Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02622068 2008-02-21
TITLE: Rope Tightener and Strapping Attachment for a Mechanical Cardboard
Baler
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for strapping and
bundling material
such as cardboard with string, cord or rope. In particular, it addresses a
rope tightening
mechanism for use in conjunction with a cardboard baler used to compact
cardboard before
it is tied to the bundle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for strapping and
bundling material
such as cardboard with string, cord or rope that includes a rope tightening
mechanism.
More specifically, it relates to an alternative strapping attachment to that
described in
Canadian patent application No. 2,481,782, published April 7, 2006, and
corresponding US
application 2007/0277684 published December 6, 2007, both originating from the
present
inventor and both directed to an apparatus for bundling and compressing
cardboard.
Devices that allow motion, be it linear or rotary, in only one direction,
while actively
preventing motion in the opposite direction, are very useful for a wide
variety of
applications. Such mechanisms, which may be referred to as "ratchet-like",
have been used
in the past for separating parts or drawing parts together. An example of such
a mechanism
based upon teeth engaged by a ratchet is shown in US patent 3,705,581 to
Drake.
Alternately, more recent ratchet-type mechanisms have been based on the
interactive
canting plate one-way locking system described in US patent 6,929,253 issued
August 16,
2005, or US patent 6,386,530 issued May 14, 2002, both issued to Marks, both
directed to a
bar clamp. All of such latter US prior art references by third parties are
adopted herein by
reference.
In these ratchet-based devices, a rod or bar moves in respect of a trigger
handle mounted
within a body through which the rod or bar passes. Such rod or bar can, on
actuation of the
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ratchet mechanism, carry a component away from the handle as in the case of a
caulking
gun. Or actuation of the mechanism may draw a component towards the handle, as
in the
case of a compression bar clamp. In either case, a racket mechanism operates
to produce
the relative displacement between components and prevents a subsequent
movement that
will undo the displacement that has been achieved.
It would be desirable to provide a rope tightener for use in conjunction with
a cardboard
baler wherein the rope tightener operates on the basis of a ratchet mechanism
and enables
rope to be firmly fastened around a bundle of cardboard, securing it tightly.
This invention
addresses such an objective.
The invention in its general form will first be described, and then its
implementation in
terms of specific embodiments will be detailed with reference to the drawings
following
hereafter. These embodiments are intended to demonstrate the principle of the
invention,
and the manner of its implementation. The invention in its broadest and more
specific
forms will then be described, and defined, in each of the individual claims
which conclude
this Specification.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention in one aspect, a string, cord or rope tightening
mechanism relies
on a hand-actuated ratchet mechanism to draw two portions of a string, cord,
rope, wire,
plastic band or the like (hereafter "rope") towards each other so that the
rope may be tied to
secure a bundle. The tightening mechanism used to draw near the two ends of an
enveloping rope is particularly adapted for securing a compacted bundle of
materials such
as cardboard which has previously been compacted by a compaction apparatus.
The tightening mechanism of the invention operates on the basis of drawing one
portion of
a rope towards another portion of the rope and maintaining the rope under
tension while
such portions of the rope are tied together, binding the bundle of material
tightly. For this
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purpose, one portion or end of the rope is hooked, clamped or otherwise
fastened to an
anchor point to restrain the rope, and another portion of the rope is drawn
towards the first
portion by the rope tightening mechanism. Once tightening is completed, the
two portions
of the rope are joined as by a knot to secure the bundle. These anchor points
are intended to
engage the rope temporarily and allow detachment of the rope from the
tightening
mechanism once the ends or portions of the rope have been tied to each other.
The rope tightening mechanism of the invention is intended for use with baling
device for
compacting an amount of material into a bundle. Such a baling device
preferably includes:
a) a rack frame having a base end;
b) a compacting bearing member carried by the rack frame, preferably in the
form of a
peripheral frame, but optionally in the form of a solid plate;
c) a movable compacting platform also preferably in the form of a peripheral
frame, but
optionally in the form of a solid plate, having an upper side dimensioned to
receive and
carry sheets of cardboard, and slideably connected to the rack frame for
sliding within the
rack frame towards the compacting bearing member; and
d) a winch carried by the rack frame and connected to the compacting platform
through a
flexible linkage, the winch being positioned to wind the flexible linkage
about an axle
mounted therein in order to draw the movable compacting plane upwardly towards
the
compacting bearing member.
