Abstract: The objective of the invention is to provide an alternative way of wrapping a product with cardboard at faster speed and maintain stacking strength. This accomplished by bending two strips of cardboard into the shape of a U channel where the sides of the U form an angle smaller than 90 degrees. The sides of the U channel cardboard will be open by a guide that will allow each U channel cardboard piece to slide around each end of the product without requiring glue to hold the U Channel in position. By maintaining an angle of less than 90 degrees the U channel cardboard acts like a spring clamp around the product and maintains its position on the conveyor belt while the product is film wrapped and the film is heat shrunk.

Abstract: The objective of this invention is to provide a handle for carrying an article or a bundle of bottles that is more resistant to tearing and delaminating and has the ability to carry heavy loads. This is accomplished by placing a strip on the inside of the wrapping material and wrapping an article, so that the strip that forms the handle is enclosed within the wrapping material. By placing the handle inside the wrapping material so that the strip overlaps when the wrapping material covers the article, the handle is capable of carrying heavy loads.

Abstract: The invention is to accumulate the bottles in a nested formation at a high speed on a moving conveyor and the reduction or elimination of gaps between the nested bottles that are caused by missing bottles. The is done by oscillating the conveyor belt Another objective of the invention is to accumulate a predetermined number of bottles in rows to be bundled by establishing a first barrier to retain the bottles on the conveyor and using second barrier to control the number of rows to be included in the bundle.

Abstract: This invention is directed to film wrapped and heat shrunk bundles of gabled containers to form bundles that can be stacked on pallets and not be constrained by the gables in determining the size of the bundles. This is accomplished by nesting the gable containers on a conveyor on their side. The nesting of the gable containers on their side provides a stable structure that can be moved on a conveyor to be film wrapped. After film wrapping, the containers are conveyed to a heat shrink tunnel to form bundles of gable containers that can be placed on a pallet.

Abstract: This invention is to replace the need for a corrugated carton by wrapping an article with a heat shrinkable bubble wrap film. Heat shrinking the bubble wrap will allow the bubble wrap to shrink sufficiently to conform to an article such as a group of containers, e.g. bottles. Because of the inability of the bubble wrap film to tightly shrink around the containers, the containers can move and bump each other.

Abstract: This invention is directed to film wrapped and heat shrunk bundles of gabled containers to form bundles that can be stacked on pallets and not be constrained by the gables in determining the size of the bundles. This is accomplished by nesting the gable containers on a conveyor on their side. The nesting of the gable containers on their side provides a stable structure that can be moved on a conveyor to be film wrapped. After film wrapping, the containers are conveyed to a heat shrink tunnel to form bundles of gable containers that can be placed on a pallet.

Abstract: The invention is directed to means for providing a film having perforating lines wherein the perforation lines establish a length of film needed to wrap said article, means for sensing where the perforation line is located or where to make the perforation and means for separating the film at the perforation line, and means for film wrapping an article with the perforated film.

Abstract: The objective of this invention is to provide an apparatus for forming a stable arrangement of bottles so they can be moved on an inline conveyor system. This is accomplished by an apparatus for nesting bottles comprising a first conveyor having lanes of bottles, and a second conveyor, wherein a fixed number of bottles from each lane is released from each lane in a staggered arrangement to facilitate nesting of the released bottles and then pushing and guiding the released bottles from the first conveyor onto a second conveyor so that the bottles form a nested bundle.

Abstract: The objective of this invention is to eliminate the stacking of the trays into nests and removing the trays from the nest. Another objective is to eliminate the need for an increase size of the indentations and achieve a more snug fit. These objectives are accomplished by forming the tray insitu with the articles. This insures a snug fit and at the same time allows the articles to be removed from the tray as a unit.

Abstract: Film wrapped stacked containers having a molded transparent plastic tray 1 inserted between containers 6 and containers 5 are structurally stable to facilitate film wrapping. The top side of the tray has protuberances 2 forming groove rings 4 on the top side of the tray. The groove rings 4 acts to locate the bottom of the containers 5 on top of the tray in a preset configuration. The bottom of containers 5 rest within the groove rings. The bottom side of the tray has separation means such as cones 6 or other protuberances that act to separate and position the containers 6 beneath the tray 1. By providing a plastic insert that can be molded to a preset configuration, structural stability can be provided for containers with different shapes.

Abstract: The objective of this invention is to provide an apparatus for forming a stable arrangement of bottles so they can be moved on an inline conveyor system. This is accomplished by an apparatus for nesting bottles comprising a first conveyor having lanes of bottles, and a second conveyor, wherein a fixed number of bottles from each lane is released from each lane in a staggered arrangement to facilitate nesting of the released bottles and then pushing and guiding the released bottles from the first conveyor onto a second conveyor so that the bottles form a nested bundle.

