Apparatus for providing a load wound by a heat-shrinkable film with a carrying handle

An apparatus for applying non-shrinkable tape strips each having a non-adhesive central portion and adhesive end portion to a shrinkable film, said film being intended to be wound and shrunk around loads for which said strips will constitute respective carrying handles, comprising:

• a feeding unit, including a support frame, means for providing a handle tape comprising a series of consecutive strips, means which define a motion path of the handle tape, and drive means for pulling the handle tape along its motion path,
• a storing unit, in which the handle tape fed along its motion path on the feeding unit is received, including a support frame, means which define a motion path of the handle tape, and means for detecting the amount of stored handle tape and for consequently controlling the feeding unit,
• an applying unit, including a support frame, means which define a motion path of the handle tape, and a head for applying the handle tape to the shrinkable film while it is moving in such a way that the handle tape is pulled by the film and taken from the storing unit and means for cutting the handle tape, separating a tape strip which remains adhered to the film and is adapted to constitute a handle after shrinking of the film itself, and
• said head on the applying unit being controlled for cutting the handle tape by sensing means activated by passing of a tape strip.