In the preferred baling device the compacting platform moves upwardly along an
inclined
rack plane while cardboard is being compacted. This plane of motion is
preferably inclined
from the vertical, extending upwardly from the front side of the base end of
the rack frame
and inclined inwardly towards the winch carried within the rack frame.
Preferably the rack
plane is delimited by a pair of parallel guide members which carry the
compacting
platform. More preferably the pair of parallel guide members are U-shaped
channels in
cross-section and embrace guide pins that extend outwardly from the compacting
platform.
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A further preferred configuration for the baling device is based upon a rack
frame that
includes a pair of rearwardly positioned upright frame members that extend
from the
bottom of the rack frame to connect respectively with one of the compacting
platform
guide members at a respective upper apex. This forms an "A" frame in profile.
The central
cross portion of the "A" is provided by a pair of lateral bracing members that
extend
respectively between one of the upright frame members and an inclined guide
member and
then extend further outwardly to provide portions of the bearing member or to
provide
support for the bearing member.
A spool of rope can be mounted within the rack frame to provide the necessary
length of
rope for enveloping the cardboard and tightening by the rope tightening
mechanism. The
rope tightening mechanism is coupled to the frame, positioned for drawing
together the two
portions of the rope which will envelop a bundle of cardboard. For this
purpose, the rope
tightening mechanism is preferably positioned so that it will be aligned for
drawing rope
across the outer surface of the material being compacted, at a location just
adjacent to and
outboard of the side of the bearing member and compacting platforrn, near
where the
cardboard is most compacted.
In order to hold the rope portions, the rope tightening mechanism includes
first and second
rope anchors for detachably engaging first and second portions of the rope. A
first fixed
rope anchor may be carried by the rack frame or by a fixed portion of the
ratchet
mechanism which is part of the rope tightener carried by the rack frame. A
second
displaceable rope anchor is then carried by the ratchet mechanism. The ratchet
mechanism
is, of course, positioned for drawing the first and second anchors, with rope
engaged
thereto, towards each other in order to tightened the rope about the bundle of
material.
Optionally one of the anchors may have a slot formed therein, shaped to retain
a knotted
portion of the rope with a loop present beyond such knotted portion of the
rope. Preferably,
this is an anchor which is fixed in respect to the rack frame. The other of
the anchors may
be in the form of a releasable rope clamp, optionally but preferably carried
by the ratchet
mechanism, to effect closing of the gap between the two rope portions.
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A preferred form of releasable rope clamp operates on the basis of an
eccentrically
mounted cylinder with a rope-engaging cylindrical surface positioned adjacent
to an anvil
whereby a portion of the rope may be positioned between the cylinder and the
anvil and
held in place by rotation of the cylinder until the rope is pinched between
the cylinder and
the anvil. Both the off-centered axle for rotation of the cylinder and the
anvil surface are
mounted in a rigid relationship to each other to sustain this pinching action.
While the fixed anchor has been described as connected to the rack frame and
the
releasable anchor described as being displaceable by the ratchet mechanism,
the locations
of these preferred forms of anchors may be reversed.
Any form of ratchet mechanism which will cause one end of the rope to advance
towards
the other may be used as the basis of the rope tightening mechanism. A
preferred form of
ratchet mechanism is based upon a displaceable rod which can slide in respect
of a body
that is fixed to the rack frame. The rope anchor which is to be displaced is
affixed to this
rod. Preferably this is a detachable rope anchor such as one based on the
design of an
eccentrically rotating cylinder as described previously. When the rope
tightening
mechanism is mounted along one of the pair of lateral bracing members, it is
this rod which
is positioned adjacent to and outboard of the side of the bearing member so as
to align the
rod across the outer surface of the material to be compacted.
