CA1045021A - Pallet strapper with projectable lance - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract of the Invention Apparatus for strapping a load to the deck of a pallet which includes a pneumatic motor for feeding a strap along a predetermined path around the load and for tensioning the strap around the load, a strap guiding lance and an electric motor for extending the lance beneath the deck of the pallet and subsequently retracting the same. A
pneumatic control circuit for the pneumatic motor controls the operation of an electric control circuit for the electric motor so that feeding of the strap toward the free end of the lance and lance extension are initiated simultaneously.
A timer shuts the electric motor off before the lance has been fully extended so that the lance coasts into a docked position and the apparatus is shut off automatically by a timer relay if the lance is not in its docked position before the leading end of the strap reaches the free end of the lance.

Description

45~Zi -; Field of the'Invention ' "
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Thi's invention relates to apparatus ~or strapping loads to pallets and more particularly to apparatus of the type wherein an extendable strap guide'or lance is projected 5 between the upper and lower decks of the 'pallet. , Description of Prior Art f The United States patent to Collins et al 3,2,13,781,,October 26,,1965,,discloses a machine for strap- , ping loads to a pallet which'machïne has an extendable and retractable strap guide'(lance) that extends between the ,~
upper and lower decks of the 'pàlle~. The'strap feeding de-vice is disposed on the,'strap guide frame above the load' ~, and feeds the strap in such a direction that it initially enters the supported end of the lance,' and feeds toward the ', 15- free end of the lance.' The retractable'strap guide tlance) of this patent is operated by a rack and pinion and the l ' lance is retracted before the strap is tensioned about the '-package,',as described in Col~ 4,,1ines 19 - 26 of the patent. ' '''' The United States patent to Sterner 3,376,807, April 9, 1968,,shows a palletizer of the same general type as that of the Collins et al patent just described. How-ever, the direction of strap feed in the'Sterner patent is such that the'strap leaving the strap feeding mechanism 10 enters the projecting or free'end of an extendable strap guide'chute'51,,after the latter ha$ reached its fully extended or docked position. Strap feed is not started until the chute 51 has been fully extended and has tripped a switch'to initiate strap feed,,(bottom of Col. 6, top of '' Col. 7). The'chute 51 of this paten~ is flanged and is ~ .

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driven by friction rollers 10~,110 from a reversible motor.
The United States patent to Hall 3J052,178, September 4, 1962/
shows a flexible tape strap guide that can be extended between the decks of a pallet. The guide is coiled up on a dispensing reel that is driven through friction mechanism. The strap is fed from a position above the load and enters the rear or supported end of the strap guide instead of entering the free end thereof, as in the aforesaid Sterner patent.
The United States patent to Armington et al 3,182,586, May 11, 1965, shows an articulated strap chute that enters a void in the pallet.
The strap is fed into the rear end of the chute, as in the Collins et al and Hall patents. The strap feeding device is located above the load for the pallet, as in the previously mentioned patents.
Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for strapping a load to the deck of a pallet, said apparatus comprising means, including a pneumatic motor, for feeding a strap along a predetermined path around the load and for tensioning the strap around the load, a strap guiding lance, an electric motor for advancing the lance beneath the deck of the pallet to guide the strap under the ~ck of the pallet, a pneumatic control 2Q circuit for the pneumatic motor, and ~ electrical control circuit for the electric motor, said electrical control circuit being controlled from the pneumatic control circuit.
In a preferred embodiment, the strap feed means is disposed rela-tively low on a main strap guide frame and on a side of the frame which mounts the lance operating mechanism. The lance is extended and retracted by the electric motor through a friction drive, whereas the strap feeding and tensioning mechanism is driven by the air motor. The strap is fed up, across and down the main strap guide frame toward the free end of the lance.
The air driven strap feed mechanism and the electric motor driven lance 3Q advance mechanism are started substantially simultaneously. In normal '''. ' ~1~4S~

operation, the time required for the lance to traverse the pallet and dock is less that the time required ~or the end of the strap to reach the dock.
If the lance is delayed in its travel, the strap end could be fed out through the lance dock and between the pallet, In order to render lance extension independent of variations in air pressure at the strap feed mech-anism, the lance drive motor is a reversible electric motor that is con-trolled by two time delay relays. In normal operation the first of these relays is a "coasting" relay and it times out before the lance has docked, so that the lance coasts into its docked position. This reduces impact and shock loads on the dock and the portion of the strap guide frame that mounts -- the dock. :~-If the lance encounters an obstruction or does not reach its docked ~ -position in the time allotted for lance extension, the second time delay relay, which is a "lance delayed" relay, times out and stops both the lance drive mo-tor and the strap feed mechanism so that the free end of the strap is not fed out of the strap guide at the zone of lance docking. The "coasting" relay is energized and starts timing out when the strap feed and lance drive motors are started. The "lance delayed" relay is energized and starts timing out when the lance leaves its fully, retracted position.
When its time delay period elapses, circuitry is provided which automatically shuts off the lance drive motor and stops the strap feed mechanism. As mentioned, this prevents the end of the strap from being fed past the lance docking point. The above-mentioned automatic stop-page of the machine will (for example) take place if the lance meets an obstruction while it is being extended. The machine can~then be manually controlled to retract the lance, clear the obstruction and start a new cycle.
The drive to the lance, in this preferred embodiment, includes a friction drive device that is mo~mted on a carriage for the lance and which moves along a rotating drive shaft~ The friction drive device is mounted on 3~ the carriage with a floating mount so that it is centered by its drive 045VZl shaft This reduces vibration and provides a smooth and uniform drive for the lance carriage.
The strap feeding and sealing mechanism is positioned on the strap ` guide ~rame in a manner which is convenient for service and adjustment, which position also maximizes the time required for the strap end to reach the lance docking zone after strap feed has been initiated. This, in turn, maximizes the time that can be allotted to follow full extension of the lance, before the strap feed is terminated. The strap feed mechanism is mounted low on a vertical leg of the strap guide, close to the lance support and drive mechanism.
The control system may provide manual control for extending and retracting the ,~, 045~Z~
lance as well as for controlling strap feed and strap ten-sioning. ' Brief Description ~f the Drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a strapping machine embodying the'invention.
Figure'2 is a side view of the machine.
: ~ .
. Figure 2A is a perspective diagram showing how a load is strapped to a pallet.
Figure 3 is a partial side elevation showing ele- ..
10. ments of the:strap feed mecha'nism in the lance structure.
- . Figure'4 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view show-ing portions of the strapping mechanism and the trip ~lag : for the ~eeding' mechanism.
: Figure'4A is a ~ragmentary enlarged section at the jaws and an~il o~ the 'strapping machine.' Figure 5 is a side elevation o~ the.'lance mechan-ism with portions being broken away. . `' , Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6 - 6 of ; Figure S.
~, . 20 Figure'6A is an enlarged view.of a portion of the strap guide frame.
Figure'7 is a diagrammatical operational view - showing an initial stage in strap ~eeding and-lance advance. .' Figure 8 is a view like Figure 7 showing the lance docked and strap ~eed continuing Figure 9 is,a section taken on line 9. 9 of ~igure 8.
. Figure 10 is an enlarged view showing the lance in its docked position. ~.
Figure 11 is a view like Figure 8.with a strap having,been fed through the'lance and back into the strap- ' ping machine.

