Crimping tool

May 14, 1963

W. J. HARADEN

CRIMPING TOOL

3,089,366

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ATTORNEYS

May 14, 1963

W. J. HARADEN

CRIMPING TOOL

3,089,366

Filed July 11, 1960

Sheets-Sheet 2

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May 14, 1963

W. J. HARADEN

CRIMPING TOOL

3,089,366

<img file="US3089366A_D0003.tif" />

A TTORNEYS

3,089,366

Patented May 14, 1963

United States Patent Office

3,089,366 CRIMPING TOOL

William J. Haraden, Mount Prospect, III., assignor to Signode Steel Strapping Company, Chicago, HL, a corporation of Delaware

Filed July 11, 1960, Ser. No. 41,830

Claims. (Ci. 81—9.1)

The present invention relates to crimping tools in which the crimping jaws are mounted between a pair of side plates with operating handles including a movable operating handle and particularly relates to new and improved structures for insuring that the crimping jaws are pivoted into their fully closed crimping position before the movable operating handle can be oppositely moved to open the jaws and thereby release the crimping tool from the work.

Crimping tools of the type under consideration are well known for the crimping of overlapped strap ends, which may be surrounded by a seal, for the purpose of sealing the strap ends together.

In accordance with the present invention, a full jawclosing crimping stroke is insured. Devices embodying the present invention require completion of the crimping stroke once it is begun in order to free the jaws from the strap and seal, by a structural combination in which the movable operating handle participates in both the handleblocking and handle-freeing functions.

More particularly, the movable operating handle is intended to coact with a pivoted stop plate and the head of the movable handle is formed with a holding face, a rearwardly directed stop face adjacent the holding face and intended to participate in the handle-blocking function, and a forwardly directed abutting face spaced rearwardly along the head of the handle from the stop face and intended to coact with the pivoted stop plate for the purpose of removing this stop plate from the path of the stop face on the head of the handle to thereby free the movable handle and enable the crimping jaws to be opened.

The invention will be more fully described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial side elevation illustrating a preferred crimping tool constructed in accordance with the invention, the tool being shown with the operating handles in closed position;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the crimping tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3—3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line 4—4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective detailed view of the pivoted stop plate;

FIG. 6 is a perspective detailed view of the latching pawl;

FIGS. 3, 7 and 8 are similar to one another, FIGS. 7 and 8 being partially diagrammatic, and show the operation of the crimping tool of the invention in step-by-step fashion;

FIG. 3 shows the handle in closed position, this position corresponding to the fully closed crimping position of the crimping jaws;

FIG. 7 shows the operating handles in open position, corresponding to the open or work-releasing position of the crimping jaws;

FIG. 8 shows the operating handles in partially closed position, corresponding to a position of the crimping jaws in which the work is partly deformed and in which position the crimping jaws encircle the work and cannot be pulled away therefrom;

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 show the structure and operation of a modified crimping tool constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 9 is a detailed elevation, in section, the cross section presented in this figure corresponding to the cross 5 section shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a partially diagrammatic cross section similar to FIG. 7 showing the operating handles in open or work-releasing position; and

FIG. 11 is a partially diagrammatic cross section similar 10 to FIG. 8 showing the operating handles in partially closed position in which the work is partly crimped.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the crimping tool illustrated comprises a pair of substantially parallel side plates 10 and 11 between which are mounted 15 the crimping jaws which consist of flat jaw link members 12 and 13, having inwardly directed lower jaw portions 12' and 13', these crimping jaw links are mounted for movement between the side plates 10 and 11 in a plane parallel to the plane of the side plates. The crimping 20 jaw links 12 and 13 are pivoted to the side plates 10 and 11 at a point intermediate the length thereof by means of pins 14 and 15 which also carry a notcher 16. The term crimping jaw is also employed to designate the combination of crimping jaw link and crimping jaw per se. 25 The side plates 18 and 11 are secured together in parallel spaced relation by means of bolts 17, 18 and 19 and coacting nuts 17', 18' and 19'. The bolt 19' is positioned at tlie trailing end of the side plates 10^! and 11 and secures a block 20 between the side plates. A fixed handle 30 21 is secured to the block 29.

The illustrative embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings employs a movable handle 22 mounted on a handle head 22' for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to the plane of the side plates and means 35 linking the movable handle head with the crimping jaws whereby a forward movement of the handle 22 will close the jaws to a closed crimping position and .an opposite movement of the handle 22 will open the jaws to an open work-receiving position.