The ratchet mechanism may be based on a toothed rod which is advanced by a
reciprocating pawl, of the type as described in US patent 3,705,581 to Drake.
A preferred
form of ratchet mechanism comprises:
a) first and second wedge plates each mounted on the rod, each wedge plate
being
dimensioned for sliding engagement along the rod when oriented in a plane
extending
outwardly in a perpendicular direction to the length of the rod, and being
dimensioned for
jamming engagement with the rod when the respective wedge plate is canted at
an angle
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from such perpendicular direction and an attempt is made to move such wedge
plate with
respect to the rod in a direction that will increase its canting angle, and
b) a handgrip coupled to the rod and connected to effect engagement with the
rod
through the first wedge plate.
On activation of the handgrip, the rod is advanced with respect to the
handgrip through the
engagement effected by the first wedge plate; and, upon deactivation of the
handgrip, the
second wedge plate, which is coupled to the rack frame, resists movement of
the rod in the
reverse direction. This is the direction that would cause an increase in the
separation
between the rope ends. Spring elements may be employed to bias the wedge plate
towards
a jamming engagement and thereby initiate the jamming effect.
Such a mechanism may then be employed to slide the rod with respect to the
handgrip
which is mounted in a body coupled to the rack frame. As indicated earlier, it
is preferable
for this coupling to place the rod alongside one portion of the bearing
member, or alongside
one of the lateral members that extend to form part of or supports the bearing
member. This
allows the rope to be tightened in an alignment which is close to its final
alignment once
the rope ends have been joined together. In this way minimal slack will be
created when
the rope is removed from the rope tightener.
While the handgrip can be positioned remotely from the "A" frame portion of
the rack, it is
preferable for the handgrip to be located at the lower end of the lateral
member, adjacent to
the "A" frame itself. In this location the handle is at a lower position and
is easier to
activate. In this position, actuation of the handle can draw the rod, and the
displaceable
anchor mounted thereon, towards the handle and the fixed anchor. Or the rod
can be
advanced upwardly away from the handle, carrying the displaceable anchor with
it and
towards the fixed anchor which is then mounted remotely from the handle.
While the displaceable anchor is, in one configuration, to be carried by the
rod, the fixed
anchor, as indicated previously, may be fastened to any component which is
rigidly
connected to the rack frame. Optionally, the fixed anchor may be fastened to
the body of
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the handgrip, and may even be positioned so that it slidably embraces the rod.
In this latter
case, the fixed anchor may be fastened to the bearing member or the side of
the protruding
lateral member adjacent to or by means of attachment to the groove.
It is also possible, if the rod is fixed to the rack frame, for the handle to
be displaceable, in
which case the handle will carry the displaceable anchor.
While reference has been made to the presence of a rod, its function may also
be effected
by use of a bar or shaft, all of which are equivalent.
While the rope tightening mechanism of the invention may be used independently
of a
cardboard baling mechanism apparatus, it is preferably used in conjunction
with such
apparatus. In particular, when used in conjunction with a cardboard baler, and
particularly
the mechanical cardboard baler described in Canadian patent application No.
2,481,782,
and corresponding US application 2007/0277684, hereafter described in greater
detail, the
rope tightening mechanism is preferably supported by the frame of the
cardboard baler
when it is in use. While the use of the single rope tightening mechanism has
been
described, two similar rope tightening mechanisms may be mounted on respective
borders
of the bearing frame.
The foregoing summarizes the principal features of the invention and some of
its optional
aspects. The invention may be further understood by the description of the
preferred
embodiments, in conjunction with the drawings, which now follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings, which form a part of this specification:
FIG 1 is a side view of a mechanical cardboard baler with a clamp-type rope
tying
mechanism.
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FIG 2 is a front view of the baler of Figure 1 showing the bearing frame and
compacting
platform.
FIG 3 is a rear view of the baler of Figure 1 showing the winch and flexible
linkage
extending to the compacting platform.
