Abstract: A packaging material holder comprising a bent shaft including a first arm, a base portion, and a second arm, and a plurality of magnets attached to the second arm is provided. The first arm includes an end which permits a roll of packaging material having an opening larger than a diameter of the end of the first arm to be placed over the end of the first arm and contact the base portion. The plurality of magnets magnetically couple to a magnetic surface and support a mass of the packaging material holder and a mass of the roll of packaging material.

Abstract: A securing apparatus configured to assist in securing objects to a pallet during packaging and shipping includes a main body having first and second wall portions spaced from one another to define a channel, and a hook extending from the main body via a neck portion. At least one of the first and second wall portions includes an anchor for engaging and being embedded in a pallet. A fastener may be received through an aperture of the main body to releasably attach the securing apparatus to a pallet, and the anchor may be at least partially embedded in the pallet. So configured, a filament may be looped about the hook to assist in securing objects to the pallet in a first securing configuration, and another filament may be received in the channel to assist in securing objects to the pallet in a second securing configuration.

Abstract: A cart comprising a support frame having a plurality of wheels, a reel supported by the support frame, and a tool tethered to the support frame.

Abstract: A stretch film dispensing apparatus gathers the stretch film into a flattened strap for use in securing an object to a pallet for shipping. The stretch film can be converted into a string or rope by passing it through one or more of a hook, funnel, apparatus, set of gears, or the like to effect stretching and/or twisting of the film into a string or rope. The string or rope is then pressed between two rollers biased together with sufficient force to flatten the string or rope into a flattened strap that maintains its structural integrity to be used as a replacement for plastic or metallic strapping.

Abstract: A stretch wrap applicator includes a member designed to engage the stretch wrap or stretch film as it is dispensed and to deform the stretch wrap by creating additional pockets of stretch on the stretch wrap transverse to its plane. The additional deformations caused by the member engaging the stretch wrap whether done in-line using the applicator or offline using equipment effects an additional stretch of the stretch film during application beyond the typical stretch caused by tension on stretch wrap when being applied to an object.

Abstract: A packaging material dispenser includes a brake arm with a horizontal portion that rests across the width of the peripheral surface of a roll of packaging material and includes a cutting tool arranged on the brake horizontal portion to aid in cutting across the width of the packaging material. The cutting tool is a slider-cutter that rides along a channel along the horizontal portion to enable the slider-cutter to ride within the channel to cut the packaging material. In another approach, the cutting tool is a stationary tear initiator configured to initiate a tear at one edge of the packaging material to facilitate tearing across the rest of the width of the packaging material. The brake arm is rotatably connected to a mast of the dispenser capable of holding at least one roll of packaging material on a support arm and allowing rotation of the roll thereabout.