Banding System and Process for Banding Piled Products

A banding system for piled products, such as securities, banknotes, checks and other similar documents comprising:

• a machine frame,
• a band feed mechanism disposed on said machine frame for feeding band material from a supply roll,
• means for forming a loop with said band material around the products to be banded while the products to be banded remain stationary,
• welding means to close said loop, and
• cutting means for cutting said band material,
• said means for forming the loop comprising transporting means for transporting the band material around the product to be banded and
• vacuum means connected to the transporting means for pressing the band material against the transporting means,
• wherein said means for forming the loop are movable with respect to the machine frame between an operating position where said means for forming the loop are in contact with said band feed mechanism to perform the banding operation and an open position where said means for forming the loop are displaced away from the band feed mechanism to create an opening therebetween allowing a transfer of products to be banded between the band feed mechanism and the means for forming the loop.