Abstract: A bundling assembly for use with a strapping machine that is configured to position a strap material around a load and tension the strap material around the load includes first and second moving belts positioned at the strapping machine entrance in opposing relation to one another. The belts each have a paddle mounted thereto and define a pathway through the bundling assembly. A movable stop is positioned at the exit of the strapping machine and is movable between a stop position and a convey position. The moving belts rotate to contact the paddles with the load, urging the load into the entrance of the strapping machine and into an area under the chute. The belts stop rotation, thus stopping movement of the load upon contact of the load with the stop. The movable stop then moves to the convey position and the moving belts rotate such that the paddles move the load out of the exit of the strapping machine. A stabilizing assembly applies a slight pressure on the load during the strapping cycle.

Abstract: An integrated stacker for positioning materials in a stack, compressing the stack and positioning and sealing a strap onto itself around the stacked and compressed materials includes a frame, a conveyor mounted to the frame, and a stacking assembly mounted to the frame. The stacking assembly includes a feed for feeding the materials onto the stack. The stacker further includes aligning arms operably connected to the frame for aligning the materials on the stack, a compression section mounted to the frame for compressing the stack of materials and a strapper section mounted to the frame. The strapper section includes a strap chute for conveying the strap around the compressed stack of material, a feed head for tensioning the strap and a welding head for sealing the strap material onto itself. The strap chute defines a strap path. The feed head, welding head and strap chute are mounted to a bracket that is mounted to the frame along a portion of the strap path.

Abstract: A multiple coil dispenser supports a pair of coils for dispensing a flexible material from one of the coils. The dispenser includes a frame and at least one coil support for supporting the coils for rotation. A fixed arm is mounted to the frame and includes a plurality of rollers positioned longitudinally therealong. A movable arm is pivotally mounted to the frame for movement toward and away from the fixed arm. The movable arm has a plurality of rollers positioned longitudinally therealong and is biased away from the fixed arm. A bifurcated chute directs the strapping material from one of the coils to the arms. A brake assembly is operably connected to the movable arm between an engaged position when the movable arm is moved away from the fixed arm and a disengaged position when the movable arm is moved toward the fixed arm. A space between the fixed arm and the movable arm defines an accumulation region that varies in size as the movable arm moves toward and away from the fixed arm.

Abstract: A multiple coil dispenser supports a pair of coils and for dispensing a flexible material from one of the coils. The dispenser includes a frame and at least one coil support for supporting the coils for rotation. A fixed arm is mounted to the frame and includes a plurality of rollers positioned longitudinally therealong. A movable arm is pivotally mounted to the frame for movement toward and away from the fixed arm. The movable arm has a plurality of rollers positioned longitudinally therealong and is biased away from the fixed arm. A bifurcated chute directs the strapping material from one of the coils to the arms. A brake assembly is operably connected to the movable arm between an engaged position when the movable arm is moved away from the fixed arm and a disengaged position when the movable arm is moved toward the fixed arm. A space between the fixed arm and the movable arm defines an accumulation region that varies in size as the movable arm moves toward and away from the fixed arm.

Abstract: A strapping machine having a base plate with a pivoting member pivotably hinged on a front portion of the base plate. A turnbuckle interconnects the pivoting member and the base plate to adjust the position of the pivoting member relative to the base plate. A strap feed and take-up mounting member is adjustably mounted up and down along the pivoting member, and a strap feed and take-up assembly is mounted on a mounting surface of the strap feed and take-up mounting member. A chute having a rectangular frame with a channel for receiving a strap from the strap feed and take-up assembly is coupled to the strap feed and take-up assembly, wherein the chute is pivotably adjustable in relation to the base plate, and wherein the chute is adjustable up and down along the pivoting member. Removable wheel mounting bars are disposed on the front and rearward portions of a bottom surface of the base plate, and each wheel mounting bar includes casters disposed on opposite ends thereof by a shoulder screw.

Abstract: In a machine for strapping a skid and a supported load by the use of a strap passing through aligned openings in the skid runners, a conveyor is provided for conveying the skid through a feeding zone. A turntable including powered rollers is provided for receiving the skid and the supported load from the conveyor, for positioning same within a strapping zone, and for rotating same within. A vertical scanner comprising a vertical array of photoelectric transmitters spaced from one another, on one side of the feeding zone, and a vertical array of photoelectric receivers spaced from one another, on the other side of the feeding zone, is provided for scanning the skid being conveyed. Two horizontal scanners, each comprising a single photoelectric transmitter and a single photoelectric receiver on each side of the strapping zone, are provided for scanning the skid being conveyed after it has been scanned by the vertical arrays.

Abstract: A strap-guiding mechanism is disclosed for guiding a strap through aligned openings in spaced stringers of a shipping pallet. A supporting beam defines a longitudinal track, along which a carriage is arranged to be longitudinally moved. An elongate channel is supported by the carriage, from the proximal end of the channel, as a cantilever. The channel has a base and two upstanding sides. Each side has an upper, generally tubular portion defining an axis. Two tensioning members are employed, preferably steel bars. Each member extends through the generally tubular portion of the upper side of the channel and is tensioned so as to impart axial compression to the generally tubular portion thereof, and so to counteract tendencies of the distal end of the channel to be downwardly deflected by gravity when the channel is supported as a cantilever. A motor is arranged to drive the carriage along the track via a chain and sprocket drive. Two longitudinal series of strap gates in side-by-side relation are employed.

Abstract: Strap dispensing and accumulating apparatus including a device for feeding strap from a strap supply to a strapping machine and an accumulator for accumulating strap being fed forwardly from the strap supply or being pushed backwardly by means of tensioning rollers of the strapping machine. A stretch-out box has an inlet, an outlet, and a lower wall. When pivoted to one position, a strap guide coacts with the lower wall, and with other elements, so as to define a channel for the strap between the inlet and the outlet. A detecting device is arranged to deactuate the feeding device when strap accumulating within the stretch-out box reaches a predetermined level. A flexible chute guides the strap from the outlet to a strapping head of the strapping machine. A combination of such apparatus with a strapping machine having a strapping head is disclosed.