Machine and method for applying tubular shrink sleeve material to objects

A machine for applying tubular film to objects, the machine including:

• a mandrel about which a tubular film is passed;
• a perforation assembly positioned for forming a perforation line across a width of the tubular film while the tubular film is in a flat orientation prior to the tubular film moving onto the mandrel;
• a control system configured to selectively move the perforation unit back and forth across the width of the tubular film in first and second opposite directions such that perforation lines are alternately formed in the tubular film while moving in the first direction and the second direction;
• a sleeve ejection arrangement configured with at least one roller to engage and pull a leading end of the tubular film so as to separate the leading end from the tubular film along the perforation line to create a tubular sleeve that is ejected off of the mandrel and onto an object by rotation of the roller,
• wherein the perforation assembly comprises a perforation unit mounted for movement across the width the tubular film, the perforation unit including a perforation blade mounted for rotation about an axis, wherein the perforation blade includes a peripheral edge that is rotated over and in contact with the tubular film in a direction across the width of the tubular film and perforates the tubular film as the perforation blade, including the rotation axis of the perforation blade, moves across the width of the tubular film, to apply the perforation lines, and
• wherein the tubular film moves along a downward path onto the mandrel and the perforation unit is located above the mandrel along the downward path.