U.S. patent application number 10/768867 was filed with the patent office on 2005-08-04 for banding apparatus providing reduced banding material buckling.
Invention is credited to Abbott, Teresa, Marelin, Miklos B., Stillings, Matthew.
Application Number | 20050166990 10/768867 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34679335 |
Filed Date | 2005-08-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050166990 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stillings, Matthew ; et
al. |
August 4, 2005 |
Banding apparatus providing reduced banding material buckling
Abstract
A banding material gripping mechanism and band tightening tool
using the same are disclosed, wherein there is a reduced likelihood
of the banding material buckling in the tool. The gripping
mechanism includes gripping body and a banding material gripper
component ("gripper") that reciprocates within the gripping body
for iteratively: (i) gripping the banding material so that a band
being formed from the banding material can be tightened, and (ii)
releasing the banding material so that the gripper can slide along
the banding material as the gripping body moves forwardly over a
further length of excess banding material in preparation for
performing (i) again. The gripper has a banding material contacting
portion with a shape that cooperatives with a slot provided within
a banding material support platform of the gripping body such that
during (i) above, the banding material is deformed into the slot
thereby reducing a likelihood that (i) results in a hump in the
banding material forwardly of the gripper that could prevent the
gripper from effectively sliding over the banding material in
(ii).
Inventors: |
Stillings, Matthew;
(Centennial, CO) ; Marelin, Miklos B.; (Aurora,
CO) ; Abbott, Teresa; (Brighton, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHERIDAN ROSS PC
1560 BROADWAY
SUITE 1200
DENVER
CO
80202
|
Family ID: |
34679335 |
Appl. No.: |
10/768867 |
Filed: |
January 29, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
140/123 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 13/025 20130101;
B65B 13/185 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
140/123 |
International
Class: |
B21F 009/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for holding a banding material, comprising: providing a
band tightening tool including a gripping mechanism having a
gripper and a slot with a slot proximal end; and gripping, adjacent
to said slot proximal end, contacted portions of said banding
material.
2. The method of claim 1 further including, after said gripping,
releasing said banding material by relative movement of said
gripper.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said gripper moves relative to a
gripping body of said gripping mechanism.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said gripper includes a banding
material contacting portion that engages said contacted portions of
said banding material, and in which said gripper contacting portion
has an extent of movement that substantially includes said slot
proximal end.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said gripping step includes
deforming at least some of said contacted portions of said banding
material into said slot adjacent to said proximal end thereof.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said banding material has a
thickness and said slot has a depth that is at least equal to said
banding material thickness.
7. The method of claim 3 wherein said gripping body has a distal
end that is more adjacent to a distal end of said slot than to the
slot proximal end.
8. An apparatus for holding a banding material, comprising: a
gripping mechanism including: a gripping body having at least a
first opening and a platform surface with a slot formed therein,
said gripping body having a proximal end and a distal end and said
slot having a proximal end and a distal end; and a gripper that is
relatively movable in at least said first opening; wherein said
gripper has a gripping state and a released state and when said
gripper is in said gripping state, said gripper is adjacent to said
slot proximal end.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said gripper includes a banding
material contacting portion that substantially overlies said slot
proximal end when said gripper is in said gripping state.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said slot distal end is closer
to said gripping body distal end than said slot proximal end is to
said gripping body proximal end.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein a first distance is defined
between said slot proximal end and said gripping body proximal end
and a second distance is defined between a proximal end of said
first opening and said gripping body proximal end and in which said
first distance is greater than said second distance.
12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said slot distal end extends
through an end of said platform surface.
13. The apparatus of claim 8 further including a depth of said
slot, wherein said depth is at least equal to a thickness of said
banding material.
14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said slot has an aspect ratio
defined by depth to width and in which said aspect ratio is less
than about 0.2.
15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said banding material has
contacted portions are wherein when one of said contacted portions
is engaged by said gripper when said gripper is in said gripping
state: (i) a relative movement between said gripper and said
banding material is prevented, and (ii) said one contacted portion
substantially overlies said slot proximal end.
16. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said gripping body includes a
first wing and a second wing with said slot located therebetween
and in which said first opening is formed in said first wing and a
second opening is formed in said second wing, said gripper being
held in said first and second openings.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said gripper includes a first
gripper end element, a second gripper end element and an
intermediate gripping element therebetween, said intermediate
gripping element having a periphery and in which contacting
portions are part thereof.
Description
RELATED FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is related to band tightening devices
for use in banding objects, and in particular, for banding objects
wherein the banding material has a reduced likelihood of buckling
within such a band tightening device.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Various embodiments of band tightening tools are known,
wherein such tools are used for fixedly securing bands about
objects. In particular, such bands may be composed of, e.g., a
plastic or metal, and the objects may be, e.g., sensors, heat
shields, cables, poles and pipes. In some known band tightening
tools, such as the band tightening tool disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
5,566,726, filed Jun. 2, 1994 fully incorporated herein by
reference, there is a band gripping mechanism (also denoted a
"tension block") that repeatedly grips a banding material, and
pulls portions of the banding material from about an object(s)
being banded, thereby tensioning the banding material about the
object(s). More particularly, during tightening of a band, such a
band gripping mechanism is alternately:
[0003] (a) moved along a length of the banding material in a first
(non-tensioning) direction to thereby reach a position on the
banding material that can be gripped for subsequently pulling on
the length of the banding material that is surrounding the
object(s) being banded so that the band further tightens about the
object(s), and
[0004] (b) once fully moved in the first direction, the gripping
mechanism is then pulled in an opposite second (tensioning)
direction whereby a "gripper" (such as a cylindrical pin having a
cylinder axis parallel with a width of the banding material)
securely grips the banding material so that the banding material is
further tensioned about the object(s) being banded as the gripping
mechanism is moved in the second direction.
[0005] Such a gripper may be biased by a spring or other biasing
devices to contact the banding material, at least at the
commencement of the pulling of the gripping mechanism in the second
direction. Moreover, such biasing must be of sufficient force to
cause the gripper to securely grip the banding material.
Additionally, as the gripper mechanism is pulled in the second
direction, the gripping pin must apply a banding material gripping
force that is sufficient to overcome any counterforce, from the
band being tensioned, that the banding tool is capable of producing
in the band. Accordingly, the gripper can deform the banding
material in an area extending around where the gripper contacts the
banding material during the band tensioning step (b) above. In
particular, the banding material deformations can include
depressions (and/or protrusions or raised portions) in the banding
material immediately adjacent to the gripper. Moreover, when the
gripping mechanism has moved its full extent in step (b) above
(i.e., in the second direction) and reverses direction for moving
in the first direction (i.e., step (a) above), the gripper must
release its grip from the banding material. Thus, the gripping
force on the banding material must be reduced at least enough so
that the gripper slides over, or moves relative to, an additional
length of the banding material as the gripper mechanism moves in
the first direction. However, for the gripper to appropriately
slide or move relative to the banding material requires that such
deformed or raised portions of the banding material must not
inhibit the relative movement of the gripper mechanism. In at least
some circumstances, when the gripper attempts to move past such
raised portions, the gripper contacts these portions with
sufficient impact causing buckling of the banding material in the
band tightening tool (i.e., between the gripping mechanism and the
band being formed). Moreover, such buckling of the banding material
within the band tightening tool can jam the tool thereby causing an
operator to start the band tightening process over, and/or entirely
replace the banding material being used to form the band.
