Feed assembly for overhead strapper

Abstract

An overhead strapper is of the type for feeding a strapping material around a load, positioning, tensioning and sealing the strapping material around the load. The strapping machine includes a frame, an upper horizontally oriented platen mounted to the frame for vertical movement along the frame a modular strapping head mounted to and movable with the platen and a modular feed head mounted to the frame, spaced from the strapping head. A strap guide is mounted in part to the frame and in part to the platen. The strap guide provides a varying length pathway from the feed head to the strapping head. A strap chute is mounted to the frame. Strap material is fed into the strapping machine through the feed head, through the guide and into the strapping head. The strap traverses through the strapping head into the strap chute and back to the strapping head for retraction, tensioning and sealing to itself. The guide includes a vertically extending portion having a varying height strap path dependent upon the vertical position of the upper horizontally oriented platen.

1 . An overhead strapper of the type for feed a strapping material around a load, positioning, tensioning and sealing the strapping material around the load, the strapping machine comprising: 
 a frame;    an upper horizontally oriented platen mounted to the frame for vertical movement along the frame;    a modular strapping head mounted to the platen and movable therewith;    a modular feed head mounted to the frame, spaced from the strapping head;    a strap guide mounted in part to the frame and in part to the platen, the strap guide providing a varying length pathway from the feed head to the strapping head; and    a strap chute mounted to the frame,    wherein strap material is fed into the strapping machine through the feed head, through the guide and into the strapping head, the strap traversing through the strapping head into the strap chute and back to the strapping head for retraction, tensioning and sealing to itself, and wherein the guide includes a vertically extending portion having a varying height strap path dependent upon the vertical position of the upper horizontally oriented platen.    
   
   
       2 . The overhead strapper in accordance with  claim 1  wherein a portion of the strap guide is formed from a plurality of pairs of discrete wall portions that move between a closed configuration to retain the strap within the pathway and an open configuration in which the strap is released from the pathway.  
   
   
       3 . The overhead strapper in accordance with  claim 2  wherein each of the pair of discrete wall portions is biased inwardly to the closed position.  
   
   
       4 . The overhead strapper in accordance with  claim 2  including a turning assembly mounted for movement with the platen and cooperating with the strap guide to redirect the strap as the strap exits from the pathway to the strapping head.  
   
   
       5 . The overhead strapper in accordance with  claim 4  including an extension portion extending from the turning assembly to the strapping head, the extension portion being oriented at an angle downwardly from the turning assembly to the strapping head.  
   
   
       6 . The overhead strapper in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the strap chute is formed, in part from a plurality of pairs of discrete wall portions that move between a closed configuration to retain the strap within the chute and an open configuration in which the strap is released from the chute.  
   
   
       7 . The overhead strapper in accordance with  claim 6  wherein the plurality of pairs of discrete wall portions are disposed on opposing vertical portions of the strap chute.  
   
   
       8 . The overhead strapper in accordance with  claim 6  wherein each of the pair of discrete wall portions is biased inwardly to the closed position.  
   
   
       9 . An overhead strapper of the type for feed a strapping material around a load, positioning, tensioning and sealing the strapping material around the load, the strapping machine comprising: 
 a frame;    an upper horizontally oriented platen mounted to the frame for vertical movement along the frame;    a modular strapping head mounted to the platen and movable therewith;    a modular feed head mounted to the frame, spaced from the strapping head;    a strap guide mounted in part to the frame and in part to the platen, the strap guide providing a varying length pathway from the feed head to the strapping head, the strap guide being formed, in part, along a vertical portion thereof, from a plurality of pairs of discrete wall portions that move between a closed configuration to retain the strap within the pathway and an open configuration in which the strap is released from the pathway;    a strap chute mounted to the frame, the strap chute being formed, in part, along opposing vertical portions thereof, from a plurality of pairs of discrete wall portions that move between a closed configuration to retain the strap within the chute and an open configuration in which the strap is released from the chute; and    a turning assembly mounted for movement with the platen and cooperating with the strap guide to redirect the strap as the strap exits from the pathway to the strapping head,    wherein strap material is fed into the strapping machine through the feed head, through the guide and into the strapping head, the strap traversing through the strapping head into the strap chute and back to the strapping head for retraction, tensioning and sealing to itself, and wherein the guide includes a vertically extending portion having a varying height strap path dependent upon the vertical position of the upper horizontally oriented platen.    
   
   
       10 . The overhead strapper in accordance with  claim 9  wherein each of the pair of discrete wall portions forming the strap guide portion and the strap chute portion is biased inwardly to the closed position.