Machine and method for applying tubular shrink sleeve material to objects
AssigneeAxon Corporation
InventorAdam W. Duncan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A machine for applying tubular film to objects includes a mandrel about which a tubular film is passed, a perforation assembly for forming a perforation line across a width of the tubular film prior to the tubular film moving onto the mandrel, and a sleeve ejection arrangement associated with the mandrel to separate the tubular film along the perforation line to create a tubular sleeve that is ejected off of the mandrel and onto an object. The perforation assembly includes a perforation unit mounted for movement across the width the tubular film, the perforation unit including a perforation blade that is rotated over the tubular film, to apply the perforation line, as the perforation unit moves across the width of the tubular film.
Claims9
A method of forming perforation lines across a width of a tubular film, the method comprising:
- providing a machine that separates sleeve-shaped film sections from the tubular film and applies the sleeve-shaped film sections to objects;
- utilizing a perforation unit that includes a perforation blade mounted for rotation about an axis;
- feeding the tubular film along a film path toward a mandrel of the machine;
- stopping the feeding of the tubular film;
- while the feeding of the tubular film is stopped, moving the perforation unit across the width of the tubular film while the perforation blade is engaged with the tubular film such that the perforation blade is rotated about the axis and over and in contact with the tubular film, to apply a perforation line that is defined by a series of through cuts in the tubular film, as the perforation unit, including the axis, moves across the width of the tubular film;
- wherein the perforation unit is coupled to be moved by a drive associated with a control system of the machine, and the control system automatically carries out the feeding, stopping and moving steps.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.