Abstract: A method for packaging flat objects (5) that includes the steps of completely wrapping successive flat objects (5) with a film wrapping (6) by means of a film wrapping unit (1), gripping the completely wrapped flat objects (5) each with a gripper (4) of a first conveying device (2), transporting the wrapped flat objects (5) by means of the first conveying device (2) to a shrinking unit (3), wherein the shrinking unit (3) is spatially separated from the film wrapping unit (1), and shrinking the film wrappings (6) onto the flat objects (5) by means of the shrinking unit (3).

Abstract: To palletize packages, a wrapping vehicle includes a vertically mounted drive screw having a plurality of ball nuts mounted at wrapping-effective distances from each other on the vertically mounted drive screw. Each ball-nut has a corresponding cantilever mounted to the ball nut to support a roll of wrapping material. A tension adjustment mechanism is mounted to adjust the resistance to motion of each roll of wrapping material and thus the tension on the wrapping material. The ball nuts are each connected to side support guide plates positioned to slide against the sides of mast housing the drive screw wherein said ball nuts are supported against tilting movement.

Abstract: A method of applying stretch film wrapping to an agricultural bale (10) which is of rectangular cross section and using a bale wrapper apparatus which comprises: a table which supports the bale (10) and which operates to rotate the bale generally about its longitudinal axis (11) during a wrapping cycle; a dispenser reel arrangement (12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 25) from which stretch film wrapping is withdrawn so as to form successive overlapping windings of film which cover the bale; and means which applies relative rotation between the table and the dispenser reel arrangement about a second axis (14) which extends substantially perpendicular to said first axis during the wrapping cycle; in which: each winding of film includes a longitudinal edge strip portion and an adjoining longitudinal strip portion; and the longitudinal edge portion has different deformation properties from the deformation properties of said adjoining portion so as to be more readily extensible under a given load than said adjoining port

Abstract: Unit load for transporting absorbent hygienic articles such as sanitary pads. The unit load includes a pallet, a bottom tray with one or more side flaps folded upwardly, a plurality of secondary packages loaded on the pallet and forming a stack, a top cap on top of the stack with one or more side flaps folded downwardly, and a plurality of corner posts each placed against a different vertical corner of the stack of secondary packages. A secondary package for transporting feminine hygiene articles, in particular sanitary pads, made of a flexible material is provided.

Abstract: A film roping assembly comprises a roping pulley which is disposed upon the wrapping film dispensing carriage assembly. The roping pulley is vertically reciprocable so as to be movable transversely, across the width of the wrapping film, with respect to the direction in which the wrapping film is being dispensed. The roping pulley is initially disposed at its uppermost position and engages the upper edge portion of the film. As the roping pulley is moved vertically downwardly, the film is condensed or gathered so as to form a roped section of the wrapping film. The process may be repeated throughout a single wrapping operation so as to provide the wrapped film with both roped and non-roped sections.

Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with a liquid beverage material with a packing apparatus for packing filled bottles and a method of operation thereof. Further, a method of manufacturing and stacking packaging units with increased stability is performed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for wrapping a palletized load are provided. The apparatus preferably includes a film dispenser for dispensing a film web, at least one guide rollers configured to engage the width of the film web, and at least one roping element. The at least one roping element may be a cable rolling roper configured to roll a portion of the film web into a rolled cable of film. The apparatus may also include means for providing relative rotation between the load and the dispenser to wrap a roped portion of the film web around a base of the load/top portion of a pallet supporting the load.

Abstract: An apparatus for wrapping a load may include a film dispenser for dispensing a film web including a film dispensing drive. The apparatus may also include a rotational drive system for providing relative rotation between the load and the dispenser during a wrapping cycle. The apparatus may further include a controller configured to operatively couple the film dispensing drive and the rotational drive system such that, for any portion of a revolution of the film dispenser relative to the load during the wrapping cycle, the film dispenser dispenses a selected length of the film web corresponding to the portion of the revolution.

