Heat-shrinkable band application machine
First Claim
1. A band application machine for applying a band to a target container being conveyed on a conveyor past the machine comprising:
- a) a cutting station for cutting individual bands from a band supply strip;
b) a band holding mechanism, including at least one suction cup, for engaging and holding the band in a position above the target container being conveyed past the band application machine;
c) a plunger mounted near the cutting station for transferring the cut band from the band holding mechanism to the passing target container; and
d) the plunger being movable between a retracted position and an extended position and having a band transfer surface disposed at an angle with respect to the conveyor whereby the band transfer surface engages the cut band and transfers the cut band onto the target container.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A band application machine for transferring to containers heat-shrinkable bands. The band application machine includes a band feed system for feeding band supply material to a cutting system which cuts a band from the band supply. A transfer system transfers cut bands to containers conveyed past a banding point, and includes a band gripping mechanism and a plunger. Band gripping mechanism includes opposed suction cups that are movably mounted for gripping and positioning a cut band. The suction cups are laterally moveable from a position where a closed band is gripped on opposing sides by the suction cups to a position where the band is open and aligned with the stroke of the plunger. The plunger is positioned over the opened band at an angle with respect to the band. The plunger presses and drives the band onto a container as the gripper apparatus releases the open band. The angle of the top plunger with respect to the cut band results in the plunger engaging a leading edge of the cut band as the plunger moves to press the band onto the underpassing container. Associated with the plunger are air blast openings that direct air against an inside, trailing section of the band so as to effectively urge and maintain the band in an open position as the plunger presses the band onto the container. A programmable control system directs the operation of the band application machine.
14 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A band application machine for applying a band to a target container being conveyed on a conveyor past the machine comprising:
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a) a cutting station for cutting individual bands from a band supply strip; b) a band holding mechanism, including at least one suction cup, for engaging and holding the band in a position above the target container being conveyed past the band application machine; c) a plunger mounted near the cutting station for transferring the cut band from the band holding mechanism to the passing target container; and d) the plunger being movable between a retracted position and an extended position and having a band transfer surface disposed at an angle with respect to the conveyor whereby the band transfer surface engages the cut band and transfers the cut band onto the target container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of applying a band to a target container being conveyed on a conveyor past a band application machine, comprising the steps of:
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a) cutting a band from a band supply strip; b) engaging at least one side of the band and holding the band in an open configuration above the target container being conveyed on the conveyor, and wherein at least one side of the band is held by a suction cup while the band is held above the target container; and c) moving a plunger, having a transfer surface angled with respect to the conveyor, from a retracted position and engaging the band with the transfer surface of the plunger and moving the band downwardly, at an angle relative to the conveyor, onto the target container. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A band application machine for applying a cut band to a target container being conveyed on a conveyor past the machine comprising:
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a) a band holding mechanism, including at least one suction cup, for engaging a band and holding the band in a position above the target container being conveyed past the band application machine; b) a plunger movably mounted near the cutting station for transferring the cut band held by the band holding mechanism to the passing target container, the plunger being movable back and forth between a retracted position and an extended position; and c) a controller operatively connected to the plunger for actuating the same and causing the plunger to move back and forth between the retracted and extended positions and wherein the controller maintains the plunger in the extended position at least momentarily causing the plunger to generally transfer the band onto the underpassing target container. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification