DEVICE FOR TENSIONING AND CLOSING TIGHTENING STRAPS

An apparatus for tensioning and closing of a tightening strap for package tightenings. The apparatus comprising a closing device for connecting two ends of the strap and a tensioning device having a tensioning wheel that can be driven, a pressure plate which can be moved against the tensioning wheel or lifted from the tensioning wheel, and a self-adjusting separating element which is arranged between the tensioning wheel and the pressure plate, whereby one end of the strap is taken up between said tensioning wheel and the separating element, and the other end of the strap is taken up between the separating element and said pressure plate, the apparatus further including an unblocking element which displaces the separating element during the lifting of the pressure plate from the tensioning wheel. The displacement being approximately parallel to the two ends of the strap.