Abstract: A strapping machine for positioning a strap material around an associated load and tensioning the strap material around the load includes a frame for supporting the load, a chute positioned on the frame for receiving the strap material and orienting the strap material around the load, a strap supply and a strapping head for extracting the strap from the supply, feeding the strap through the chute around the load, passing the strap from the chute around the load, retracting and tensioning the strap. The strapping head includes feed rollers and retraction rollers for feeding and retracting the strap and a winder for tensioning the strap around the load. The winder is positioned between the feed and retraction rollers and the strap supply. The winder includes a rotating head portion having a stationary element and a pivotal element. The stationary and pivotal elements each define an outer surface around which the strap material is wound and a slot therebetween for receiving the strap material.

Abstract: A strapping head for a strapping machine of the type having a feed assembly and a chute that is configured to position, tension and seal strapping material around a load, includes a body and an anvil mounted to and movable relative to the body. A sealing member is disposed in the anvil for oscillating movement. A drive is operably connected to the sealing member and movable relative to the body to provide oscillating movement to the sealing member. First and second courses of strapping material overlie one another adjacent the sealing member, and oscillation of the sealing member effects a seal of the first and second courses of strapping material to one another.

Abstract: A strapping machine for positioning a strapping material around an associated load and sealing the strapping material to itself around the load, includes a modular strapping head and a modular feed assembly. The strapping head and feed assembly are readily installed on and removed from the strapping machine without tools. The Strapping machine includes a frame, a chute mounted to the frame and defining a strap path, the feed assembly mounted to the frame by a first aligning and mounting assembly, the strapping head assembly mounted to the frame by a second aligning and mounting assembly independent of the first mounting assembly, and a guide mounted to the frame adjacent the feed assembly. Both the feed assembly and the strapping head are independently removable from the frame.

Abstract: A strapping machine for positioning a strapping material around an associated load and sealing the strapping material to itself around the load, includes a frame, a feed assembly mounted to the frame for feeding, retracting and automatically refeeding the strapping material, a guide configured to receive the strapping material from the feed assembly, and a strapping head configured to receive the strapping material from the feed assembly via the guide and to position the strapping material around the load and seal the strapping material to itself around the load. The feed assembly includes one and only one pair of reversible feed elements and a drive. The machine includes a controller operably connected to the drive. The one and only one pair of reversible feed elements are configured to automatically feed, retract and refeed the strapping material upon an appropriate signal from the controller.

Abstract: A strapping machine for positioning a strapping material around an associated load and sealing the strapping material to itself around the load includes a frame, a chute mounted to the frame, a feed assembly mounted to the frame a guide mounted to the frame adjacent the feed assembly and a strapping head mounted to the frame independent of the feed assembly and the guide. The feed assembly is configured to feed the strapping material therethrough. The guide receives the strapping material from the feed assembly and provides a path for the strapping material toward the strapping head. The strapping head includes a body and provides a first conveyance path for the strapping material from the guide to the chute. The head includes a second conveyance path to receive a free end of the strapping material to seal the strapping material to itself. The strapping head has an anvil pivotally mounted to the body that forms a part of the second conveyance path.

Abstract: A strapping machine for positioning a strapping material around an associated load and sealing the strapping material to itself around the load includes a frame, a chute mounted to the frame for conveying the strapping material around the load, a feed assembly mounted to the frame for feeding the strapping material, a guide configured to transfer the strapping material from the feed assembly and a strapping head. The head is configured to receive the strapping material from the feed assembly via the guide during a feed mode. The strapping head includes a body and defines a first conveyance path for the strapping material from the guide to the chute, and a second conveyance path to receive a free end of the strapping material to seal the strapping material to itself. The second conveyance path is defined by a plurality of surfaces in the body that define a substantially constant width path through the second conveyance path.

Abstract: A strapping machine for positioning a strap material around an associated load and tensioning the strap material around the load includes a frame for supporting the load, a chute positioned on the frame for receiving the strap material and orienting the strap material around the load, a strap supply and a strapping head for extracting the strap from the supply, feeding the strap through the chute around the load, passing the strap from the chute around the load, retracting and tensioning the strap. The strapping head includes feed rollers and retraction rollers for feeding and retracting the strap and a winder for tensioning the strap around the load. The winder is positioned between the feed and retraction rollers and the strap supply. The winder includes a rotating head portion having a stationary element and a pivotal element. The stationary and pivotal elements each define an outer surface around which the strap material is wound and a slot therebetween for receiving the strap material.

Abstract: A strapping machine for positioning a strap material around an associated load and tensioning the strap material around the load includes a frame for supporting the load, a chute positioned on the frame for receiving the strap material and orienting the strap material around the load, a strap supply and a strapping head for extracting the strap from the supply, feeding the strap through the chute around the load, passing the strap from the chute around the load, retracting and tensioning the strap. The strapping head includes feed rollers and retraction rollers for feeding and retracting the strap and a winder for tensioning the strap around the load. The winder is positioned between the feed and retraction rollers and the strap supply. The winder includes a rotating head portion having a stationary element and a pivotal element. The stationary and pivotal elements each define an outer surface around which the strap material is wound and a slot therebetween for receiving the strap material.

