Abstract: The present invention entails a method and apparatus for applying tamper evident bands to a container. In particular, the apparatus of the present invention directs a supply strip of banding material to a cutter which cuts the supply strip into a series of cut bands. From the cutter, the respective cut bands are, one at a time, transferred to a suction source and held. A form is passed adjacent the suction source and strips the cut band from the suction source. While the cut band is held within the form, a container is passed thereunder, and because of the spacing of the form and the position of the container, the container top or lid engages a portion of the cut band held within the form and strips the cut band from the form. Thereafter, the container and cut form are passed underneath a vibrating plate, causing the plate to engage the cut band and to properly position the same about the container for subsequent heat treatment.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus for cutting tubular banding material in a banding machine includes as guide assembly for guiding tubular banding material in a flattened condition along a guide path from an inlet end to a cutting station, and a single cutting blade mounted for movement in a transverse cutting path across the flattened material at the cutting station. A pinch mechanism is provided for pinching opposite sides of the flattened material together immediately adjacent the cutting station to hold the material securely against bunching up while it is being cut.

Abstract: A method for applying a shrink sleeve to the closure end of a conveyed container and apparatus for performing the method. Shrink sleeves supplied in the form of a hose are expanded over a mandrel which is disposed at an inclined position relative to the conveying direction of the containers such that the closure ends of the containers enter the lower open ends of the shrink sleeves as the containers are conveyed and before the respective shrink sleeves are cut off.

Abstract: A flattened tubular plastic tube having one pair of edge creases is withdrawn from a vertical axis reel and passed through horizontal axis rollers to impart a pair of intermediate creases. Cooperating rotating and stationary blades cut the plastic tube into short sleeves which are immediately gripped between actuator shoes on a pair of translating chains and a pair of translating frictional belts. The compressively interfaced actuator shoes and belts advance the sleeves to the inlet of a channel defined by laterally spaced apart slide members which have v-grooves into which opposite creased edges are inserted at the inlet whereupon hooks on another chain loop push the sleeves through the channel. The channel width converges so the sleeves open as they are pushed along the channel to be engageable by the head of a passing bottle.

Abstract: In order to envelop the necks of a series of continuously moving bottles with decorative or informative tubular attachments, an elongate tube of heat-shrinkable plastic material is flattened first in one longitudinal plane and then in another longitudinal plane, perpendicular to the former, to produce a sheath with two substantially flat sides bearing the traces of a first pair of creases while being bounded by a second pair of creases. The longitudinally advancing sheath is cut into clippings of predetermined length that are advanced codirectionally therewith but at higher speed along a sloping guidepath in which the existing creases are caused to converge while the original creases reappear as the two sides are progressively spread apart.