[0006] FIG. 1 is illustrative of the above described steps (a) and
(b). In FIG. 1 various portions of a prior art band tightening tool
18 are illustrated, and in particular, this figure shows two
internal components of the band tightening tool: a gripping
mechanism 20, and spaced apart therefrom, an additional gripping
assembly 24, wherein the banding material 28 threads through both
the mechanism 20 and the assembly 24. The gripping mechanism 20
includes a gripping body or block 30 with a proximal end 32,
wherein the proximal end is relatively closer to the band 36 being
formed about an object(s) 40 than the distal end 44 of the gripping
body 30. Note that the dashed outline shows the furthest movement
of the proximal end in the first direction of step (a) above. The
gripping body 30 further includes a platform 48 for supporting the
banding material as it passes through the gripping body. The
gripping body 30 also includes an opening 52 that inclines toward
the platform 48 as the opening extends toward the proximal end 32
of the gripping body. The gripping mechanism 20 further includes a
cylindrical gripping pin (or gripper) 56 that is moveable within
the opening 52. The gripping mechanism 20 additionally includes a
biasing component (not shown) for biasing the gripping pin 56 in
the direction of arrow 60. Accordingly, when the gripping mechanism
20 moves in the direction of arrow 64, the gripping pin 56 slides
on the surface of the banding material 28. However, when the
gripping mechanism 20 is moved in the second direction (i.e., the
direction of arrow 68), the gripping pin 56 moves toward the
proximal end 72 of the opening 52 and frictionally binds between
the banding material 28 and an opposed portion of the proximal end
72, thereby gripping the banding material.
[0007] The gripping assembly 24 includes an inclined opening 76 and
a gripping pin 80 that is moveable therein, wherein the pin 80 is
biased toward the proximal end 84 of the opening 76. Thus during
operation, in step (a), the pin 80 of the gripping assembly 24
frictionally binds between the banding material 28 and an opposed
portion of the proximal end 84, thereby gripping the banding
material 28 so that a band tension counterforce in the direction of
arrow 88 does not pull the banding material 28 from the band
tightening tool 18 (which includes both the gripping mechanism 20
and the gripping assembly 24) as the gripping mechanism 20 moves in
the direction of arrow 64. Once the gripping mechanism 20 has
completed its movement toward the gripping assembly 24, in step (b)
above, the mechanism reverses direction thereby causing the
gripping mechanism to securely grip the banding material 20 and
pull it in the direction of arrow 68 (as long as the force for
moving the gripping mechanism 20 in the direction 68 overcomes any
band tension counterforce in the direction of arrow 88). Since
movement of the banding material 28 in the direction 68 causes the
gripping pin 80 to release its grip on the banding material,
additional banding material is pulled into the band tightening tool
18 thereby further tightening the band 36 about the object(s)
40.
[0008] However, since the gripping pin 56 can cause the banding
material 28 to deform producing depressions 92 and/or raised
portions 96, when the gripping mechanism 20 commences to move in
the direction of arrow 64, such deformed portions of the banding
material can prevent the gripping pin 56 from properly unbinding
from the proximal end 72 of the opening 52. Thus, as the gripping
mechanism 20 moves toward the gripping assembly 24, the banding
material 20 may form a buckle 100 and jam the band tightening
tool.
[0009] Accordingly, it is desirable to enhance such a band
tightening tool so that the above described buckling of the banding
material does not cause the tool to jam. More particularly, it is
desirable to substantially prevent such banding material buckling
in the tool. The invention as described hereinbelow provides such
an enhancement to a band tightening tool.
SUMMARY
[0010] The present invention is a banding material gripping
mechanism and band tightening tool or apparatus for using the same,
wherein there is a reduced likelihood of the banding material
buckling in the tool. In particular, the present invention performs
the operations of steps (a) and (b) described in the Background
section hereinabove, but performs these steps with novel
configurations of the gripping body and the gripper that reduce
banding material buckling. In particular, the gripping body
includes a central recess, and two extended portions (also denoted
"wings" herein) on parallel sides of the central recess and
defining the walls of the recess. More specifically, the central
recess is bounded by: (i) a platform surface for supporting or
guiding the banding material as the steps (a) and (b) described in
the Background section above are performed, and (ii) the two walls
provided by the wings of the gripping body, wherein the platform
surface is therebetween. Provided within the platform surface is a
novel slot whose width and length are aligned, respectively, with
the width and length of the banding material traversing the
platform surface when the steps (a) and (b) are iteratively
performed. The slot operably cooperates with a gripper having a
novel configuration, wherein the gripper includes a banding
material gripping portion shaped for deforming the banding material
into the slot when a banding material deforming force is applied to
the gripper. The banding material gripping portion has a shape that
protrudes into the banding material a furthest extent substantially
at banding material locations both in line with a length of the
slot, and substantially at a proximal end of the slot (i.e., the
slot end where the banding material first comes in proximity to the
slot). Thus, when the banding material deforms into the slot, the
energy that could otherwise result in a banding material raised
portion in front of (i.e., proximally) of the gripper (as described
in the Background section hereinabove) is now substantially
directed into deforming the banding material into the slot.
