Abstract: A reel holder for rotatably holding a band reel in a vertical position on one side of a pool box. A relay roller for relaying the band pulled out from the reel holder to a pair of pre-feed rollers is also provided. The pair of pre-feed rollers is arranged above the relay roller. The nip of the pair of pre-feed rollers is positioned in the same plane as the pool box of a packing machine. Each axis of the pair of pre-feed rollers is inclined so that the nip of the pair of pre-feed rollers inclines in an opposite direction of the reel holder. Accordingly, a band loading operation can be easily executed. The pair of pre-feed rollers is preferably arranged adjacent to a working table of the packing machine, i.e., above the pool box so that an operator does not have to crouch during the band loading operation.

Abstract: A pool box for storing a band which is either fed or reversed is arranged between a pre-feed roller and a band forward-reverse unit. A band guide path is formed by two parallel plates. The band guide path connects the pre-feed roller to the band forward-reverse unit via a pool box. An opening is provided in one of the parallel plates in the pool box. A structure for guiding an end of band so as not to jump out of the opening is also provided. Then, the band is guided through the bland guide path from the pre-feed roller to the band forward-reverse unit without the end of the band jumping out from the opening. After setting the band to the packing machine, the band which is either fed or reversed will jump out of the opening, so that the band is stored in the pool box.