STRAPPING MACHINE WITH IMPROVED TENSION, SEAL AND FEED ARRANGEMENT

摘要

A floating strapping head (18) 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 (14) and a strap chute (16). The floating strapping head includes a tensioning module (28), a separate sealing module (26) and a drive assembly (40) operably connected to the tensioning module and the sealing module. The drive assembly is configured to move the tensioning and sealing modules toward and away from one another. The head includes a guide (48) 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.