Method of strapping one or more articles with a strap

Abstract

A method of strapping one or more articles with a strap includes the steps of: providing a strapping device including a joining apparatus with a joining jaw and a joining base; placing an end portion of the strap around the joining base such that a fastening loop around the base is formed; joining overlapping first and second strap segments of the fastening loop by the joining apparatus to form a strap joint; placing the strap around one or more articles such that a third strap segment overlaps a segment of the fastening loop; tensioning the strap around the one or more articles; joining the third segment of the strap with the segment of the fastening loop by the joining apparatus; shearing the tensioned strap off from an untensioned bulk portion of the strap; separating the strapping device from the tensioned strap by removing the joining base from the fastening loop.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A method of strapping one or more articles with a strap, comprising the steps of:
 providing a strapping device comprising a joining apparatus with a joining jaw and a joining base;   placing an end portion of the strap around the joining base such that a fastening loop around the joining base is formed;   joining overlapping first and second strap segments of the fastening loop by the joining apparatus to form a strap joint;   placing the strap around the one or more articles such that a third strap segment overlaps a segment of the fastening loop;   tensioning the strap around the one or more articles;   joining the third segment of the strap with the segment of the fastening loop by the joining apparatus;   shearing the tensioned strap off from an untensioned bulk portion of the strap;   separating the strapping device from the tensioned strap by removing the joining base from the fastening loop.   
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein placing an end portion of the strap around the joining base such that a fastening loop around the joining base is formed comprises placing the first strap segment on an upper toothed surface of the joining base and the second strap segment on the first strap segment. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein a strap portion adjacent to the third strap segment is clamped by a clamp while joining the third segment of the strap and the segment of the fastening loop by the joining apparatus. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein providing the strapping device comprising a joining apparatus with a joining jaw and a joining base comprises providing an exchangeable joining base. 
     
     
         36 . The method according  claim 32 , wherein providing the strapping device comprising a joining apparatus with a joining jaw and a joining base comprises providing a modular joining base with a base body and a spacer arranged between the base body and the joining jaw and releasably connected to the base body. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein a blade of a cutter of the strapping device for shearing the tensioned strap off from an untensioned bulk portion of the strap is moved relative to the joining jaw to a retracted inactive position before the step of joining overlapping first and second strap segments of the fastening loop by the joining apparatus to form a strap joint. 
     
     
         38 . A strapping device for strapping one or more articles with a strap according to the method of  claim 32 , the strapping device comprising a joining apparatus with a joining jaw and a joining base, the joining base comprising an upper toothed surface configured to engage with a first strap segment of a fastening loop placed around the joining base. 
     
     
         39 . The strapping device according to  claim 38 , wherein the joining base comprises a base body and a spacer arranged between the base body and the joining jaw and releasably connectable to the base body. 
     
     
         40 . The strapping device according to  claim 39 , wherein the upper toothed surface is arranged at the spacer. 
     
     
         41 . The strapping device according to  claim 39 , wherein the spacer comprises an upper bar and the base body comprises at least one shoulder configured to laterally position the spacer. 
     
     
         42 . The strapping device according to  claim 41 , wherein the base body comprises two shoulders, wherein the upper bar is receivable between the two shoulders. 
     
     
         43 . The strapping device according to  claim 41 , wherein the upper bar is receivable between a shoulder of the base body and a vertical wall portion of the joining apparatus. 
     
     
         44 . The strapping device according to  claim 41 , wherein the upper bar comprises at least one recess which is engageable with the at least one shoulder. 
     
     
         45 . The strapping device according to  claim 39 , wherein the spacer comprises a front leg and a rear leg connected by an upper bar, wherein the front leg, rear leg and upper bar are arranged to form a laterally open arch for receiving the base body. 
     
     
         46 . The strapping device according to  claim 38 , wherein the joining base is releasably mounted at a mounting interface of the strapping device. 
     
     
         47 . The strapping device according to  claim 38 , comprising a cutter for shearing the strap, wherein the cutter comprises a blade which is movable relative to the joining jaw between an advanced active position and a retracted inactive position. 
     
     
         48 . The strapping device according to  claim 47 , wherein the cutter is simultaneously movable with the joining jaw relative to the joining base between an advanced joining position and a retracted strap receiving position. 
     
     
         49 . The strapping device according to  claim 47 , wherein the cutter comprises a follower which is fixedly arranged with respect to the blade and an actuating element with a cam, wherein the actuating element is configured to engage the cam with the follower to move the blade relative to the joining jaw between the advanced active position and the retracted inactive position. 
     
     
         50 . The strapping device according to  claim 49 , comprising a catch configured to lock the actuating element in a raised or lowered position of the blade by engaging with the actuating element. 
     
     
         51 . A strapping system comprising the strapping device according to  claim 38  and a plurality of spacers with at least one of: different vertical diameters or different upper toothed surface areas. 
     
     
         52 . A strapping system comprising the strapping device according to  claim 46  and a plurality of joining bases with at least one of: different vertical diameters or different upper toothed surface areas.