Moreover, in at least some embodiments, the shape of the gripping
portion may be convex relative to a width of the banding material
thus causing the banding material surface being contacted by the
gripping portion to become concave, and such concavity further
reduces the formation of such raised portions proximal of the
gripper band material deforming area.
[0011] It is also an aspect of the invention that such in slot
banding material deformations are substantially adjacent to the
proximal terminating end of the slot. Thus, such deformations can
also serve as locks for further preventing the banding material
from retracting from the band tightening tool to thereby relieve
the band tightening tension.
[0012] It is also an aspect of the present invention that the
gripping mechanism of the present invention may be used in prior
art band tightening tools as a replacement for prior art gripping
mechanisms.
[0013] Other features and benefits of the present invention will
become evident from the accompanying figures, and their description
including the Detailed Description hereinbelow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 shows the components and operation of a prior art
embodiment of the portion of a band tightening tool 18, wherein
this portion tightens a banding material 28 about one or more
objects 40.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the internal band tightening
components of a band tightening tool 18m according to the present
invention, wherein a novel gripping body 30m is employed for
tightening the banding material 28 without buckling the banding
material and jamming the band tightening tool 18m.
[0016] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the gripping mechanism
20m.
[0017] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the gripping body (equivalently
gripping block) 30m.
[0018] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the gripping mechanism 20m.
[0019] FIG. 6 shows an end view of the gripping body 30m.
[0020] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the gripping mechanism 20m with
a series of banding material 28 deformed portions 200 in the slot
198.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] FIGS. 2 through 7 are illustrative of the present invention.
Many of the components and/or features identified in these figures
correspond to components and/or features of the prior art as
illustrated in FIG. 1 and described in Background section above.
Accordingly, the components and/or features of the present
invention that correspond with labeled components and/or features
of FIG. 1 are labeled with the same numeral in FIGS. 2-7. However,
such components and/or features of the present invention are also
further identified by a suffix of an "m" following each such
numeral label to thereby indicate that such components and/or
features may be enhanced and/or modified to more effectively
provide the benefits of the present invention.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 2, an embodiment of a band tightening tool
18m is illustrated, wherein this tool substantially reduces or
entirely prevents the jamming of the tool due to the buckling of
the banding material 28 discussed with reference to FIG. 1. The
present embodiment of the tool 18m is pneumatic, wherein there are
two pneumatic cylinders 120 and 124 for, respectively, tensioning
the banding material 28 when forming a band, and actuating a tool
head 134 that both cuts the banding material and forms a band lock
for securing the tensioned band about the object(s) being banded.
In particular, the pneumatic cylinder 120 provides the force for
moving the clevis 138 in the direction of arrow 142, and thereby
causing the tensioning arm 146 to pivot about pin 150 so that the
tensioning arm opposite end 154 moves in the direction of arrow
158, and compresses the spring 162 via linkage 166. Additionally,
since the arm end 154 is pivotally secured via pin 170 to a
gripping mechanism 20m, this gripping mechanism is also urged in
the direction of arrow 158 by the force from the pneumatic cylinder
120. Thus, under the urging of this force, the gripping mechanism
20m pulls the banding material 28 (not shown in FIG. 2) as
described in step (b) of the Background section hereinabove.
