Patent ID: 6996954

Claim:
A horizontal sleeve applicator comprising: a. a supply of a tubular film in flattened condition; b. means located downstream of the tubular film supply for driving the tubular film in a downstream direction; c. means for opening the flat tubular film located downstream of the means for driving the tubular film and mounted for moving between a first position in alignment with the tubular film from the supply and a second position, the second position being offset from the first position in a direction perpendicular to the downstream direction of the tubular film; d. cutting means located between the means for driving and the means for opening, the cutting means adapted for severing the tubular film at a selected length to form a sleeve; e. a driver for moving the means for opening between the first and second positions; f. a conveyor for sequentially positioning each one of a series of horizontally oriented products in alignment with the second position of the means for opening; and g. means for discharging the sleeve from the means for opening so as to enwrap the aligned one of the series of horizontally oriented products.