Patent ID: 7156140
Filing Date: 2007-01-02
Classification: B29C,B65B,B65C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A heat-shrinkable banding apparatus for mounting a band onto a container, comprising: a. a flattened tubular film supply; b. means for advancing sequential selected lengths of a flat film tube along a path from the supply to a band applying point; c. means for conveying containers to and past the band applying point; d. a cutter positioned between the means for advancing a length of film tube and the means for conveying containers and operative for severing the advanced length from the supply; e. a pair of grippers positioned on either side of the path between the cutter and the container conveyor; f. means to extend the grippers to engage the film tube; g. means to activate the grippers for gripping the advanced length of film tube; h. means to retract the grippers while continuing to grip the advanced length of film tube in order to open the film tube to a round or near-round condition; and i. wherein a subsequent selected length of flat film tube being advanced along the path contacts and moves a prior selected length of opened film tube from the grippers onto a container, and wherein the path is oriented at an angle to an axis of the container so that a first end of the opened film tube contacts the container initially and a second end of the opened film tube subsequently drops onto the container as the container moves past the band applying point.