Package-strapping apparatus

A strapping apparatus for securing a tape around a package, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a support roll rotatable on the housing, the tape being spanned over the support roll;
• first clamp means on the housing for clamping a free end of the tape to the housing;
• second clamp means on the housing for clamping the tape offset from its free end to the housing;
• cutting means on the housing for cutting the tape upstream of the second clamp means;
• joining means for securing the tape to itself upstream of the second clamp means;
• a tube shaft pivotal on the housing adjacent the support roll about a tube-shaft axis;
• a drive shaft rotatable in the tube shaft about a drive-shaft axis parallel to and offset from the tube-shaft axis;
• a first drive roll on the drive shaft;
• a friction layer carried on the drive roll and bearing axially offset from the drive-shaft axis on the housing;
• means including abutments carried by the housing and the tube shaft for limiting angular movement of the tube shaft about the tube-shaft axis between one end position in which the first drive roll is spaced from the support roll and an opposite end position in which the first drive roll bears via the tape on the support roll;
• and
• first drive means connected to the drive shaft for rotating same and the first drive roll in a clamping direction and for thereby oppositely rotating the tube shaft about the tube-shaft axis into the opposite end position and for rotating the drive shaft and the first drive roll in an opposite freeing direction and for thereby oppositely rotating the tube shaft about the tube-shaft axis into the one end position;
• and
• control means connected to the first and second clamp means, joining means, and first drive means for synchronizing operation of same.