Patent ID: 7290484

Claim:
A strapping machine configured to feed a strapping material around a load, position, tension and seal the strapping material around the load, the strapping machine comprising: a machine frame; a work surface for supporting the load in the strapping machine, the work surface including a conveyor having a plurality of conveyor rollers for moving the load in a load direction into and out of the machine for strapping the load; a strap chute for carrying the strapping material around the load and for releasing the strapping material from the strap chute; a feed assembly configured to convey the strapping material around the strap chute in a feed mode and to retract and tension the strapping material around the load during a tensioning mode; a sealing head for sealing the strapping material onto itself; a side squaring assembly for aligning the load in the direction transverse to the load direction, the side squaring assembly including a pair of side plates configured to move transverse to the load direction, wherein at least one of the side plates includes a forward squaring plate mounted to the side plate transverse to the side plate, the side squaring assembly disposed along the work surface and upstream of the strap chute, the side squaring assembly including a drive disposed below the work surface to substantially simultaneously move the side plates toward one another; and a longitudinal squaring drive having a pair of rotating engaging elements for squaring the load in a longitudinal direction, the rotating engaging elements include load contact elements mounted to the rotating engaging elements, wherein the load contact elements are rings loosely fitted on the engaging elements.