Patent ID: 7357289
Filing Date: 2008-04-15
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. A welding head for a strapping machine, comprising: a support; a pair of separate clamping jaws being pivotably mounted to said support, said clamping jaws being operable for fixing overlapping strap segments of a binding strap to be welded by engaging respective positions along said binding strap, pivoting movement of said clamping jaws selectively bringing said clamping jaws into and out of engagement with said binding strap; a welding device for partially melting portions of said overlapping strap segments; a pressure member being disposed on a first side of said overlapping strap segments; a pressing device mounted to said support for longitudinal movement therealong, said pressing device pressing said overlapping strap segments against said pressure member when longitudinally moved to engage a second side of said overlapping strap segments; and guide surfaces provided on said clamping jaws or said pressing device, a remaining one of said clamping jaws and said pressing device including cooperative segments which are engagebly contactable with said guide surfaces to responsively couple the longitudinal movement of said pressing device with a corresponding pivoting movement of each of said clamping jaws relative to said pressing device, direct engaged contact of the cooperative segments and the guide surfaces thereby converting the longitudinal movement of the pressing device into the pivoting movement of the clamping jaws such that said clamping jaws are brought into and out of engagement with said binding strap at said respective positions in direct response to the corresponding longitudinal movement of said pressing device.