CN-116670035-B - Strap tensioning assembly with self-energizing tensioner and strap size adjustment feature

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a strapping machine strap tensioning assembly having a self-energizing tensioner and features that enable adjustment of the strap tensioning assembly for use with different strap sizes.

Inventors

• Dimitrios Tajidis
• Philip Boozer
• CHRISTIAN BENZ
• MICHAEL MENG

Assignees

• 信诺工业集团有限责任公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20211101

Priority Date

20201223

Claims (20)

1. 1.A strap tensioning assembly, comprising: a strap tensioner assembly frame; A reversing roller supported by the strap tensioning assembly frame; a tensioning assembly supported by the strap tensioning assembly frame and comprising: a tensioner assembly, the tensioner assembly comprising: a tensioner assembly shaft defining an axis of rotation; A tensioner mounted to the tensioner assembly shaft and rotatable about the rotational axis, wherein the tensioner assembly is movable from a retracted position in which the tensioner is a first distance from the counter roller and a tensioned position in which the tensioner is a second, smaller distance from the counter roller, and A tensioner positioner mounted to the tensioner assembly shaft and rotatable about the rotational axis from a retracted rotational position to a tensioning rotational position to move the tensioner assembly from the retracted position to the tensioning position, and A tensioning actuator operatively connected to the tensioner assembly shaft to rotate the tensioner assembly shaft in a tensioning rotational direction and to rotate the tensioner assembly shaft in a positioning rotational direction opposite the tensioning rotational direction, Wherein the tensioner and the tensioner positioner are mounted to the tensioner assembly shaft such that: When the tensioner assembly shaft rotates about the rotation axis in the tensioning rotation direction, the tensioner rotates with the tensioner assembly shaft and the tensioner positioner does not rotate with the tensioner assembly shaft, and When the tensioner assembly shaft rotates about the rotational axis in the positioning rotational direction, the tensioner positioner rotates with the tensioner assembly shaft and the tensioner does not rotate with the tensioner assembly shaft.
2. 2. The strap tensioning assembly of claim 1, wherein the tensioning sheave positioner is mounted to the tensioning sheave assembly shaft via a flywheel that operatively connects the tensioning actuator to the tensioning sheave positioner when the tensioning actuator rotates the tensioning sheave assembly shaft in the positioning rotation direction, and that does not operatively connect the tensioning actuator to the tensioning sheave positioner when the tensioning actuator rotates the tensioning sheave assembly shaft in the tensioning rotation direction.
3. 3. The strap tensioning assembly of claim 2, wherein the flywheel is configured such that the tensioner positioner rotates with the tensioner assembly shaft in the positioning rotational direction and thus the tensioner positioner does not rotate with the tensioner assembly shaft in the tensioning rotational direction.
4. 4. The strap tensioning assembly of claim 3, wherein the tensioning wheel assembly further comprises a tensioning wheel mount mounted to the tensioning wheel assembly shaft for rotation therewith, wherein the tensioning wheel is removably mounted to the tensioning wheel mount for rotation therewith.
5. 5. The strap tensioning assembly of claim 3, wherein the flywheel comprises a first flywheel, wherein the tensioning wheel is mounted to the tensioning wheel assembly shaft via a second flywheel that operatively connects the tensioning actuator to the tensioning wheel when the tensioning actuator rotates the tensioning wheel assembly shaft in the tensioning rotational direction, and that does not operatively connect the tensioning actuator to the tensioning wheel when the tensioning actuator rotates the tensioning wheel assembly shaft in the positioning rotational direction.
6. 6. The strap tensioning assembly of claim 5, wherein the second flywheel is configured such that the tensioning wheel rotates with the tensioning wheel assembly shaft in the tensioning rotational direction and thus the tensioning wheel does not rotate with the tensioning wheel assembly shaft in the positioning rotational direction.
7. 7. The strap tensioning assembly of claim 3, wherein the tensioning actuator comprises an output shaft, Wherein the tensioning assembly further comprises a drive gear fixedly connected to the output shaft for rotation therewith; wherein the tensioner assembly further comprises a driven gear fixedly connected to the tensioner assembly shaft for rotation therewith, and Wherein the tensioning assembly further comprises a transmission operatively connecting the drive gear to the driven gear.
8. 8. The strap tensioning assembly of claim 7, wherein the transmission comprises one or more transmission gears fixedly mounted to a transmission shaft for rotation therewith, wherein the one or more transmission gears operatively connect the drive gear to the driven gear, wherein the tensioner assembly is mounted to the transmission shaft and rotatable about the transmission shaft from the retracted position to the tensioned position.
9. 9. The strap tensioning assembly of claim 8, further comprising a biasing assembly that biases the tensioner assembly toward the tensioning position.