The head 22' for the movable operating handle 22 is pivoted to the upper forward end of the side plates 10 and 11 and is mounted for pivotal movement about the pin 23. The forward end of the head 22' of the movable handle 22 is formed as a yoke to define a recess 24.

Mounted within the recess 24 are the operating links 25 and 26 which are pivoted to the movable handle head 22' by means of pins 27 and 28 respectively. The operating link 25 is connected with the crimping jaw link 12 by means of the pivot pin 29 and the operating link 26 is 50 connected to the crimping jaw 13 by means of the pivot pin 30.

The fixed handle 21 provides leverage for operating the movable handle 22 and may be eliminated when the crimping tool is fixed in position as part of a sealing ⁵⁵ tool including the same in which event the tool body provides the desired leverage.

When the movable handle '22 is pivoted to elevate the same, which movement is here termed an opposite movement, the pins 29 and 30 are moved inwardly to pivot ⁶⁰ the crimping jaw links 12 and 13 thereby spreading or opening the crimping jaws 12' and 13'. In this opposite movement, the upper ends of the crimping jaw links 12 and 13 move inwardly. When the movable handle 22 is moved in a forward direction to bring the movable ⁶³ handle 22 toward the fixed handle 21, the operating links 25 and 26 are moved to force the pins 29 and 30 outwardly thereby closing the crimping jaws 12' and 13' and causing the structure to assume the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

The head 22' of the movable handle is formed to define a holding face, a stop face adjacent the holding face and abutting face spaced from the stop face.

:,089,366

More particularly, the underside of the forward end of the movable handle head 22' is formed to define a holding face 31, a rearwardly facing stop face 32 adjacent to the holding face 31 and a forwardly facing abutting face 33 which is spaced rearwardly along the length of the movable handle head 22' from the stop face 32. The function of the holding face 31, the stop face 32 and the abutting face 33 will be more fully described hereinafter.

Tile invention includes a stop plate positioned adjacent the portion of the movable handle which is formed with said holding face, stop face and abutting face and means are provided to bias the stop plate toward said faces of said movable handle.

Thus, the movable handle head 22' coacts in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter with a pivoted stop plate 34 which is pivoted between the side plates 10 and 11 upon the pin 35, the stop plate 34 being formed with a bushing 36 which surrounds the pin 35. A spring 37 surrounds the bushing 36 and functions to provide a constant rotational bias for the stop plate 34 in a clockwise direction toward the faces 31—33 of the head 22' as indicated by arrow 38 (FIG. 3). The stop plate 34 is formed with a laterally projecting pin 39.

The invention requires the presence of retaining means engageable with the stop plate for retaining the stop plate out of engagement with the movable handle head whereby the movable handle is free for opposite movement to open the crimping jaws. This retaining means is biased into engagement with the stop plate. Means movable with the movable handle and coacting with the retaining means is employed to cause the retaining means to move and thereby release the stop plate when the movable handle nears the end of its opposite movement. This means for moving the retaining means also functions to release the retaining means when the movable handle is moved forwardly to close the crimping jaws. The stop plate includes means positioned in the path of the abutting face of the movable handle head when the movable handle is moved forwardly to its fully closed position to fully close the crimping jaws, whereby the stop plate will be moved into position for engagement by the retaining means as the forward movement of the movable handle is completed.

Thus, a latching pawl 40 is mounted for pivotal movement on the bolt 18 and is rotationally biased as indicated by arrow 41 by means of spring 42 in a clockwise direction toward the pin 39. The latching pawl 40 is formed with a rearwardly projecting arm 43 which coacts with the cam face 44 on the crimping jaw link 13 for the purpose of moving the latching pawl 40 to release the pin 39 for purposes to be described more fully hereinafter.

In FIG. 5 the stop plate 3'4 is shown in perspective and is formed to define a pin-receiving bore 45 and an upstanding shoulder 46 which is positioned to be abutted by the abutting face 33 of the operating handle 22.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 6, the latching pawl 40 is formed in the shape of a saddle and defines at its lower portion a yoke 47 defining a recess 48. The legs of the yoke 47 are bored as indicated at 49 to pivotally receive the bolt 18. The recess 48 is sufficiently deep to receive the spring 42 which bears against the base of recess 48 to rotationally bias the latching pawl 40 about the bolt 18. As previously indicated, the latching pawl 40 includes a rearwardly projecting arm 43. In the other or forward direction, the latching pawl 40 is formed with a rearwardly facing hook 50, the hook 50 being adapted to engage the pin 39 on the pivoted stop plate 34.

