Abstract: A modular strapping head assembly includes a body, a weld head assembly, a drive motor configured to control the weld head assembly to grip and seal strapping material, a transformer assembly, and a single power interface configured to direct power from a source to the drive motor and the transformer assembly. The transformer assembly is configured to supply current to the weld head assembly and the weld head assembly is configured to seal a lagging end of the strapping material and a leading end of the strapping material together. Each of the transformer assembly, the drive motor, the weld head assembly, and the power interface are mounted to the body and removable from the strapping machine as an integral unit.

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 strap loading assembly for a strapping machine provides a feed path for the strap material. The loading assembly includes a first rail and a second rail movable between a deployed position and a stowed position. The second rail, when in the deployed position, confronts the first rail and defines a strap guide with the first rail. The second rail, when in the stowed position opens the strap guide. A link operably connects the first and second rails. Strap material in the strap guide, when in tension, exerts a force on the first rail to move the link which moves the second rail from the deployed position to the stowed position. A strapping machine with a strap loading assembly is also disclosed.

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 method for containing a bale of compressible material without straps or wires includes compressing a quantity of compressible material into a bale and introducing the bale of compressed material into a container in the compressed state. The container can be sealed following receipt of the bale. A baler can be used with a press for compressing the material, and a bagging station can facilitate transfer of the bale to the container without straps or wires securing the bale following compression.

Abstract: A modular strapping machine feeds steel strapping material around a load, tensions the strapping material and welds the strapping material to itself in an end-to-end weld. The modular strapping machine includes a frame, a feed head removably mounted to the frame, a tension head removably mounted to the frame, a sealing head removably mounted to the frame and a strap chute. A strap straightener is mounted between the tension head and the sealing head. A leading end of the steel strapping material is conveyed from the feed head, through the tension head and the sealing head, through the strap chute and back to the sealing head. The sealing head is configured to grip the leading end, grip and sever a trailing end of the strapping material to form a loop end and weld the leading end to the loop end in an end-to-end weld.

Abstract: A strap loading assembly for a strapping machine provides a feed path for the strap material. The loading assembly includes a first rail and a second rail movable between a deployed position and a stowed position. The second rail, when in the deployed position, confronts the first rail and defines a strap guide with the first rail. The second rail, when in the stowed position opens the strap guide. A link operably connects the first and second rails. Strap material in the strap guide, when in tension, exerts a force on the first rail to move the link which moves the second rail from the deployed position to the stowed position. A strapping machine with a strap loading assembly is also disclosed.

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 feed head for a strapping machine includes a frame, a feed wheel, a tension wheel, and a feed and take-up motor mounted to the frame and operably connected to the feed wheel. The feed and take-up motor operates in forward and reverse directions to feed strapping material through the strapping machine, and to take up strapping material from the strapping machine. A tension motor is operably connected to the tension wheel and operates in a reverse direction to tension the strapping material around the load. The tension wheel is movable toward and away from the feed wheel and engages the feed wheel during strap tension and disengages from the feed wheel during strap feed. A pivot assembly operably mounts the tension motor and tension wheel to the frame to move the tension wheel toward and into engagement with, and out of engagement with the feed wheel.

Abstract: A feed head for a strapping machine includes a frame, a feed wheel, a tension wheel, and a feed and take-up motor mounted to the frame and operably connected to the feed wheel. The feed and take-up motor operates in forward and reverse directions to feed strapping material through the strapping machine, and to take up strapping material from the strapping machine. A tension motor is operably connected to the tension wheel and operates in a reverse direction to tension the strapping material around the load. The tension wheel is movable toward and away from the feed wheel and engages the feed wheel during strap tension and disengages from the feed wheel during strap feed. A pivot assembly operably mounts the tension motor and tension wheel to the frame to move the tension wheel toward and into engagement with, and out of engagement with the feed wheel.

Abstract: A strap feed assembly for a strapping machine reduces wear on the pinch and drive wheels of feed head components by creating a gap between the pinch and drive wheels while using a cam and an engagement surface to grip the strap during a cut-and-seal phase of a strapping cycle. In the strap feed assembly, a rocker arm has an engagement surface and a pivot axis parallel to both the axis of rotation of the pinch wheel and the axis of rotation of the drive wheel. An eccentric cam, driven by a cam motor, is engageable with the engagement surface of the rocker to move the pinch wheel into and out of engagement with the drive wheel. Thus, the pinch and drive wheels are configured to grip the strap during a strap feed phase, while the cam and the engagement surface grip the strap during the cut-and-seal phase.

Abstract: A modular strapping head assembly includes a body, a weld head assembly, a drive motor configured to control the weld head assembly to grip and seal strapping material, a transformer assembly, and a single power interface configured to direct power from a source to the drive motor and the transformer assembly. The transformer assembly is configured to supply current to the weld head assembly and the weld head assembly is configured to seal a lagging end of the strapping material and a leading end of the strapping material together. Each of the transformer assembly, the drive motor, the weld head assembly, and the power interface are mounted to the body and removable from the strapping machine as an integral unit.

