Presses – Binding – Methods
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-26
2001-10-23
Gerrity, Stephen F. (Department: 3721)
Presses
Binding
Methods
C100S012000, C100S014000, C414S684000, C414S816000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305277
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to strap coil handling apparatus, and more particularly to automatic apparatus for handling strap coils wherein the apparatus includes spindles which support the strap coil during an indexing and strap binding operation by means of which binding straps are placed upon predetermined circumferential positions of the coil, and wherein further, the apparatus automatically removes the bound strap coil from the spindles upon completion of the strap binding operation and places the bound strap coil upon a conveyor mechanism which transports the bound strap coil to a remote location for further routing or processing prior to ultimate commercial distribution.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Machinery, apparatus, and equipment conventionally exist wherein, for example, multiple stands are provided such that plastic strapping or the like is automatically coiled upon a suitable core or mandrel, such as, for example, a hard cardboard reel. Upon completion of the strap coiling operation, each strap coil must necessarily be removed from the strap coiling machinery or equipment, and binding straps must then be placed around the strap coil at predetermined circumferential locations thereof so as to preserve the coiled integrity of the strap coil whereby the coil is effectively prevented from either circumferentially uncoiling or axially telescoping.
The strap binding operation is performed by an operator who must therefore remove a completed strap coil from a particular one of the multiple strap coiling stands, carry the completed strap coil to the strap binding stand, and place the strap coil upon the strap binding stand. Using a manual, hand-held strap tensioning and binding tool, and after manually placing a cardboard edge protector around the strap coil at a particular circumferential location thereof, the operator then uses the manual, hand-held strap tensioning and binding tool to tension, weld, and cut the binding strap. Subsequently, the strap coil is rotated so as to effectively circumferentially index the strap coil to a new circumferential position at which another binding strap is to be applied to the strap coil. Upon completion of the strap binding operation, the operator manually removes the bound strap coil from the strap binding stand and places the bound strap coil upon a pallet which may then be subsequently transported, for example, by suitable fork-lift apparatus for further processing prior to commercial distribution.
It is thus readily appreciated that the entire strap coiling and binding operation is quite labor-intensive, tedious, and fatiguing for the operator personnel. Accordingly, a need exists in the art for the development of automatic machinery, apparatus, or equipment which can automatically perform the various manual operations which were necessarily previously performed by strap coiling and strap binding operator personnel.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved strap coil apparatus, equipment, or machinery comprising a coil handling device which automatically applies binding straps to a strap coil and which automatically places the bound strap coil upon a discharge conveyor.
Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved strap coil apparatus, equipment, or machinery comprising a coil handling device which overcomes the various drawbacks and disadvantages characteristic of conventional strap coil handling apparatus and techniques.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide new and improved strap coil apparatus, equipment, or machinery comprising a coil handling device which is extremely easy to use by operator personnel wherein the laborintensive, tedious, and fatiguing characteristics of conventional strap coil binding operations is effectively eliminated or at least drastically reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing and other objectives are achieved in accordance with the teachings and principles of the present invention through the provision of new and improved strap coil apparatus, equipment, or machinery comprising a coil handling device which includes a main framework upon which there is mounted an indexing mechanism which comprises a pair of rotatable spindles for supporting a strap coil. The spindles are mounted upon a framework which is pivotally mounted upon the main framework so as to be movable between an upwardly retracted inoperative position and a lowered extended operative position at which the spindles support the strap coil. A binding strap head assembly is movable between a retracted inoperative position and an extended operative position at which the binding strap head cooperates with the indexing mechanism so as to place binding straps at predetermined circumferential positions of the strap coil.
When the strap binding operation is completed, the binding strap head is moved or returned to its retracted inoperative position whereupon an upender mechanism is pivoted upwardly so as to engage the bound strap coil and elevate the same so as to effectively remove the bound strap coil from the spindles of the indexing mechanism. The spindles of the indexing mechanism are then able to be moved to their upward inoperative position whereupon the upender mechanism, which now supports the bound strap coil, is pivoted downwardly so as place the bound strap coil upon a suitable conveyor mechanism which transports the bound strap coil to a remote location for further routing or processing prior to commercial distribution. Subsequently, the indexing mechanism spindles are pivotally lowered back to their operative position in preparation for receiving a new strap coil whereby another operative cycle of the apparatus can be performed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2336614 (1943-12-01), Jackson
patent: 2700332 (1955-01-01), Donald
patent: 2780985 (1957-02-01), Laine
patent: 2926598 (1960-03-01), Dentzer et al.
patent: 3400652 (1968-09-01), Hill et al.
patent: 3788210 (1974-01-01), Lingemann
patent: 2153093 (1973-05-01), None
patent: 1072592 (1967-06-01), None
Goin Bobby L.
Witczak Stanislaw
Gerrity Stephen F.
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Schwartz & Weinrieb
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