Strapping tool

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a strapping tool configured to tension metal strap around a load and, after tensioning, attach overlapping portions of the strap to one another by cutting notches into a seal element positioned around the overlapping portions of the strap and into the overlapping portions of the strap themselves.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A strapping tool comprising:
 a motor; and   a sealing assembly to which the motor is operably connected, the sealing assembly comprising:
 spaced-apart first and second jaw connectors comprising first and second support surfaces, respectively; 
 a central jaw connector positioned between the first and second jaw connectors and comprising a central support surface; 
 a first pair of jaws between the first and central jaw connectors and comprising opposing first and second jaws pivotable between respective jaw home positions and jaw sealing positions; 
 a second pair of jaws between the central and second jaw connectors and comprising opposing third and fourth jaws pivotable between respective jaw home positions and jaw sealing positions; 
 wherein a strap path is defined between the first and second jaws and the third and fourth jaws and beneath the first, second, and central support surfaces, 
 wherein the central support surface is closer to the strap path than the first and second support surfaces. 
   
     
     
         2 . The strapping tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and central support surfaces are planar. 
     
     
         3 . The strapping tool of  claim 2 , wherein the central support surface is not coplanar with the first or second support surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The strapping tool of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second support surfaces are coplanar. 
     
     
         5 . The strapping tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second jaws are pivotably connected to the first jaw connector and the third and fourth jaws are pivotably connected to the second jaw connector. 
     
     
         6 . The strapping tool of  claim 5 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth jaws are pivotably connected to the central jaw connector. 
     
     
         7 . The strapping tool of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second jaws are pivotably connected to the first jaw connector and the third and fourth jaws are pivotably connected to the second jaw connector. 
     
     
         8 . The strapping tool of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second jaws are pivotably connected to the second jaw connector and the third and fourth jaws are pivotably connected to the first jaw connector. 
     
     
         9 . The strapping tool of  claim 8 , wherein the sealing assembly further comprises a first pivot pin pivotably connecting the first and third jaws to the first, second, and central jaw connectors and a second pivot pin pivotably connecting the second and fourth jaws to the first, second, and central jaw connectors. 
     
     
         10 . The strapping tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a support, wherein the sealing assembly is mounted to the support and movable relative to the support between a sealing assembly home position and a sealing assembly sealing position. 
     
     
         11 . The strapping tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and central support surfaces engage a seal element during a sealing cycle as the jaws move from their respective jaw home positions to their respective jaw sealing positions to cut notches in the seal element.