Strap dispenser configured to support and actively dispense strap from a strap coil

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a strap dispenser configured to support a strap coil and to actively dispense strap from the strap coil; the strap dispenser comprises a frame (100), a strap-coil carriage (200) rotatably mounted to the frame and configured to support the strap coil, a dispenser actuator (350) operable to dispense strap from the strap coil and cause the strap-coil carriage to rotate relative to the frame, and a communication interface (400) operable to establish communication with an external strapping tool and, thereafter, to receive an instruction from the external strapping tool for controlling operation of the dispenser actuator.

1 . A strap dispenser for dispensing strap from a strap coil, the strap dispenser comprising:
 a frame;   a strap-coil carriage rotatably mounted to the frame and configured to support the strap coil;   a dispenser actuator operable to dispense strap from the strap coil and cause the strap- coil carriage to rotate relative to the frame; and   a communication interface operable to establish communication with an external strapping tool and, thereafter, to receive an instruction from the external strapping tool for controlling operation of the dispenser actuator.   
     
     
         2 . The strap dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser actuator is configured to, in response to the instruction, dispense a designated length of strap from the strap coil. 
     
     
         3 . The strap dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the designated length is substantially the same as the length of strap the external strapping tool used in the immediately preceding strapping cycle. 
     
     
         4 . The strap dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser actuator is configured to, in response to the instruction, continuously dispense strap from the strap coil until receiving a second instruction to stop dispensing strap. 
     
     
         5 . The strap dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a strap-dispensing assembly mounted to the frame, the strap-dispensing assembly comprising the dispenser actuator, a drive roller, and a pinch roller, wherein the drive roller and the pinch roller are positioned to form a nip therebetween through which the strap extends, wherein the dispenser actuator is operably connected to the drive roller to drive the drive roller to dispense the strap from the strap coil, thereby causing the strap-coil carriage to rotate relative to the frame in a dispensing rotational direction. 
     
     
         6 . The strap dispenser of  claim 5 , further comprising a biasing element operably connected to the strap-coil carriage and configured to apply a torque to the strap-coil carriage in a direction opposite the dispensing rotational direction. 
     
     
         7 . The strap dispenser of  claim 5 , further comprising a biasing element operably connected to the pinch roller and configured to bias the pinch roller into contact with the drive roller. 
     
     
         8 . The strap dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller operably connected to the dispenser actuator and configured to control the dispenser actuator. 
     
     
         9 . The strap dispenser of  claim 8 , further comprising a sensor configured to sense when an amount of strap on the strap coil has fallen below a low-strap threshold, wherein the controller is configured to, in response to the sensor sensing that the amount of strap on the strap coil has fallen below the low-strap threshold, send a low-strap notification to the external strapping tool via the wireless communication interface. 
     
     
         10 . The strap dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the communication device comprises a wireless communication device. 
     
     
         11 . A method of dispensing strap from a strap coil mounted on a rotatable strap-coil carriage of a strap dispenser, the method comprising:
 receiving, from an external strapping tool separate from the strap dispenser, an instruction to dispense strap; and   responsive to receiving the instruction, controlling a dispenser actuator to dispense strap from the strap coil and cause the strap-coil carriage to rotate relative to the frame.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the instruction identifies a designated length of strap, wherein controlling the dispenser actuator to dispense strap from the strap coil comprises controlling the dispenser actuator to dispense the designated length of strap from the strap coil. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the designated length is substantially the same as the length of strap the external strapping tool used in the immediately preceding strapping cycle. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein controlling the dispenser actuator to dispense strap from the strap coil comprises controlling the dispenser actuator to continuously dispense strap from the strap coil until a second instruction to stop dispensing strap is received. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , controlling the dispenser actuator to dispense strap from the strap coil comprises controlling the dispenser actuator to drive a drive roller that engages the strap.