Production of band-driven packages and their components

A method of making a band-drive component for a package, the method comprising:

• feeding a substrate between flexible web portions with the substrate bearing against a boundary of the web portions ahead of the substrate in a feed direction;
• joining the web portions at a join behind the substrate whereby the web portions form a band that encircles the substrate and is slidable around the substrate in use of the package;
• and
• applying at least one tab member or insert to the band.

A band-drive component making apparatus comprising:

• web feeders for feeding first and second flexible webs in a feed direction, one web being fed each side of a substrate such that the webs are in mutual face-to-face disposition ahead of and behind the substrate with respect to the feed direction;
• a web joiner for joining the face-to-face webs at a first join ahead of the substrate and at a second join behind the substrate, the joins bounding web portions that together encircle the substrate between the joins;
• and
• a web divider for dividing the joined web portions from the remainder of the webs such that the joined web portions together define a band that encircles the substrate and is slidable around the substrate in use;
• wherein the web joiner and/or web divider move with the webs during joining and dividing.

A band-drive component making apparatus comprising:

• a substrate feeder for feeding a substrate between flexible web portions in a feed direction;
• a web joiner for joining the web portions at a join behind the substrate whereby the web portions form a band that encircles the substrate and is slidable around the substrate in use;
• web feeders for feeding first and second flexible webs in the feed direction, one web being fed each side of the substrate such that the webs are in mutual face-to-face disposition ahead of and behind the substrate with respect to the feed direction, wherein the web joiner is adapted to join the face-to-face webs at a boundary ahead of the substrate and at the join behind the substrate, the boundary and the join bounding the web portions;
• a web divider for dividing the joined web portions from the remainder of the webs such that the joined web portions together define a band that encircles the substrate and is slidable around the substrate in use of the package;
• wherein the web joiner and/or the web divider move with the webs during joining and dividing;
• and
• an application station for applying at least one tab member or insert to the band.