SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR APPLYING TUBULAR SHRINK SLEEVE MATERIAL TO CONTAINERS
Aa machine for applying tubular film to products includes a mandrel assembly about which tubular film is passed. The mandrel assembly includes a film cutter for cutting the tubular film into lengths sized for application to containers passing below the mandrel assembly. A sleeve ejection arrangement is associated with the mandrel assembly and includes a mechanism that moves linearly while engaging a cut length of film so as to eject the cut length of film from the mandrel assembly and onto a container. The mechanism may be arranged so as to also impart rotation to the cut length of film as it is ejected.
1 . A machine for applying tubular film to products, the machine including:
a mandrel assembly about which tubular film is passed, the mandrel assembly including a film cutter for cutting the tubular film into lengths sized for application to containers passing below the mandrel assembly;
a sleeve ejection arrangement associated with the mandrel assembly, the sleeve ejection arrangement including a mechanism that moves linearly while engaging a cut length of film so as to eject the cut length of film from the mandrel assembly and onto a container.
2 . The machine of claim 1 wherein the mechanism comprises and elongated pad member that is reciprocated.
3 . The machine of claim 2 wherein a linear actuator is connected to reciprocate the pad member.
4 . The machine of claim 3 wherein the linear actuator is one of an air controlled member, a hydraulic controlled member or an electrically controlled member.
5 . The machine of claim 3 wherein the linear actuator is an electrically controlled member that is one of a solenoid controlled member or a servomotor controlled member.
6 . The machine of claim 2 wherein the pad member is spaced from a primary external surface of the mandrel assembly, the mandrel assembly includes a secondary surface that protrudes from the primary surface, and the film is engaged between the pad member and the secondary surface during ejection.
7 . The machine of claim 6 wherein the secondary surface is a movable bearing surface.
8 . The machine of claim 6 wherein the secondary surface is a stationary low friction surface material.
9 . The machine of claim 2 wherein the elongated pad member is reciprocated in a linear direction that is skewed relative to a primary axis of the mandrel assembly such that the cut length of film is rotated as it is ejected from the mandrel assembly.
10 . The machine of claim 9 wherein a skew angle of the linear direction relative to the primary axis is between about five degrees and about twenty-five degrees.
11 . The machine of claim 2 wherein the elongated pad member has a length of between about 0.70 inches and about 1.00 inches.
12 . The machine of claim 2 wherein the pad member is retractable away from the outer surface of the mandrel assembly.
13 . The machine of claim 1 wherein the mechanism comprises a belt system, and a portion of the belt that is moving linearly between two belt sheaves engages the cut length of film for ejection.
14 . The machine of claim 13 wherein the belt portion is spaced from a primary external surface of the mandrel assembly, the mandrel assembly includes a secondary surface that protrudes from the primary surface, and the film is engaged between the belt portion and the secondary surface during ejection.
15 . The machine of claim 14 wherein the secondary surface is a movable bearing surface.
16 . The machine of claim 14 wherein the secondary surface is a stationary low friction surface material.
17 . The machine of claim 13 wherein the belt portion moves in a linear direction that is skewed relative to a primary axis of the mandrel assembly such that the cut length of film is rotated as it is ejected from the mandrel assembly.
18 . The machine of claim 17 wherein a skew angle of the linear direction relative to the primary axis is between about five degrees and about twenty-five degrees.
19 . The machine of claim 13 wherein a length of the belt portion that contacts that film is between about 0.70 inches and about 1.00 inches.
20 . A method of applying tubular film sleeves onto containers, the method comprising:
moving tubular film from a supply of tubular film over a mandrel assembly including a film cutter for cutting the tubular film to produce a tubular film sleeve sized for application to a container passing below the mandrel assembly;
contacting the tubular film sleeve with an eject mechanism that moves linearly while engaging the tubular film sleeve so as to push the tubular film sleeve off of a lower end of the mandrel assembly and onto the container.
21 . The method of claim 20 wherein the eject mechanism moves in a linear direction that is skewed relative to a primary axis of the mandrel assembly such that the tubular film sleeve is also rotated as it is pushed off of the mandrel assembly.
22 . The method of claim 21 wherein a skew angle of the linear direction relative to the primary axis is between about five degrees and about twenty-five degrees.