Patent ID: 7770359

Claim:
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, attachment means for attaching the band material to form a closed loop, and cutting means for cutting said band material once the closed loop is formed, 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 generating vacuum around said band material while it is transported around the products to be banded, thereby 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.