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';' Figure 12 is a schematic electrical diagram show-ing the elements in their initial or "S.TART" con~ition.
Figure lZA is a schematic valve diagram corres-ponding to ~he'condition of Figure 12.
Figure 13 is.an electrical diagram in the "EXTE~D
.ANCE." conaition. ' Figure'13A is a valve diagram.corresponding to Figure 13.
Figure'14 is an electrical diagram of the "~ANCE
10 EXTENDED" conaition. :
Figure 15 is an electrical diagr'am showing the first stage in the "LANCE DELAYED" condition~
, ,: Figure'16 is an electrical diagram showing the .second stage in the "L~NCE DELAYED" condition.
Figure 17 is a valve'diagram showing operation during strap tensioning. ~-, Figure 18 is a valve diagram showing the "STRAP
, TENSIONED" condition. ,, , Figure 19 is an electrical. diagram showing the ... :
2Q condi.tion when the rel'ay."TDR-l TIMES OUT." . ' Figure'19A is a valve diagram corresponding to ~,.
Pigure 19.
Figure'20 is an electrical diagram illustrating "MANUAL" operation. ' .,' General Description of the' Apparatus The major components of a.pallet strapping ap-paratus embodying the' present invention will first be de-scribed principally in connection with Figures 1,,2 and 2A. . '~
The load, indicated generally at K, is to be strapped to a ''.
pallet P by means of one or more lengths of strap S. The : :

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nature of the load K is not significant but as illustrated the load comprises layers of containers 7 separated by ,~
spacers 8 and having a top plate 9 (Figure 2) for trans-mitting the tension exerted on the straps S '(Flg. 2A) to the load. The'loaded pallets P are introduced into the strapp- ', ing machine by means of a conveyor indicated generally at 10 (Fig. 1) and having,,for example, a series of dead rollers 11 which facilitate pushing the load within the - confines of the strapping apparatus. At one 'side of the strapping apparatus,,the'conveyor 10 may have'a turntable section rotatabIe abbut an axis indicated generally at 12, in order that the load can'receive a plurality of straps S '-; in perpendicular planes'. Such turntables are conventional ,~
in this art.
The pallet P,,as illustrated herein, is of the conventional two-deck construction having a lower deck 13, j' ' an upper deck 14 and spacers 15 between the'decks~ This ,~
construction permits the'entry of the forks of a lift truck between the decks of the pallet for transportation thereof.
The strapping apparatus of the present invention includes a strap guide frame which is indicated generally at F. As best seen in Figure 2,,the strap S is dispensed "
from a reel 16 and passes over a guide pulley 17 into the strap feeding,,tensioning and sealing mechanism M~ mounted 2S low on the strap guide frame F. The tape reel 16 is sup-ported on the framework of a lance mounting and driving structure,' indicated generally at 20. This structure in- ' cludes a cantilever mounted lance L which'lance'is extend-ed and retracted by a reversible electric lance drive motor 21. The lance is extended from its retracted position of ~L045~Z~

Figure 2, and extends between the decks 13,,14 of a pallet P, as shown in the'operational diagrams.of Figures 7, 8 and 11. The strap feeding and tensioning mechanism M is pre-ferably mounted just above the lance'assembly 20. A con-sole C at the opposite side'of the strap guide frame F con-tains electrical control elements connected to the main body of the'machine by a cabIe 2Iaj for operating the strap feed mechanism M and the lance operàting mechanism 20, as will be described presently.
10. The general mode of operation of the apparatus will be described briefly. A loaded pallet P is positioned within the strap guide ~frame F, with the lance'L in its re- ,, tracted position, as shown in Figure.2.' The:strap feed mechanism M and the lance drive'mechanism 20..that advances 15 lance L'are'started at the'same time. While the lance L , is advancing between the decks 13 and 14 of the pallet ~Figure'7),.,the.strap S is being fed by the mechanism M ; :
through a gripping and sealing mechanism indicated.general-ly at g, Figure'2, (see 'also Figures 4 and 4A) and up the 20 near side of the'strap guide'frame'F. When the lance ~ ., is fully advanced ,(Figure'8),,the'strap S is still being - fed around the'guide'frame.F, but the end of the strap has , ,.
not reached the'dock for the free end of the lance. Full ,~' advance or extension of the lance 'has been referrea to as ' ' 25 the "docked" position of the lance.' ' ,, ,', As seen in Figure 11, after the lance L is dock-ed,,the end of the strap enters the free end of the lance, ' traverses the lance and is redirected by the guide frame F up to the strap feed and tensioning mechanism M. . The gripping and sealing mechanism "g" now .grips the free end -g- , . .

.. . . . . . .

~ 1 ~45~Zl of the strap S and the feed.ing mechanism xeverses to tension the strap around the load K. The .guiding mechanisms for the '~ strap in the'guide frame F and in the lance L `permit the strap to be pulled clear of its respecti.ve guides for strap-ping the load K to the'~allet P. 'After a predetermined strap tension has been reached,.the mechanism l'g" grips :
the running end or bight of the strap, seals the free end to the running end and cuts off the' running end. In single strapping operations the lance L is now 'automatically re- :
10. tracted and the pallet and its load can.be'shifted to ' another position, either for another strapping operation or for removal from the:apparatus. ~' - Strap Feed and Tensioning Mechanism . . _ , ' The strap feed and tensioning'mechanism M performs .the .function of pulling strap from the'reel 16, directing the strap through the gripping mechanism "g", up the near side j~
of the strap guide'frame'F, across the'frame and over the .. top of the load, down the frame. on the far'side of the load, into and back'through the'extended lance L,'. up the lower 20. near side'of the frame F and back'to the feeding mechanism M. The 'strap is thereafter tensioned around the load, sealed and c~t off,.as previously mentioned.~ Except for certain control aspects of the mechanism M, the mechanism M herein illustrated is like that shown in the patent to Goodley 3,759,169,.issued.September 18,.1973 and assigned :
to the FMC Corporation. Only enough details of the mechan- ' ism M, including its control valve system, sufficient to provide an understanding of the.invention will be descri-bed complete1y hereln~ Other details and the control valve system are.described fully in the aforesaid Goodley -1 0- . `

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patent. Several aspects of the electrical control circuit and the control valve system associated with the mechanism M differ from those described in the aEoresaid Goodley patent and such differences will be described fully.
; 5 Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 4A, the strap S
coming from the reel 16 passes around guide pulleys 22,24 and between guide wheels 25 in the mechanism M. The strap - thereafter passes partially around a tensioning wheel 26, mounted on a shaft 27 and partially around a feed wheel 28, mounted on a driven shaft 29. The feed wheel 28 and tension wheel 26 are geared together by gears (not shown) on the shafts 27 and 29. The shaft 29 is driven by a chain 30 (Figure 3) passing around a sprocket 31 on the feed wheel -shaft 29 and around a sprocket 32 on the shaft 33 of a `~ ;
reversible air motor D that drives the shaft 33. In Fig.
3, the air motor D is behind the sprocket 32 in Figure 3. ~ ;
The tension in the lower reach 34 of the chain 30 (which ~
reach is the driving or tight side of the chain when the -strap is being tensioned around the package) is sensed by ~ ;` ;
an idler sprocket 36 which is carried by an arm 38, privot-ally supported at 38A. The arm 38 operates a tension valve TV, and as explained in the Goodley patent, this structure determines the tension applied to the strap by the tension-ing me¢hanism before the strap ends are sealed together.
~eferring to Figures 4 and 4A, during the feed-ing cycle, the strap S is initially fed through an aperture 39 in a front gripper 40, forming part of the mechanism "g" previously mentioned. The strap continues through an aperture 42 in a fixed shear plate 43, past a cut off knife - 11 - `'~

~045GIZ~
44, between a movable sealing platen .46. and a retractable tongue-48-and between a rear gripper 50'and a retractable : anvil 52. A~ter leaving the mechanism "g" (Fig. 3), the strap S is guided up through mechanism M by guides ~not shown) and enters the'lower end of the near side of the guide frame'F. 'The'strap continues on up the near side of ~' the'strap guide frame F on around the frame'and back through the'extended lance L,,as previously described, where- , '.
' upon the'lower near side'of the guide'frame.redirects the strap end back'to the'gripping mechanism "g" in the mechan-~ ism M. As seen in Figure 4A, the:strap end now passes be-,, tween the'front gripper' 40 and the anvil 52:(before the ':' gripper 40 is closea) and between the tongue:'4B and the :.
. . anvil. The'end of the strap then strikes'a stop 53'formed ' ' 15 on the'anvil S2.: -When the'end of the,strap strikes the anvil stop 1, 53,,rotation of the'wheel's 26,2,8 continues' but an overfeed . loop of strap develops at the'tension whee'l' 28, pivoting ' a flag 55 about its pivot 55a. ,Thïs operates: a follow'er ,20: 56 pivotally mounted at 56a, and ~he follower operates a strap tension.limit valve SV. This action closes ~he front ; gripper 40 to hold the free end of the'strap agalnst the anvil (Fig. 4A) and causes reversal of the .feed wheel drive motor to reverse the wheels 26,28, withdraw the loop of ' 25 strap developed at the flag 55 and initiate tensioning of the strap around the packageO Of course, the'strap is first pulled free of its various guides -in the framé F and . - in the lance L before it is tigh~ened around the load.
Strap tensioning is completed when the lower reach 34.of .: 30 the chain 30 (Fig~ 3) is stra~gh~ened out and hence .

