Shrink sleeve applicator and related roller conveyor arrangement
US10287045B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 30, 2015 |
| Grant date | May 14, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 22, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16C13/00
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A shrink sleeve apparatus is disclosed herein that includes a shrink sleeve applicator, a downstream heat shrink station, and a horizontal conveyor having side-by-side rollers that have a circumscribing outer portion with at least one high traction segment and at least one low traction segment. A method of applying a shrink sleeve to an article is disclosed that includes providing a conveyor having rollers as disclosed herein, positioning the rollers such that low traction segments of the rollers support the article as it passes a shrink sleeve applicator, which applies a shrink sleeve. The high traction segments of the rollers do not interfere with sleeve application. As the conveyor moves the article and sleeve through a downstream heat shrink zone, the rollers are rotated so that the high traction segments contact the article and sleeve to assure rotation of the article and sleeve during heat shrink.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.