Abstract: The objective of this invention is to provide a handle for carrying an article or a bundle of bottles that is more resistant to tearing and delaminating and has the ability to carry heavy loads. This is accomplished by placing a strip on the inside of the wrapping material and wrapping an article, so that the strip that forms the handle is enclosed within the wrapping material.

Abstract: The invention is directed to means for providing a film having perforating lines wherein the perforation lines establish a length of film needed to wrap said article, means for sensing where the perforation line is located or where to make the perforation and means for separating the film at the perforation line, and means for film wrapping an article with the perforated film.

Abstract: Film wrapped stacked containers having a molded transparent plastic tray 1 inserted between containers 6 and containers 5 are structurally stable to facilitate film wrapping. The top side of the tray has protuberances 2 forming groove rings 4 on the top side of the tray. The groove rings 4 acts to locate the bottom of the containers 5 on top of the tray in a preset configuration. The bottom of containers 5 rest within the groove rings. The bottom side of the tray has separation means such as cones 6 or other protuberances that act to separate and position the containers 6 beneath the tray 1.

Abstract: The invention is directed to changing the height of the wrapping bar on a lap seal machine so that articles of different heights can be accommodated by making the height of the wrapping bar adjustable to accommodate taller or shorter articles on a conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for wrapping articles comprising a clamp for pulling a film, a first conveyor for moving an article to a second conveyor, a second conveyor, an opening between the first and second conveyor to allow the clamp to pull the film through the opening. A shear located below the first and second conveyors. Feeding an end of the film to the clamp and seizing the end of the film by the clamp below the conveyors. Pulling the film by moving the clamp with the seized end of the film through the opening to a position above the conveyors that would allow the film to wrap the article with an overlap. Cutting the film with the shear after the clamp reached in the position above the conveyors. Wrapping the article by moving the clamp with the seized film from the position above the conveyors through the opening to a second position below the conveyors and releasing the seized film, and overlapping the cut end and the released end of the film wherein the overlap is between the conveyor and bottom of the article.

Abstract: An apparatus for wrapping articles comprising; a clamp for pulling a film, a first conveyor for moving an article to a second conveyor, a second conveyor, an opening between the first and second conveyor sufficient to allow a clamp to pull a film through the opening a shear located below the first and second conveyors, means for feeding an end of the film to said clamp, means for seizing the end of the film by the clamp below the conveyors, means for pulling the film by moving the clamp with the seized end of the film through the opening to a position above the conveyors that would allow the film to wrap an article with an overlap, means for cutting the film with the shear after the clamp as reached said position, means for wrapping the article by moving the clamp with the seized film from said position through said opening to a second position below the conveyors and releasing said seized film, and means for overlapping the cut end and released end of the film wherein the overlap is between the conveyor and

Abstract: A film wrapping apparatus comprising means for conveying an article resting on a platform along a path that include a wrapping station and a heat shrink tunnel. The wrapping station includes means for supplying heat shrinkable film from above and below the path so the film is disposed in the path of travel of the article and rests on the platform, means for sealing and severing the film behind the article after being wrapped by the film. A pick and place apparatus is used for mechanically transferring the article from a feed station and positioning the article atop the film while the film is resting on the platform. The transfer of the article is synchronized in response to the position of the platform.

Abstract: Due to variations in the thickness of the film used in wrapping packaged product and various other reasons, the wrapping film such as polyethylene, polypropylene, etc., occasionally causes uneven pulling on the film with resultant turning around or twisting of the film on the packaged product, which causes a breakdown in the wrapping operation. Such breakdowns are avoided by placing on each side of the film wrapping apparatus, a film tracking, preferably electrostatic, probe appropriately spaced from the film so as to position an electrostatic charge thereon. If the film tries to creep sideways, one side of the film is exposed much more to the static generating cone on that side and less on the other. The resultant static friction forces built up on one side of the film and less on the opposite side cause the film to creep towards the side with less static friction build up until the static forces on both sides become equal and cure or avoid the twisting procedure.

Abstract: A packaging machine of the type having a conveyor formed of pivotally mounted sections includes a mechanism for automating the raising and lowering of the sections. Each section includes a pair of rollers including a first, long roller that extends transversely across the conveyor and which remains in the plane of the conveyor when the section is pivoted upwardly, and either a second roller of short transverse extent or a second roller of intermediate transverse extent that pivots upwardly above the plane of the conveyor when activated. The pivoting action is accomplished by selectively positioning elongate rail members, having a longitudinal extent substantially equal to the length of the conveyor, in the path of travel of connector plates that rigidly depend from opposite ends of each pair of rollers.