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operates the'idler sprocket arm 38 sufficiently to operate the strap tension limit. valve TV previously mentioned, whereupon the motor D that drives' shaft 33 is stopped. The rear gripper 50 is now closed to hold th.e running or bight ' end of the strap against the anvil 52.'. The tongu~ 48 is - now retracted and a heated blade 57 (Figure 3) which is pivotally mounted at 57a, is swung into the position prev-iously occupied by the tongue '48 thereby softening the ad-jacent strap portions. The heated blade.57 is then with-drawn and the platen 4.6 (Figs 4.and ~A) is advanced to .
seal the heat-softened portions of .the strap to one another . .
against the anvil 52.and at the same time the. knife 44 - .
severs the'running end of the strap. The platen 46 is re- ;
tracted, the grippers 40..,5.0 are opened,.the tongue 48 and the anvil 50 are'retracted and the strapped loaa can be removed from the apparatus'. - !.
A linear,' multi-function cam 58 (~igure'3) is ad- ~:
vanced and retracted by an air cylinder 59 under the control circuit of the`:apparatus, and the linear cam 58, as de-20 scribed completely in the'aforesaid Goodley patent, ad- . ~
-vances' and ret'racts the anvil 52,. the tongue 48, the heat ~ .
seal blade '57 and the platen ~6, as well. as operating a cam - limit valve CL 'in the control circuit. The matter in which the aforesaid cycle is controlled will be described in con- ':

nection with control diagrams that follow, but basi.cally, the valves themselves are like those in the Goodley patent.
. Strap Guide Constr.uctions :
Strap guides are provided in the strap guide frame'F and in the lance L which guide:the .strap as it is '.

advanced by the wheels 26.,28 in the mechanism M and yet :; 1045~Z~
permit the strap to be pulled clear o~ ,the guide frame and the lance when those wheels are reversed.. to tension the strap around the load, as previously described.. .The principle of operation of the releasable'strap guiaes -can be best seen in Figure 6, which.is a section through'the strap . guides on the lance'L. The body 60 of the lance is a square bar which' mounts symmetrical, opposed angle iron gates.61. The gates 61 have'conical bores 61a that pivot- , ally and slidably mount the gates on pins 62:projecting from 10. the lance body 60'(Fig. 6A)... me gates 61 are .resiliently ' held in thelr closed position by a,spring:64 whïch'is ::
associated with each set of pins 62. The'springs 64 have .
eyes that receive short mounting pins 66. The'springs 64.
urge the gates 61 towards one'another, ,and the'gates co-15 . operate with the lance body 60 to serve as-a rèl'easable strap guide.' When the'strap is withdrawn dur;ng the ten- I
sioning operation,.,the'strap progres's-ively cams the gates . ~' 61 apart to free the'strap Erom the'lance.' As seen in the'plan view of'the free end of the ' 2Q lance shown in Figure'9,,the enas of the gates 61 are be-- . velled to facilitate the'progressive action of the strap in camming them apart when the strap is pulled free of the lance. The gates 61 are also beveled at the'supported end of the lance.
25- . A functionally similar strap guide construction is mounted along the various sections of the strap guide . frame F. As seen in Figure 9,,the frame.F has side ele- , ments 70,. which are formed of channels welded together.
These side'elements.extend around most o~.the -frame F
and are secured to outer plates 71, ana.to straps 71a , . : .

`- 1~45~21 ` (Fig. 1) on the rear, upper and far sides of the frame.
The plates 71 mount I-shaped strap guide bars 72 on the -~ near, top and the far sides of the frame F. As in the case ~ . .:~. . .-.
of the lance, the strap S is guided between the free faces of the guide bars 72 and spring closed gates 73. The bases -~
of the gates 73 are loosely restrained in the bars 72 by clips 74 on the bars 72 and are urged into their closed position by compression springs (not shown) that are con- -~
strained between headed bolts 75 (Figure 3) and the associ-ated gate, in the manner previously described in the afore-said Goodley patent.
The two top corners and lower outer corner of the strap guide frame F are provided with open guides having curved bottoms which guides are not closed by spring loaded gates, as is the case along the straight surfaces of the frame F and along the lance. For example, referring to Figure 8, there will be open corner guides at the positions 76,75a and 76b on the strap guide frame F. The fourth ;
corner guide, 76c, is mounted on the rear of the lance L.
~s seen in Figures 9 and 10, the corner guide 76b has open side plates 77 and a curved guide base portion 78. The ;
other guides arè similarly constructed. Mounted on the guide frame F below the corner guide 76b is a bracket 79 that mounts a conical lance dock pin 79a, formed of nylon. - -Lance Mechanism The mechanism 20 that operates the lance L, in-cluding the reversible electric motor 21, have previously been mentioned. The mechanical details of this mechanism are principally shown in Figures 5 and 6. The framework ~ ~;
for the mechanism includes a longitudinal channel 80 ',';''.' .. , . ,, . . ,. . , , ,, ,, , ~

~0450Zl ' . tFig. 6) which'is supported on the floor by feet 81 and by spaced brackets 82 bes't seen in Figure 5, a cover 83, hav- .
ing removable panels, protects the'mechanism, which cover appears in Figure 6 but is largely broken away in Figure 5.
The channel 80 mounts vertical support plates 84,85 . (F,ig.. S) at the rear and front ends of the ~echanism.
Extending between the vertical support plates 84, 85 is a round guide.bar 86 (Fig..5) which slidably supports the lance mechanism. 'This guide bar does not.rotate but is suitahly fixed between the support plates''84,85~,and mounts a rear buffer 87. The'square bar:60'.,of the lance L " ' projects~cantilever fashion (Fig. 5) from a carriage indica~
ted generally at 88, which'slides' along the .guide bar 86.
The carriage 88 includes a block 90'(F,ig. 6) which is split along its lower edge and is clamped against a bearing 92:for slidably receiving the'guide.bar 86.. .Bolts 93 clamp j'~
the carriage bIock 'against the bearing 92.:
Mounted on one side of the:carriage block 90 is :.
a depending vertical plate 94.(Figure:6) secured to the ' carriage block by bolts 94a, which plate'mounts a friction . ...
- - drive mechanism and which'operates limit switches at the extremities of lance travel. Mounted on the'side plate 94 by means of bolts 95 is the'friction drive'mechanism . 96 for the'lance carriage 88. Thè bo.lts 95 fit loosely 25 in the mounting plate 94.to provide a floating mount for the friction drive .96. The friction drive mechanism in-cludes a block 97 that is floatingly supported on the '~
side plate 94 by the bolts 9S and a spring loaded block 98. The'blocks 97.,9,8 have arcuate 'cavities (Fig. 6) that receive'a rotary shaft lQ0 for driving the 'lance carriage .,. j, . .