Abstract: A glass chair mat and method of packaging comprising a sheet of tempered glass with rounded corners and rounded beveled edges. The tempered glass chair mat may be finished to enhance its appearance or left translucent to showcase the flooring underneath. The method of packaging allows a minimal amount of employees to safely package the glass chair mat for delivery to residence and businesses alike. Furthermore, the packaging provides additional protection against damage during transit and assures common carriers are aware of the fragile nature of the package.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for wrapping a plurality of tubes which includes a plurality of supporting stations, each of which includes a pair of stanchions upon which pulleys are positioned. An endless belt is threaded along the pulleys and one of the pulleys is driven by a drive motor to move the endless belt to rotate a bundle of tubes positioned on the belt. A roll of stretch wrapping plastic material such as polyethylene is disposed upon a trolley movable along a rail. The polyethylene plastic film engages the exterior of the bundle of tubes and as the bundle rotates, the film is moved from the roll to encompass and wrap the bundle of tubes.

Abstract: A film dispenser for a stretch wrapping apparatus is provided. The film dispenser includes a pre-stretch assembly having a top portion mounted to and extending downwardly from a drive plate of a roll carriage frame. The pre-stretch assembly includes two pre-stretch rollers having first ends connected to the roll carriage frame and second ends connected to one another. The pre-stretch rollers may be coated. The pre-stretch assembly further includes a cantilevered idle roller mounted to the drive plate and positioned between the pre-stretch rollers. A film path is defined by the space between the pre-stretch rollers and the idle roller. The film path is easily accessible via the bottom end of the pre-stretch assembly.

Abstract: A stretch wrap assembly comprising a base, a turntable mounted on the base, a column on the base and a carriage movable upon the column. The carriage includes a first nip roller, a first pre-stretch roller, an idler roller, a second pre-stretch roller and a second nip roller. The carriage is configured to have stretch wrap threaded through the carriage from a roll of stretch wrap, around a portion of a circumferences of the first nip roller, the first pre-stretch roller, the idler roller, the second pre-stretch roller, and the second nip roller and to the package. The first nip roller and the second nip roller can be on a chassis to be able to move rotationally and laterally relative to the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller.

Abstract: A firewood bundler device includes a base member having first and second opposed, vertical arm members extending from the base member. A U-shaped, wood support member is attached at an end of each arm member, with an open end opposite the base member. A wrapping support member is rotatably attached to an end of one arm member and includes a spindle section extending therefrom, the spindle section movable in a circular path around the wood support members upon rotation of the wrapping support member. The spindle section holds a roll of wrapping material. A rotation device is operatively connected to the wrapping support member for imparting rotational movement thereto and to the spindle section. Multiple pieces of firewood placed in the U-shaped supports are encircled with wrapping material by rotation of the wrapping support member holding a roll of wrapping material.

Abstract: An insert that inserts into a stretch wrap roll core having a first tubular body having a first and a second side, the first side having a first lip surrounding the first tubular body and a first curved handle within the inner side of the first side of the first tubular body, the second side of the first tubular body having a first attachment means for attaching to another tubular body, and a second tubular body having a first and a second side, the first side having a second lip surrounding the second tubular body and a second curved handle within the inner side of the first side of the second tubular body, the second side of the second tubular body having a second attachment means for attaching to the first tubular body's first attachment means.

Abstract: A mandrel (2) comprising a body portion (4) having an outer surface for receiving a stretchable closed wrapper (20), the mandrel having an end (6) adapted for mounting on a self supporting object (18) to be wrapped such that the wrapper can be slid over the mandrel and delivered therefrom onto the outer surface (22) of the object, in which the mandrel includes a portion which engages with the object to allow the mandrel to seat on an end of the object.

Abstract: A wrapping member attaching device 10 for attaching a wrapping member 60 to a container 50, comprises: a container preheating means 20 for preheating at least a portion 53 of the container; a wrapping member arranging means 41 for arranging the wrapping member in such a manner that the container can be surrounded by the wrapping member; and a wrapping member heating means 30 for heating the wrapping member to a temperature not less than a shrinkage starting temperature of the wrapping member so that the wrapping member can be shrunk around the container and attached to it. Due to the foregoing, the wrapping member is attached to the container without being tilted, wrinkles and unevenness of color. A portion 54? of the container 50, at which the wrapping member shrinks most, may be preheated. The container preheating means may includes a container rotating means 25 for rotating the container.

Abstract: A method of packing shutter panels including applying foam clips to sides of a shutter panel. The ends of the foam clips extend beyond ends of the shutter panel so that the ends of the foam clips overhang the panel. A plastic covering wrapped around the foam clips and the shutter panel is wrapped tight enough to compress and bend the ends of the foam clips inward toward the panel to form protective corners.

