Edge protector positioning apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus for positioning an edge protector to the edge of a package to be looped with strapping is provided. The apparatus includes a guide rail extending generally normal to the exposed package edge and an edge protector positioning apparatus mounted on the rail. The edge protector positioning apparatus has an edge protector application station adjacent the edge to be protected and is provided with an angularly oriented magazine which stores a stack of nested edge protectors each with its concave face foremost. Edge protectors are delivered to the application station from the magazine by means of a fluid motor operated pushing means which acts normal to the magazine to individually remove each edge protector therefrom. From the pushing means depend extended fingers having an edge protector support surface. A spring-biased separator assures individual edge protector application and spring-biased clamping means cooperate with the fingers of the pushing means to provide accurate edge protector placement on the package. Upon retraction of the pushing means and its extended fingers, the clamping retains the edge protector on the package during strapping. Following strapping, the apparatus is retracted from proximity with the package thereby releasing the edge protector.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.