Sleeve Applicators

Compare SLEEVE APPLICATORS. Sleeve applicators or Neck Banders that are the most common term for machines that apply safety or security seals, shrink bands and/or shrink sleeves around the opening and in some cases the whole container.

Safety or tamper proof bands have been in use for some time and are a well established in industry. The use of shrink sleeves to replace glue on labels is increasing in popularity.

Most sleeve applicators designed for safety seals can also place sleeves. However, these are usually of limited length. Where a safety seal dispenser can handle a band 1 to 4 in long, a sleeve applicator can handle from 2 in to 9 in long or more. The diameter of the sleeve that a machine can handle comes in ranges, such as, from 3/8 to 3.5 inches. The shrink material comes flat on a roll.

Most neck and sleeve applicators are for continuous operations. The feeding of the band or sleeve is over intricate sets of rollers with a mechanism to quickly connect a new roll of material so that the product flow sees no interruption. The shrink material is pulled along unopened until just before it reaches the product. A mandrel or vacuum fingers open the flat sheet and slides it over the product. At the same time, a high speed knife cuts the sleeve to the proper length.

The high speed movement of the plastic sleeve through the machine creates static. It is important that the machine is equipped with an anti-static system.