10. 10. The strap tensioning assembly of claim 9, wherein the tensioning wheel positioner comprises a cam comprising a lobe comprising a peak positioned a third distance from the axis of rotation and a recessed region comprising a valley positioned a fourth distance less from the axis of rotation, wherein the lobe engages a cam follower supported by the strap tensioning assembly frame when the tensioning wheel positioner is in the retracted rotational position, and wherein the tensioning wheel positioner is in the tensioned rotational position, the valley being adjacent to the cam follower.
11. 11. The strap tensioning assembly of claim 10, wherein the trough is spaced apart from the cam follower when the tensioning sheave positioner is in the tensioning rotational position.
12. 12. The strap tensioning assembly of claim 5, wherein the tensioning wheel assembly further comprises a tensioning wheel mount mounted to the tensioning wheel assembly shaft via the second flywheel, wherein the tensioning wheel is removably mounted to the tensioning wheel mount for rotation with the tensioning wheel mount.
13. 13. A strap tensioning assembly, comprising: a strap tensioner assembly frame; A reversing roller supported by the strap tensioning assembly frame; a tensioning assembly supported by the strap tensioning assembly frame and comprising: a tensioner assembly, the tensioner assembly comprising: a tensioner assembly shaft defining an axis of rotation; A tensioner mount mounted to the tensioner assembly shaft and rotatable about the rotational axis, wherein the tensioner assembly is movable from a retracted position in which the tensioner is a first distance from the counter roller and a tensioned position in which the tensioner is a second, smaller distance from the counter roller, and; A tensioner positioner mounted to the tensioner assembly shaft and rotatable about the rotational axis from a retracted rotational position to a tensioning rotational position to move the tensioner assembly from the retracted position to the tensioning position, wherein the tensioner positioner includes a cam including a lobe including a peak positioned a third distance from the rotational axis and a recessed region including a valley positioned a fourth distance less from the rotational axis, wherein the lobe engages a cam follower supported by the strap tensioner assembly frame when the tensioner positioner is in the retracted rotational position, and wherein the valley is spaced apart from the cam follower when the tensioner positioner is in the tensioning rotational position, and A tensioning actuator is operably connectable to the tensioning wheel to rotate the tensioning wheel about the rotation axis in a tensioning rotation direction.
14. 14. The strap tensioning assembly of claim 13, wherein the tensioning actuator is operably connected to the tensioning wheel assembly shaft to rotate the tensioning wheel assembly shaft in a tensioning rotational direction and a positioning rotational direction, wherein the tensioning wheel and the tensioning wheel positioner are mounted to the tensioning wheel assembly shaft such that: when the tensioner assembly shaft rotates about the rotation axis in the tensioning rotation direction, the tensioner rotates with the tensioner assembly shaft and the tensioner positioner does not rotate with the tensioner assembly shaft, and When the tensioner assembly shaft rotates about the rotational axis in the positioning rotational direction, the tensioner positioner rotates with the tensioner assembly shaft and the tensioner does not rotate with the tensioner assembly shaft.
15. 15. The strap tensioning assembly of claim 14, wherein the tensioning sheave positioner is mounted to the tensioning sheave assembly shaft via a flywheel that operatively connects the tensioning actuator to the tensioning sheave positioner when the tensioning actuator rotates the tensioning sheave assembly shaft in the positioning rotation direction, and that does not operatively connect the tensioning actuator to the tensioning sheave positioner when the tensioning actuator rotates the tensioning sheave assembly shaft in the tensioning rotation direction.
16. 16. The strap tensioning assembly of claim 15, wherein the flywheel is configured such that the tensioner positioner rotates with the tensioner assembly shaft in the positioning rotational direction and thus the tensioner positioner does not rotate with the tensioner assembly shaft in the tensioning rotational direction.
17. 17. The strap tensioning assembly of claim 16, wherein the tensioning wheel assembly further comprises a tensioning wheel mount mounted to the tensioning wheel assembly shaft for rotation therewith, wherein the tensioning wheel is removably mounted to the tensioning wheel mount for rotation therewith.
18. 18. The strap tensioning assembly of claim 16, wherein the flywheel comprises a first flywheel, wherein the tensioning wheel is mounted to the tensioning wheel assembly shaft via a second flywheel that operatively connects the tensioning actuator to the tensioning wheel when the tensioning actuator rotates the tensioning wheel assembly shaft in the tensioning rotational direction, and that does not operatively connect the tensioning actuator to the tensioning wheel when the tensioning actuator rotates the tensioning wheel assembly shaft in the positioning rotational direction.
19. 19. The strap tensioning assembly of claim 18, wherein the second flywheel is configured such that the tensioning wheel rotates with the tensioning wheel assembly shaft in the tensioning rotational direction and thus the tensioning wheel does not rotate with the tensioning wheel assembly shaft in the positioning rotational direction.
20. 20. The strap tensioning assembly of claim 13, further comprising a biasing assembly that biases the tensioning wheel assembly toward the tensioning position.

