Dunnage system with coiler, automated taping and ejecting apparatus and method

An automatic taping mechanism for use with a dunnage conversion machine and a coiling mechanism for coiling a strip of dunnage, comprising:

• a supply of tape;
• a guide surface extending between an outlet of the dunnage conversion machine and the coiling mechanism to guide a strip of dunnage to the coiling mechanism and to guide a strip of tape for engagement with a trailing end of the strip of dunnage to secure the trailing end of the strip of dunnage to the coil, the guide surface having a groove extending along the guide surface for receipt of the strip of tape and an inlet opening in the groove for receipt of the strip of tape from the supply of tape, the supply of tape being located on an opposing side of the guide surface opposite the groove;
• a pivoting body downstream of the inlet opening that is configured to move a portion thereof toward the groove to press the trailing end of the strip of dunnage into engagement with the strip of tape within the groove;
• and
• a severing mechanism spaced downstream of the inlet opening for separating a length of tape from the supply.