Abstract: Apparatus for the opening of a bag 1 is provided with a clamp 2 having one fixed jaw 3 which applies a high pressure to a limited area of the bag by means of a pip 4, and a movable jaw 5 which applies a lower pressure to the bag 1 over a larger area through a spring-loaded block 6 and a rubber pad 7, and is movable by means of a pneumatic cylinder 8. The high pressure applied by the pip 4 is sufficient to prevent any relative movement of the bag panels. The lower pressure exerted by the rubber pad 7 is sufficient to prevent sliding movement of the pad 7 relative to the upper surface of the bag 1 but does not prevent relative movement between the upper and lower panels of the bag 1. When the movable jaw 5 is moved towards the fixed jaw 3 a region of the upper panel of the bag is buckled between the two jaws. Raising of the clamp thus opens the bag, the lower side being held down by adhesive tape 9.

Abstract: A package is steam-shrunk while subjected to a substantially constant sub-atmospheric pressure generated by a suction fan 22 operating at the same time as a steam generator 13 maintaining the prevailing pressure within a chamber interior 20 at sub-atmospheric pressure in the presence of steam. The low pressure of the steam ensures that its temperature is well below the boiling point of water and avoids thermal damage to the material of a container 12 being shrunk.

Abstract: Apparatus for the opening of a bag 1 is provided with a clamp 2 having one fixed jaw 3 which applies a high pressure to a limited area of the bag by means of a pip 4, and a movable jaw 5 which applies a lower pressure to the bag 1 over a larger area through a spring-loaded block 6 and a rubber pad 7, and is movable by means of a pneumatic cylinder 8. The high pressure applied by the pip 4 is sufficient to prevent any relative movement of the bag panels. The lower pressure exerted by the rubber pad 7 is sufficient to prevent sliding movement of the pad 7 relative to the upper surface of the bag 1 but does not prevent relative movement between the upper and lower panels of the bag 1. When the movable jaw 5 is moved towards the fixed jaw 3 a region of the upper panel of the bag is buckled between the two jaws. Raising of the clamp thus opens the bag, the lower side being held down by adhesive tape 9.