Strapping machine with improved refeed

A strapping machine for positioning a strapping material around an associated load and sealing the strapping material to itself around the load, the strapping machine comprising:

• a frame;
• a feed assembly mounted to the frame for feeding, retracting and automatically refeeding the strapping material, the feed assembly including one and only one pair of reversible feed elements and including a drive;
• a guide configured to receive the strapping material from the feed assembly;
• a strapping head configured to receive the strapping material from the feed assembly via the guide and to position the strapping material around the load and seal the strapping material to itself around the load;
• a controller operably connected to the drive;
• and
• a sensor for sensing the presence or absence of strapping material at the strapping head, the sensor being operably connected to the strapping head and configured to generate a signal to the controller to initiate refeed of the strapping material,
• wherein the one and only one pair of reversible feed elements is configured to automatically feed, retract and refeed the strapping material upon an appropriate signal from the controller.