Abstract: A tag anchor comprises an elastic loop having opposed outer and inner surfaces and an elastic anchor that extends radially from the elastic loop. The anchor includes a shank that extends from one of the outer and inner surfaces and a pair of opposed arms that extend laterally from the shank toward the elastic loop and which are sized to not contact one of the surfaces when deflected toward the shank. The anchor further includes a crown that extends radially from the shank.

Abstract: A banding machine includes a tube guide adapted to transfer an elastomeric tube from an entry end to an exit end. A frame assembly receives the elastomeric tube from the exit end. A drive assembly is carried by the frame assembly and includes a drive shaft which rotates a drive wheel that advances the elastomeric tube through the frame assembly. A knife guide assembly receives a reciprocating knife to cut the elastomeric tube to form a band. A stretcher assembly with stretcher fingers maintained substantially adjacent one another in a first position receives the band, the stretcher fingers then expand the band to a second position to receive an object upon which the band closes around.

Abstract: A unitary tag article is provided that may be characterized as a one-piece elastic sheet. The one-piece tag includes a fastener portion and a label portion that are formed from the same elastic sheet. The fastener portion is adapted to fasten onto an item, and the label portion is adapted to identify the item or provide information about the item. In one or more embodiments, the one-piece tag may serve a dual purpose of bundling items and identifying or providing information about said items.

Abstract: A rubber strap device is provided that includes a post that may be selectively attached to a flexible strap for securing the ends of the flexible strap when the strap is wrapped around one or more objects. The post may be configured to maintain a selected position on the flexible strap when mounted thereon.

Abstract: A wrap for securing objects having an elastomeric band, a retainer having a body defining a notch for receiving widthwise a portion of the elastomeric band, a band receiving portion of the notch, a first tab extending axially over the band receiving portion of the notch and defining a mouth portion of the notch, wherein the mouth portion has a width less than the width of the elastomeric band.

Abstract: Printed elastic bands are made by piercing, evacuating and flattening an elastic tubing and washing and scrubbing and drying the upper surface of the tubing, aligning a tubing on a conveyor and moving the tubing upward toward a printing head and quickly downward away from the printing head while maintaining the tubing flattened. The printing is devolatilized and cured while the tubing continues to move to the cutoff point. Nip rollers drive a tubing onto a cutoff platen, a final roller near the edge of the platen has a higher surface speed than the nip rollers to flatten the tubing. Printing on the tubing is sensed and rotating knives are sensed and the speed of the nip rollers is controlled to cut the tubing between the printed areas. Severed printed bands are removed by vacuum and are discharged from a cyclone separator.

Abstract: Printed elastic bands are made by piercing, evacuating and flattening an elastic tubing and washing and scrubbing and drying the upper surface of the tubing, aligning a tubing on a conveyor and moving the tubing upward toward a printing head and quickly downward away from the printing head while maintaining the tubing flattened. The printing is devolatilized and cured while the tubing continues to move to the cutoff point. Nip rollers drive a tubing onto a cutoff platen, a final roller near the edge of the platen has a higher surface speed than the nip rollers to flatten the tubing. Printing on the tubing is sensed and rotating knives are sensed and the speed of the nip rollers is controlled to cut the tubing between the printed areas. Severed printed bands are removed by vacuum and are discharged from a cyclone separator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making printed elastic bands from elastic tubing. The tubing is conveyed, perforated for exhausting fluid therefrom, flattened, cleaned, dried, printed and cut into printed elastic bands.