Strapping Tool

Abstract

A strapping tool is disclosed herein. In one or more embodiments, the strapping tool includes a motive power source; and a tensioning assembly operatively coupled to the motive power source, the tensioning assembly including a plurality of strapping foot members, the plurality of strapping foot members arranged side-by-side transversely across a strapping pass line, at least one of the plurality of strapping foot members being in a form of a tensioning foot member configured to apply tension to a piece of strapping while being driven in an oscillatory manner by the motive power source.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A strapping tool, comprising:
 a motive power source; and   a tensioning assembly operatively coupled to the motive power source, the tensioning assembly including a plurality of strapping foot members, the plurality of strapping foot members arranged side-by-side transversely across a strapping pass line, at least one of the plurality of strapping foot members being in a form of a tensioning foot member configured to apply tension to a piece of strapping while being driven in an oscillatory manner by the motive power source.   
     
     
         2 . The strapping tool according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one cam member, the at least one cam member operatively coupling the tensioning foot member to the motive power source. 
     
     
         3 . The strapping tool according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one cam member is in a form of an eccentric cam member. 
     
     
         4 . The strapping tool according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one cam member is disposed on a drive shaft, the drive shaft operatively coupling the tensioning foot member to the motive power source by means of the at least one cam member. 
     
     
         5 . The strapping tool according to  claim 4 , wherein at least another one of the plurality of strapping foot members is in a form of a holding foot member, the holding foot member being supported from the drive shaft that is operatively coupled to the tensioning foot member;
 wherein, during the tensioning of the piece of strapping, the tensioning foot member continually grabs and applies tension to the piece of strapping, and the holding foot member prevents the piece of strapping from slipping back.   
     
     
         6 . The strapping tool according to  claim 5 , further comprising a tensioning leg operatively coupling the tensioning foot member to the at least one cam member, and a holding leg coupling the holding foot member to the drive shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The strapping tool according to  claim 4 , further comprising one or more one-way rotation restriction devices disposed on the drive shaft, the one or more one-way rotation restriction devices allowing the drive shaft to be rotated in a first rotational direction where the tensioning foot member applies tension to the piece of strapping, while preventing rotation of the drive shaft in a second rotational direction, which is opposite to the first rotational direction, so as to enable the tension to be maintained on the piece of strapping. 
     
     
         8 . The strapping tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning foot member is in a form of a first tensioning foot member, and at least another one of the plurality of strapping foot members comprises a second tensioning foot member configured to apply tension to the piece of strapping while being driven in an oscillatory manner by the motive power source. 
     
     
         9 . The strapping tool according to  claim 8 , further comprising at least a first cam member and a second cam member, the first cam member operatively coupling the first tensioning foot member to the motive power source, and the second cam member operatively coupling the second tensioning foot member to the motive power source. 
     
     
         10 . The strapping tool according to  claim 9 , wherein the first cam member and the second cam member are disposed on a drive shaft, the drive shaft operatively coupling the first tensioning foot member to the motive power source by means of the first cam member, and the drive shaft operatively coupling the second tensioning foot member to the motive power source by means of the second cam member. 
     
     
         11 . The strapping tool according to  claim 10 , wherein the first cam member is in a form of a first eccentric cam member and the second cam member is in a form of a second eccentric cam member, the first eccentric cam member having a first lobe portion and the second eccentric cam member having a second lobe portion, and the first lobe portion of the first eccentric cam member being rotationally offset from the second lobe portion of the second eccentric cam member by approximately 180 degrees on the drive shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The strapping tool according to  claim 10 , further comprising a first tensioning leg operatively coupling the first tensioning foot member to the first cam member, and a second tensioning leg operatively coupling the second tensioning foot member to the second cam member. 
     
     
         13 . The strapping tool according to  claim 10 , further comprising one or more bearings disposed on the drive shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The strapping tool according to  claim 8 , wherein, during the tensioning of the piece of strapping, the first tensioning foot member is displaced in a first direction for applying tension to the piece of strapping, while the second tensioning foot member is displaced in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction so as to grip the piece of strapping that is being tensioned; and
 wherein, during the tensioning of the piece of strapping, the second tensioning foot member is displaced in the first direction for applying tension to the piece of strapping, while the first tensioning foot member is displaced in the second direction that is opposite to the first direction so as to grip the piece of strapping that is being tensioned.   
     
     
         15 . The strapping tool according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of strapping foot members further comprises one or more additional tensioning foot members configured to apply tension to the piece of strapping while being driven in an oscillatory manner by the motive power source such that the strapping tool comprises three or more tensioning foot members. 
     
     
         16 . The strapping tool according to  claim 8 , wherein the drive shaft has a linear configuration such that the first tensioning foot member and the second tensioning foot member have an aligned common driving axis. 
     
     
         17 . The strapping tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the motive power source comprises one of: (i) an electric motor, (ii) a pneumatic motor, and (iii) a liquid fuel-based motor. 
     
     
         18 . The strapping tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the motive power source comprises a battery-powered motor.