Stacking/wrapping apparatus

A stacking/wrapping apparatus comprising:

• a stacking device configured to stack paper sheets in a predetermined number on a stacking unit;
• a wrapping device configured to wrap a bundle of the stacked paper sheets by winding a band thereon;
• and
• a transport carrier configured to receive the paper sheet bundle stacked by the stacking device and transport the paper sheet bundle to the wrapping device,
• the wrapping device comprising a hand assembly capable of pinching end portions of the paper sheet bundle transported by the transport carrier and drawing the paper sheet bundle into a predetermined binding position, a hand drive mechanism configured to open and close the hand assembly in a stacking direction of the paper sheet bundle and reciprocate the hand assembly in a direction cross to the stacking direction, and a band winding device configured to wind a wrapper band around the paper sheet bundle drawn into the binding position,
• the transport carrier being configured to move to a receiving position facing the stacking device and receive another paper sheet bundle from the stacking device while the band is being wound around the paper sheet bundle by the wrapping device after the paper sheet bundle is grasped by the hand assembly;
• the hand assembly comprising an upper hand and a lower hand opposed to each other with a gap therebetween and individually supported for up-and-down motion, and the hand drive mechanism comprises a motor, a large gear and a small gear disposed coaxially with each other and rotatable about the same axis by the motor, the small gear being smaller in diameter than the large gear, a first rack connected to the upper hand and engaging with the large gear, and a second rack connected to the lower hand and engaging with the small gear, the first and second racks being located parallel to each other with respective rotating shafts of the large and small gears therebetween, the amount of up-and-down motion of the upper hand by the hand drive mechanism being greater than that of the lower hand.