The block 20 is additionally secured by pin 51 to prevent rotation thereof and the block 20 is formed with an upstanding stop shoulder 52 which functions to prevent tlie movable handle 22 from being pivoted against the fixed handle 21 thereby facilitating grasping of the handles during operation of the crimping tool.

The invention will be more fully understood from the description of operation which is presented in conjunction with the step-by-step drawings of FIGS. 3, 7 and 8.

As shown in FIG. 7, arrow A identifies the opposite or opening pivotal movement of the operating handle 22 which functions to open the crimping jaws 12' and 13'. This opposite or opening movement of handle 22 moves the operating links 25 and 26 to pivot the crimping jaw links 12 and 13 and thereby move the crimping jaws 12' and 13' outwardly as indicated by the arrows B. As the operating handle 22 moves upwardly, the upper end of the crimping jaw 13 moves inwardly until the cam face 44 contacts the arm 43 of the latching pawl 40. Further elevation of the handle 22 causes a further inward movement of the cam face 44 on the crimping jaw link 13 to pivot the latching pawl 40 in a counter-clockwise direction as indicated by arrow C to thereby cause the hook 50 to release the pin 39. Hook 50 does not release pin 39 until the handle 22 is in its substantially fully elevated position so that, when the stop plate 34 is released, it will pivot in a clockwise direction by virtue of the pressure applied from spring 37 to move against the holding face 31 on the forward end of the movable handle 22.

When the movable handle 22 is moved toward the handle 16 in a forward direction as indicated by arrow D, the operating links 25 and 26 are moved outwardly and the crimping jaw links 12 and 13 are pivoted to move the crimping jaws 12' and 13' inwardly as indicated by arrows E. During this closing movement of handle 22, the stop plate 34 slides off the holding face 31 after the crimping jaws have closed about the work and the stop plate 34 pivots against a cam surface 53 which separates the stop face 32 from the abutting face 33 on the head 22'. The cam surface 53 prevents excessive clockwise movement of the stop plate 34 which excessive movement might disengage the hook 50 from the pin 39 which would destroy the setting of the mechanism. Thus, pin 39 is constantly engaged by the flat surface adjacent the hook portion of the latching pawl 40 whenever the pin 39 is not actually engaged by the hook 50. During the closing movement of the handle 22, the cam face 44 on the crimping jaw link 13 moves away from the arm 43, the latching pawl 40 being held in place by the aforesaid contact with the pin 39.

It will be particularly observed in FIG. 8 in which the operating handle 22 is only partially closed, that the handle 22 cannot be oppositely moved to open the crimping jaws 12' and 13' and thereby release the work since, if such opposite movement of handle 22 is attempted, movement of the stop face 32 on the handle head 22' will be obstructed by the free end of the stop plate 34.

Upon continued forward movement of the handle 22 in the direction indicated by the arrow D in FIG. 8, the crimping jaws 12' and 13' are moved to their fully closed or crimping positon which is shown in FIG. 3. As handle 22 nears its fully closed position, the abutting face 33 on the handle head 22' engages the shoulder 46 on the stop plate 34 so that the act of closing the handle 22 causes the abutting face 33 to pivot the stop plate 34 in a counter-clockwise direction thereby moving the pin 39 rearwardly with respect to the hook 50 and into position to be grasped thereby, such grasping action of the hook 50 on the pin 39 being automatic by virtue of the clockwise biasing action of the spring 42 in the direction indicated by arrow 41.

With the pin 39 safely grasped in the hook 50 of the latching pawl 40, the handle 22 is freed for opposite movement as indicated in FIG. 7 whereby the crimping jaws 12' and 13' may be opened and the work released.

FIGS. 9 10 and 11 illustrate a modified construction in accordance with the invention and demonstrate that the holding face 31, the stop face 32 and the abutting

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face 33 do not have to be configurated precisely as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 7 and 8 and that the means for locking the pivoted stop plate 34 to release the movable handle is subject to considerable structural variation.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 9 which shows the sealer in its fully closed position with the movable handle released for jaw-opening movement, the side plates are identified by numeral 60, these side plates mounting crimping jaw links 61 and 62 which carry the crimping jaws 63 and 64. The crimping jaw links are pivoted to the side plates by pins 65 and 66 which also carry a notcher 67. A block 68 is positioned at the trailing end of the side plates 61 and 62 and a fixed handle 69 is secured to the block 68.

The numeral 70 designates a movable handle head pivoted to side plates 60 at the upper forward end thereof by pin 71. The forward end of head 70 defines a recess 72 within which are mounted the operating links 73 and 74. These links are pivoted to the head 70 by pins 75 and 76. Operating link 73 is connected with crimping jaw link 61 by pivot pin 77 and operating link 74 is connected to crimping jaw link 62 by pivot pin 78.

