Abstract: The invention relates to the packaging of one or more articles in a packaging sheet material which is moveable from a first condition to a second, expanded, condition to improve the packaging effect of the sheet material. In accordance with the invention the sheet material includes a first portion with apertures which can be moved to an open position to create the second, expanded, condition and at least one, but typically a plurality of spaced apart, second portions which have no apertures, or a different shape and/or pattern of apertures than the apertures of the first portion, so as to form a surface of the said second portion more suitable for the application of a label and/or indications thereon when the sheet material is in the second expanded condition.

Abstract: The invention relates to the packaging of one or more articles in a packaging sheet material which is moveable from a first condition to a second, expanded, condition to improve the packaging effect of the sheet material. In accordance with the invention the sheet material includes a first portion with apertures which can be moved to an open position to create the second, expanded, condition and at least one, but typically a plurality of spaced apart, second portions which have no apertures, or a different shape and/or pattern of apertures than the apertures of the first portion, so as to form a surface of the said second portion more suitable for the application of a label and/or indications thereon when the sheet material is in the second expanded condition.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus and a method for applying a length of adhesive tape with a water activated adhesive coating using a handheld dispensing apparatus. The apparatus allows a first portion including a leading end of the said length of tape to be fed from a tape supply through a dispensing outlet of the apparatus by operating user actuation means to operate feed means of the apparatus and a further portion of the said length of tape is dispensed by causing relative movement between the apparatus and the said item and operating user actuation means to operate a cutting station of the apparatus to separate the trailing edge of the said length of tape from the remainder of the tape supply and the apparatus and thereby allow the length of tape to be adhered to the item, such as a cardboard packaging box.

Abstract: A dispensing system for mailing and other bags comprises a plurality of bags (10) arranged as a stack, each bag being frangibly connected along their upper side edge at (15) to a header (16), and a fastener (18) extending through the header (16) of each bag for securing the bags (10) together into an assembly, the system further comprising hanger (24) for supporting the bag assembly, the hanger (24) comprising a formation (26) arranged to engage a complimentary formation (20) on the rear of the fastener (18). The hanger (24) can be permanently fixed to a support structure and the assembly of bag (10) is then fitted to the hanger by engaging the formation (20) on the fastener with the complimentary formation (26) on the hanger (24). The bags (10) then hang from the hanger (24) in such a way that they can easily and singlehandedly be opened and detached by pulling them away from their header (16).