Heat-shrinkable band application machine

A method of applying bands to containers conveyed past the band application machine, comprising:

• (a) cutting a band from a supply strip;
• (b) opening the band;
• (c) engaging opposite sides of the band and holding the band in an open configuration above the containers being conveyed and wherein at least one side of the band is held by a suction cup while the band is supported above the containers;
• (d) releasing the held cut band at a position above the containers;
• (e) moving a plunger mounted above a cut band back and forth between a retracted position where the plunger is spaced above the cut band to an engaged position where the plunger actually engages the top of the cut band;
• and
• (f) transferring the open cut band held above the containers onto an underpassing target container by moving the plunger downwardly from the retracted position and engaging the top of the band while the band is above the target container and pushing band downwardly onto the target container.

In a band application machine, a transfer mechanism for applying a band to a container conveyed past the band application machine, comprising:

• (a) opposed vacuum operated suction cups for gripping opposite sides of a band and pulling the opposite sides of the band to an open position;
• (b) a plunger movably mounted above the suction cups and moveable between a retracted position spaced from the open band to an engaged position where the plunger actually engages the top of the band and pushes the same downwardly onto a passing container;
• and
• (c) a controller for effectively releasing the vacuum on the suction cups while the band is held in an open position above the container and for actuating the plunger and causing the same to move from the retracted position to the engaged position where the plunger engages the open band above the container and pushes the same downwardly onto and around the top portion of the container.