FIG 4 is a side view of the baler of Figure 1, showing the apparatus loaded
with loose
cardboard before the process of baling, as well as a rope extending from a
second rope
winch which is wrapped around the loose material and held by the clamp.
FIG 5 is a side view of the baler of Figure 4 showing the apparatus in the
baling position
compressing cardboard into a compacted form, as well as a rope which has been
tightened
around the compacted cardboard.
FIG 6 is a perspective view of one variant of a new ratchet-based rope
tightening means
positioned for serving as strapping attachment in a cardboard baler according
to the
invention.
FIG 7 is an side plan view of the strapping attachment of Figure 6 showing the
mechanical
cardboard baler loaded with a stack of compressed cardboard, and a length of a
rope wound
around a stack of cardboard with two ends of the rope anchored to anchors
within the rope
tightening means before the rope is fully tightened.
FIG 8 is a side plan view of the strapping attachment of Figure 7 after the
rope has been
tightened.
FIG 9 is an aerial perspective view of the strapping attachment of Figure 6
showing the
moveable rope-engaging anchor and a hook-shape sliding guide moving along a
rail that is
located on the side of the mechanical cardboard baler.
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FIG 10 is a side view of the strapping attachment, of Figure 6 mounted on the
frame of a
mechanical cardboard baler in accordance with Figure 1 with the ratchet handle
positioned
remotely from the baler frame.
FIG 11 is a side view of the mechanical cardboard baler of the type of Figure
1, showing a
strapping attachment as in Figure 6 with the ratchet handle positioned
adjacent to the baler
frame.
FIG 12 is a top perspective view of the mechanical cardboard baler of the type
of Figure 1,
showing a strapping attachment as in Figure 6 with the ratchet handle
positioned adjacent
to the baler frame.
FIG 13 is a perspective view of an alternate variant ratchet-based rope
tightening
mechanism to that of Figure 6.
FIG 14 depicts the rope tightening the mechanism of Figure 13 with a bundle of
untied but
compacted cardboard in position beneath the rope tightener, before the
tightening process
has been concluded.
FIG 15 depicts the rope tightening mechanism of Figure 14 after the rope
tightening
process has been effected.
FIG 16A is a side view of an eccentric cylinder rope anchor prior to the
pinching of rope
positioned therein.
FIG 16B is a side view of an eccentric cylinder rope anchor of Figure 16A
after the
pinching of rope positioned therein.
FIG 17 is a perspective view of the eccentric cylinder rope anchor of Figure
16A mounted
on a rope tightener rod and provided with a stabilizing pin protruding from
the side of the
anchor.
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FIG 18 is a cross-sectional side view of the cylindrical rope anchor of Figure
17 with the
stabilizing pin extending into a groove formed on side of the lateral bracing
member
forming a lateral thinking.
FIG 19 is a cross-sectional side view of grooved rope anchor for attaching a
knotted rope
end, slideably mounted on the ratchet mechanism rod and also provided with a
stabilizing
pin extending into the groove formed on side of the lateral bracing member or
bearing
frame member.
FIG 20 is a front view of the grooved rope anchor for attaching a knotted rope
end,
showing the stabilizing pin(s).
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With respect to Figures 1, 2 and 3, a mechanical cardboard baler includes a
rack frame 10
or "rack" 10, delimited by an inclined rack plane 11 and three vertical planes
on the left,
12; the right, 13; and the rear side, 14. These planes may, but do not
necessarily, consist of
a flat surface; optionally they may instead consist only of the side members
such as is
evident in Figure 1 on the right vertical plane 13 that is delimited by side
members 17 and
18. Cardboard may be placed between a moveable compacting platform 26, which
may be
in the form of a simple frame, and a compacting bearing frame 25, both of
which extend
generally in a perpendicular direction with respect to the inclined plane 11.
Four wheels 16
may be optionally installed under the base end 70 of the rack 10, so that the
baler may be
easy to displace.