The underside of the forward end of the movable handle head 70 is formed to define holding face 79, a rearwardly facing stop face 80 (the rearward direction is determined when the movable handle is in intermediate position) adjacent to the holding face 79 and a forwardly facing abutting face 81.

The movable handle 70 coacts with a pivoted stop plate 82 which is formed with a bushing 83 which surrounds pivot pin 84. Spring 85 surrounds bushing 83 and bears against pin 86 which extends laterally from stop plate 82 to provide a constant rotational bias for the stop plate 82 in a clockwise direction (note arrow 87).

A latching pawl 88 is pivotally mounted on pin 89 and is rotationally biased as indicated by arrow 9® by means of spring 91 in a counter-clockwise direction so that the inner end or cocking surface 92 thereof is positioned to engage with a forwardly facing sear surface on a downwardly directed locking finger 93 in the stop plate 82 to thereby prevent clockwise rotation of the stop plate.

The spring 91 surrounds pin 89 with one end thereof bearing against ledge 94 on latching pawl 88 and the other end bearing against a bolt 95 which holds the side plates 60 together.

During the handle-opening movement identified by arrow A in FIG. 10, the upper end of crimping jaw link 61 moves inwardly to cause the inner cam face 96 to contact the arm 97 of the latching pawl 88. Further opening pivotal movement of the movable handle causes the cam face 96 to move the arm 97 to rotate the latching pawl 88 in a clockwise direction as indicated by arrow C'. At the same time, the crimping jaws 63 and 64 are opening as indicated by arrow B. The rotation of the latching pawl 88, as indicated by arrow C' lowers the end 92 until the finger 93 is disengaged thereby releasing the stop plate §2 so that the movable handle may be moved to its substantially fully elevated position. The released stop plate 82 then rotates until it engages the holding face 79 on the handle head 7® and finger 93 moves over the end 92 of the latching pawl 88 to keep the pawl 88 in an unlocked position.

When the movable handle is lowered toward the fixed handle 69 as indicated by arrow D in FIG. 11, crimping jaw links 61 and 62 are pivoted to close the crimping jaws 63 and 64 as indicated by arrows E. During this closing movement, the stop plate 82 slides off the holding face 79 after the crimping jaws have partially closed about the work, and it pivots against a cam surface 98 which separates stop face 8® from the abutting face 81. The cam surface 98 prevents excessive clockwise rotation of stop plate 82 so that the upwardly projecting shoulder 99 on the stop plate 82 is not moved out of the path of the abutting face 81.

It will be seen by reference to FIG. 11 in which the movable handle is only partially closed that an opposite movement of the movable handle to open the crimping jaws 63 and 64 to release the work is prevented by the 5 obstruction provided by the free end 100 of the stop plate 82 with respect to a rearward movement of stop face 80. That is, if it is attempted to reopen the jaws 63 and 64 after they have reached a partially closed position as shown in FIG. 11, the free end 100 of stop plate 10 82 will abut the face 80 on the handle head 7® and prevent opening or opposite movement of the movable handle.

As the movable handle head 70 nears its fully closed or crimping position shown in FIG. 9, the abutting face 15 81 engages shoulder 99 on the stop plate 82 to pivot the stop plate in a counter-clockwise direction to move the finger 93 out of the path of the end 92 of latching pawl 88. The latching pawl then pivots to interpose the end 92 in the path of finger 93 thereby holding the free end 20 l®0 of stop plate 82 clear of the stop face 80 to release the movable handle for opposite movement as indicated in FIG. 10 (arrow A) whereby the crimping jaws 63 and 64 may be opened -and the work released.

It will be understood that the specific structures which 25 have been illustrated and described constitute preferred constructions in accordance with the invention and that many variations in specific structure can be made without departing from the present invention. Thus, instead of having the latching pawl which engages the stop plate ³⁰ and prevents the same -from moving into a position which blocks movement of the movable handle 22 operated as shown using a projecting arm which coacts with a cam surface on the inner upper extremity of a crimping jaw link, the means for pivoting the latching pawl in a direc³³ tion opposite to its normal rotational bias may be -secured to one of the operating links for movement thereby. The important factor is to have a latching pawl which is biased into engagement with the stop plate or some member carried thereby and which prevents the stop plate ⁴⁰ from moving into blocking position until some member which is movable with the movable handle is brought into place as the movable handle nears the end of its opposite or jaw opening movement for the purpose of moving the latching pawl to cause the same to release the 45 stop plate.

The invention is defined in the claims which follow.