Abstract: A system for sealing a packaging wrapper around an object directs a flow of heated air to end flaps of the wrapper to move the end flaps into sealing contact with a body section of the wrapper to substantially enclose the object. The system includes an oven, a conveyor, a source of heated air and a means for deflecting the flow of heated air to the conveyor to seal end flaps of the wrapper with a body section of the wrapper. In use, an object surrounded by the wrapper body section is moved through the oven on a conveying surface of the conveyor, and heated air is moved through the oven bypassing the conveying surface to a region below the conveying surface. The heated air flow then encounters the means for deflecting the heated air flow, which directs the air flow upward and through the conveying surface to impact and move the end flaps into sealing contact with the wrapper body section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymer comprising units derived from ethylene having: a) a Melt Index of from 0.05 to 20 g/10 min; b) at least 10 per 1000 C-atoms of short chain branches, containing five carbon atoms or less, and less than 3.5 mol %, of units derived from a copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated ester, c) a density of from 0.90 to 0.94 g/cm3, preferably 0.91 to 0.935 g/cm3, especially 0.92 to 0.93 g/cm3, and d) a relaxation time as described herein of at least 10 s. The polymer may be used for stretch hood film, preferably as a blown film coextruded tube comprising: a) a core of the above polymer; and b) a skin layer, on each side of the core which may be of the same or different composition, comprising at least 60 wt % of an LLDPE having density of 0.91 to 0.94 g/cm3.

Abstract: A vacuum packaging system for transporting a plurality of medical containers including a tray that supports the medical containers and an air impervious flexible film defining an internal cavity. The air impervious flexible film completely surrounds the tray and the medical containers. The internal cavity is evacuated to a predetermined vacuum level below atmospheric pressure. A method for packaging the plurality of medical containers for transportation in the tray includes inserting the medical containers into the tray, inserting the tray filled with medical containers into the internal cavity, evacuating the internal cavity to a predetermined vacuum pressure and sealing the flexible film such that the predetermined vacuum pressure is generally maintained in the internal cavity.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enclosing a palletized container of fresh containers of perishables inside a modified atmosphere-containing plastic bag/enclosure stretched over the containers and over upwardly-folded and sealed margins of a plastic sheet placed between the pallet and the containers to seal the containers of perishables inside the bag/enclosure and to facilitate forming and maintaining a modified atmosphere inside the bag/enclosure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for packaging rolls, particularly paper web rolls; the method includes the steps of taking a roll into a supported position on a roll rotation station and wrapping onto the roll a paper wrapper or the like material dispensed by means of at least one wrapper dispensing station and dispensing means, whereby the wrapper is wound so as to form either a centered wrapping or an overlapping wrapping. The invention is implemented by way of aligning the roll for the wrapping operation by means of transferring the roll rotation station laterally in the axial direction of the roll in regard to the wrapper dispensing system. The invention also relates to an apparatus and a novel roll package utilizing the method.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus for covering goods, and goods stacked on a pallet with plastic wrap supplied in a roll comprises: a) a roll head adapted to rotatably carry the roll of plastic wrap, the roll head having a friction mechanism so that ease of rotation of the roll with respect to the head is controlled thereby facilitating stretching the wrap around the goods after an end portion of the wrap is initially secured adjacent to the goods; and, b) an elongate handle portion carrying the roll head and extending therefrom in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the roll of plastic wrap.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for blocking a bar code in a package includes a carrier with a plurality of apertures. The carrier is formed with a plastic material containing an absorbing dye and a fluorescing dye so that a bar code on each container is not readable by a bar code scanner.

Abstract: A method for applying a heat-shrink patch to a carton for forming a shape of the carton. The carton includes a top panel, a bottom panel, at least one side panel extending between the top panel and the bottom panel and a movable section that is movable between a first position and a second position. The method includes providing a heat-shrink patch in a pre-shrunk configuration. The heat-shrink patch is coupled in the pre-shrunk configuration to at least a portion of an interior surface of a blank of sheet material including at least a portion of the movable section. The carton is formed from the blank of sheet material. The movable section is moved from the first position to the second position to form the shape of the carton by heating the heat-shrink patch to shrink the heat-shrink patch to a shrunk configuration.