A commercially available hand winch 21 is located at the top of the rack 10 at
the upper
end of the rear side plane 14, serving as a compacting winch. While a hand
winch 21 is
shown, an electrically operated winch may also be substituted. The compacting
winch 21
is connected to the moveable compacting platform 26 via a strap 28, so that
the platform 26
can be drawn upwardly along the inclined plane 11. On loosening the winch, the
platform
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26 can slide back down under its own weight. A compacted baled cardboard is
formed
when loose cardboard is placed upon the platform 26 and the compacting winch
21 is used
to pull the platform 26 upwardly towards the bearing frame 25.
In the cardboard baler embodiment shown in Figure 1, the rope tightening
mechanism to
tighten a rope around a bale of cardboard relies upon a rope retracting winch
with ratchet
gear 31 that turns a rope retracting shaft 32 fitted in two shaft brackets 33.
At the each end
of the rope retracting shaft 32, a rope retracting roller 36 with a pair of
rope locking pins 39
provides anchor points for attaching rope which encircles the material being
compacted just
outside the edges of the compacting platform and bearing frame.
A rope toggle clamp 35 can be mounted on each outer side of the compacting
bearing
frame 25. On one side of the toggle clamp 35 towards the rope retracting shaft
32, there
may be a rope hook pin 37. On the other side of the toggle clamp 35 away from
the rope
retracting shaft 32, there may be a rope guide 38.
As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the inclined plane 11 is bounded by two parallel
guide
members 22 which guide the compacting platform 26 in its motion up and down.
Pins
extend from the compacting platform 26 to rest against the guide members 22
which may
be formed of simple angle iron but are preferably channels which are U-shaped
in cross-
section and serve to confine the compacting platform pins.
Figures 4 and 5 depict flattened, loose cardboard 40 positioned between the
moveable
compacting platform 26 and the compacting bearing frame 25. The handle of the
winch 21
is turned to retract strap 28 which pulls the moveable platform 26 in an
upwards direction.
This compresses the loose cardboard 40, thereby forming a tight cardboard bale
50, as
depicted in Figure 5.
To bind the bundle of compacted cardboard 50 using a length of rope 60, an end
loop at
one end is first made. The end loop may be placed on the rope hook pin 37 and
the other
portion of the rope 60 to be connected to the rope winch 30 may be wound
around the
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flattened, loose cardboard 40 just outboard of the compacting platform and
bearing frame
as shown in Figure 4; or the bale of compacted cardboard 50 as in FIG 5. The
rope 60 may
be placed along the rope guide 38, aligning the rope 60 with the rope toggle
clamp 35.
Then the free end 62 of rope 60 may be wound onto the rope locking pin 39 and
the rope
friction pin 39 may be screwed down in order to hold the end of the rope 60
fixed to the
rope retracting roller 36.
Now the handle of the rope retracting winch with ratchet gear 31 may be
turned, which
tightens the rope 60 until the rope reaches an optimum or desired tightness.
The toggle
clamp 35 may then be clamped down to hold tight the portion of the rope 60
passing
therethrough. With the rope held tightly in place around the bundle, the rope
locking pin
39 may be released and the freed end portion of the rope used to form a knot
by tying
together the free end of the rope 60 and the end loop on the rope hook pin 37.
Tying of this
knot is facilitated by the rope 60 being held tight by the toggle clamp 35.
The compacting
winch's 21 handle may then be turned to release strap 28, lowering the movable
compacting frame 26, and allowing the tied compacted cardboard 50 to be
removed from
the baler. This completes a preferred working cycle of the baler.
Figures 6 through 11 depict a further variant of a rope tightener for
tightening a bale of
cardboard. With reference to Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9, a strapping attachment for
a mechanical
cardboard baler in accordance with the present invention comprises a hand-
actuated
ratchet-like mechanism 100 to draw two portions of a rope towards each other,
so that the
rope may be tied to secure a bundle that will have been previously compacted
by a
compaction apparatus. The mechanism 100 includes an extended shaft 120
carrying a
moveable rope-engaging displaceable anchor 110 and a stationary, fixed rope-
engaging
anchor 111.