Abstract: A self-adjusting stripper pin is for use in a strap chute for a strapping machine and includes a mount mounted to a fixed portion of the strapping machine, a reciprocating pin disposed in the mount for reciprocating movement relative to the mount and a pin spring disposed between the pin and the mount for biasedly mounting the pin to the mount. When the movable wall of the strapping machine is moved toward the fixed wall of the strapping machine, the pin moves out from the track to allow the strap to traverse therethrough and when the movable wall is moved away from the fixed wall, the pin is moved into the track to urge the strap out of the track. The spring positions the pin at about an outer edge of the track when the movable wall is moved away from the fixed wall.

Abstract: A self-adjusting stripper pin is for use in a strap chute for a strapping machine and includes a mount mounted to a fixed portion of the strapping machine, a reciprocating pin disposed in the mount for reciprocating movement relative to the mount and a pin spring disposed between the pin and the mount for biasedly mounting the pin to the mount. When the movable wall of the strapping machine is moved toward the fixed wall of the strapping machine, the pin moves out from the track to allow the strap to traverse therethrough and when the movable wall is moved away from the fixed wall, the pin is moved into the track to urge the strap out of the track. The spring positions the pin at about an outer edge of the track when the movable wall is moved away from the fixed wall.

Abstract: A floating strapping head is for use in a strapping machine of the type for positioning, tensioning and sealing a strapping material to itself around a load. The strapping machine has a frame and a strap chute. The floating strapping head includes a tensioning module, a separate sealing module and a drive assembly operably connected to the tensioning module and the sealing module. The head includes a guide along which the tensioning and sealing modules move laterally, together and toward and away from one another. When tension is drawn in the strapping material with an end of the strapping material gripped by the sealing head and an opposite portion of the strapping material gripped by the tensioning module, the drive is actuated to move the tensioning and sealing modules away from one another. The tensioning and sealing modules float, moving along the guide, as one, to equalize the tension in the strapping material on either side of the strapping head.

Abstract: A refeed system for use in a strapping machine for feeding a strapping material around a load, positioning, tensioning and sealing the strapping material around the load. The refeed system refeeds strapping material into feed elements. The refeed system includes a driven, rotatable boost wheel having a first diameter when in a stationary mode and a second, larger diameter when in a second, rotating mode and an idler element opposite of the boost wheel. When the boost wheel is in the stationary mode, a first gap is defined between the boost wheel and the idler element to permit the free conveyance of strap through the gap and when the boost wheel is in the second rotating mode a strap, positioned in the gap is engaged by the boost wheel and is conveyed through the gap.

Abstract: A strapping machine feed system for automatically detecting a strap error or fault, thereby stopping strap retraction or take-up, and refeeding the strap into the strapping head following the error or fault. The feed system includes a pair of tensioning wheels disposed along a strap path proximal a strap supply, and a pair of feed wheels, defining a nip therebetween, disposed along the strap path proximal the strapping head. A feed wheel drive and a tensioning wheel drive are respectively connected to the feed wheels and the tensioning wheels. A sensor disposed along the strap path generates a signal to the feed wheel drive and tensioning wheel drive, indicating movement or lack of movement along the strap path, thus causing the feed wheels or tensioning wheels to rotate in both a forward and reverse direction.

Abstract: A clearing and reloading assembly is configured for use with a strapping machine of the type having an infeed arrangement at about a strap material inlet to the machine, a feed assembly and a chute, the strapping machine defining a strap material holding region between the infeed arrangement and the feed assembly. The strapping machine is configured to receive first and second courses of associated strap material, position, tension and seal the strap material around a load. The clearing and reloading assembly includes a body, a driven wheel and a bearing element opposite of the driven wheel. The bearing element and the driven wheel define a strap path therebetween. A strap cutter is disposed for movement into and out of the strap path. A first peripheral portion of the driven wheel is configured to define a gap between the first portion and the bearing element such that the strap material can slip therebetween.

Abstract: A strapping machine configured to feed a strapping material around a load, position, tension and seal the strapping material around the load, the strapping machine including a strap chute for carrying the strap around the load and for releasing the strap material from the strap chute. The strap chute defines a longitudinal axis transverse to the chute. The strap chute is formed having a chute frame and an inner wall defining a track for conveying the strap through the strap chute. The inner wall is movable relative to the chute frame, parallel to the longitudinal axis between an operating position and a release position to release the strap from the strap chute. A drive assembly is operably connected to the inner wall for moving the inner wall between the operating and release positions. The drive assembly includes driven elements mounted to the inner wall for longitudinal movement therewith. The driven elements constrain movement of the inner wall in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A strapping machine of the type configured to feed a strapping material around a load, position, tension and seal the strapping material around the load includes a weld head having a readily removable and serviceable weld blade. The head includes a body, a blade arm biasedly mounted to the body and a carrier receivable in the blade arm and movable between an operating position and a service position. The carrier is securable in the blade arm, without tools, in the operating position and the service position. The weld blade is fixedly mounted to the carrier.