Strapping device

Abstract

A strapping device for strapping one or more articles with a strap includes a joining apparatus for joining two overlapping portions of the strap, the joining apparatus including a joining jaw and a joining base arranged to receive the two overlapping portions of the strap therebetween, wherein the joining base includes a base body and a spacer releasably connectable with the base body, the spacer including at least one lower support surface for the one or more articles and at least one upper support surface for the strap, wherein the spacer is configured to be releasable from the base body when the two overlapping portions of the strap are joined.

1 .- 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . A strapping device for strapping one or more articles with a strap, comprising a joining apparatus for joining two overlapping portions of the strap, the joining apparatus comprising a joining jaw and a joining base arranged to receive the two overlapping portions of the strap therebetween, wherein the joining base comprises a base body and a spacer releasably connectable with the base body, the spacer comprising at least one lower support surface for the one or more articles and at least one upper support surface for the strap, wherein the spacer is configured to be releasable from the base body when the two overlapping portions of the strap are joined. 
     
     
         46 . The strapping device according to  claim 45 , wherein the spacer is configured to be releasable from the base body in a horizontal direction transverse to a longitudinal strap axis. 
     
     
         47 . The strapping device according to  claim 45 , wherein the spacer is releasably connectable with the base body by a form-fit and/or a force-fit connection. 
     
     
         48 . The strapping device according to  claim 45 , wherein the base body and the spacer are releasably connectable by a dovetail connection. 
     
     
         49 . The strapping device according to  claim 45 , wherein the spacer comprises a concave profile formed on a lower side facing away from the base body. 
     
     
         50 . The strapping device according to  claim 49 , wherein the spacer comprises at least one chamfer or at least one convex profile adjacent to the concave profile. 
     
     
         51 . The strapping device according to  claim 45 , wherein the spacer comprises a front leg and a rear leg connected by a lower bar, wherein the front leg, rear leg and lower bar are arranged to form a trough for receiving the base body. 
     
     
         52 . The strapping device according to  claim 51 , wherein the front leg comprises a first upper support surface for the strap and the rear leg comprises a second upper support surface for the strap. 
     
     
         53 . The strapping device according to  claim 51 , wherein the joining base comprises a gap between the base body and the spacer configured to receive a portion of the strap such that the portion of the strap is placeable around at least a part of the base body. 
     
     
         54 . The strapping device according to  claim 53 , wherein the gap is arranged between the front leg and the base body and between the lower bar and the base body when the spacer is connected to the base body. 
     
     
         55 . The strapping device according to  claim 53 , wherein the spacer comprises a shoulder, wherein the gap between the base body and the spacer is shaped to receive the portion of the strap in a manner that the base body is engaged with the shoulder by a resilience of the portion of the strap. 
     
     
         56 . The strapping device according to  claim 51 , wherein the front leg and/or the rear leg comprises an undercut. 
     
     
         57 . The strapping device according to  claim 51 , wherein the front leg and/or the rear leg comprises a protrusion engageable with a recess of the base body or the front leg and/or the rear leg comprises a recess engageable with a protrusion of the base body. 
     
     
         58 . The strapping device according to  claim 45 , wherein the spacer comprises a front leg and a rear leg connected by an upper bar, wherein the front leg, rear leg and upper bar are arranged to form a laterally open arch for receiving the base body. 
     
     
         59 . The strapping device according to  claim 45 , wherein the front leg and rear leg are connected by an upper bar and by a lower bar, wherein the front leg, rear leg, lower bar and upper bar are arranged to form a laterally open hollow for receiving the base body. 
     
     
         60 . The strapping device according to  claim 58 , wherein the upper bar comprises a joining surface facing towards the joining jaw, wherein the joining apparatus is configured to join a portion of the strap to the joining surface of the upper bar. 
     
     
         61 . The strapping device according to  claim 60 , comprising a cutter for shearing the strap, wherein the cutter comprises a blade which is movable relative to the joining jaw between an advanced active position and a retracted inactive position. 
     
     
         62 . The strapping device according to  claim 61 , wherein the cutter is simultaneously movable with the joining jaw relative to the joining base between an advanced joining position and a retracted strap receiving position. 
     
     
         63 . The strapping device according to  claim 61 , wherein the cutter comprises a follower which is fixedly arranged with respect to the blade and an actuating element with a cam, wherein the actuating element is configured to engage the cam with the follower to move the blade relative to the joining jaw between the advanced active position and the retracted inactive position. 
     
     
         64 . The strapping device according to  claim 63 , comprising a catch configured to lock the actuating element in a raised or lowered position of the blade by engaging with the actuating element. 
     
     
         65 . The strapping device according to  claim 63 , wherein the cam is a rotating cam with a noncircular and/or eccentric cam profile, wherein the actuating element is configured to rotate with the cam. 
     
     
         66 . The strapping device according to  claim 63 , wherein the cam is a linear cam with a ramp facing towards the follower, wherein the actuating element is configured to linearly move the cam. 
     
     
         67 . The strapping device according to  claim 63 , comprising a stop element with one or more stop surfaces, wherein the actuating element comprises a stop pin configured to engage with the one or more stop surfaces to maintain the blade in the advanced active position and/or in the retracted inactive position. 
     
     
         68 . The strapping device according to  claim 58 , wherein the base body comprises one or more lateral shoulders, wherein the one or more shoulders are configured to laterally position the upper bar. 
     
     
         69 . The strapping device according to  claim 58 , wherein the base body comprises a toothed surface configured for engagement with a lower surface of the upper bar of the spacer. 
     
     
         70 . The strapping device according to  claim 45 , wherein the spacer comprises a slot configured to receive and fasten an end portion of the strap. 
     
     
         71 . The strapping device according to  claim 70 , wherein the spacer comprises a wedge insertable into the slot to fasten the end portion of the strap by a force-fit connection. 
     
     
         72 . A method of operating a strapping device according to  claim 45  for strapping one or more articles, the method comprising the steps of:
 placing a strap around the one or more articles; 
 connecting the spacer with the base body; 
 fastening an end portion of the strap at the spacer; 
 tensioning the strap around the one or more articles and the spacer; 
 joining two overlapping portions of the strap positioned between the joining jaw and the joining base; 
 shearing the tensioned strap off from an untensioned bulk portion of the strap; 
 separating the strapping device from the strap tensioned around the one or more articles and the spacer by releasing the spacer from the base body such that the spacer remains between the one or more articles and the tensioned strap. 
 
     
     
         73 . A spacer for a strapping device according to  claim 45 , comprising at least one lower support surface for the one or more articles and at least one upper support surface for the strap, wherein the spacer is configured to be releasably connectable with the base body and to be releasable from the base body when the two overlapping portions of the strap are joined. 
     
     
         74 . The spacer according to  claim 73 , wherein the spacer comprises a concave profile formed on a lower side facing away from the base body. 
     
     
         75 . The spacer according to  claim 73 , wherein the spacer comprises a front leg and a rear leg connected by a lower bar and an upper bar, wherein the front leg, rear leg, lower bar and upper bar are arranged to form a laterally open hollow for receiving the base body.