Shrink Sleeve Applicators

Compare SHRINK SLEEVE APPLICATORS. Shrink sleeve applicators are used to vertically apply shrink sleeve labels and tamper evident shrink sleeve bands. The shrink sleeve applicator throughput rate for the shrink sleeve product items is important. Production rates in Units per Minute (UPM) have to accommodate the continuous or intermittent, on demand, rate necessary to match the production line activity. The shrink sleeve applicator throughput rate is very dependent upon the particular minimum and maximum sleeve width and length being used.

Some shrink sleeve applicators use multiple sleeve head mechanisms to achieve high UPM rates or process each sleeve type, label and band. The sleeve label has the desired marketing data printed on the film. The label film is specifically designed to avoid print distortion during the shrink sub process. The tougher band film is usually perforated to make breaking the container tamper evident seal band more easily. The different characteristics needed for the sleeve type, drives the values of sleeve properties to vary within a minimum and maximum of thickness (measured in microns or micrometers), diameter (folded flat sleeve width) and height (cut sleeve length).

Sleeve Heat Tunnel Product containers are placed vertically on a production line conveyor, and are routed through this type of tunnel. Consequently, the tunnel itself is in the form of an upside down U. This shape leads to distinctly different dimension characteristics than the more traditional type of heat shrink tunnel described. The tunnel inside dimensions of width and height are more narrow and higher respectively. Longer length is usually achieved by a tandem configuration of more than one tunnel.

 

Heating methods employed also differ. Radiant infrared, steam and convective are some of the parameters defining the methods. The heat method chosen is driven by the target Type of sleeve; either label, band or both