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88. ~s seen in Figuxe 5, the shaft 100 is rotatably coupled to a sleeve 102 supported on the free end o* a shaft 103 that extends through'the'outer support bracket'84 from the , ~, ' reversible electric' motor 2I. The other end of the rotary shaft 100 is supported in the'front end plate 85 in bear-ings 106.
The'friction drive'mechanism 96 includes the blocks 97,98, previously mentioned,,and opposed sets of oppositely . inclined rollers,,there beiny.a set o~ three'rollers 108 10. inclined in one'direction at the rear of the .friction drive ' mechanism and another.sek of three'rollers 110 inclined in . the'same direction at the'front end of the mechanism. One ,; ' -.. of the 'rear rollers 108 is mountea on the bl'ock 97 ~Fig.
S) and two of the rollers 108 are mounted on the spring 15 loaded block 98, A-t the front end of-the .friction drive mechanism,,two front rollers 110 are mounted on the block j.. :
97.and one roller ll0'is mounted on the'spring loaded block 98 (Fig. ~). 'The'block'98'.is'spring urged towards ''~
the'block 97'by springs 112:(~ig. 6) which'extend between ,'' the block :98 and the heads of bolts 114. The block 98 is - ~
slidabIe'along the'bolts 114 and the .latter bolts are -. :
thr'eaded into the fixed bLock 97 that is supported by the vertical side plate 94.: ., With'this construction,.,the springs 112 (the ~5 loading of which'can be adjusted by means of the bolts 114) press the rollers 108,11n against the rotary shaft 100. When the shaft 100 is rotated in one direction by the electric motor 21, the carriage is frictionally ex- - :
tended along the'guide bar 86. When the 'shaft 100 is ,', 30' rotated in the other direction the'carriage is frictionally ~ 4~Z~
retracted. 'A friction drlve mechanism of the type ~ust de-scribed is sold under the.trade name of"Rohlix Drive System"
by the Berry Division of the Berry Wright Corporation with . main offices at Watertown, Massachusetts and Burbank, California Such'a system is also disclosed in U.S. patent 3,272,:02I. The advantage of the aforesaid dri.ve in its present application resides' in the'fact that the lance can be advanced and retracted by simple'reversal of the elec-tric motor 2I and if the lance meets an obstruction during ~.' its advance, the'shaft lOO'will mereIy slip.~ithin the - riction drive'rollers 108,110 without damage to' the lance - drive'mechanism or to the'shàft lOO'and associ.ated parts.
. The'square'section lance bbdy 60:previously men-tioned is bolted to the carriage 88-by bolts such'as. the boltS116-shbwn in Figure :5. The'projecting portion of the .lance between the'carriage 88 and front plate 85 is supported on a shoe 118 best seen in-.Figure 3.. which shoe is mounted in brackets 119 supported from the 'front end support plate'85. As mentioned,~the lance body:60 mounts 20.. a corner guide 76c best seen in Figure 5, which .receives the'strap from between the lance gates 61. ' When the'lance'is extended or advan~ed from its retracted position shown in Figure'5, to.the. docked portion of Figs. 3,8 and 11, the:corner guide 76c on the lance lines up with a lower rear side portion 12Q of the fixed strap guide frame F, which directs the strap from the lance back up to the .feeding and tensioning mechanism M. The ad-vanced condition of the lance'corner guide'76c is illustra-te:d in phantom lines in Figure 3.
When-the lance L is fully advanced to.its docked : 1C)4S~Z~
position of Fig. ll,: the~ree end of the lance is disposed as shown in Figure'lO.i'This figure shows how the conical ; docking pin 79a mounted on the bracket 79 carried by the strap guide frame F is received in a conical aperture 122 machined in the free' end of the lance bar 60.: A nylon plate .
123 is secured to the'free~encl of the lance by means not ~ shown and fits over a cylindrical portion of the docking : plug-79a. Thi's arrangement accurately cen:ters and supports the free end of the lance'bar 60'in its docked position so 1~ that the strap guides 61 on the lance'will be centered rela- ~' ~ tive to the approachïng free:end of the strap S as it is ; directed by the corner guide 76b:from the :far side of the -~
strap guide ~rame P into the free :end of thb lance. `.:
The'electric motor 2I which'drives the rotary :.

15 lance drive'shaft l~O.'is a rever'sibl:e motor, having main ~.. ' '' windings and starting windings for running in both'direc- [
tions as shown at the bottom of Figure'12.: The'motor 21 can rotate'the'shaft 100 in either direction, thereby causing extension ~r retraction of the carriage 88 that '. .

'20 mounts the lance.' When the lance carriage'88 is retracted, it operates a limit swi.tch LS-2:at the 'rear of the lance mechanism as seen in Figure 5. When the 'carriage is sub-stantially ~ully advanced, the plate 94 previously descri-bed operates a limit switch LS-l at the front-end of the ~

25 lance mechanism as best.seen in Figure 5. Thesè limit ..
switches set up the electric control circuit for the lance ~:
drive motor 21 for either rotating in the direction to ~ :
extend the lance or for rotating in the direction to re tract it. In the'description of the control circuit opera- ~ ' 30. tion that follows,: the contacts of the limit switches LS-l ~()45~Z~L
and LS-2 are assumed to be in their "normal" condition when the operating arms 124,125 (Fig. 5) of these switches are cleared by the lance parts which operate them. .
General Description of Control Circuit . _ . ~.
The operational device will be described in con-junction with several schematic diagrams. These aiagrams - include electrical control diagrams, such as thàt o~ Fig.
12 and pneumatic valve diagrams/ such as that of Fig. 12A.
Referring to the eIectrical diagram of Figure 12, this illustrates a condition of the circuit at the start of a cycle. Power is supplied by electric lines Ll,L2 with a main switch ~ in line Ll. The major circuit elements in-clude a ganged, three contact "Auto-Manual" switch SW2 :, (upper left) and a push button SW2-P for starting the 15 . machine when the.main switch,.Q is closed and the switch SW2 is in "Auto". Also included is a two gang, manually operated "Feed-Tension" switch SW-3, a strap "Tension"
pùsh button switch SW-3-T ganged with a strap "Feed" push button switch SW3-F. There is also a two gang, manually operated "Fxtend-Retract" switch SW-4, and a lance "Re-tract" push button switch SW-4-R ganged with a lance "Extend" push button switch SW~4-E.
The front and rear limit switches LS-l and LS-2 previously described (Fig. 5) and controlled by the lance L are also shown in the circuit diagram. These are ganged three contact limit switchesO Switch LS-l, the front limit ~.
. switch, is in its "normal" position when cleared by. the lance. Thus the front limit switch LS-l is cleared when - the lance is retracted and is not operated until the lance is substantially fully extended.

The rear limit switch LS-2 is also in its "normal"
position when cleared by the lance. Thus the rear limit switch LS-2 is cleared when lance extension begins and is not operated unless the lance is fully retracted. When the lance is in its retracted position (the condition shown in Figure 12) the switch arm 125 (Fig. 5) of the rear limit switch LS-2 is operated. The normally closed contacts LS-2-1 and LS-2-3 are opened and the normally open contacts LS-2-2 are closed. Conversely, when the lance is in the -aforesaid retracted position, the switch arm 124 (Fig. 5) of the front limit switch LS-l is not engaged by the lance, i so that the normally closed contacts LS-l-l and LS-1-3 are closed and the normally open contacts LS-1-2 are open. `
As mentioned, these are the conditions illustrated in Figure 12, wherein the lance is in its retracted position so that the rear limit switch LS-2 is operated and the front limit switch of LS-l is not operated.
Remotely controlled pressure switch contacts are also in the circuit. These include contacts PEl-l which are in parallel with the start button SW2-P and which are operated by a pressure switch element PEl shown in the pneumatic circuit of Figure 12A. The contacts PEl-l serve as holding contacts upon starting of the machine when it is set for automatic operation.
Also included are pressure switch contacts PE2A-1 of a pressure switch PE2A in the valve circuit (Fig. 12A). The contacts PE2A-l control the time delay relay TDR-l which operates the solenoid of a control valve ;
V-6 (Fig. 12A). The time delay relay TD~-l corresponds !,.~,.
to the relay TDR in the aforesaid Goodley patent.

,' ' ~s~
Also included are pressure switch contacts PE-3-1 and PE-~~l which light strap tensioning and strap feeding ; lamps, respectively.
Various other relays controlling their respective switches also appear in the circuit diagram of Figure 12.
These relays include a main relay R2 (upper right of Fig.
12), which musk be energized to start an automatic cycle.
A "coasting" time delay relay TDR-3 is connected in paral-lel with the main relay R2. As will be seen, the relay TDR-3 times out after lance extension beg~ins and before the lance has reached its fully extended position. This shuts off the lance driving motor 21 whereupon the lance coasts into its docked position.
Other relays in the circuit include an extend lance relay lC~ (right center of Fig. 12) which controls contacts (bottom of Fig. 12) to cause the lance drive motor 21 to extend the lance. A companion retract lance relay ~CR operates contacts that cause the motor 21 to retract the lance. A "lance delayed" time delay relay TDR-2 operates to shut off the machine after the start of an automatic cycle, if the lance is not fully extended and docked before the relay TDR-2 times out.
This prevents over feedin~ of the strap, as previously described.
~ motor starting relay MS controls ~ontacts for the main or primary windings of the lance driving motor 21. The~other contacts controlled by the relays lCR and 2CR, previously mentioned, are ~or the secondary or start-int windin~s of the motor 21, for controlling its direct-ion so that it can either extend or retract the lance.

