Modular strapping machine for steel strap

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.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A strap straightener for a strapping machine, the strap straightener comprising:
 a body;   an inlet guide fixedly mounted to the body;   an outlet guide fixedly mounted to the body; and   a straightening element movably mounted to the body between the inlet guide and the outlet guide,   wherein the inlet guide, the straightening element, and the outlet guide define a strap path,   wherein the straightening element is movable relative to the inlet guide and the outlet guide to vary the shape of the strap path.   
     
     
         14 . The strap straightener of  claim 13 , wherein the inlet guide comprises first and second inlet rollers fixedly mounted to the body and defining an inlet of the strap path, wherein the first and second inlet rollers are rotatable relative to the body about first and second inlet-roller axes, respectively. 
     
     
         15 . The strap straightener of  claim 14 , wherein the outlet guide comprises first and second outlet rollers fixedly mounted to the body and defining an outlet of the strap path, wherein the first and second outlet rollers are rotatable relative to the body about first and second outlet-roller axes, respectively. 
     
     
         16 . The strap straightener of  claim 15 , wherein the straightening element comprises a carriage and first and second straightening-element rollers fixedly mounted to the carriage and rotatable relative to the carriage about first and second straightening-element-roller axes, respectively. 
     
     
         17 . The strap straightener of  claim 16 , wherein the carriage is movably mounted to the body so the carriage is movable relative to the inlet guide and the outlet guide to vary the shape of the strap path. 
     
     
         18 . The strap straightener of  claim 17 , wherein the carriage is movable relative to the inlet guide and the outlet guide so the strap path is nonlinear in at least one orientation of the carriage. 
     
     
         19 . The strap straightener of  claim 17 , wherein the carriage is pivotably mounted to the body so the carriage is pivotable relative to the inlet guide and the outlet guide to vary the shape of the strap path. 
     
     
         20 . The strap straightener of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second inlet-roller axes are parallel and define a first plane, wherein the first and second outlet-roller axes are parallel and define a second plane, wherein the first and second straightening-element-roller axes are parallel and define a third plane, wherein the carriage is pivotable to pivot the third plane relative to the first and second planes. 
     
     
         21 . The strap straightener of  claim 19 , further comprising a pivot link and a drive gear, wherein the pivot link is operably connected to the carriage such that pivoting the pivot link causes the carriage to pivot, wherein the drive gear is drivingly engaged to the pivot link to pivot the pivot link. 
     
     
         22 . The strap straightener of  claim 21 , further comprising a fastening element engageable with the pivot link to prevent the pivot link from pivoting. 
     
     
         23 . A strapping machine comprising:
 a frame;   a tension head removably mounted to the frame;   a sealing head removably mounted to the frame;   a strap chute;   a feed head removably mounted to the frame;   a strap straightener removably mounted to the frame between the tension head and the sealing head and comprising:
 a body; 
 an inlet guide fixedly mounted to the body; 
 an outlet guide fixedly mounted to the body; and 
 a straightening element movably mounted to the body between the inlet guide and the outlet guide; and 
   a controller,   wherein the feed head, the tension head, the strap straightener, the sealing head, and the strap chute define a strap path,   wherein the inlet guide, the straightening element, and the outlet guide of the strap straightener define a portion of the strap path extending through the strap straightener,   wherein the straightening element is movable relative to the inlet guide and the outlet guide to vary the shape of the portion of the strap path extending through the strap straightener,   wherein the controller is configured to:
 control the feed head to convey strap along the strap path through the tension head, through the strap straightener, through the sealing head, through the strap chute, and back to the sealing head; 
 control the tension head to tension the strap around the load; and 
 control the sealing head to seal two ends of the strap together. 
   
     
     
         24 . The strapping machine of  claim 23 , wherein the inlet guide of the strap straightener comprises first and second inlet rollers fixedly mounted to the body of the strap straightener and defining an inlet of the portion of the strap path extending through the strap straightener, wherein the first and second inlet rollers are rotatable relative to the body about first and second inlet-roller axes, respectively. 
     
     
         25 . The strapping machine of  claim 24 , wherein the outlet guide of the strap straightener comprises first and second outlet rollers fixedly mounted to the body of the strap straightener and defining an outlet of the portion of the strap path extending through the strap straightener, wherein the first and second outlet rollers are rotatable relative to the body about first and second outlet-roller axes, respectively. 
     
     
         26 . The strapping machine of  claim 25 , wherein the straightening element of the strap straightener comprises a carriage and first and second straightening-element rollers fixedly mounted to the carriage and rotatable relative to the carriage about first and second straightening-element-roller axes, respectively. 
     
     
         27 . The strapping machine of  claim 26 , wherein the carriage is movably mounted to the body of the strap straightener so the carriage is movable relative to the inlet guide and the outlet guide of the strap straightener to vary the shape of the portion of the strap path extending through the strap straightener. 
     
     
         28 . The strapping machine of  claim 27 , wherein the carriage is movable relative to the inlet guide and the outlet guide of the strap straightener so the portion of the strap path extending through the strap straightener is nonlinear in at least one orientation of the carriage. 
     
     
         29 . The strapping machine of  claim 27 , wherein the carriage is pivotably mounted to the body of the strap straightener so the carriage is pivotable relative to the inlet guide and the outlet guide of the strap straightener to vary the shape of the portion of the strap path extending through the strap straightener. 
     
     
         30 . The strapping machine of  claim 29 , wherein the first and second inlet-roller axes are parallel and define a first plane, wherein the first and second outlet-roller axes are parallel and define a second plane, wherein the first and second straightening-element-roller axes are parallel and define a third plane, wherein the carriage is pivotable to pivot the third plane relative to the first and second planes. 
     
     
         31 . The strapping machine of  claim 29 , the strap straightener further comprising a pivot link and a drive gear, wherein the pivot link is operably connected to the carriage such that pivoting the pivot link causes the carriage to pivot, wherein the drive gear is drivingly engaged to the pivot link to pivot the pivot link. 
     
     
         32 . The strapping machine of  claim 31 , the strap straightener further comprising a fastening element engageable with the pivot link to prevent the pivot link from pivoting.