Abstract: A powered cutter for strap includes a housing, a power supply mounted to the housing, a motor positioned at least in part in the housing and a drive train operably connected to the motor. A cutting head includes a plunger, a cutting blade operably mounted to the plunger, a hold-down biasedly mounted to the plunger, a foot and a shear edge. The drive train is operably connected to the plunger. The plunger moves toward the foot to move the hold-down into contact with the strap, securing the strap against the foot, and as the hold-down secures the strap, the cutting blade contacts and cuts the strap at the shear edge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for at least partially wrapping a piece-goods stack, in which a tubular portion is pulled over the piece-goods stack, and to an apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention. The method according to the invention is distinguished in particular in that, during the pulling of the tubular portion over the piece-goods stack, pleats are produced in a specific manner in the tubular portion, said pleats extending obliquely over at least one side of the goods stack. The invention is achieved in terms of the apparatus in that the apparatus has a reefing device for reefing and/or drawing over the tubular portion, said reefing device being configured in such a manner that it reefs and/or unreefs regions of the tubular portion at different speeds and/or at different times.

Abstract: A supported strap twist device reorients a strap along a strap path. The device includes an inlet, an outlet and a reorienting section. The reorienting section includes a body having entrance and exit ends and a transition section therebetween. The transition section has a through-bore having a varying cross-sectional shape defining a race. The race has, at a first end, an opposed inwardly pinched circular profile defining a gap. The circular profile thins along the race toward an hourglass profile, and has, at a second end, an elongated shape. The gap has a substantially constant width along the race. The strap enters the first end at an angle relative to the second end and is reoriented to a desired orientation at the second end. The strap is supported by the race as it traverses therethrough.

Abstract: A sealing head for a strapping machine welds steel strapping material to itself in an end-to-end weld. The sealing head includes a body, a drive, an end grip at the inlet to the body, a cutter, a grip clamp and a loop grip downstream of the end grip. The loop grip is carried on a carriage that is movable in a direction along the strap path. A leading end of strap is secured by the end grip and a loop portion of the strap is gripped by the loop grip and severed by the cutter to form a loop end. The loop end is secured by the grip clamp. The loop grip carriage moves the loop end toward the leading end as current is passed though the loop end and the leading end to weld the ends to one another in an end-to-end weld.

Abstract: A strap forming assembly for a strapping machine includes a first forming wheel having a circumferential groove formed in a rim thereof and a second forming wheel cooperating with the first forming wheel and having a mating a circumferential crown extending therefrom. The first and second forming wheels cooperate to define a forming wheel nip therebetween. The forming wheel nip is non-planar. Strapping material fed into the forming wheel nip is permanently, longitudinally deformed.

Abstract: A rigid packaging container having an integral locking assembly is a rigid U-board having a bottom wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall, the bottom wall, the first sidewall and the second sidewall forming a channel. The first and second sidewalls each have a cut therethrough, forming a first channel section and a second channel section. An integral tab in the first sidewall of each of the first channel section and the second channel section is configured to form an integral locking assembly which may be pushed inwardly or pulled outwardly to secure the first channel section at an angle relative to the second channel section.

Abstract: A packaging material for protecting a packaged product is disclosed. The packaging material includes a core material having a plurality of cells with open tops and bottoms A first reinforcing layer covers the open tops of the cells of the core material. A second reinforcing layer covers the open bottoms of the cells of the core material. A layer of anti-abrasive material is attached to the first reinforcing layer. A second layer of anti-abrasive material may be attached to the second reinforcing layer. The packaging material may be formed into angle pads, corner pads and channel protectors also.

Abstract: A method for containing a bale of compressible material includes compressing the bale of compressible material to form a compressed bale having a plurality of grooves in at least one side thereof. The grooves are recessed from an outer surface of the compressed bale. The compressed bale is transferred to a flexible container. The container conforms to a shape of the compressed bale such that at least some portions of the flexible container take the shape of the grooves to define container portions recessed from the outer surface of the compressed bale. A containerized bale made by the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A shock absorption and restraint apparatus including a plurality of co-acting cushioned pads which create a protective shock absorbing barrier for a load in a railroad car (or other shipping container) and a set of straps which are employed to restrain the cushioned pads and the load. In certain embodiments, the cushioned pads include one or more central or connector cushioned pads and one or more side or cooperating cushioned pads. In certain embodiments, the cushioned pads include strap engaging mechanisms which are configured to be engaged by the straps. The cushioned pads are preferably lightweight, easy to handle and install, recyclable, and readily reusable. In certain embodiments, the cushioned pads are configured, sized, and constructed in such a way to protect the specific load in the railroad car.

Abstract: A flood protection bag system includes a troughlike structure having longitudinally-extending sidewalls and a bottom wall connected therebetween, along with one or more internal walls, the internal walls serving to divide the troughlike structure into a plurality of bag chambers. The longitudinally-extending sidewalls are continuous and seamless between the ends of the troughlike structure, and the bag system can be made of a plastic such as polypropylene. In one embodiment, the bag system may be implemented in conjunction with other such bag system(s). Also, in one embodiment, a frame structure is employed to support the bag chamber(s) during filling thereof with sand or other filling material, in a manner whereby tension is applied to each of the corners of the given bag chamber being filled. Further, in one embodiment, the bag chambers are covered by way of a bag top that is openable or removable relative to the bag system.