Abstract: A strapping machine for applying a band around an article comprises motor-driven rollers for advancing and retracting the band, and a band handling mechanism for fusing and cutting the band. The various band moving and handling operations are performed by cams mounted on a motor driven cam shaft. The rotation of the cam shaft is controlled by a sensor-actuating disk which rotates with the cam shaft. A photosensor is disposed at a fixed sensing position adjacent the disk. The disk includes circumferentially spaced light admitting slits which sequentially actuate the photosensor as the cam shaft rotates. The photosensor actuates a timer in an electronic control circuit for controlling rotation of the cam shaft.

Abstract: A strapping machine applies an article around a band. The band is advanced around an arch guide by forward-rotation rollers and is retracted or restored by reverse-rotation rollers. The reverse-rotation rollers comprise a reverse-rotation drive roller and a reverse-rotation touch roller which define a nip in which the band is gripped. The touch roller is displaced downwardly toward the drive roller by a cam which displaces an arm. The arm pulls downwardly upon a coil spring which is operably connected to the touch roller. A manual adjustment is provided which enables the amount of displacement of the touch roller to be easily adjusted. The cam may include projections of different radial dimension to exert different amounts of force on the band as the cam rotates.

Abstract: A strapping apparatus advances a band around an object to be strapped and then retracts and tightens the band against the object. Retraction of the band is performed by a driven roller. A touch roller is displaceable toward the driven roller to press the band thereagainst. The outer periphery of the driven roller comprises a flexible high friction material, and a circumferentially extending low friction material embedded in the high friction material and normally projecting radially outwardly therebeyond. When the band travels against the low-friction material it encounters little resistance. When the touch roller pushes the band against the driven roller, the low-friction material is pushed radially inwardly, enabling the band to contact and be driven by the high-friction material.

Abstract: A strapping machine includes a pair of motor-driven feed rollers for feeding a band from a pool box and into encompassing relation to an object to be strapped. A pre-feeding roller pair is disposed between the pool box and the feed rollers for pre-feeding the band to the feed rollers. The pre-feeding roller pair is normally in a rest position which permits the band to travel therepast. When manually rotated, the prefeeding roller pair positively advances the band to deliver a leading end thereof to the feed rollers. A sensor detects rotation of the pre-feeding roller pair to energize the feed rollers for a predetermined time period to advance the band.

Abstract: An automatic strapping machine applies a band around object. Application of the band is achieved by retracting a band from a U-shaped arch surrounding the object. A slidable guide bar unit is mounted on the arch for movement toward and away from the object. The guide bar unit includes a guide passage which receives and guides the band as the band travels toward the object.

Abstract: A strapping machine for applying a band around an object includes a pool box in which slackened band is accumulated prior to be fed around an object by a main feed mechanism. The pool box contains a feed device which draws-in the band from a reel, and a passage-forming structure for guiding the band toward the main feed mechanism. The passage-forming structure contains a balance bar and an opposing guide arm. The balance bar is displaced by the band as the band accumulates in the passage. When the balance bar is displaced by a predetermined amount, a sensor shuts off the feed device. Thereafter, the guide arm is moved to a passage-enlarging position, whereupon the balance bar is permitted to return to its original position, enabling the feed device to resume its feeding of the band. The band thus accumulates within the enlarged passage.

Abstract: An arch guide for a strapping machine comprises corner sections interconnected by linear sections. Each of those sections includes inner and outer peripheral portions disposed, respectively, closer to and farther from a center of the guide. The inner and outer portions form a guide passage for the band, the passage being open at a side facing a guide plate. The open side of the arch guide is yieldably urged against the guide plate to close the open side. The inner portion extends toward the guide plate at an inwardly directed inclination to facilitate movement of the arch guide away from the guide plate when the band is being withdrawn from the passage. A guide extends from the leading end of a linear section into a trailing end of a corner section for directing an advancing band toward the outer portion of the corner section.