.

4S~2~l .' Valve Diagrams Figure 12~ and other figures represent schematic valve diagrams of the pneumatic control circuit of the ,.
strapping machi'ne.' As previously mentioned, ,the pneumatic control circuit of the present machine is basically the same as that disclosed in the ,aforesaid,Goodley patent . 3,759,169. Hence details of the various valves and other ' elements that are described in the patent and are duplica~
ted in the present circuit will only be described sufficient-, . 10 ly to provide:an understanding of the basic mode of opera-tion of the present inventionO . The various. valves wlll be ' brierly mentioned indicating a few differences between the - circuit of Figure'12A (for example) and that of the afore- , said Goodley patent. . ~.
T~e'valve circuit includes a valve.'V7 which was . .
formerly manually operated to initiate .strap tensioning. , This valve is now solenoid operated and.is bypassed in automatic control. It is now operated under manual control - from the electrical circuit. Thus in the circuit of ~ 20 Figure 12~, an air line "x" has been added which by-passes the valve V7 and automatically initiates-strap tensioning.
A strap limit.valve,.SV is associated with the tension wheeI 28 and the flag 55 previously described (Figure 4) and operates to reverse the air ~otor ~ to with~
draw strap when a loop is-developed at the flag, as in the ,'' -Goodley patent. .
The solenoid operated.valve V6 also has its ,.
counterpart in the Goodley patent. However, ,in the present '~
circuit the vaLve. V6 replaces the manually operated ON-OFF
valve of thb patent. The solenoid of the valve V6 is ., , -23-. . . .

~)4S~
energized by the start button and acts to initiate operation of the feed motor D in the strap feeding direction.
Valves Vl and V2 are pilot operated four way valves which operate in the manner of the aforesaid Goodley patent. However, in the present circuit, the valve Vl receives air from the valve V6 instead of from an ON-OFF
valve.
The tension limit valve TV is controlled by the drive chain 30 for the strap feed mechanism and shifts the valve V2 to stop the drive of the motor D in the tension-ing direction when the tension of the strap around the pack-age has reached a predetermined value, as explained in de-tail in the aforesaid Goodley patent.
The pilot operated, spring returned valves V3 and V5 control the operation of the strap drive motor M
in the direction for strap withdrawal and tensioning. The previously mentioned line ~Ix~ has been added leading to the shuttle valve SV-l of the valve V3. This line bypasses the valve V7 in automatic operation and the valve V7 now operates the valve V5 through a shuttle valve SV-4 in manual operation.
The front and rear strap grippers 40,50 are opera-ted by pressure diaphragms and the valves Vl,V2, in the manner of the aforesaid Goodley patent.
As in the Goodley patent, the linear cam assembly 58 is operated by a double acting piston 59, to actuate the tongue 48 (Figure 4A), the heat sealing blade (Figure 3), the platen 46 for squeezing the heated ends of the strap together (Figure 4A) and the anvil 52 for releasing the joined strap. The details of these operations are not critical to the present invention and are fully disclosed ~ ,"

~(~45~Z~ :
in the aforesaid Goodley patent. ~, ,, Various pressure operated valves are 'actuated ~
from the pneumatic circuit. The pressure switch PE-l has : :
its counterpart in the Goodley patent, but in the present ~
. circuit PE-l is controlled by the'valve V6 instead of by an ,~ ' ON-OFF valve. The pressure switch PE-l operates holding contacts in the electrical circuit for the main,relay R2 during automatic operation.
A pressure'switch PE2-A corresponds to the pressure ,~' 10: switch PE-2 in the afores'aid Goodley patent. The switch PE2 operates. contacts which contxol a time delay relay - , ~, TDR-l. The 'relay TDR-l corresponds to the relay TDR in the Goodley pakent,.in that it-causes the'valve V6 to reset -to its start position after the strap ends have been joined.
Pressure switch PE-3'(not present in the Goodley pa~ent~ `
is controlled by the'valve V3 and operates contacts for a ~
. strap tensioning indicator lamp. Pressure switch PE4 (also not present in the` aforesaid Goodley patent) is con-trolled by the'cam limit valve CL and operates. contacts ' .
20 for a la.~p that indicates that the apparatus is feeding ' strap.
Automatic'Operation The'automatic operation of the strapping machine ~'' . of the present inven.tion will now be explained relative to the series of electrical and pneumatic diagrams~, Only those operations essential to the understanding of the ,~
.. control circuit for the pallet strapping machine of the ' ' present invention will be explained in detail. Reference is made.to the aforesaid Goodley patent for various details which,.although incorporated in the machine, are -25- .
~,, ~04SOZ~L
not necessary for an understanaing of the present invention.

: Start . ~
~: Thè'initial or "Startl' conditions of the electri-cal circuit appear in Figure 12. The main switch Q in line s Ll is closed~ the "Auto-Manualll switch'SW-2'is set ~or auto-matic, closing contacts SW2-1 and SW2-2. . The 'lautomatic"-indicator light is l.it. The push button SW2-P has not been pushed so that the'main relay R2 is de-energized,. as is the . "coasting" relay TD~-3 connected in parallel with R2. Un-10. der these:conditions,: thè normally open relay contac-ts .
R2-1 (upper center ~f Fig~ 12) are open, m us~ although : the'"Auto-Man" switch'contacts SW2-l,. the."lance. delayed~' : contacts TDR~2~ the... coasting relay contacts. TDR-3 1 and .
the front limit switch contacts LS-l-l are'all. closed, the . 15- circuit for energizing the'lance'extend relay lCR is opened . by contacts R2-1. ~' With the'lance retracted,.the rear limit switch LS~2 is operated, so that the normally open contacts LS-2-2. ;
'are'closed. This completes a circuit to the "lance retrac-20: . ted" light. Since the lance is in its retracted position the front limit switch'LS-l is not operated~ and îts con-tacts all assume'their normal positions, as shown in the diagram. - ':
Referring to the valve diagram of Figure 12A, 25 the diaphragm o~ pressure switch'PE-l is pressurized by air passing through the solenoid valve. V-6. This opens the pressure contacts PEl-l, which'are in parallel with the start button SW2-P in the circuit for the'main relay R2.
The other pressure'switches' PE2A, PE3'and PE4. do not re-ceive air under pressure (Fig. 12A) and hence :their -26.-,.j r ~ respective contacts, shown in Figure 12, are open.
;:, ... .
Air passes through the valve V2 to hold linear ; cam assembly 58 in its retracted position.
Extend Lance The electrical diagram of Figure 13 and the valve diagram of Figure 13A illustrate conditions when the start button SW-2-P is closed to extend the lance and start a strap feed cycle. The main relay R2 (Fig. 13) is now energized through the Auto-Manual switch SW2, the normally closed contacts TDR-2-1 and the push button switch SW2-P.
The "coasting" time delay relay TDR-3, in parallel with ;~
R2, is also energized and starts timing out. `
Energization of the main relay R2 closes the ~-normally open contacts R2-1 (top center of the figure), and energizes the extend lance relay lCR through the Auto-Man contacts SW-2-1, the normally closed "lance delayed" relay contacts TDR-2-1, the relay contacts R2-1 (which energizes the line "u"), normally closed contacts TDR-3-1 of the "coasting" relay TDR-3 and the normally closed front limit switch contacts LS-l-1. The latter contacts are in their normally closed condition because they are not opened until the lance is fully extended. When the extend lance relay lCR is thus energized, its normally open contacts lCR-l (bottom left) are closed to energize the lance drive motor starting relay MS. This closes the normally open starting `
contacts MS-l and energizes the primary windings of the lance drive motor 21. Energization of the extend lance relay lCR also energizes the starting windings to the lance drive motor by causing it to run in the lance extending direction. This is accomplished by closing the normally :

