upper inside punching head and the last upper inside punching head;
providing a first upper outside punching head, a middle upper outside punching head, and a last upper outside punching head on the upper outside punch, wherein the middle upper outside punching head is shorter than the first upper outside punching head and the last upper outside punching head;
providing a first lower center punching head, a middle lower center punching head, and a last lower center punching head on the lower center punch, wherein the middle lower center punching head is shorter than the first lower center punching head and the last lower center punching head;
moving the movable upper punch support in the direction of the fixed lower punch support to engage the overlapping strapping material therebetween;
providing a first punching step wherein the first upper inside punching head and the first lower center punching head and the last upper inside punching head and the last lower center punching head simultaneously punch the overlapping strapping material;
providing a second punching step wherein the first upper outside punching head and the first lower center punching head and the last upper outside punching head and the last lower center punching head simultaneously punch the overlapping strapping material;
providing a third punching step wherein the middle upper inside punching head and the middle lower center punching head simultaneously punch the overlapping strapping material;
and
providing a fourth punching step wherein the middle upper outside punching head and the middle lower center punching head simultaneously punch the overlapping strapping material.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Reduced force sealless connection mechanism

Life of this patent

Reduced force sealless connection mechanism

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17