Abstract: A method for applying a heat shrinkable film to a carton for forming a shape of the carton is provided. The carton includes a top panel, a bottom panel, at least one side panel extending between the top panel and the bottom panel, and a movable section that is movable between a first position and a second position. The method includes providing a heat-shrinkable but unshrunken film, wrapping the film in an unheated condition around at least a portion of the carton including at least a portion of the movable section of the carton, and moving the movable section from the first position to the second position to form a shape of the carton by heating the heat-shrinkable film to shrink the heat-shrinkable film into contact with at least a portion of the movable section.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a method of treating plastics material fibers, filaments or film to improve their resistance to degradation by UV radiation and/or increase their resistance to gas (oxygen) transmissivity and an improved plastics material so treated, the method including stretching the fiber, filament or film beyond its yield point and allowing the film to at least partially relax.

Abstract: An apparatus for covering goods, and goods stacked on a pallet with plastic wrap supplied in a roll comprises: a) a roll head adapted to rotatably carry the roll of plastic wrap, said roll head having a friction mechanism so that ease of rotation of the roll with respect to the head is controlled thereby facilitating stretching the wrap around the goods after an end portion of the wrap is initially secured adjacent to the goods; and, b) an elongate handle portion carrying the roll head and extending therefrom in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the roll of plastic wrap.

Abstract: A shrink tubing jacket construction enables blade-free or enhanced removal of shrink tubing from an underlying substrate, such as a catheter construction. The shrink tubing jacket construction comprises a length of shrink tubing and one or more tear members located within the wall of the shrink tubing. The wall of the shrink tubing has a certain first material strength and the tear member has a certain second material strength, such that when the tear member is in tension, the second material strength functions to slice through the wall of the shrink tubing for enabling blade-free removal of the same. Paired tear members may be diametrically opposed such that when simultaneously tensioned in a diametrical direction, the net stress on the underlying substrate is minimized during the slicing action.

Abstract: A method and kit are provided for labeling an object having a generally rounded outer surface, such as a cowboy lariat. The kit includes a label, substantially transparent heat-shrinkable tubing, and packaging suitable for storing, displaying, and distribution. Use of the invention is quick and efficient, providing a durable and easily recognizable label for imprinting an identifying mark thereon.

Abstract: A fruit protection and transportation system providing various apparatus and methods to absorb impact and compression forces to reduce damage to fruit (3). Particular embodiments of the invention comprise a fruit protector blank (1) of resiliently compressible force absorption material having a substantially planar surface (2) that can be conformed to a portion of the exterior surface of various kinds of fruit (3). Other embodiments of the invention provide a molded force absorption cover (21) of resiliently compressible foam material that elastically conforms to a portion of the exterior surface of a fruit (3).

Abstract: A system for tracking items includes a turntable to receive a pallet containing articles having RFID devices, a wrap dispenser to wrap the articles with wrap as the turntable rotates and a transceiver disposed on the wrap dispenser to transmit and receive a signal from the RFID devices while the turntable is rotating and wrapping the articles. A method is provided including loading articles having RFID devices thereon on a pallet, loading the pallet on a turntable, attaching an end of a wrap to at least one of the articles, rotating the turntable to cause the wrap to encircle the articles until all of the articles are constrained in position by the wrap, transmitting a signal to the RFID devices to cause the each RFID device to emit a signal back to the transceiver, and reading the signals from the RFID devices to obtain information contained in the signals.

Abstract: A foil hood is gathered into a stack of folds and then fitted over four fingers in inner positions of the fingers with the hood open downward. A holding device then clamps the hood against the fingers, the fingers are spread into outer positions to transversely stretch the hood, and then the holding device is disengaged. Finally the fingers are moved downward along the load such that the closed end of the hood engages on the top of the load and the hood is pulled upward fold-by-fold off the fingers through a predetermined position at which generally all of the folds have been pulled off the fingers to an end position at which the hood is stretched vertically over the load and all of the folds have been pulled off the fingers.

Abstract: Process for producing packs made of thin cardboard with an outer wrapper made of shrink-wrap film. Folding tabs of the outer wrapper are connected to one another by full-surface-area heat sealing. The shrink-wrapping process for the outer wrapper may be initiated as a result. In order to ensure a correct form of the outer wrapper, the folding tabs, prior to the full-surface-area sealing operation, are connected to one another by a tack seal, with small, limited sealing surface areas, and are then sealed over the full surface area.

