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 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 strap joint rotating assembly is for use with a strapping machine. The strapping machine has a feed head for feeding the strapping material into the strapping machine, a strap chute through which the strapping material is passed and a sealing head to seal overlapping courses of the strapping material to one another to define a strap loop having a seal and defining a strap loop plane. The strap joint rotating assembly includes a driven wheel having an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the strap loop plane and a pinch wheel that has an axis of rotation and is carried on a wheel block. The wheel block pivots to move the pinch wheel into and out of the strap loop plane. The pinch wheel, when in the strap loop plane, has its axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of the driven wheel. The pinch wheel is further movable toward the driven wheel to pinch the strap between the driven wheel and the pinch wheel. The driven wheel is driven to rotate the strap loop around the load.

Abstract: A control system for a weld motor for a strapping machine is based upon the number of rotations of the weld motor. The system is used in a strapping machine of the type having a body, an anvil mounted to and movable relative to the body, a sealing member disposed for oscillating movement relative to the anvil and a motor operably connected to the sealing member to provide oscillating movement to the sealing member. Movement of the sealing member seals overlying courses of strapping material to one another. The control system includes a sensed element located on a rotating portion of the motor, a sensor for generating a signal at each instance of sensing the sensed element, a counter operably connected to the sensor for counting the instances of the sensed element and a controller for controlling operation of the motor based upon the counting of the instances of the sensed element. A method for controlling a motor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A control system for a weld motor for a strapping machine is based upon the number of rotations of the weld motor. The system is used in a strapping machine of the type having a body, an anvil mounted to and movable relative to the body, a sealing member disposed for oscillating movement relative to the anvil and a motor operably connected to the sealing member to provide oscillating movement to the sealing member. Movement of the sealing member seals overlying courses of strapping material to one another. The control system includes a sensed element located on a rotating portion of the motor, a sensor for generating a signal at each instance of sensing the sensed element, a counter operably connected to the sensor for counting the instances of the sensed element and a controller for controlling operation of the motor based upon the counting of the instances of the sensed element. A method for controlling a motor is also disclosed.