Strap-tensioning assembly with self-energizing transitioning wheel, and strap-size-adjustment features

Abstract

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

1 . A strap-tensioning assembly comprising:
 a strap-tensioning-assembly frame; and   a tensioning assembly supported by the strap-tensioning-assembly frame and including:
 a tensioning-wheel assembly comprising:
 a tensioning-wheel-assembly shaft having a rotational axis; 
 a tensioning-wheel mount mounted to the tensioning-wheel-assembly shaft and rotatable about the rotational axis; 
 a tensioning wheel mounted to the tensioning-wheel mount and rotatable with the tensioning-wheel mount about the rotational axis; and 
 a tensioning-wheel retainer mounted to the tensioning-wheel mount to retain the tensioning wheel in place on the tensioning when mount and removable from the tensioning-wheel mount to enable removal of the tensioning wheel from the tensioning-wheel mount; and 
 
 a tensioning actuator operably connectable to the tensioning wheel to rotate the tensioning wheel about the rotational axis. 
   
     
     
         2 . The strap-tensioning assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning-wheel retainer is removable from the tensioning-wheel mount without the use of tools. 
     
     
         3 . The strap-tensioning assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning-wheel retainer is threadable onto and unthreadable off of the tensioning-wheel mount. 
     
     
         4 . The strap-tensioning assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the tensioning wheel is lockable against rotation to facilitate threading the tensioning-wheel retainer onto and unthreading the tensioning-wheel retainer off of the tensioning-wheel mount. 
     
     
         5 . The strap-tensioning assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the tensioning wheel defines a locking opening therethrough sized to receive a locking pin to enable the tensioning wheel to be locked against rotation. 
     
     
         6 . The strap-tensioning assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the locking opening is one of multiple circumferentially spaced locking openings defined through the tensioning wheel. 
     
     
         7 . The strap-tensioning assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the tensioning-wheel assembly further comprises a tensioning-wheel-assembly mount supporting the tensioning-wheel-assembly shaft such that the tensioning-wheel-assembly shaft, the tensioning-wheel mount, and the tensioning wheel are rotatable relative to the tensioning-wheel-assembly mount about the rotational axis. 
     
     
         8 . The strap-tensioning assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising the locking pin, wherein the tensioning-wheel-assembly mount defines a locking opening therethrough sized to receive the locking pin, wherein when the locking pin extends through the locking openings of both the tensioning wheel and the tensioning-wheel-assembly mount, the locking pin prevents the tensioning wheel from rotating relative to the tensioning-wheel-assembly mount about the rotational axis. 
     
     
         9 . The strap-tensioning assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a strap-guiding assembly mounted to the strap-tensioning-assembly frame and movable between a closed position in which the strap-guiding assembly at least partially forms a strap channel and an open position, wherein the strap-tensioning-assembly frame and the strap-guiding assembly define openings sized to receive the locking pin, wherein when the strap-guiding assembly is in the closed position and the locking pin extends through the openings of both the strap-guiding assembly and the strap-tensioning-assembly frame, the locking pin prevents the strap-guiding assembly from moving to the open position. 
     
     
         10 . The strap-tensioning assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the strap-guiding assembly is pivotable between the closed and open positions. 
     
     
         11 . The strap-tensioning assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising a strap-guiding assembly mounted to the strap-tensioning-assembly frame and movable between a closed position in which the strap-guiding assembly at least partially forms a strap channel and an open position, wherein the strap-tensioning-assembly frame and the strap-guiding assembly define openings sized to receive the locking pin, wherein when the strap-guiding assembly is in the closed position and the locking pin extends through the openings of both the strap-guiding assembly and the strap-tensioning-assembly frame, the locking pin prevents the strap-guiding assembly from moving to the open position. 
     
     
         12 . The strap-tensioning assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the strap-guiding assembly is pivotable between the closed and open positions.