Abstract: A strapping machine for positioning a strap material around an associated load and tensioning the strap material around the load includes a frame for supporting the load, a chute positioned on the frame for receiving the strap material and orienting the strap material around the load, a strap supply and a strapping head for extracting the strap from the supply, feeding the strap through the chute around the load, passing the strap from the chute around the load, retracting and tensioning the strap. The strapping head includes feed rollers and retraction rollers for feeding and retracting the strap and a winder for tensioning the strap around the load. The winder is positioned between the feed and retraction rollers and the strap supply. The winder includes a rotating head portion having a stationary element and a pivotal element. The stationary and pivotal elements each define an outer surface around which the strap material is wound and a slot therebetween for receiving the strap material.

Abstract: A strapping machine having an inertial rotating system allowing for strapping materials to be continually fed to the feed wheel of the device is provided. The inertial rotating system allows the strapping machine to continue to feed strapping material such that loops of excess material are not generated upon the cessation of pull force on the strapping material. The inertial rotating system includes a twisted belt allowing the motor shaft to be placed approximately perpendicular to the pulley attached to the reel of strapping material such that the pulley and strap may be housed within the housing of the strapping machine. The use of a twisted belt allows for the use of a motor having a single drive shaft, thus simplifying the motor used in the strapping machine. The inertial rotating system further provides a means to rewind and recover strapping material from the strapping machine.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for feeding and tensioning a strap in a power strapping machine. The apparatus includes a strap feeding mechanism, a strap tensioning mechanism, and a pivoting roller carriage pivoted by a feeding and tensioning cam. The pivoting roller carriage first actuates the strap feeding mechanism to engage a portion of a strap and feed the strap toward a strap application assembly where the strap is formed in a loop about an object or group of objects. The strap feeding and tensioning mechanism actuates a first gripper that secures an end of the strap in the strap application assembly. The pivoting roller carriage then actuates the strap tensioning mechanism to engage a portion of the strap and apply a tension to the looped strap. The strap feeding and tensioning apparatus also actuates a second gripper that secures the tensioned strap in a closed loop about the package so that the strap application assembly may form a strap joint sealing the strap in the closed loop.

Abstract: An improved power strapping machine comprising a strapping device and a soft touch package compression device. The strapping device includes plurality of coils for supplying strapping to a guide apparatus. A chute apparatus for routing strapping around an article or package to be strapped is connected to the guide apparatus. The machine includes sensors and a control circuit adapted to operate the machine continuously without the need to stop production, since when one coil is out of strapping or a misfeed occurs, the machine will automatically load another coil of strapping and continue strapping packages. The soft touch package compression device uses pneumatic-drive chain drive systems for moving soft belts up and down. The soft belts compress the package so that the strapping device can place a tight strap around the package.

Abstract: In a straps machine comprising strap-advancing rollers, a sensor for sensing whether a leading end of an advancing strap has reached a predetermined location within a predetermined time, and strap-retracting rollers, a severing and ejecting mechanism comprises a die and an anvil for severing the strap into a leading portion including the leading end and a trailing portion if the sensor has not sensed that the leading end has reached the predetermined location within the predetermined time. The mechanism also comprises a drivable roller, a motor for driving it, and two idle rollers on a pivotable yoke. The drivable roller and one of the idle rollers are operative for ejecting the leading portion after the strap has been severed. The drivable roller and the other idle roller are operative for feeding the trailing portion through the mechanism after the leading portion has been ejected.

Abstract: A binding machine, such as a strapping machine, for binding a bundle of newspapers or magazines by applying crossed straps around the bundle. Means are provided for conveying the bundle into and from a strapping zone. Means including a strapping head for each strap are provided for applying a transverse strap and a longitudinal strap around the bundle. A transverse chute is provided, which receives the transverse strap, which guides the transverse strap around the bundle, and which releases the transverse strap when the transverse strap is applied. A longitudinal chute is provided, which receives the longitudinal strap, which guides the longitudinal strap around the bundle, and which releases the longitudinal strap when the longitudinal strap is applied. The transverse chute arches from a given side of the strapping zone to its other side.

Abstract: An improvement in a sealless connection between two overlapped segments of strapping. The sealless connection comprises a plurality of joints arrayed longitudinally, each comprising a pair of shoulders, which interlock when the segments are tensioned. The connection further comprises notches provided respectively in superposed edges on opposite sides of the respective segments and operable as an "anti-reverse" locking means. The notches are provided after the shoulders are interlocked. The segments are formed at the notches to prevent the segments from shifting longitudinally to unlock the interlocked shoulder. The notched edges of the respective segments are uninterrupted, except for the notch, where the respective segments are crimped.

Abstract: In a strapping head, slitting dies on a pair of pivotally mounted sealing jaws and a longitudinally movable punch on a punch holder cooperate and are adapted to make a sealless connection in two overlapped layers of a tensioned loop of steel strap. A longitudinally movable sealing yoke pivots the sealing jaws by means of cams on the sealing yoke and cam followers on the sealing jaws and moves the punch holder via a connection allowing lost motion between the sealing yoke and the punch holder. A pair of pivotally mounted notching jaws and a pair of notching cutters on a longitudinally movable notching cutter holder cooperate and are adapted to cut notches in opposite edges of the overlapped layers after the sealless connection has been made. A longitudinally movable notching yoke pivots the notching jaws by means of links and moves the cutter holder via a connection allowing lost motion between the notching yoke and the cutter holder.