Method and apparatus for banding articles with thermoplastic material

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR BANDING ARTICLES WITH THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL COMPRISING: (A) MEANS FOR PRESENTING A SPAN OF THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL AT A GIVEN LOCATION AND INCLUDING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A SUPPLY OF SAID MATERIAL; (B) PIVOTAL MEANS FOR URGING AN ARTICLE TO BE BANDED AGAINST ONE SIDE OF SAID SPAN AND TO INVERT SAID ARTICLE SO AS TO PARTIALLY BAN SAID ARTICLE WITH THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL; (C) PIVOTAL CLAMPING MEANS FOR ENGAGING THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID SPAN AFTER SAID ARTICLE HAS BEEN PARTIALLY BANDED FOR FLEXING SAID SPAN COMPLETELY ABOUT SAID ARTICLE AND TO BRING PREVIOUSLY SPACED PORTIONS OF MATERIAL INTO CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER; (D) A HEATED WIRE CARRIED BY SAID CLAMPING MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY SEVERING AND HEAT SEALING SAID PORDUCED BY SAID HEATED WIRE IN A DIRECTION TO PRESENT A NEW SPAN OF THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL IN THE PATH OF SAID PIVOTAL MEANS WHICH IS DEVOID OF HEAT SEALED JUNCTURES FORMED BY SAID HEATED WIRE, SAID MEANS FOR PRESENTING SAID SPAN BEING PARTICULARLY CHARACTERIZED IN THAT SAID THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL IS RESISTIVELY MOVABLE IN A DIRECTION TOWARD SAID SPAN TO PROVIDE A PREDETERMINED TENSION IN THE MATERIAL FORMING THE SPAN, AND IS CONSTANTLY RESTRAINED AGAINST MOVEMENT IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID SPAN.