Abstract: A heat seal between a plastic bag and a plastic sheet is used to provide a more secure and reliable seal to define a modified atmosphere for a pallet of perishables. The heat seal reduces atmosphere failures and aids in providing a more consistent atmosphere in the pallet bag system thus reducing the number of pallets that have an out of specification atmosphere. The heat seal may be created with a heating sealing apparatuses that is part of a system used to load and seal a load of containers of perishables onto a pallet. The heat sealing apparatus uses a plurality of heated bar assemblies to form seal portions on sides of the pallet in order to form a seal around the entire perimeter of the pallet.

Abstract: A heat seal between a plastic bag and a plastic sheet is used to provide a more secure and reliable seal to define a modified atmosphere for a pallet of perishables. The heat seal reduces atmosphere failures and aids in providing a more consistent atmosphere in the pallet bag system thus reducing the number of pallets that have an out of specification atmosphere. The heat seal may be created with a heating sealing apparatuses that is part of a system used to load and seal a load of containers of perishables onto a pallet. The heat sealing apparatus uses two heated rollers coupled to a rotating arm to contact and heat seal a plastic bag to a plastic seal that enclose a palletized load of perishables that are rotated on a turntable.

Abstract: A heat seal between a plastic bag and a plastic sheet is used to provide a more secure and reliable seal to define a modified atmosphere for a pallet of perishables. The heat seal reduces atmosphere failures and aids in providing a more consistent atmosphere in the pallet bag system thus reducing the number of pallets that have an out of specification atmosphere. The heat seal may be created with a heating sealing apparatuses that is part of a system used to load and seal a load of containers of perishables onto a pallet. The heat sealing apparatus uses two heated rollers coupled to a rotating arm to contact and heat seal a plastic bag to a plastic seal that enclose a palletized load of perishables that are rotated on a turntable.

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: 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: 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: 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: Methods and apparatus for sealing pallets of fresh produce inside enclosures and for filling the interiors of the sealed enclosures with a modified gaseous atmosphere moves pallets loaded with fresh produce to a squeeze station where the packages as a unit are gripped between opposing walls on two opposing sides and between additional opposing squeeze members on two other opposing sides.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for gas-tight sealing a plastic bag about perishable containers carried on a pallet utilize a rotatable turntable having an upper support surface for a pallet bearing produce, a tape dispenser for applying tape to seal a plastic bag to plastic sheeting at the periphery of the pallet, and a roller system that includes four rotatable rollers rotatably mounted on a single carrier. The carrier applies pressure through two of the rollers simultaneously against the tape during rotation of the turntable to seal the tape to the plastic sheeting and bag.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for sealing pallets of fresh produce inside plastic bags and furnishing the interiors of the sealed bags with a modified gaseous atmosphere. Conventional pallets loaded with cooled fresh produce are moved one at a time to an in-line squeeze station. The produce load of a pallet positioned at the squeeze station is squeezed between opposed vertical walls to suspend it above the pallet base as a downwardly movable floorplate descends to allow the deposition of a plastic sheet lining on the pallet. The floorplate is raised to its former level to bear the weight of the loaded pallet as the produce load is unsqueezed and the loaded pallet is moved by conveyor to a bagging station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for sealing pallets of fresh product inside plastic bags and finishing the interiors of the sealed bags with a modified gaseous atmosphere. Conventional pallets loaded with cooled fresh produce are moved by an input conveyor automatically one at a time to an in-line squeeze station. A plastic bag at a convenient height is initially draped over an arm radiating from a novel bagger frame. A plurality of such arms extend from a rotatable hub so that bags can be moved into position above successive loaded pallets as they are needed. This apparatus permits the bagging of nearly twice as many pallets in a given time period.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for sealing pallets of fresh produce inside plastic bags and furnishing the interiors of the sealed bags with a modified gaseous atmosphere. Conventional pallets loaded with cooled fresh produce are moved by an input conveyor automatically one at a time to an in-line squeeze station. The produce load of a pallet positioned at the squeeze station is squeezed between opposed vertical walls to suspend it above the pallet base as a downwardly movable floorplate descends to allow the base to the removed and replaced with a pallet having a plastic sheet lining attached thereto. The floorplate is raised to its former level to bear the weight of the loaded pallet as the pallet is unsqueezed and the loaded pallet is moved by conveyor to a bagging station. A plastic bag at a convenient height is initially draped over an arm radiating from a novel bagger frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for sealing pallets of fresh produce inside plastic bags and furnishing the interiors of the sealed bags with a modified gaseous atmosphere.