Patent ID: 8281711

Claim:
A modular feed head for a strapping machine of the type for feeding a strapping material around a load, tensioning the strapping material, and sealing the strapping material around the load, the modular feed head comprising: a frame; a feed wheel; a pinch wheel disposed for engagement with the feed wheel; a tension wheel; a feed and take-up motor mounted to the frame and operably connected to the feed wheel, the feed and take-up motor configured to operate in a forward direction and a reverse direction, the feed and take-up motor operating in the forward direction driving the feed wheel in the forward direction to feed the strapping material through the strapping machine, and operating in the reverse direction to take up strapping material from the strapping machine; a tension motor operably connected to the tension wheel, the tension motor operating in the reverse direction to tension the strapping material around the load, the tension wheel movable toward and away from the feed wheel, the tension wheel configured for engagement with the feed wheel during strap tension and disengagement from the feed wheel during strap feed; a pivot assembly is configured to pivot about the frame, the pivot assembly includes the tension motor and the tension wheel, and a pivoting movement of the pivot assembly permits the tension wheel to move biasedly toward the feed wheel to engage the tension wheel with the feed wheel and to move away from the feed wheel to disengage the tension wheel with the feed wheel; and a cam operably connected to the tension motor, the cam having a lobe, and a cam follower operably mounted to the frame, wherein engagement of the lobe with the cam follower moves the tension wheel away from the feed wheel and disengagement of the lobe with the cam follower allows the tension wheel to move into engagement with the feed wheel.