Machine for applying heat shrinkable bands to containers
US5448876A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 4, 1993 |
| Grant date | Sep 12, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 4, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB67B5/036
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention entails a band application machine for applying tamper-evident bands and other bands about the circumference of a container. The band application machine directs a supply strip of banding material to a curing mechanism which cuts the supply strip into a series of cut bands. A band transfer system transfers the cut band to a container being conveyed adjacent to the band application machine on a conveyor assembly. The band transfer system includes a gripping mechanism having a pair of opposing gripper arms with attached suction cups. The gripper arms and attached suction cups engage opposite sides of a closed band and then move apart to open the band. An actuator laterally positions the gripper mechanism to a position where the grippers extend over the conveyor assembly. A tilting actuator rotates the gripper mechanism from a generally horizontal position to a tilted position where a lower section of the gripped band extends into the pathway of the passing containers. A shoe assembly is designed to be longitudinally moveable along the conveyor system from a retracted position to an extended position. The shoe assembly is positioned in the retracted position as t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.