A handle 112 mounted in a body carrying a ratchet mechanism is attached to a
side rail 130
which in turn is fastened to the rack frame of a baler. The body for the
ratchet mechanism
100 is provided with a bore so that the mechanism 100 may be threaded onto an
extended
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shaft or rod 120. Upon actuation of the ratchet-like mechanism 100, the
extended rod 120
is pulled through the bore, thereby initiating the rope tightening effect.
First i l l and second 110 rope anchors for detachably engaging first and
second portions of
the rope are provided. The first, fixed, rope anchor 111 in this variant is
carried by the side
rail, but positioned in line with the rod 120 which passes slidingly
therethrough. The
second, displaceable, rope anchor 110 is carried by the rod 120 to which it is
affixed. A
stabilizing plate 131, best shown in Figure 9, extends between the second
displaceable rope
anchor 110 and the side rail to keep the parts aligned.
One stationary anchored end 212 of a length of rope 60 is anchored onto the
fixed rope-
engaging means 111. The rope 60 is then wound around the bale of compacted
cardboard
50, until the free end of the rope 60 reaches the displaceable rope-engaging
anchor 110.
With a displaceable rope portion 2131eading up to the free end anchored at the
displaceable rope-engaging anchor 110, the two ends of the rope, 212, 213 may
eventually
be tied together using the extending free end.
Initially the rope-engaging anchors 110 and 111 are substantially separated
from each other
before the ratchet-like mechanism 100 of the rope tightening mechanism is
actuated. As
the ratchet-like mechanism 100 is actuated, the engaged rope portions 213 and
212 are
drawn close, with the portion 213 being drawn towards the portion 212 since
portion 213 is
anchored at the displaceable rope-engaging anchor 110.
Once the rope 60 has been tightened around the bundle to be bound, the
extending
portion(s) of the rope 60 may be used to tie the two ends together.
Thereafter, the portions
of the rope 60 held by the rope-engaging means are disengaged from the rope-
engaging
means. As an alternative to using an extension of the rope 60, a separate
piece of rope can
be used to tie the closing portions of the rope 60 together.
The ratchet-like mechanism 100 may comprise a wedge plate 104 that, when it is
substantially perpendicular to the extended shaft 120, allows the rod to
slide; and when the
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wedge plate 104 is canted at an angle from the perpendicular, the mechanism
will jam and
the wedge plate 104 will engage with the extended rod 120 when an attempt is
made to
move the wedge plate in a direction that would increase its canting angle.
This is typically
the direction that would cause an increase in the separation between the rope-
engaging
means 110 and 111. A brake spring 141 may be employed to bias the wedge plate
104
towards a jamming engagement and thereby initiate the jamming effect.
In this type of ratchet mechanism, two first and second wedge plates
respectively mounted
on the rod are required. When the handgrip is actuated the first wedge plate
engages with
the rod and causes the rod to shift with respect to the handgrip and its body.
Upon
deactivation of the handgrip, the second wedge plate resists movement of the
rod in the
reverse direction.
In Figure 10 the strapping attachment of Figure 6 is mounted along the lateral
side the
bearing frame through the side rail. As depicted the ratchet handle is
positioned remotely
from the baler frame. In Figures 11 and 12 the ratchet-like mechanism 100 is
placed
adjacent to of the compacting frame 25, near the junction of the frame 25 and
the inclined
plane 11, on the side plane. As depicted, the ratchet-like mechanism 100 is
placed on the
right plane 13, but the strapping attachment may be equivalently located on
the left plane
12. Optionally, strapping attachments may be provided at both locations.
Figures 13, 14 and 15 depict a rope tightener mounted along the side of one of
the lateral
bracing members which, in turn, defines a portion of the bearing frame 25.
Figure 14
depicts a bundle of untied but compacted cardboard in position beneath the
rope tightener,
before the tightening process has been concluded. Figure 15 depicts the rope
tightening
mechanism of Figure 14 after the rope tightening process has been effected.
In Figures 13, 14 and 15 alternate rope anchors are depicted. In such figures,
one of the
rope anchors, preferably the moveable rope anchor 110, is based on an
eccentrically
rotating cylinder 220 which can be rotated to releasably pinch a portion of
the rope 60
against an anvil surface 221. This action is shown in greater detail in
Figures 16 and 16B.
