Strapping machine with twisted belt drive

A strapping machine strap reel inertia braking system comprising:

• a strapping machine housing;
• a motor, driven by external power, having a drive shaft;
• a reel of strapping material;
• a wheel, engaged with an end of said strapping material pulled from said reel, for pulling additional strapping material from said reel, said wheel being mounted on said drive shaft such that the rotation of said drive shaft by said motor causes strapping material to be pulled from said reel;
• a pulley attached to said reel;
• and
• a belt, within said strapping machine housing, interconnecting said drive shaft and said pulley such that upon cessation of motor power, inertial energy in said reel causes said reel to continue to rotate, said rotation being translated to said pulley and said belt, causing rotation of said wheel such that additional strapping material may continue to be pulled from said reel,
• wherein said drive shaft and pulley are disposed at an angle of about 90 degrees to each other and said belt is twisted such that it is operationally seated on said pulley and said drive shaft.

A strapping machine strap reel inertia braking system comprising:

• a motor, driven by external power, having a drive shaft;
• a reel of strapping material, having an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to said drive shaft;
• an infeed wheel, engaged with an end of said strapping material pulled from said reel, for pulling additional strapping material from said reel, said infeed wheel being mounted on said drive shaft such that the rotation of said drive shaft by said motor causes strapping material to be pulled from said reel;
• a dispenser pulley attached concentrically to said reel;
• and
• a belt, twisted such that it may be placed about said drive shaft and said dispenser pulley, such that upon cessation of motor power, inertial energy compels said reel to continue to rotate, said rotation being translated to said pulley and said belt, causing rotation of said infeed wheel such that additional strapping material may continue to be pulled from said reel.

A method of controlled braking of a strap reel, including the steps of:

• providing a motor, driven by external power, said motor having a drive shaft;
• providing a reel of strapping material, having an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to said drive shaft;
• providing an infeed wheel, engaged with an end of said strapping material pulled from said reel, for pulling additional strapping material from said reel, said infeed wheel being mounted on said drive shaft such that the rotation of said drive shaft by said motor causes strapping material to be pulled from said reel;
• providing a dispenser pulley attached concentrically to said reel;
• and
• providing a belt and twisting said belt such that it may be placed about said drive shaft and said dispenser pulley, so that upon cessation of motor power, inertial energy compels said reel to continue to rotate, said rotation being translated to said pulley and said belt, causing rotation of said infeed wheel such that additional strapping material may continue to be pulled from said reel until said inertial energy is naturally overcome by friction, braking said reel and said infeed wheel.