Subsequently, when the clevis 138 is fully extended in the
direction of arrow 142, the cylinder 120 pressure is reduced, and
spring 162 reverses the pivoting movement of the tensioning arm 146
about the pin 150. Thus, the clevis 138 moves in the direction
opposite to arrow 142, and the gripping mechanism 20m moves in the
direction of arrow 64 thereby moving along a length of the banding
material to reach a new position on the banding material for again
gripping and inducing additional tension in the banding
material.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 3 through 8, a novel embodiment of the
gripping mechanism 20m according to the present invention is
illustrated. The gripping mechanism 20m includes a gripping body or
block 30m with a proximal end 32m and distal end 44m, wherein, when
assembled within a band tightening tool (e.g., tool 18m), the
proximal end 32m is relatively closer to a band (e.g., band 36 of
FIG. 1) being formed about an object(s) than the distal end 44m.
The gripping body 30m, in turn, includes a central recess 180 that
extends from the proximal end 32m to the distal end 44m. The recess
180 is bounded by a first wing 184 and a second wing 188, wherein
in at least one embodiment, the wings 124 and 128 are mirror images
of one another. The recess 180 is also bounded by a platform 48m,
wherein the platform extends between the wings 184 and 188, and
also extends from a more proximal end 190 (FIG. 4) to a more distal
end 192. The platform 48m retains the banding material 28 within
the gripping body 30m as the banding material passes therethrough,
and is used in gripping the banding material 28. As best shown in
FIG. 4, the platform 48m includes:
[0024] (i) a banding material ramp 194 (see FIGS. 3 and 5 as well)
for assuring that a free end of the banding material 28 enters the
recess 180,
[0025] (ii) a surface 196 for supporting and/or contacting the
banding material 28 as it passes through the recess 180, and
[0026] (iii) a slot 198 substantially in a center area between the
wings 184 and 188, wherein the slot is for receiving a deformed
portion 200 (FIG. 7) of the banding material 28 resulting from a
gripping of the band material by a gripper 56m (described
hereinbelow). Moreover, note that the slot 198 has a proximal end
202 and a distal end 204, wherein the slot proximal end 202 is
relatively closer to the gripping body proximal end 32m (but as
illustrated, the slot proximal end may be offset distally from the
proximal end 32m). Additionally, since each deformed portion of the
banding material 28 moves from the slot proximal end 202 toward the
distal end 44m as the excess banding material taken from a band
being formed, the slot 198 extends to the distal end 44m of the
gripping body 30m, and more particularly, the slot distal end 204
extends through the end 192 of the platform 48m and its surface
196.
[0027] The surface 196 extends from the ramp 194 to the distal end
192 of the platform 48m. The surface 196 includes a gripping area
208 generally identified by the shaded area of FIG. 4, wherein this
area is where the gripper 56m grips the banding material 28. More
specifically, the gripping area 208 is between the ramp 194 and the
slot proximal end 202. However, in some embodiments, the slot 198
may extend into the gripping area 208, e.g., depending on the shape
of the slot 198 and/or the shape of the gripper 56m.
[0028] The gripping body 30m also includes a bore 212 (FIGS. 2 and
3) that extends completely through both the wings 184 and 188 of
the gripping body. The bore 212 is the retainer for the pin 170
(FIG. 2) that operably attaches the tension arm 146 to the gripping
body 30m.
[0029] The gripping body 30m further includes at least one (and
preferably two mirror image) openings 52m in the wings 184 and 188,
wherein each of these openings inclines toward the platform 48m
(i.e., the surface 196) as the opening extends toward the proximal
end 32m of the gripping body. Note that the angular range of this
inclination may be in a range of 25 to 45 degrees relative to,
e.g., the surface 196, and more preferably 30 to 40 degrees, and
most preferably about 35 degrees. Each of the openings 52m has a
profile of an elongated circle having a circular proximal end 72m,
and a distal end 214, each with a same diameter. The proximal end
72m of each opening 52m may extend to or traverse into the surface
196, and the proximal end 72m may be closer to the proximal end 32m
of the gripping block than is the slot proximal end 202.
[0030] As mentioned above, the gripping mechanism 20m also includes
a gripper 56m. An embodiment of the gripper 56m is shown in FIG. 3.
The gripper 56m may include mirror image cylindrical end portions
220 and 224 as well as a central truncated spherical portion 228.
