Apparatus for applying a heat-shrinkable band to the neck of a container

An apparatus for applying a sleeve of shrinkable polymeric material over a container, said apparatus comprising:

• a) feed means for advancing the sleeve of shrinkable polymeric material along a feed path for causing the sleeve to slip over a container;
• b) a blade carrier member rotatable about said feed path, said blade carrier including a central bore through which the sleeve of shrinkable material can pass;
• c) a cutting blade mounted to said blade carrier, said cutting blade is moveable between an extended position and a retracted position, in said extended position said butting blade engaging the sleeve of polymeric material, in said retracted position said cutting blade being in a spaced apart relationship with said sleeve of shrinkable polymeric material, whereby allowing the sleeve of shrinkable polymeric material to advance through said blade carrier without interfering with said cutting blade;
• and
• d) a blade actuating member mounted to said blade carrier, said actuating member being coupled to said cutting blade for moving said cutting blade toward said extended position in response to movement imparted to said blade actuating member.

An apparatus for applying a sleeve to a container, the apparatus comprising:

• a) means for advancing the sleeve along a predetermined feed path for causing the sleeve to slip at least partially over the container;
• b) a sleeve cutting assembly, including:
• a blade carrier angularly movable about said feed path;
• a cutting mounted to said blade carrier, said cutting blade being selectively moveable between a cutting position and a non-cutting position, in said cutting position said blade penetrating the sleeve, whereby angular movement of said blade carrier causes said blade to slit the sleeve, in said non-cutting position said blade being in a spaced apart relationship with the sleeve thereby allowing the sleeve to advance along said feed path without interfering with said cutting blade.