APPARATUS FOR STRAPPING STACKS OF SHEET DOCUMENTS, APPARATUS FOR FORMING STACKS OF SHEET DOCUMENTS AND CORRESPONDING METHODS

摘要

A strapping apparatus (100) is provided for strapping a stack (S) of sheet documents. The apparatus comprises: a strap feeder (160) adapted to feed a length of strap material (M) into the strapping apparatus; a guide channel (110) arranged to receive the leading edge of the strap material from the strap feeder, to guide the leading edge around a stack receipt zone (101) and to overlap the leading edge with an upstream portion of the strap material, resulting in overlapping portions of strap material in an overlap region of the guide channel, so as to form a closed loop of strap material around the stack receipt zone, the stack receipt zone being configured to accommodate a stack of sheet documents in use; a sealing unit (120) adapted to join the overlapping portions of the strap material to one another at a joining point; and a cutting unit (130) for cutting the strap material upstream of the joining point. The invention also provides a stacking apparatus (50) for forming stacks of sheet documents.