Patent ID: 7287717

Claim:
A strap dispenser having a start assist for starting rotation of a strap coil for dispensing flexible strap material from the strap coil comprising: a frame; an upright support; a shaft mounted to the support for supporting the strap coil and configured for rotation with the strap coil mounted thereon; an arm mounted about the shaft by a one-way element consisting essentially of a slipping clutch, the arm being operably connected to the shaft for rotation such that when the arm rotates in a first direction downward, the one-way element of a slipping clutch engages the shaft to rotate the shaft and to rotate the strap coil and when the arm rotates in a second opposite direction, the arm is at-rest biased to return the arm to a near-vertical at-rest position by a biasing element, the one-way element of a slipping clutch disengages from the shaft to permit the shaft and the effecting strap coil to freely rotate without effecting rotation of the strap coil by slipping of the clutch; wherein when the flexible strap material is pulled from the strap coil, the arm is rotated in the first deviation downward to begin rotation of the strap coil by tension in the flexible material, wherein the arm is biased to return the arm to a near-vertical at-rest position without effecting rotation of the strap coil by slipping of the clutch; and a strap sensor wherein additional rollers and guides direct the strap toward and over a concave-shaped roller element disposed on a free end of the arm to maintain the strap moving in a straight line direction when the strap traverses through the sensor.