~)45~Z31L
open contacts lCR-2 and lCR-3 in the starting winding leads to the motor..
Simultaneously with starting lance. extension, a strap feedi~g operation is initiated, When the push button contacts SW2-P were closed,,as previously described, the solenoid ~or valve:V-6:was-energized through the "auto-man-ual" switch contacts SW2-l,.the normally closed ''lance de-layed" contacts.TDR-2-1, and the push'button contacts , ' SW2-P. Thi's energizes' the line'"v" to the normally closed - 10 time :dela~ relay contacts TDR-l-l, and hence energizes the : solenoid for the'valve.V6~
. Referring to the'valve'diagram of Figure 13A,.
when the solenoid for.valve V6 is energizedr as :just, de-scribed, that valve ~6 shifts and the air supply to the - 15 pressuxe switch PEl is removed. This,closes the pressure switch holding contacts PEl-l in parallel with :the s$arting button SW2-.P (~ig. 13)' and maintains -~he main relay R2 energizbd.
As to air.flow,.shifting of the'valve V6,,(Fig. .:
. - 20 13A), as just described, directs,air through th~ valve Vl : and through'the cam limit valve'CL to the pilot o~ the ' '.' valve V4,,and the. valve'V4 shi.fts. The valve V4 now directs. air to the reversible air motor D' which.drives . the strap feeding wheels described.in connection with .
25 ~igure 3 in the'feed direction, Thus, la~ce 'extension ~' and strap feeding are simultanebusly initiated during .'.
automatic operation~
As is seen in Figure 13A, when air.pressure was .1 , supplied by the valve CL to the pilot of valve. V4 to :, shift V4.and operate the strap feed motor D:,,air was also - -28- . .. "

.

1~)45Q2~
supplied to the diaphragm of the pressure switch PE-4.
This closes the switch contact PE4-1 and.~he strap feeding lamp is lit, thereby indicating that strap is being fed ~hrough the yoke of the'apparatus.
: 5 Lance Coasting Function As previously mentioned, in automatic operation, .' the :circuit shuts off the electric.lance dri.ve'mo~or 21 before the lance is fully docked, so that the lance can .. ' coast into its docked.position.. Thi's reduces the shock 10. against the. docking structure and its mounting framework, .' shown in Figure 10. The'coasting function is accomplished by the time delay "coasting" relay- TDR-3, prev~ously men-tioned. As seen in.Fig. 13,' ~he coasting reIay is in ';
parallel with'the main relay R2'and hence :is energized 15 when the automatic cycle is ~started. .At the start of thecycle, although'the 'coasting relay TDR-3 is energized, it has not timed out and its normally closed contacts TDR-3-1 are closed. . Thus a circuit.through.:the :"Auto-Manual" .
: contacts SW2-1, the normally closed contacts TDR-2-1, the

- 2~. closed relay contacts R2-1, the line'"u"., the coasting ..
relay contacts TDR-3-1, the line "y", and the front limit switch contacts LS-l-l.energizes the extend lance relay lCR, as previously described. Extension of the lance toward '' .its docked position now begins, as previously explained.
However, before the lance has docked, the coasting relay TDR-3 times out. In a typical example,..this can represent .- a lance motor running time'in the'order of two seconds.
After the elapse of this predetermined time (which is ad-.justed into the'relay TDR-3 in a known manner), the relay - 30 TDR-3 times out and its normally closed contacts TDR-3-1 -29- :

, , ' :, ' ' ' ' . ' . . ~ .

~s~z~
open. When these contacts open, the extend lance relay circuit to lCR that was just described is de-energized and the normally open contacts lCR-l in the line to the lance drive motor starter MS reopen. The motor starter relay MS is thus de-energized and the normally open contact MS-l in the primary windings of the lance drive motor 21 also reopen, thereby de-energizing the lance drive motor 21.
Similarly the contacts of relay lCR for the starting wind-ings of the motor 21 reopen.
When the coasting relay TDR-3 is properly adjust-ed for a given machine, it will shut off the lance drive motor 21 in a manner which permits the lance to coast into -its docked position thereby minimizing the shock upon dock-ing, as previously described.
Lance Extended `
Referring to the electrical diagram of Figure -14, this diagram shows the conditions when the lance is fully extended. As soon as the lance cleared the operating arm of the rear limit switch LS-2, its normally closed contacts ;
LS-2-1 and LS-2-3 were permitted to close and its normally open contacts LS-2-2 opened. Conversely, when the lance is fully extended or docked it actuates the operating arm `
of the front limit switch LS-l. The normally closed con-tacts LS-l-l and LS-1-3 of the front limit switch are now opened and the normally closed contacts LS-1-2 are closed.
Opening of the contacts LS-l-l will de-energize the extend lance relay lCR, if it has not already been energized by ;
timing out of the time delay coasting relay TDR-3-1 as previously described. Normally, the aforesaid limit switch action upon lance extension is significant only in manual A ::
;

~L~4S02~L
;
control or in case of malfunction to the coasting relay TDR-3. De-energization of relay lCR by contacts LS-l-l -insures that the lance drive motor 21 remains de-energized, independently of the action of the relay TDR-3.
Lance~ y~
As previously mentioned, in automatic operation of the pallet strapping machine of the present invention, strap feeding is initiated up and around the yoke or strap ~`
guide frame F at the same time that the lance drive motor 21 is energized to extend the lance. In normal operation, the lance is docked and ready to receive the incoming strap before the strap reaches the lance. However, if a malfunc- "
tion or obstruction delays docking of the lance, and if strap feed were continued, the strap would be fed out of the yoke and into the space between the pallet decks.
Figure 15 shows the first stage in the operation of a circuit which shuts the machine off a predetermined time after the drive motor has started to extend the lance, which time is adequate for normal lance docking but is less than that required for the strap end to reach the docking zone of the lance. This circuit not only stops the lance driving motor 21 but also stops the air motor D that feeds the strap.
Figure 15 illustrates the conditions of the front and rear limit switches LS-l and LS-2 wherein the lance has started to extend but has not docked. In the circuit conditions illustrated in Figure 15, the rear limit switch LS-2 was cleared when the lance started to extend and its contacts are in their normal condition. The front limit switch LS-l has not been reached by the lance and .~,' . .

~ 5~21 its contacts are also in their normal condition. Thus in the condition of Figure 15, with the lance 'in some inter-mediate but not docked condition, the rear limit switch contacts LS-2-1 are'in their normally closed condition and the front limit switch'contacts LS-1-3'are also in their normally closed condition. As mentioned, the condition herein illustrated developed as soon as the'lance drive motor was started and the lance cleared the rear limit switch LS-2. With'contacts LS-1-3'and LS-2-1 both closed, -the "lance delayed" time relay TDR-.2 is energized. This reIay is set to time'out after the lapse of a time which is normally sufficient for the lance to have docked. This time period will be'too short for the strap feeding motor to have fed the end of the strap to the'lance docking ' 15 point, although'the strap will be'approaching that point.
- After el'apse of the aforesaid set time (approxim- ~
ately three seconds in a typical machïne), the "lance de- ' layed" relay TDR-2 times out. ~hen thi's happens, -the '~
~normally closed relay contacts TDR-2-l (upper left of ~i ~ig. 15~ are opened. Opening of these'contacts de-energi~es the main relay R2 so that its normally open contacts R2~1 reopen and its normally open contacts R2-2 -close. Opening o~ the main relay contacts R2-1 de energizes the'line "u"
and hence de-energizes the extend lance relay lCR, even though the contacts TDR~3-1 and LS-l-l remain closed. ~hen ;
the extend lance relay lCR is de-energized, its normally ~;
open contacts in the circuits for the lance drive motor 21 open, which de-energizes the motor, and the dxive shaft 100 (Fig~ 5) for the friction drive is no longer turned to extend the lance. ' :. . . . .. .

