Apparatus for binding sheet media

An apparatus for binding a stack of media sheets having a binding region with imaging material applied thereto, the apparatus comprising:

• a tray for supporting the stack;
• an activator near the tray, the activator having a resistive heating element and the activator movable between an open position in which the activator is separated from the stack, a first pressed position in which the activator contacts and compresses the stack, and a second pressed position in which the activator further compresses the stack;
• a press coupled to the activator, the press operative to move the activator from the open position to the first pressed position;
• a biasing means between the press and the activator for biasing the activator from the first pressed position to the second pressed positon;
• a controller electronically coupled to the press and the activator, the controller operable sequentially to direct the press to move the activator from the open position to the first pressed position, to direct power to the resistive heating element to heat imaging material in the binding region of the stack, remove the power from the resistive heating element as the activator compresses the stack and then divert the power to the press instructing the press to return the activator to the open position.