The end portions 220 and 224 are connected to the spherical portion
228 by a pair of truncated generally conical portions 232. Note,
that the gripper 56m may be machined from a single metal cylinder
having its central axis 234 coincident with the central axes of the
cylindrical end portions 220 and 224, and having a diameter
substantially identical to the diameter of these end portions 220
and 224.
[0031] When the gripper 56m is provided within the gripper block
30m, each of the cylindrical end portions 220 and 224 resides
within one of the openings 52m such that the spherical portion 228
is positioned substantially midway between the wings 184 and 188.
Note that the diameter of the end portions 220 and 224 is only
slightly smaller than the diameter of the proximal and distal ends
72m and 218 of the openings 52m. However, the diameter difference
is effective for allowing each of the cylindrical end portions 220
and 224 to substantially freely slide within its opening 52m.
[0032] The gripping body 30m further includes a pair of gripper
biasing recesses 216, one in each of the wings 184 and 188. Within
each wing, its biasing recess 216 is generally cylindrical in
shape, closed to the central recess 180, and open on the side of
the wing that is opposite the wing side facing the central recess.
Moreover, the proximal end 218 of each biasing recess 216 opens
into the distal end 214 of the adjacent opening 52m in the same
wing. Additionally, each biasing recess 216 may be of sufficient
length (between its proximal end 218 and its distal end 222) for
effectively seating a biasing component such as compression spring
240 (FIG. 2) for biasing the gripper 56m in the direction of arrow
60. Thus, since the biasing component in each of the recesses 216
provides substantially the same compressive resistance to a
corresponding one of the cylindrical end portions 220 and 224, and
since there is a relatively small tolerance (in the traverse
directions to arrow 60) between each opening 52m and its contained
cylindrical end portion, the gripper's central axis 234 remains
substantially parallel to the surface 196 and any banding material
28 provided therebetween.
[0033] Thus in operation, each of the cylindrical end portions 220
and 224 of the gripper 56m is provided in one of the openings 52m
so that these end portions can slidably move within their
corresponding openings 52m. In particular, the gripper 56m is able
to at least move (relative to the gripping block 30m) between: (1)
a "released state", wherein the truncated spherical portion 228
slides on the surface of the (any) banding material 28 (when the
gripping block 30m moves the direction of arrow 64), and (2) a
"gripping state", wherein the cylindrical end portions 220 and 224
move synchronously toward the proximal ends 72m of the openings 52m
and the spherical portion 228 grips the (any) banding material 28
provided on the gripping area 208. More precisely, in the released
state, the gripper 56m is positioned generally at location 244
(FIG. 5) wherein it slides along the banding material 28 that is
sandwiched between the truncated spherical portion 228, and a
portion of the slot 198 distal to its proximal end 202. However,
when the gripping block 30m reverses direction (thereby moving in
the direction of arrow 68), the gripper 56m continues to move in
the direction of arrow 64 (at least relative to the gripper block)
due to: (a) the inertia of the gripper, (b) the biasing component,
and/or (c) the frictional pull from the banding material 28
attempting to relieve the band tightening tension. Accordingly, a
substantially increased force is exerted on the truncated spherical
portion 228 to force it into the banding material 28 (due to the
inclination of the openings 52m relative to the platform surface
196). The increased force corresponds with the spherical portion
228 overlying the slot proximal end 202 (or equivalently, the
spherical portion forcibly moving into the surface of the banding
material along an extent of the banding material whose opposite
side is substantially adjacent to the slot proximal end). Thus, as
the spherical portion 228 forcibly travels into the banding
material 28 surface, the portion 228 effectively deforms or pushes
the banding material 28 into the slot proximal end 202 thereby
creating a deformed portion 252 in the slot 198 as shown in FIG. 7.
Alternatively stated, the surface of the banding material 28
contacted by the increased force on the spherical portion 228
deforms to conform to the contour of the curvature of the spherical
portion 228, and since the circumference 248 (FIG. 3) of the
spherical portion extending furthest from the central axis 234 is
substantially aligned with the central longitudinal axis 248 (FIG.
