Patent ID: 7428867

Claim:
A self-energizing gripper for a strapping machine having a rigid surface along which a strapping material traverses and against which the strapping material is clamped, comprising: first and second links mounted at separate first and second pivot locations by respective first ends to the strapping machine for pivotal movement, the first and second links are mounted parallel to one another and the links having equal length; a gripping element pivotally mounted to respective second ends of each of the first and second links, the gripping element including a substantially planar gripping element surface, a biasing element operably connected to the first link to urge the gripping element to a closed gripper position; and a cam element mounted to the second link, wherein contact with the cam urges the gripping element to an open gripper position, wherein the first and second links are mounted to the gripping element for pivotal movement of the gripping element along an arcuate path toward and away from the rigid surface, and wherein the gripping element surface remains parallel to the rigid surface as the gripping element moves along an arc between the open gripper position and the closed gripper position.