Description

Strap tensioning assembly with self-energizing tensioner and strap size adjustment feature Priority claim The present application claims priority and benefit from U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/129,724 filed on 12 months 23 in 2020 and U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/187,026 filed on 11 months 5 in 2021, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Technical Field The present disclosure relates to strapping machines, and more particularly to a strapping machine strap tensioning assembly having a self-energizing tensioner and features that enable adjustment of the strap tensioning assembly for use with different strap sizes. Background The strapping machine forms a tension loop around a loaded plastic strap (such as a polyester or polypropylene strap) or a metal strap (such as a steel strap). A typical strapping machine includes a support surface that supports a load, a strap chute that surrounds the support surface, a strapping head that forms a strap loop, a controller that controls the strapping head to strap the load, and a frame that supports these components. A typical strapping head includes a strap feeding assembly for feeding a strap from a strap supply into and around a strap chute, and for retracting the strap such that the strap exits from the strap chute and moves radially inward to contact a load, a strap tensioning assembly for tensioning the strap around the load, and a strap sealing assembly for cutting the strap from the strap supply and attaching two regions of the strap together to form a strap loop. Each of these assemblies includes a guide that defines a strap path through which strap moves through the assembly. The strap channel and strap chute together define a strap path through which strap moves. To bundle a load, the strap feeding assembly passes a strap (first the strap front end) from the strap supply through the strap tensioning assembly, through the strap sealing assembly, into the strap chute and around the strap chute until the strap front end returns to the strap sealing assembly. When the strap seal assembly secures the strap front end, the strap feed assembly retracts the strap to pull the strap out of the strap chute and place it over and around the load. The strap tensioning assembly then moves the tensioning wheel into contact with the strap and drives the tensioning wheel to tension the strap to a specified strap tension. The strap seal assembly cuts the strap from the strap supply to form a strap tail end, and attaches the strap head end and the strap tail end together to form a tensioned strap loop around the load. To ensure that the strap feeding assembly can feed and retract the strap without interference from the strap tensioning assembly, the tensioning wheel is in a retracted position during strap feeding and strap retraction. When it is desired to tension the strap, the tensioner must be moved from the retracted position to a position in contact with the strap. Some known strap tensioning assemblies include an actuator operatively connected to the tensioning wheel to control movement of the tensioning wheel to and from its retracted position into and out of contact with the strap. These actuators take up space, add weight, add mechanical and programming complexity, and (like all mechanical parts) can wear out and eventually fail (requiring purchase and installation of replacement parts). Different applications require different sizes of strapping. For example, an 8 millimeter wide, 0.3 millimeter thick strap may be used for light duty applications, while a 16 millimeter wide, 0.85 millimeter thick strap may be used for heavy duty applications. Some known strapping machines are configured to operate with strapping bands of different widths and thicknesses. The strap tensioning assemblies (and in some cases the strap feeding assembly and/or the strap sealing assembly) of these strapping machines have guide members that define strap channels of a fixed width and thickness sized to accommodate the widest and thickest straps used with these strapping machines. These fixed width and fixed thickness strapping tapes can present problems when using smaller widths and/or thinner strapping tapes. In particular, because there is more empty space in the strap channel when smaller widths and/or thinner straps are used, the straps tend to "roam" laterally and/or vertically in the strap channel and may become stuck and stuck in the strap channel. This can result in poor strap feeding, requiring the strap feeding assembly to retract and re-feed the strap, resulting in unnecessary downtime. This may also damage the front end of the strapping, resulting in wasted material or (if not identified) suboptimal welding. Disclosure of Invention Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a strapping machine strap tensioning assembly having a self-energizing tensioner and features that enable adjustment of the strap tensioning a