Strapping apparatus

A package strapping apparatus including a package support disposed in one plane, a package receiving yoke disposed in a plane extending at an angle to and intersecting with the plane of said support, said yoke having a fixed section and a movable section with the movable yoke section being adapted to extend through the plane of said support, means for positioning a flat package reinforcing member within said yoke, adjacent to said support and said yoke fixed section and in a plane which intersects with both the plane of said support and the plane of said yoke whereby the flat reinforcing member is in position to be strapped to a package on said support, means for feeding a strap along said yoke and into position in which its leading end portion is overlapped by a trailing portion thereof, means for gripping the leading end portion of the strap after the feeding thereof along said yoke, means for tensioning the strap about the package on said support after the leading end portion thereof is gripped, means for sealing said leading end portion of the strap to an overlapping trailing portion thereof, and means for reciprocating said movable yoke section in the plane of said yoke between a retracted position, in which such movable yoke section is spaced from said support, and a projected position in which such movable yoke section extends through the plane of said support.