:

~SQZ~

When the main relay R2 is de-ener.gized, as previous-ly described,,its normally closed contacts R2-2 close, setting up a cir.~.uit thr.ough the "Auto-Manual" contacts SW2-1, the relay contacts TDR~2-1 (which openea when the .
relay TDR-2 .timed out), the relay contacts R2-2 (opened when TDR-2 timed out~,,the line "t" and the rear limit switch contacts LS-2-3 (closed) to the lance:retract relay 2CR, for subsequent operation~
When the time delay contacts. TDR-2-.1 opened 1.0: because of the timing out of the :"lance.delayed" relay , TDR-2, as previously described, the previously. e.stablished circuit ~Figure 13).through the "Auto-Manual" contacts SW2-1, the time deIay.-contacts TDR-2-1 :(upper.left), pressure switch holding contacts PE-l-l,,the line "v",,the normally closed contacts TDR-l-l (lower left) for the solenoid of valve V6.is opened,,which de-energizes the . valve solenoid. When the solenoid of valve. V6;is : thus ., de-energized,.,the. valve shifts back from its position of Fig. 13A to its starting position of Flgure 12A and air is no longer directed through the valves. Vl,.CL and V4 to drive .the strap feeding motor ,D in the:feeding direc-tion. Thus,,when the valve. V6 returns- to its starting condition of Figure .12A be.cause the "lance. delayed" relay ~.:.
- . TD.R-2 timed out, the .strap feeding.motor ,D stops. Also, 25 when the "lance. delayed" relay TDR-2 .timed out,,as :~
previously described, .the normally opened.contacts TDR-2-2 leading to the "lance undocked" lamp close,.and that lamp is lit,.indicating to the operator the abnormal condition of the lance.
The circuit is such that the oper:ator can, by -33~ -. , ~ . , , .~ .. ..

1045~2~
manual operation,.cause the lance, whic~.had stopped in be-tween its retracted and its advance positions,.to ~ully re-tract. This operation is illustrated.in Figure 16. The main switch ~.in the line Ll is momentarily opened by the operator, as indicated in the dotted lines-in the upper left of Figure 16. Opening of the main line de-energizes the "lance delayed" relay TDR-2;(which was energized ana had timed out to stop the machine as just.described). De-energization of the relay TDR-2:resets..that relay. When the relay TDR-2:is reset,.its normally closed contacts TDR-2-1 (upper left of Figure 16) are:reclosed~ Closing of the latter contacts completes the circuit .through.the .

, "Auto-Manual" contacts SW2.-l,.the:contacts TDR-2-1 (just . reset to their closed condition), the contacts R2-2. ...
15 (previously closed),. the line "t" and rear limit.switch `
contacts LS-2-3 (closed because the lance has been partiai- ~.
ly extended~ to the lance retract relay 2CR~ When the re-- lay 2CR is thus energized,.. and is seen at the bottom o~
Figure 16, normally open contacts 2CR-1 for the motor starting relay MS are closed which causes the contacts MS-l for the primary windings -of.the lance motor 21 to close .:
and energize those windings. Also,.normally open contacts :,., :
.2CR-2 and 2CR-3 are closed,.which energizes the starting windings in the motor 21 and that the latter runs in i~s , 25 reverse or lance retraction direction~ Thus, the.lance is :
automatically retracted until it operates the rear limit switch LS-2 opening its co~tacts I,S-2-3,.as shown in Figure 12. The lance retract relay 2CR is.now de-energized and the machine is ready to be restarted~ After the ~

cause of the lance. delay has been removed, and since some .

1~1915~%~L
., strap has been fed through the guide frame F, the lance can be extended under manual control (to be described presently), and the strap feed cycle is completed in manual control by holding down the strap feed push button SW3-F
until the cycle is completed.
Strap Tensioning The description of an automatic cycle has been ` interrupted to describe the "lance delayed" conditions. -Normally, these conditions do not occur and it will now be assumed that the lance had fully extended in normal operation, as explained in connection with the electrical diagram of Figure 14, and that strap feeding had continued normally. This means that the lance would have docked and -the strap would have been fed from around the yoke into the free end of the lance, across the lance and back up into the strapping machine, until the end of the strap struck the stop 53 shown in Figure 4A. As seen in Figure 4, a loop of strap S now develops at the flag 55, tripping the flag. :;
The pneumatic diagram of Figure 17 shows the re-sultant operation. When the end of the strap was stopped, a loop of strap develops at the tension wheel 28 and the flag 55 is tripped. The strap limit valve SV now shifts and directs a burst of air through the line Z, which burst is indicated by a series of arrows. This burst opens the check valve cv-3, flows through the adjustable needle valve tv-3, shifts the shuttle valve SV-2 and drives the motor D in the "tension" direction. This action quickly withdraws the loop of the strap from the flag 55 and recloses the valve SV. In the meantime, and when the valve SV was opened by . :
....

5~2~L
.. ,:
the loop of strap as just described, the valve SV also directed air to the pilot P-2 of the valve Vl shifting the latter valve. The solenoid valve V6 remains in the position shown in Figure 13A and now air from that valve is directed by the valve Vl to the front gripper 40 which closes upon the free end of the strap, as shown in Figures ~ and 4A.
Air from valve Vl is also directed through a line which includes the branch "x" to the shuttle valve SV-l, associated ;
~ . .
with the valve V3, which directs air to the pilot P-l of the valve V3 and shifts the valve. When the valve V3 shifts, ~-air shifts the shuttle valve SV-4 and is directed to the pilot P-l of the valve V5 and that valve also shifts. Air from the valve V5 is directed past the shuttle valve SV-2 ;~
:
r to the air motor D which continues to drive the strap feed mechanism in a direction to tension the strap about the load on the pallet, until the strap is tight.
Air from the valve V3 also operates the pressure switch PE-3 and closes its contacts PE-3-l in the electrical circuit. This lights the "tensioning" lamp to indicate that the strap tensioning operation is being performed.
Strap tensioned The control valve diagram of Figure 18 illustrates the conditions when the feed motor D has tensioned and drawn the strap tight around the load and the pallet. When a predetermined tension has been applied to the strap, increased torque exerted by the motor D straightens the reach of the chain 30 and the follower arm 38 shifts the tension limit valve TV. Air from the valve TV is now directed to the pilot P2 of the valve V2, which shifts the :

~ ' ,, .

1~45~
'' valve V2 and four actions take'place. First, air from V2 .
is directed to the pilot P-2 of the valve V3'which shifts that valve from the~position of Fig. 17 and cuts off air previously directed to the pilot Pl of the .val.ve. V5 and to the pressure switch PE3'which had lit the ".tensioning" lamp. `' : ' The valve VS, being spring loaded,.now shifts and shuts off the air supply to the'motor P which had previously been . driven in the'strap tens-ioning direction. .At the same time, air from the:valve ~2'is dlrected to the. diaphragm operator lO. for the rear gripper SO,:.which'closes the'gripper and holds .' the strap under tension around the load. Air from the valve - :
V2 is also directed to the'cylinder 59, which'advances the linear cam assembl'y -58. As previously mentioned and as ex- - .
plained ln detail in the aforesaid Goodley.patent 3,759,16g, the linear cam assembIy 58 operates the tongue 4~ (Fig. 4A), . the heating blade 57 (-Fig. 3)~ the platen 46 and the anvil 52 for forming the'joint of the.strap,.cutting the strap and permitting removal of the joined strap.from the. associ- . .
ated sealing mechanism. As mentioned,.the :details of these operations are not critical to the'present invention.
Air from.valve V2'is also directed to the pressure swltch PE2A which closes.its contacts PE2A-l.in a'circuit .-to the time delay relay TDR-lo This energizes the relay : ~ -TDR-1 which tlmes out after a period sufficient for the .