Abstract: An upper jaw of the gripper is provided posteriorly to a fulcrum shaft, with opposed portions for a double effect cooperation with an eccentric element keyed on the shaft which controls the orientation of the gripper. The opening and closure movement of the gripper, in an appropriate phase of the distributor (D) of the film, is ensured by the cooperation of a roller of an action lever of the fulcrum shaft with a cam-function lever, horizontally fulcrumed with one end of a support fixed to the frame of the machine and provided on the other end with a trigger and hook device which, when actuated by the roller, deactivates and allows the lifting of the lever via an elastic return device. Subsequent to the lifting, the gripper closes and grasps the film from the distributor.

Abstract: Unit for packaging and palletizing rolls of paper comprising a bagging and/or forming machine adapted to sort packages of said rolls into batches or to bag said sorted loose packages in a plastic bag, and a palletizing station comprising at lease one manipulator provided with grippers to handle loose packages of delivered products from said bagging and/or forming machine. The products are conveyed to said palletizing station with a predetermined stepped sequence and spaced from one another in at least one row on a conveyer element, wherein said at least one robot and said bagging and/or forming machine are interconnected and are programmed respectively to sort said products in batches of different forms and dimensions according to a sequence which is continuously variable to form a layer of a pallet with different batches of products adjacent to and engaged with one another.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for wrapping a palletized load is provided. The apparatus includes a non-powered conveyor load wrapping surface, at least one non-powered conveyor load storage surface, and a pusher assembly for moving the load between the wrapping and storage surfaces. The non-powered conveyor load wrapping surface is provided on a surface of a rotatable turntable and is isolated from any electrical or fluid power source by the rotatable turntable. The pusher assembly includes at least one pusher arm rotatable between an upright home position and a horizontal pushing position. The apparatus may also include a load building surface in a hand palletizing area. Hand palletized loads are pushed from the load building surface onto either a load storage surface or the load wrapping surface.

Abstract: A process and a device are disclosed for packaging products in a stretchable plastic film; the device comprises: means for supporting and heating a product; means for supplying and clamping the film in a position overlaying the product; means for contacting and adhering the film, when stretched, to the product; means for cutting the film along its still not-free side; means for locking and releasing the cut film in stretched contact with the product; means for bending and adhering the film to the product through a bending action on the whole product perimeter; means for removing the packaged product; and control means for the device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the automated wrapping of a bundle with a resilient stretchable film. The method comprises the steps of (i) unrolling a desired length of the film from a roll. The film has a first panel overlapping a second panel. The panels are interconnected at a sealed first end. (ii) Sealing a second end of the panels to bond them together by a second seal at the desired length. (iii) Cutting the film along the second seal to form a tube. (iv) Separating the first panel of the tube from the second panel by grasping film edges of each of the panels, whereby the tube may be opened. (v) Loading the tube in an opened position on an expandable frame, whereby at least a portion of the tube is accumulated in a folded condition on the expandable frame. (vi) Stretching the tube by expanding the expandable frame.

Abstract: Apparatus (2) for wrapping a load (18) placed on a turntable (4) having a mast assembly (8), a carriage assembly (12) adapted for vertical slideable movement along said mast assembly (8) and dispensing means (13) for dispensing tape material (80). The tape material (80) is transferred from the dispensing means (13) in response to rotation of the turntable (4) such that the tape material (80) wraps around the load (18) in a predefined pattern. The carriage assembly (12) and turntable (4) are configured for automated movement in response to a computer program stored in memory means (306) to enable wrapping of the load (18) with the tape material (80) in the predefined pattern. The carriage assembly (12) is positioned along the mast assembly (8) under control of the computer program in accordance with a rotational position of the load (18) to locate the tape material (80) at locations on the load (18). A pretensioning apparatus is also disclosed for pretensioning the tape material (80).

Abstract: In a packaging apparatus, when replacing a preceding single-faced corrugated fiberboard (wrapping material) with a subsequent single-faced corrugated fiberboard, a draw-out roller is operated such that the preceding single-faced corrugated fiberboard is drawn out to its trailing end. At this time, a reserve roller, around which the single-faced corrugated fiberboard is trained, is moved such that the single-faced corrugated fiberboard, which has been drawn out, is accumulated thereat. Then, the trailing end of the preceding single-faced corrugated fiberboard and a leading end of the subsequent single-faced corrugated fiberboard are joined together at a joining device. In this way, the preceding single-faced corrugated fiberboard can be used up until its final end, and thus there is no waste of the single-faced corrugated fiberboard.

