A SEALING TOOL ATTACHMENT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the fields of sealing tools for sealing straps on packing cases, bales and the like. The present invention specifically relates to a sealing tool attachment for maintaining uniform strap length while sealing the straps.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Sealing tools are especially used in the baling industry for maintaining goods or products in bales of a desired shape and size. Initially, the bale is compressed in the baler machine. Metal or polyester strap is passed around the bale to form a loop and brought together, when the bale is to be secured by the strap. These straps are looped around the bale at spaced-apart locations, where the ends of the strap are enclosed in a seal element, which embraces them. Sealing tools are used for sealing the ends of the straps.
The strap ends are secured to retain the bale at the desired density and shape. It is desirable that the bale straps are capable of maintaining their integrity during the subsequent handling and transportation of the bale and also capable of withstanding the tension forces imposed by the bale. The loop of strap is tensioned around the bale where the strap being supplied in precut form to maintain uniform seal to seal length. After sealing the strap around the bale, the excess strap externally of the seal is sheared. Then, the pressure on the bale is released and the strap is tightened around the bale with desired strength.
In conventional approach, a wooden block are used to give accurate strap lengh, which securing the bale using the strap. In order to achieve the uniform seal to seal lengh, the wooden block is placed under the strap during each

strapping cycle. It is needed that one operator should hold the wooden block under the strap while strapping the bale. However, in this approach, there are the problems that manual holding of the wooden block may be tedious and time-consuming. This approach is lacking in practicality because the operation is not very reliable due to misalignment of the wooden block.
Moreover, this approach is labor intensive and requires large space and different sizes of strap lengths for different bale sizes. With respect to the conventional approach, it is very difficult to strap the bale with uniform lengh at every time and for different bale sizes. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a sealing tool attachment, which aids the sealing tool to seal the strap with uniform length and reduces strap wastage.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a sealing tool attachment, which aids the sealing tool to seal the strap with uniform length and reduces strap wastage.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a sealing tool attachment, which is easily fitted to the sealing tool without any operator fatigue.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a sealing tool attachment, which is labor intensive, light weight and utilized for different bale sizes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect, the present invention, which achieves the objectives, relates to a sealing tool attachment comprising an attaching means having projections arranged to fasten with grooves in the sealing tool, such that

the sealing tool attachment is fitted into the base plate of the sealing tool. A mounting plate is fastened to the attaching means for gripping the base plate of the sealing tool, so that the mounting plate remains integral with the sealing tool. A bolt is configured with a threaded hollow section and secured against the mounting plate. An extension rod is tightened to the threaded hollow section of the bolt for varying length of the sealing tool attachment. A pressure disc is fastened to the extension rod. During sealing, the sealing strap is tightened manually until the bottom face of the pressure disc touches the package surface. Thus, the sealing tool attachment maintains uniform seal to seal length for all straps when the sealing strap is applied to the package under compression.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be discussed in greater detail with reference to the accompanying Figures.
FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a sealing tool attachment, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 2 shows an isometric and assembled view of the sealing tool attachment, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a sealing tool attachment, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The sealing tool attachment can specifically be designed for a sealing tool used for sealing polyester straps on a bale. The sealing tool attachment maintains uniform seal to seal length for all polyester straps when it is applied to the bales under compression. The sealing tool attachment comprises an attaching unit (1)

configured for fitting the sealing tool attachment to a base plate (not shown) of the sealing tool. The attaching unit (1) exhibits projections that are arranged to enter into grooves in the sealing tool, which ensures accurate fitting of the sealing tool attachment to the sealing tool.
The sealing tool attachment includes a mounting plate (2) for gripping the base plate of the tool, which creates friction between the mounting plate (2) and the base plate, so that the mounting plate (2) remains integral with the tool. The attaching unit (1) and the mounting plate (2) are tightened against the sealing tool by means of screws (7). A bolt (3) can be designed to secure to the mounting plate (2) and threaded to an extension rod (4). The extension rod (4) is used for varying the length of the sealing tool attachment to obtain different seal to seal lengths. The extension rod (4) additionally includes a scale marking on it, which helps the operator to adjust the length of the sealing tool attachment as per requirements. The extension rod (4) is fastened to a pressure disc (5), which may be of any convenient shape and material, using a hexagonal nut (6), which tightens the pressure disc (5) to the extension rod (4). During strap tensioning, the pressure disc (5) touches the surface of the bale to provide an indication about the desired sealing length.
Referring to FIG. 2, an isometric and assembled view of the sealing tool attachment is illustrated, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numbers are assigned to identical components in FIGS. 1-2. During sealing operation, the strap is directly pulled from a strap dispenser by the sealing tool. Before applying the strap, the bolt (3) and the extension rod (4) can be adjusted in such a manner to fix the sealing tool attachment at desired length. Then, the strap is tightened manually until the bottom face of the pressure disc (5) of the sealing tool attachment touches the bale surface, which ensures that the strap length is exactly as per the requirement.

Then, the strap is sealed and cut at this point and the sealing tool is taken to the next strap for similar sealing operation, which ensures that all straps have uniform seal to seal length and also reduces strap wastage. Thus, the sealing tool attachment can be used for different bale sizes, where the attachment can easily be fitted to the sealing tool without any operator fatigue. Such attachment is labor intensive, light weight, easy to store and use, and also reduces probability of strap twist during strap Insertion.

1. A sealing tool attachment for a sealing tool having a base plate,
comprising:
an attaching means (1) having one or more projections arranged to fasten with one or more grooves in the sealing tool, such that the sealing tool attachment is fitted into said base plate of the sealing tool;
a mounting plate (2) fastened to said attaching means (1) for gripping said base plate of the sealing tool, so that the mounting plate (2) remains integral with the sealing tool;
a bolt (3) configured with a threaded hollow section, said bolt is secured against said mounting plate (2);
at least one extension rod (4) tightened to said threaded hollow section of said bolt for varying length of the sealing tool attachment; and
a pressure disc (5) fastened to said at least one extension rod (4), wherein during sealing, the sealing strap is tightened manually until the bottom face of said pressure disc (5) touches the package surface, and thereby maintaining uniform seal to seal length for all straps when the sealing strap is applied to the package under compression.
2. The sealing tool attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said attaching means (1) and said mounting plate (2) are tightened against the sealing tool by using one or more fastening means (7).
3. The sealing tool attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said extension rod (4) is tightened to said pressure disc (5) using a fastener (6).
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4. The sealing tool attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bolt (3) and said extension rod (4) are adjusted in such a manner to align the sealing tool attachment at desired length.

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