System and method for cutting tubular shrink sleeve material for application to containers

A tubular film cutting arrangement for cutting tubular shrink film into sleeves of suitable length for application to containers, the arrangement comprising:

• a film path along which film travels;
• a plurality of rotatable knife drive pulleys spaced apart around the film path, each knife drive pulley having a knife member mounted for rotation with the knife drive pulley;
• a plurality of idlers rotatably arranged to define a drive belt path between the knife drive pulleys and the idlers;
• a drive system for the knife drive pulleys, including:
• a primary mover assembly spaced away from the knife drive pulleys and the idlers;
• a single drive belt that both (i) engages with the primary mover assembly so as to be moved by the primary mover and (ii) extends to and along the drive belt path such that a first side of the drive belt is in contact with each of the knife drive pulleys and a second side of the drive belt is in contact with each of the idler rollers, and the plurality of idlers are positioned to interact with the second side of the drive belt in order to hold the first side of the drive belt in contact with the knife drive pulleys.