Edge protector delivery and positioning apparatus and method

Positioning apparatus for positioning and retaining an edge protector at an edge of a package to be looped with a strapping, the package being positioned on a package support and transported to an edge protector application station, each said edge protector having two elongated longitudinal side portions connected by a longitudinal fold, at least one package contacting surface and at least one package non-contacting surface, said edge protectors having a mean thickness, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) an edge protector magazine spaced apart from the edge protector application station, the magazine, retaining stacked, nested edge protectors and including a magazine delivery station for systematically dispensing an individual edge protector on demand;
• (b) a saddle shuttle assembly for transporting each individual edge protector from the magazine delivery station to the edge of the package, said saddle shuttle assembly including two resiliently mounted clips, each of said clips resiliently engaging an edge of an elongated longitudinal side portion of an edge protector for orienting and retaining each individual edge protector on said saddle shuttle assembly while it is being transported to said package edge, a retraction means for retracting said clips to disengage said edge protector after delivery to the package edge and before strapping, and a means for reciprocating the saddle shuttle assembly between the magazine delivery station and the edge of the package;
• (c) a pusher for selectively driving an edge protector from said magazine delivery station onto said saddle shuttle assembly, said pusher including a pushing surface normal to the longitudinal fold of the edge protector and means to reciprocate said pusher between said magazine delivery station and said saddle shuttle assembly;
• and
• (d) retaining means disposed on said package support and being spaced apart from said saddle shuttle assembly for applying a substantially normal force to said at least one package non-contacting surface of said edge protector, said retaining means retaining said edge protector immediately adjacent said package edge so that the edge protector package contacting surface is in conforming relation to said package edge while the package is looped with a strapping.