US Patent 7389723 Strap joint rotator

A strap joint rotator is for use in a strapping machine of the type for feeding a strapping material around a load, positioning, tensioning and sealing the strapping material around the load. The strap joint rotator includes a driven wheel having an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the sealed strap loop, a first drive operably connected to the driven wheel for rotating the driven wheel and a pinch wheel having an axis of rotation parallel to and spaced from the driven wheel. The driven wheel and pinch wheel are moveable toward one another and engageable with one another and moveable away from and disengaged from one another. A second drive is operably connected to the driven wheel and the pinch wheel for moving the driven wheel and pinch wheel parallel to their axes of rotation into the strap loop plane and out of the strap loop plane. The driven wheel and pinch wheel are moved into the strap loop plane and the driven wheel and pinch wheel are engaged with one another to pinch the strap therebetween. The driven wheel is actuated to rotate the strap loop around the load.