Apparatus and method for securing a bundle with a strap

A method for binding a bundle of material comprising the steps of

• providing an elongate strap having a heat sensitive adhesive thereon which may be reactivated by application of heat,
• feeding said strap to form a loop about the bundle with a leading end portion and a trailing portion of strap,
• holding said leading end portion in a stationary position,
• pulling the strap trailing portion to tighten the loop about the bundle while said leading end portion is held to provide overlapping inner and outer strap portions, in a securing region,
• providing a pair of opposed press elements disposed to opposite sides of the securing region with the overlapping inner and outer strap portions therebetween, with at least one of the press elements being shiftable toward and away from the other press element, and at least one of said press elements being heated,
• pressing said press elements against said overlapping inner and outer strap portions together to press said strap portions together and simultaneously applying heat externally thereto from said heated press element to reactivate said adhesive to bond said inner and outer strap portion together, and
• severing the trailing portion of the strap from said outer strap portion.

Apparatus for binding a bundle with an elongate strap formed of multiple elongate elements secured together by a heat sensitive adhesive which may be reactivated by the application of heat, the apparatus comprising

• mechanism for feeding the strap to form a loop about the bundle with a leading end portion and a trailing portion of strap,
• a gripper for gripping and holding said leading end portion,
• mechanism for pulling the strap trailing portion to tighten the loop about the bundle to produce overlapping first and second strap portions with the first strap portion being positioned closest to the bundle and the second strap portion being positioned outwardly therefrom in a direction away from the bundle, said first and second strap portions being situated in a securing region,
• a pair of opposed press elements disposed on opposite sides of said securing region with the first and second strap portions positioned between said press elements, at least one of said press elements being heated,
• clamping mechanism for shifting at least one of the press elements toward the securing region to clamp the first and second strap portions between said opposed press elements with said heated press element supplying heat and pressure to said first and second strap portions to reactivate the adhesive therein to secure the first and second strap portions together, and
• a cutter for severing a strap trailing portion from the second strap portion.

Apparatus for binding a bundle with an elongate flat strap having heat sensitive adhesive thereon which may be reactivated by the application of heat, the apparatus comprising

• mechanism for feeding the strap to form a loop about the bundle with a leading end portion and a trailing portion of strap,
• a gripper for gripping and holding said leading end portion,
• mechanism for pulling the strap trailing portion to tighten the loop about the bundle to produce overlapping first and second strap portions with the first strap portion being positioned closest to the bundle and the second strap portion being positioned outwardly therefrom in a direction away from the bundle, said first and second strap portions being situated in a securing region,
• a pair of opposed press elements disposed on opposite sides of said securing region with the first and second strap portions positioned between said press elements, at least one of said press elements being heated, and
• clamping mechanism for shifting at least one of the press elements toward the securing region to clamp the first and second strap portions between said opposed press elements with said heated press element supplying heat and pressure to said first and second strap portions to reactivate the adhesive therein to secure the first and second strap portions together.

Apparatus for binding a bundle with an elongate flat strap having heat sensitive adhesive thereon which may be reactivated by the application of heat, the bundle having an outer side surface disposed in a strapping region when positioned for binding, the apparatus comprising

• a mounting frame mounted for shifting between a strapping position and a release position, with a head portion of the frame being disposed adjacent said strapping region when in its strapping position,
• a strap gripper, a strap cutter, and a pair of opposed strap press elements mounted on said mounting frame, with said press elements positioned intermediate said strap gripper and strap cutter,
• mechanism for feeding the strap to form a loop about the bundle with a first strap path extending through said strap cutter and strap press elements and a second strap path extending through said strap press elements and into said strap gripper intermediate said first strap path and said strapping region, with a leading end portion of the strap passing through said first strap path, around the bundle, and being stopped within said second strap path adjacent said strap gripper, with a first strap portion in said first path adjacent and overlapping a second strap portion in said second path, and a trailing portion of the strap extending from the first strap portion,
• said strap gripper comprising a gripping head shiftable between a gripping position to grip said leading end portion of the strap and a release position, said press elements being mounted for shifting between release positions spaced outwardly to opposite sides of said first and second overlapping strap portions and pressing positions clamping said first and second overlapping strap portions together, with at least one of said press members being heated, and
• said strap cutter being mounted for shifting between a first position out of said first path and a cutting position extending into said first path to sever a strap therein.