4) of the slot 198, the banding material is effectively pushed into
the slot 198 near or at its proximal end 202. Furthermore, each
deformed portion 252 of the banding material 28 in the slot 198 may
act much like a temporary band lock when it is against the slot
proximal end 202. Thus, the banding material 28 is less likely to
slip from the gripper 56m than prior art versions thereof.
[0034] In one preferred embodiment, the slot 198 has depth 256
(FIG. 5) that is at least equal to the thickness of the "t" (FIGS.
2 and 7) of the banding material 28. Moreover, the width 260 (FIG.
4) of the slot 198 may be in the range of 40% to 60% of the width
"w" (FIG. 3) of the banding material 28. Furthermore, the ratio of
the slot depth 256 to its width 260 may be about 0.2. Additionally,
the spherical portion 228 may have a diameter of at least the width
260 of the slot 198.
[0035] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the gripping mechanism 20m
wherein the gripper 56m is in the process of creating a deformed
portion 252 in the slot proximal end 202, and wherein the figure
also shows previously created deformed portions 252 that have moved
some length through the extent of the slot 198. Note that since the
slot 198 extends to the distal platform end 192 (FIG. 4), the
banding material downstream (i.e., distally) from gripping area 208
tends to remain in contact with the platform surface 196, and thus
freely slides between the platform 48m and the pin 170.
[0036] Various modifications of the above-described gripper
mechanism 20m are also within the scope of the invention. For
example, the spherical portion 228 may have a larger diameter. That
is, a diameter substantially equal to the width "w" of the banding
material 28, and large diameters are also within the scope of the
invention. It is also contemplated that the spherical portion 228
may be replaced with a portion having a different shape than a
sphere. For example, an ellipsoid (e.g., with its major axis
aligned with the central axis 234) may be used. Alternatively, a
cylinder may be used, wherein the cylinder is oriented (relative to
the central axis 234) in the same manner as the end portions 220
and 224, and, wherein this cylinder has a thickness (along the
central axis 234) of less than the width 260 of the slot 198.
Furthermore, the slot 198 need not have a rectangular cross section
as shown in FIG. 6. For example, the slot cross section may be
trapezoidal, wherein the longer of the parallel sides corresponds
with the opening of the slot 198 into the surface 196. Moreover,
there may be a replacement for the spherical portion 228 that has
similar but a reduced or offset trapezoidal profile such that the
difference between the trapezoidal slot cross section and the
trapezoidal profile is related to the thickness "t" of the banding
material 28.
[0037] Regardless, of the shape of the band deforming portion 228
and the cross section of the slot 198, it is within the scope of
the present invention that the gripper 56m deforms the banding
material 28 in a manner that such any raised portion of the banding
material 28 is substantially reduced over such raised portions that
are produced by, e.g., the prior art embodiments discussed in the
background section hereinabove. For instance, the present invention
precludes upstream (i.e., more toward a band being created)
creation of a buckle 100 (FIG. 1). In particular, one or more of
the following techniques may be used to preclude such buckles:
[0038] (1) Provide deformations in the banding material 28 that are
curved across the width "w" of the banding material 28 so that the
banding material is, e.g., concave across its width; and
[0039] (2) Provide deformations in the banding material 28 wherein
the deformations reside substantially in the slot 198.
[0040] Additionally, it is also within the scope of the present
invention to provide two or more slots 198 together with a
corresponding deforming portion 228 of the gripper 56m, wherein the
deforming portion 228 has a shape effective for providing at least
one of (1) and (2) above for a plurality banding material 28 width
extents. Thus, e.g., there may be two slots 198 spaced apart so
that they are near the edges of the banding material 28, and the
deforming portion 228 may be shaped so as to have a profile
substantially similar to a FIG. "8".
[0041] The foregoing description of the present invention has been
presented for purposes of illustration and description.
Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention
to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and
modifications commensurate with the above teachings, and the skill
or knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the
present invention. The embodiments described hereinabove are
further intended to explain the best mode(s) known for practicing
the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize
the invention in such, or other, embodiments and with various
modifications required by their particular applications or uses of
the present invention. It is intended that the appended claims be
construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent
permitted by the prior art.
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