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Both the off-centered axle for rotation of the cylinder 220 and the anvil
surface 221 are
mounted in a rigid relationship to each other. In the case of a displaceable
anchor, such
anchor is carried on the rod 120 to which it is affixed. In the case of a
fixed anchor, which
is carried on the rod 120, a pin 250 may be threaded on the rod to ensure that
the anchor in
question does not move as the rod moves when the ratchet-like mechanism is
actuated.
This is better described in Figure 20.
The angle of engagement at the point of pinching between the rotating cylinder
220 and the
anvil surface 221 where the rope portion has been placed should be sufficient
to
temporarily jam the rope portion in place, but not so severe as to make it
difficult to allow
disengagement, e.g. by manually rotating the cylinder 220 in the opposite
direction to
release the pinched rope portion once tying is completed, or by laterally
pulling the rope 60
out from between the cylinder 220 and anvil surface 221. The surface of the
rotating
cylinder 220 is also preferably textured, e.g., as like the teeth of a file,
or by transverse
grooves, so as to have a suitably roughened surface that will raise the
coefficient of static
friction. This serves to reduce the tendency for the rope 60 to slip within
the clamp while
not increasing the difficulty for manually releasing the pinched rope. The
rope 60 is
prevented from coming loose on its own, since as the tension in the rope
increases, the
pinching force between the rotating cylinder 220 with a textured surface and
the anvil
surface 221 will increase.
With the rod 120 of the ratchet mechanism 100 positioned along the side member
of the
bearing frame, such bearing member or the side of the protruding lateral
member may be
provided with a groove. The displaceable anchor mounted on the rod may then be
stabilized by providing it with a protruding guide pin 222 or guide as shown
in Figures 17
and 18 that slides within the groove 230, constraining the anchor against
rotation on the rod
120.
Figure 19 depicts a grooved rope anchor for anchoring a knotted rope end. The
slot in this
rope anchor is smaller than a knot to be formed in the rope and therefore
shaped to retain a
knotted portion of the rope in place. This grooved rope anchor, when serving
as the fixed
CA 02622068 2008-02-21
rope anchor 111 as shown in Figure 15, is preferably slideably mounted on the
rod of the
ratchet mechanism. This allows such anchor 111 to closely align the rope with
the
cardboard to be bundled. To prevent rotation of the grooved rope anchor on the
rod, a
stabilizing pin 223 extends into the groove 230 formed on side of the lateral
bracing
member or bearing frame member. However the stabilizing pin 223, as seen in
Figure 19,
does not penetrate through to the rod 120. This is what allows the stationary
rope anchor
111 to remain fixed while the rod 120 is moved whenever the ratchet-like
mechanism 100
is actuated. A loop may extend beyond such knotted portion of the rope.
Figure 20 is a front view of Figure 19 of the grooved rope anchor for
anchoring a knotted
rope end. On both sides of the rope anchor 110 are located two pins 250 that
may help to
impede the motion of the grooved rope anchor. In the case of a fixed anchor,
which is
carried on the rod 120, a pin 250 with a bore may be threaded on the rod to
ensure that the
anchor in question does not move as the rod moves when the ratchet-like
mechanism is
actuated. Optionally, this can be done with only one such pin as seen in
Figures 13 through
15, providing that the pin remaining in place serves to impede the motion of
the fixed
anchor as the ratchet-like mechanism is actuated. The pin may be then welded
or otherwise
affixed to the frame in the channel.
CONCLUSION
The foregoing has constituted a description of specific embodiments showing
how the
invention may be applied and put into use. These embodiments are only
exemplary. The
invention in its broadest, and more specific aspects, is further described and
defined in the
claims which now follow.
These claims, and the language used therein, are to be understood in terms of
the variants
of the invention which have been described. They are not to be restricted to
such variants,
but are to be read as covering the full scope of the invention as is implicit
within the
invention and the disclosure that has been provided herein.
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