completion of the'operations strap sealing and cutting just described.
.'TDR-l' Time's Out ,:
Referring to Figs. l9 and l9A.and back to the electrical diagram of Figure'14,. it will be recalled that the lance was extended and it will be noted in Fig..- 14 that ;:

l~4sn2~
the nsrmally closed contacts TDR-l-l of the relay TDR-l -~ had energized the solenoid for the valve V6 from the line - "v". When the relay TDR-I times out (Fig. 19) as just de-scribed, the normally closed contacts TDR-l-l axe opened 5 and de-energize the solenoid for the valve V6. -~ s seen irl Fig. l9A, the valve V6 springs back to the initial or starting position shown in the valve diagram of Figure 12A. Air under pressure is again directed by the valve V6 to the pressure switch PE-l and to the pilots P-l of the valves Vl and V2. This shifts the valves Vl and V2 from the position of Figure 18 back to ~he starting position of Figures l9A and 12A.
Air from the valve V2 now retracts the linear cam assembly 58. Also, when the pressure switch PE-l is .
energized, as just described, it opens the halding contacts PEl~l and de-energizes the main rela~ R2.
When the main relay R2 is de-energized (Fig. 19) its normally closed contacts R2-2 reclose, which sets up the circuit to the lance retract solenoid 2CR thr~ugh the line !'t" and the contacts LS-2-3 o~ the rear limit switch LS2-3. Since the lance is now extended, as described in connection with Figure 14, the rear limit switch LS2 is operated by the lance and as seen in Fig. 19 its contacts LS2-3 are closed. Thus the lance retract relay 2CR is energized and will retract the lance. When the lance is ~ully retracted, it clears the front limit switch LSl and operates rear limit switch LS2 as shown in the electrical diagram of Figure 12. The "lance retracted"
lamp is now lit, as shown in Figure 1~, and the automatic cycle is now completed.
-38- ' ': ' .
~()45~Z~. ;
,' Manual Oper tion Figure 20 shows:the ~uto-Manual switch.set for ~ Manual operation. Under thes'e'conditions,: the previously '' closed contact SW2-1 is now open and the'circuits establish-ed by the main rel'ay R2 are bypassed because the previous-ly open contact SW2~3 is now closed. This establishes a circuit directly from.the line Ll to the Feed-Tension switches,,to the Extend-Retract switches and lights the : "manual" lamp. . ' ' '.

- 10... '~eed Strap ~:
.
The'Feed-Tensi-on swi'tch'is shown in the "feed"
positlon wherein contacts SW3-l are'open and contacts SW3-2 are closed. Thus, when the "Feed" push'hutton switch SW3-F is operated,,the main rel'ay R2 is energized by a cir- .
.cuit ihrough SW2-3,,S~3-2,'.,the'push button switch SW-3-F
and the line ."v", which'circuit hypasses switches and con- I
tacts needed to energize'the:relay R2 for automatic opera- ~;
tion.
. When the main rel'ay R2:is energized as just de- : -20. scribed,,the:conditions of the circuit diagram o* Figure 13 are established. The solenoid for valve V6 will be ener-gized and will shift the valve V6 as shown in.the valve dia-gram of Figure 13A,.,initi-ating the strap feed circuit. Also, if the lance is not .fully extended,,so that the ~ront limit ~switch LSl has not heen ac.tuated,.,the lance extend relay lCR will be energized to extend the lance,'.as was explained in connection wi-th Figure'13~ ' '' Tension strap When the'Feed-Tension switch is placed at the "tension" position,.contacts SW3-1 are'closed and the feed . -39-4soz~ :

contacts SW3-2 are opened. Now if the "tension" push button switch SW3-T is closed, the solenoid of valve V7 '~
is energized. When this occurs, the valve V7 is shifted down from the position shown in Figure 17 thereby directing .; ... .
air to the shuttle valve SV-4 and on to the pilot P-l of the valve V-5, thereby establishing the air circuit that operates the motor D in the tension direction as shown in Figure 17. So long as the push button switch SW3-T is held ' down, the strap tensioning, sealing and cutting cycle will be completed. .
Extend Lance ~eferring again to Figure 20, when the "Extend- -~
Retract" switch is in the "extend" position as shown, the ;
contacts SW4-2 are closed and the contacts SW4-l are open.
Now if the "Extend" push button switch SW4-E is closed, a circuit is established to a line "y" which connects to ;~ `
the contacts LS-l-l of the front limit switch. Thus, unless these contacts are open because the lance is fully extended, the lance extend relay lCR will be energized and will oper-ate its motor contacts to extend the lance as described in connection with the wiring diagram of Figure 13.
Retract Lance When the "Extend-Retract" switch is placed in the "retract" position, contacts SW4-l are closed and contacts SW4-2 are opened. Now when the "Retract" push button switch SW4-R is closed, a circuit is established through the line ;
"w" to the line "t" leading to the rear limit switch contacts -LS2-3, which are normally closed. If the lance has been extended enough to clear the rear limit switch LS-2, the normally closed contacts LS2-3 of this switch will be ~)45~1 closed as shown in Figure 14, thereby establishing the con ) nection to the lance retract relay 2CR. Thus, so long as the manual "Retract" push button switch SW4-R is held down, . the lance will retract,.and when it is fully retracted, it will open the rear limit switch contacts ~S2-3 and de- :
energize the retract.relay 2CR.
Although t:he best mode cont~mplated for carrying out the present invention has been herein shown and descri-bed, it will be apparent that modification and ~ariation 10: may be made without departing from what is regarded to be - the subject matter of the invention.

Claims (5)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED, AS FOLLOWS:

1. Apparatus for strapping a load to the deck of a pallet, said apparatus comprising means, including a pneumatic motor, for feeding a strap along a predetermined path around the load and for tensioning the strap around the load, a strap guiding lance, an electric motor for advancing the lance beneath the deck of the pallet to guide the strap under the deck of the pallet, a pneumatic control circuit for the pneumatic motor, and an electrical control circuit for the electric motor, said electrical control circuit being controlled from the pneumatic control circuit.

2. Apparatus for strapping a load to the deck of a pallet, said apparatus comprising a strap guide frame for guiding a strap along a path which partially surrounds the load, a mechanism on the frame for effecting a strap feeding and tensioning cycle, a strap guiding lance advanceable below the pallet deck for receiving a strap end from a portion of the guide frame adjacent one side of the load and directing the strap back to a portion of the guide frame adjacent an opposite side of the load, a dock for the free end of the lance in its extended position, a reversible air motor for feeding the strap, a reversible electric motor for extending the lance to the dock and for retracting the lance, a pneumatic control circuit for the air motor, an electrical control circuit for the electric motor, lance extend and retract relays in the electrical control circuit having contacts for driving the electric motor in either direction, and contacts in the electrical control circuit controlled by the pneumatic control circuit for operating the relays.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a coasting time delay relay in the electrical control circuit and connected to the lance extend relay, and means for energizing the coasting relay upon initiation of lance extension, the arrangement being such that the coasting relay times out and opens the contacts before the lance reaches the dock whereby the lance velocity is small upon docking.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a lance delayed relay in the electrical control circuit and connected to the lance extend relay and the pneumatic control circuit for the air motor, and means for energizing the lance delayed relay upon initiation of lance extension, the arrangement being such that, in the event the lance delayed relay times out before the coasting relay times out, the lance delayed relay opens the contacts of the lance extend relay and causes the pneumatic control circuit to stop operation of the air motor.

5. Apparatus for strapping a load to the deck of a pallet, said apparatus comprising a strap guide frame for guiding a strap along a path which partially surrounds the load, a mechanism on the frame, including a reversible air motor, for effecting a strap feeding and tensioning cycle, a strap guiding lance advanceable below the pallet deck for receiving a strap end from a portion of the guide frame adjacent one side of the load and directing the strap back to a portion of the guide frame adjacent an opposite side of the load, a reversible electric motor for extending and retracting said lance, a pneumatic control circuit for the air motor and an electric control circuit for the electric motor, said pneumatic control circuit controlling the electric control circuit for effecting lance extension and retraction and comprising detector means for detecting a loop of strap at the completion of a strap feeding cycle, valve means connected to the detector means for reversing the air motor and withdrawing the loop, a manually controllable air valve for continuing operation of the air motor in reverse for tensioning the strap about a load, and valve means operated by said detector valve means for automatically continuing operation of said air motor in reverse for tensioning the strap, independently of the operation of said manually controllable air valve.