Abstract: A cutting, or crimping, apparatus having first and second opposed jaw members which are mounted on a frame and are movable relative to each other from a first axial position to a second axial position along an axis so as to respectively cut, or crimp, wrapping material extending between adjacent articles wherein at least one of the jaw members is rotatably mounted to the frame such that it is rotatable from a first rotational position to a second rotational position, in the first rotational position the jaw members are movable relative to each other along a first said axis and in the second rotational position the jaw members are movable relative to each other along a second said axis that is inclined relative to the first axis.

Abstract: A packaging system for goods is provided, comprising a box (1) for holding the goods, the box having four side walls (11a-d), a front face (12) and a rear face (16). The front face comprises a wall provided with front flaps (13a-d) defining a front window (13). The packaging system further comprises either a plastic film (6) wrapped around the box, covering the front face and the rear face of the box and retaining the goods within the box; or at least one band (6) placed around the box, placed around the box so as to encircle the front face and the rear face of the box and retain the goods within the box. The front flaps provided in the front face are configured to disengage and thus allow the goods to be unloaded from the box after either the plastic film or the at least one band has been removed and the box has been turned so that the front face faces downwards.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus (1) comprising: a wrapping material applicator (3) for helically wrapping articles (A); an inlet conveyor (2) for transporting unwrapped articles to the applicator; an outlet conveyor (4) for transporting wrapped articles away from the applicator; wherein the outlet conveyor comprises a first conveyor (11) and a second conveyor (12) adjacent to and downstream of the first conveyor (11), wherein the packaging apparatus (1) further comprises a controller (80) arranged to selectively vary the linear velocity of the second conveyor relative (12) to the linear velocity of the first conveyor (11) so as to separate, or increase the separation of, collations of one or more articles (A) on the outlet conveyor.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus includes a wrapping material applicator for helically wrapping together a collation of articles, a first conveyor for transporting unwrapped collations of articles to the applicator; a second conveyor for transporting wrapped collations of articles away from the applicator; a base band applicator upstream of the wrapping material applicator for providing a base band of wrapping material underneath the unwrapped collations of articles such that the base band extends between wrapped collations of articles downstream of the applicator and unwrapped collations of articles upstream of the applicator, the base band being wrapped together with the collations of articles; and a tensioning mechanism configured, in use, to place at least a portion of the base band under tension before an unwrapped collation of articles is placed onto that portion of the base band. The first and second conveyors are spaced apart and the applicator is provided between them.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus includes a wrapping material applicator for helically wrapping together a collation of articles, a first conveyor for transporting unwrapped collations of articles to the applicator; a second conveyor for transporting wrapped collations of articles away from the applicator; a base band applicator upstream of the wrapping material applicator for providing a base band of wrapping material underneath the unwrapped collations of articles such that the base band extends between wrapped collations of articles downstream of the applicator and unwrapped collations of articles upstream of the applicator, the base band being wrapped together with the collations of articles; and a tensioning mechanism configured, in use, to place at least a portion of the base band under tension before an unwrapped collation of articles is placed onto that portion of the base band. The first and second conveyors are spaced apart and the applicator is provided between them.

Abstract: Packaging apparatus for helically wrapping articles with a stretchable flexible film of wrapping material. A first conveyor (11) transports unwrapped articles towards a wrapping material applicator (13) and a second conveyor (12) transports helically wrapped articles. The first and second conveyors are spaced apart and the wrapping material applicator (13) is disposed between the first and second conveyors. The wrapping material is applied between the first and second conveyors to wrap an article disposed in space between the conveyors. The applicator has a rotary ring (14) supported in rotation by a fixed guide ring. Wrapping film reels are mounted on the rotary ring and unwound around tensioning rollers. Relative motion of the guide and rotary rings is converted into rotation of the tensioning rollers by a gear train so the wrapping material is stretched prior to application to the articles. The packaging apparatus may be used to wrap any material around any sort of article.

Abstract: Packaging apparatus for helically wrapping articles with a stretchable flexible film of wrapping material. A first conveyor (11) for transports unwrapped articles towards a wrapping material applicator (13) and a second conveyor (12) transports articles that have been helically wrapped. The first and second conveyors are spaced apart and the wrapping material applicator (13) is disposed between said first and second conveyors. The wrapping material is applied between the first and second conveyors so as to wrap an article disposed in the space between the conveyors. The applicator has a rotary ring (14) that is supported in rotation by a fixed guide ring. Reels of wrapping film are mounted on the rotary ring and unwound around tensioning rollers. The relative motion of the guide and rotary rings is converted into rotation of the tensioning rollers by a gear train so that the wrapping material is stretched prior to being applied to the articles.