Abstract: A cutter for flexible tubing supported on a mandrel having a peripheral groove at the location of the intended cut has an annulus (10) coaxially surrounding the mandrel and arranged for rotation thereabout. A blade carrier (16) is pivoted on the annulus (10) for supporting a cutting blade (17) moveable between withdrawn and cutting positions. The carrier (16) has an armature including a permanent magnet (19) which is arranged between one of the electromagnets but may be moved to the other electromagnet by an appropriate pulse of electrical energy to the other electromagnet.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a sleeve of heat-shrink material (a "band") to a container comprises a rotary drum having a plurality of upstanding heads. A web of banding material is intermittently advanced and lengths cut off, each cut length being held by fingers in the path of a gripper head mounted on the rotary drum. Each head has forward-facing vacuum port through which air is drawn on a timed basis, so that a band 30 will be picked-up and held by one side face as the gripper head passes the fingers. The resilience of the banding material allows the band partially to open out as it is transferred by the gripper head. The rotation of the drum is synchronized to advancement of the containers, so that a held band is rolled on to the top of a container, the container serving to assist in the opening-out of the band, whereat the band is released by the gripper head.