An apparatus for heat sealing a first end of plastic strapping to a second end of plastic strapping, each of said first and second ends of plastic strapping having a longitudinal axis, a first edge, a second edge opposite and distally-spaced from said first edge, both of said first and second edges being substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis and operably positioned between said first and second ends, said apparatus comprising:
- a housing having an interior, an exterior and an opening, said opening being disposed so as to receive at least a portion of both of said first and second ends of plastic strapping with a portion of said first end of plastic strapping being orientatable on top of a portion of said second end of plastic strapping within said housing interior;
- a sealing actuation assembly, at least of portion of said sealing actuation assembly being operably positioned within said housing for controlling and sequencing operations associated with said heat sealing of said first and second ends of said plastic strapping;
- a heating element operably disposed within said interior of said housing for positioning between said first and second ends of plastic strapping, said heating element operably connected to said sealing actuation assembly and disposed so as to move between an engaged heating position and a retracted position, said engaged position orienting said heating element operably between said first and second ends of said plastic strapping and said retracted position orienting said heating element in a position isolated from said first and second ends of said plastic strapping, said heating element having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite said top surface;
- an upper pressure element for alternately exerting and releasing downward pressure on at least said first end of said plastic strapping, said upper pressure element being operably associated with said sealing actuation assembly, said upper pressure element having a disengaged position during which said downward pressure is released, for facilitating placement and later removal of said first and second ends of said plastic strapping as well as for enabling facilitated movement of said heating element between said engaged heating position and said retracted position, said upper pressure element intermittently forcing said partially melted portion of said first end of plastic strapping into sealing contact with said partially melted portion of said second end of plastic strapping upon repositioning said heating element into its retracted position;
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- a lower pressure element for alternately exerting and releasing upward pressure on at least said second end of said plastic strapping, said lower pressure element being operably associated with said sealing actuation assembly, said lower pressure element having a disengaged position during which said upward pressure is released, for facilitating placement and later removal of said first and second ends of said plastic strapping as well as for enabling facilitated movement of said heating element between said engaged heating position and said retracted position, said lower pressure element intermittently forcing at least said portions of said first and second ends of plastic strapping into operable contact with at least a portion of said top and bottom surfaces of said heating element, respectively, upon positioning of said heating element into said engaged position so as to partially melt said portions of said first and second ends, said lower pressure element also intermittently forcing said partially melted portion of said second end of plastic strapping into sealing contact with said partially melted portion of said first end of plastic strapping upon repositioning said heating element into its retracted position;
- said lower pressure element sequentially exerting upward pressure upon at least one of said first and second ends of plastic strapping, during the heating of same by said heating element and again, in cooperation with said upper pressure element exerting downward pressure, during direct attachment of said melted portions after said heating element is relocated to its retracted position, said upper pressure element and said lower pressure element releasing said downward and upward pressure respectively while facilitating said placement of said first and second ends of said plastic strapping between said upper and lower pressure elements, said lower pressure element engaging at least one of said first and second ends with said heating element, at least partially disengaging said first and second ends of said plastic strapping from said heating element so as to facilitate retraction of said heating element, and said upper pressure element and lower pressure element pressing said melted portions of said first and second ends of said plastic strapping so as to weld one to the other;
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- a rotation actuation member operably associated with said sealing actuating assembly for imparting rotation to said sealing actuation assembly, said rotational activation member comprising a motor operably associated with said housing;
- said sealing actuating assembly controlling and sequencing the operations of said heating element, said upper pressure element and said lower pressure element through a unidirectional, rotational cycle, to, in turn, weld said portion of said first end of plastic strapping to said portion of said second end of plastic strapping.