Abstract: A machine for packing a load in a section of sheath made of supple material, and particularly of plastic material, comprises mechanisms for supplying flat sections of sheath in the direction of the load and for opening the downstream end of each section of sheath opposite the load, and a pleating device for progressively pleating part of each section of sheath. The pleating device has rotatable pleating members applied against the sheath and against support ramps located inside the sheath. A movable covering frame whose section is larger than the cross section of the load to be packed is provided for bearing the section of pleated sheath. The rotatable pleating members are mounted on a support independent of the covering frame and the pleating device comprises mobile pleating arms.

Abstract: A device for shaping a film of heat-retractable plastics material in the zone of the lateral spaces of a pallet-less multi-layer load having a layer of reduced width, said spaces for gripping purposes being defined by right-angled dihedrons, comprises mobile shaping elements intended to be applied against the film of plastics material which is still soft covering the faces of each dihedron defining a space for gripping.Each shaping element is constituted by a bar and means are provided to displace each shaper bar in the direction of the edge of the dihedron, to engage said bar in the angle of the dihedron between the layer of reduced width and the normal layer of the load located beneath this reduced layer.Each shaper bar is fast with one or more elements accelerating cooling of the plastics material.

Abstract: A packing for a pallet-less multi-layer load with a layer of reduced width defining lateral spaces for gripping purposes, each of these spaces, which are parallel to each other, having the form of a right-angled dihedron, comprises a plastic film element for protection and reinforcement applied on the reduced layer and the spaces for gripping. The protecting and reinforcing element is provided, in its parts adapted to be applied respectively on the faces of the dihedrons forming the spaces for gripping, with at least one additional band or strip folded inwardly and forming an extra thickness on the two faces of each of these dihedrons. The protecting and reinforcing element of plastics film is advantageously constituted by a section of sheath with gussets, the gussets being disposed either perpendicularly or parallel to the spaces for gripping.