Abstract: The invention provides a device for connecting together two flat tubular sheaths, the device including: a blocker (22a, 22b, 22c, 22d) for blocking one end of a first sheath, the blocker having means for opening an end of the first sheath; an adhesive-applicator system for applying adhesive to the inside of the open end of the sheath; the blocker being arranged to authorize closure of the end of the first sheath, once adhesive has been applied thereto, on an end of the second sheath. The invention also provides a corresponding roll of adhesive and a corresponding connection method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of protecting a container (1) against impacts, the container presenting a body (2) that is terminated at one end by a bottom and at the other end by a transition portion (4) leading to a neck (3), the method comprising the steps of: putting a bottom cup (5) into place on the container to cover the bottom of the container and project laterally from the body of the container; putting a top cup (6; 60) into place on the container pressing against the transition portion of the container in order to project laterally from the body of the container; covering the assembly with the help of a sleeve (20) of heat-shrink material; and heat-shrinking the sleeve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a security cover designed to surround a container, the cover comprising a sleeve (1) and a security strip (2) secured to an inside face of said sleeve and including at least one zone of weakness, the security strip being shaped so that when in service it surrounds the container below a finish of the container and in the immediate proximity of said finish, the security strip thus creating a compression zone compressing the container. The invention also relates to a container covered with such a cover.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat-shrinking facility for heat-shrinking sleeves made of heat-shrinkable material inserted onto supports, such as containers, comprising an enclosure, a heat-diffusion means (200) arranged inside the enclosure for supplying the heating means with steam and at least one conveyor for carrying the supports through the enclosure between an intake of the enclosure and an output of the enclosure. According to the invention, the steam-generation means comprises an adjustment means suitable for controlling the steam-generation means according to at least one measurement of the temperature prevailing in the enclosure such as to make the measured temperature tend towards a given set temperature.

Abstract: A facility for heat-shrinking sleeves made of heat-shrinkable material inserted onto supports, such as containers, includes an enclosure provided with a heat-diffusion means, a conveyor for carrying the supports through the enclosure between an intake of the enclosure and an output of the enclosure, the enclosure including a base and a hood which is mounted mobile between an open position allowing access to the conveyor and an operational position in which said hood is sealingly mounted on the base, the hood comprising two openings through which the conveyor extends when the hood is in operational position. The hood comprises an inner partition mounted mobile between a retracted position and a service position in which the partition defines with the side walls of the hood and the base a main chamber of the enclosure subjected to the action of the heat-diffusion means when the hood is in operational position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat-shrinking facility for heat-shrinking sleeves made of heat-shrinkable material inserted onto supports comprising an enclosure, a heat-diffusion means arranged inside the enclosure, at least one conveyor for carrying the supports through the enclosure between an intake of the enclosure and an output of the enclosure. According to the invention, the heat-diffusion means form a single unit removably mounted on the base of the enclosure, with the heat-diffusion means including a means for quick connection to a heat-generation means leading into the enclosure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of protecting a container (1) against impacts, the container presenting a body (2) that is terminated at one end by a bottom and at the other end by a transition portion (4) leading to a neck (3), the method comprising the steps of: putting a bottom cup (5) into place on the container to cover the bottom of the container and project laterally from the body of the container; putting a top cup (6; 60) into place on the container pressing against the transition portion of the container in order to project laterally from the body of the container; covering the assembly with the help of a sleeve (20) of heat-shrink material; and heat-shrinking the sleeve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for accumulating flat material in flexible strip form, the device comprising an accumulator box having a bottom on which the strip accumulates, at least during accumulation stages, between two end walls and between two side walls that extend so as to face edges of the strip. The accumulator device includes at least one of the following means: rollers mounted idle close to the bottom and on which the strip rests during accumulation stages; air-flow means for establishing a flow of air within the box towards the bottom of the accumulator box; vibrator means for vibrating at least one of the side walls; and adjuster means for adjusting spacing between the side walls.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cover for wrapping at least one article, the cover being of the type constituted by a sleeve of heat-shrinkable plastics material suitable for closely surrounding at least a portion of the article or a group of articles. In accordance with the invention, the sleeve is constituted by superposing at least two walls secured to each another by detachable adhesive means, said walls having shrinkage characteristics that are essentially identical, and the outermost wall of the sleeve also presenting, through its entire thickness, at least one cut defining a detachable circumferential strip, said circumferential strip being printed so as to present respective patterns of printing that appear on each of its sides, the other wall(s) also presenting a pattern of printing behind the detachable circumferential strip that appears after said circumferential strip has been detached.

