Strapping apparatus

A strapping apparatus for strapping an article with a strapping band, the strapping apparatus comprising:

• a tensioning device comprising a rotatable tensioning wheel;
• a tensioning counter-holder surface adjacent the tensioning wheel;
• a sealing device comprising a sealing counter-holder surface and a sealing element movable toward the sealing counter-holder surface, wherein the sealing counter-holder surface is angularly offset relative to the tensioning counter-holder surface in a direction transverse to a longitudinal direction of the strapping band when positioned in the tensioning and sealing devices;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• after the strapping band has been clamped between the tensioning wheel and the tensioning counter-holder surface, cause the tensioning wheel to rotate to draw tension in the strapping band;
• and
• cause the sealing element to move toward the sealing counter-holder surface to clamp two overlying layers of the strapping band between the sealing element and the sealing counter-holder surface, thereby causing a portion of the strapping band to twist across an entire width of the portion of the strapping band, and cause the sealing element to activate to seal the two overlying layers to each other.