Patent ID: 7150222

Claim:
An apparatus for longitudinally strapping a pack, using a tape-like strap, said apparatus having a conveyance element for moving the pack along an axis running in a direction of conveyance to a strapping position in a strapping station and a feed unit for feeding strap, the apparatus comprising: a frame-like strap guide duct configured to receive strap from the feed unit and comprising a closed loop configured to strap the pack in a direction parallel to the direction of conveyance, the strap guide duct having a portion laterally offset from the conveyance element and configured such that a clearance is produced with respect to the pack so that the pack may move into and out of the strapping station without interference with the strap guide duct, a steering element being associated with the strap guide duct to center the strap released from the strap guide duct in the strapping station on the pack, and wherein: the strap guide duct comprises: corner deflection elements, duct segments which guide the strap, the duct segments comprising two essentially straight, untwisted vertically oriented segments and an essentially straight untwisted horizontally oriented segment located between the two essentially straight, untwisted vertically oriented segments, and strap twisting segments which are disposed between selected corner deflection elements and duct segments and which twist the strap about its longitudinal axis.