Abstract: This invention relates to a method of utilizing a shrink wrap film to shrink wrap a load or group of articles or packages having a surface portion formed of the same material as the shrink wrap film. The load or group is assembled and wrapped with the outer ply of each article or package formed of the shrink wrap film being coated with a release coating which will withstand the heat shrinking and will not fuse to any part of the load or group when subjected to film-shrinking heat when the group is overwrapped with similar film. The wrapped load is thereby heated to shrink the film or laminate about the load, and may thereafter be easily removed.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus for handling containers such as glass bottles, at high rates of production, including a single straight line pocket chain conveyor carrying containers in a single line into a line dividing mechanism at a transfer zone over a second, wide conveyor. The second conveyor crosses the path of the pocket chain conveyor at an obtuse angle on the order of 115.degree.. The divider mechanism comprises two rotary cams operated synchronously, their lobes being in mesh with each other and each having alternating shallow and deep lobes thereon for contacting the containers in removing them from the pocket chain into two lines on the second conveyor. The divider mechanism prevents container-to-container contact in the mechanism, and this is especially important for glass containers. The pocket chain and cams are driven synchronously to cooperate in the transfer zone for forming the two lines of containers from the single line that is delivered. Each container is under positive control of the mechanism.

Abstract: The invention discloses a line-combiner apparatus for receiving two lines of packages in a production line, such as six or eight packs of containers filled with a beer or beverage product, and combining them into a single line of packages without interference and at rates on the order of 200 pieces per minute. The packs delivered from two wrap machines are carried by separate infeed conveyors in the initial section of the apparatus driven at a speed to randomly space packages in each of the lines. The second section of the apparatus includes individual chains engaging the bottom of packages of each line and the chains each have spring-loaded fingers spaced therealong which protrude in the plane of the packages at predetermined spacings. The finger-carrying chains running at the same speed have their fingers 180.degree. out of phase with each other so that the fingers are alternately spaced (staggered).