Abstract: The system uses a shrink film covering all the products (12) arranged inside a cardboard box (1) and holding these products against one another and also against the base (2) of the box. At least two heat-shrinkable sheets (9, 10) are attached, by one of their edges, in the region of the join between the base (2) of the box and the sides (4) of the lateral band (3) of this box. An additional heat-shrinkable sheet (14), supplied at the upper level of the lateral band (3) or of the products (12), is joined by welding to the previous sheets (9, 10) in order to form a single film that is shrunk over the products (12). A heat-protection sheet (13) may be inserted between this film and the products (12). The invention applies to packaging for the preparation and dispatch of product orders.

Abstract: A leading end of packaging material is grasped in a packaging material holder while a load is wrapped. Packaging material is dispensed from a packaging material dispenser, and relative rotation is provided between the dispenser and a load to wrap packaging material around the load. The packaging material holder may be positioned on the rotating surface of a turntable but isolated from any electrical or fluid power source of a rotatable surface of the turntable. During the wrapping cycle, the packaging material holder moves downstream along the turntable, automatically releasing the leading end of the packaging material and automatically grasping a trailing end of the packaging material. The packaging material is weakened and then severed between the packaging material holder and the load. The packaging material holder is mounted to permit it to move upstream due to force exerted by the packaging material held in the holder.

Abstract: The machine for the packaging of products with stretchable and thermoplastic film comprises:—Means for the tubularization of a wrapping film (5) taken from a feeding bobbin and means (6) for the longitudinal tight-seal welding of the super-imposed edges of such tubularized film;—Means (7, 7?) which alternate in the transversal grip of the head of the tubular wrapping which comes out from said tubularization means, which are pre-arranged for the longitudinal movement of said wrapping, to longitudinally stretch it and to perform on same two transversal, parallel and tight seal weldings, a transversal cut placed between the said weldings and to retain the wrapping upstream and downstream of the two welded zones separated by the cut,—Means (2, 3, 4) for the cyclical introduction of a product (P) through the inlet of said tubularization means (1) and up to its outlet;—Means (10) to temporarily support the packaging being formed;—Means (12, 12?) to stop the forward movement of the tubular wrapping on the outlet mou

Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, and a container filling plant container information adding station, such as, a labeling station having a griper arrangement, configured to add information to containers, such as, bottles and cans. The gripper arrangement is adjustable to handle sleeve labels of various diameters to permit the labeling of containers of various diameters by one gripper arrangement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing an initial tail of film to a load while wrapping the load with packaging material are provided. The method includes holding a leading end of packaging material while providing relative rotation between the load and the dispenser to wrap film around the load. A portion of the leading end of film is secured to a fixed wrapping structure while the leading end of the film is held. After the leading end is secured to the fixed wrapping structure, the leading end of the film is released. The released leading end of the film is then secured to the load. The apparatus holds a leading end of packaging material and provides relative rotation between the load and a dispenser to dispense packaging material. The apparatus also secures a held leading end of packaging material and secures a released leading end of packaging material between two layers of packaging material. A method and apparatus for securing a final tail of film to the load also are provided.

Abstract: In a method for packaging an object using a hose-shaped stretch foil having laterally extending folds guided axially with respect to the stretch foil and along a length of the object, a foil hood sized to a shape of the object to be packaged is formed, which hood is reefed onto several gripper devices movable in essentially horizontal direction, of a lifting frame movable in essentially a vertical direction. The reefed foil hood is tentered in an essentially horizontal direction by the movement of the gripper device such that the tentered opening of the foil hood is larger than the contour of the object to be packed and wherein the foil hood is expanded in essentially horizontal direction. The foil hood is then pulled over the object by the essentially vertical movement of the lifting frame, wherein the foil hood is pulled off from the gripper device and is expanded in essentially vertical direction.

Abstract: A stack of object is wrapped by first transversely outwardly stretching a tube having open ends and then pulling the transversely outwardly stretched tube over the stack to a position with the tube extending generally a full length of the stack and one open end of the tube projecting past an end of the stack. Then the tube is released such that it retracts into engagement with sides of the stack and the one open tube end bears on the end of the stack at least adjacent edges of the end of the stack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wrapping round bales with either netwrap or stretch film that prevent the stretch film from adhering to the parts of the wrapping mechanism.