Abstract: A facility for heat-shrinking sleeves made of heat-shrinkable material inserted onto supports, such as containers, includes an enclosure provided with a heat-diffusion means, a conveyor for carrying the supports through the enclosure between an intake of the enclosure and an output of the enclosure, the enclosure including a base and a hood which is mounted mobile between an open position allowing access to the conveyor and an operational position in which said hood is sealingly mounted on the base, the hood comprising two openings through which the conveyor extends when the hood is in operational position. The hood comprises an inner partition mounted mobile between a retracted position and a service position in which the partition defines with the side walls of the hood and the base a main chamber of the enclosure subjected to the action of the heat-diffusion means when the hood is in operational position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat-shrinking facility for heat-shrinking sleeves made of heat-shrinkable material inserted onto supports comprising an enclosure, a heat-diffusion means arranged inside the enclosure, at least one conveyor for carrying the supports through the enclosure between an intake of the enclosure and an output of the enclosure. According to the invention, the heat-diffusion means form a single unit removably mounted on the base of the enclosure, with the heat-diffusion means including a means for quick connection to a heat-generation means leading into the enclosure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat-shrinking facility for heat-shrinking sleeves made of heat-shrinkable material inserted onto supports, such as containers, comprising an enclosure, a heat-diffusion means (200) arranged inside the enclosure for supplying the heating means with steam and at least one conveyor for carrying the supports through the enclosure between an intake of the enclosure and an output of the enclosure. According to the invention, the steam-generation means comprises an adjustment means suitable for controlling the steam-generation means according to at least one measurement of the temperature prevailing in the enclosure such as to make the measured temperature tend towards a given set temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for accumulating flat material in flexible strip form, the device comprising an accumulator box having a bottom on which the strip accumulates, at least during accumulation stages, between two end walls and between two side walls that extend so as to face edges of the strip. The accumulator device includes at least one of the following means: rollers mounted idle close to the bottom and on which the strip rests during accumulation stages; air-flow means for establishing a flow of air within the box towards the bottom of the accumulator box; vibrator means for vibrating at least one of the side walls; and adjuster means for adjusting spacing between the side walls.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for placing sleeves on traveling articles, said sleeves being cut from a continuous sheath passing over a sheath-opening shaper, as far as and beyond cutter means, which shaper is held floating between first outer wheels and backing wheels carried by said shaper. In accordance with the invention, the alternating pivoting of the or each blade is ensured by means of a cam system by the difference in rotation between two superposed rotary rings constituting the support for said blade, one of the rings presenting a cam path parallel to the cutting plane and extending in an oblique direction, a cam sliding therein, which cam is constrained to pivot with a blade-carrier by means of a pin parallel to the common axis of the rings and pivotally mounted on the other ring, the or each blade being arranged to pierce the wall of the sheath and to cut said wall by exerting a force thereon that is directed radially outwards.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for placing sleeves on traveling articles, said sleeves being cut from a continuous sheath passing over a sheath-opening shaper, first outer wheels serving to advance the sheath along the shaper, and second outer wheels being provided downstream from cutter means for the purpose of ejecting the cut-off sheath segment, said wheels being driven in rotation by associated electric motors controlled synchronously by a virtual-shaft common electronic programmer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a film of plastics material stretched to present a privileged shrinkage orientation and used in particular for fabricating heat-shrink sleeves, the film including at least one line of mechanical weakness and at least one local region of extra thickness extending along the line of weakness so as to border it, the line of weakness and the adjacent local region of extra thickness together defining a tear line. According to the invention, the local region of extra thickness is constituted by applying liquid or semi-liquid material to the film, the applied material being applied to the film in a quantity that depends on the expected shrinkage ratio in the portion of the film that includes the tear line while a sleeve made using such a film is being heat-shrunk onto an article.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protective and packaging wrapper for a container, the wrapper being constituted by a sleeve of heat-shrink plastics material for shrinking onto the container, said sleeve being obtained from a film that is folded in half and looped by bonding together two corresponding end zones. In accordance with the invention, the film constituting the sleeve is opaque to light over its entire area with the exception of a window zone, and the above-mentioned window zone is covered on the outside face of the sleeve by a detachable adhesive strip that is opaque to light, removal of said adhesive strip giving access to the window zone and making it possible to observe the substance present inside the container directly by eye.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protective and packaging wrapper for a container, the wrapper being constituted by a sleeve of heat-shrink plastics material for shrinking onto the container, said sleeve being obtained from a film that is folded in half and looped by bonding together two corresponding end zones. In accordance with the invention, the film constituting the sleeve is opaque to light over its entire area with the exception of a window zone, and the above-mentioned window zone is covered on the outside face of the sleeve by a detachable adhesive strip that is opaque to light, removal of said adhesive strip giving access to the window zone and making it possible to observe the substance present inside the container directly by eye.

Abstract: A wrapper for packaging one or more articles, is constituted by a sleeve of heat-shrink plastics material for shrinking onto the article(s) for packaging, said sleeve being made from a film that is folded in half and whose corresponding end zones are united. The wall of the sleeve is embossed at least in part with a predetermined pattern so that said pattern appears in relief on the outside face and/or the inside face of the sleeve and remains after said sleeve has been shrunk onto the article(s) to be packaged.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for placing sleeves on traveling articles, said sleeves being cut from a continuous sheath passing over a sheath-opening shaper, as far as and beyond cutter means, which shaper is held floating between first outer wheels and backing wheels carried by said shaper. In accordance with the invention, the alternating pivoting of the or each blade is ensured by means of a cam system by the difference in rotation between two superposed rotary rings constituting the support for said blade, one of the rings presenting a cam path parallel to the cutting plane and extending in an oblique direction, a cam sliding therein, which cam is constrained to pivot with a blade-carrier by means of a pin parallel to the common axis of the rings and pivotally mounted on the other ring, the or each blade being arranged to pierce the wall of the sheath and to cut said wall by exerting a force thereon that is directed radially outwards.