Abstract: An apparatus (1) for wrapping products with plastic film (50) comprises: a ring-shaped element (3) supporting a carriage (4) that moves around the ring-shaped element (3); drive means (5) for moving the ring-shaped element (3) relative to the group (P) of products to be wrapped; main motor means (6) associated to the ring-shaped element (3) and designed to drive the carriage (4). The carriage (4) mounts a roll (7) of plastic film and a pre-stretching unit (8) driven by suitable drive means (9). The pre-stretching unit (8) comprises a pair of rollers (10) for pre-stretching the film and a transmission and control roller (12) that swings towards and away from the group (P) of products and is designed to start or stop film feed according to its position relative to the group (P) of products to be wrapped.

Abstract: A method for wrapping groups of products with stretch film comprises the following steps: forming groups of products having a front and a longitudinal dimension that follows a line of feed; placing a first wrapping on the group of products to form a package that holds the products together; expelling the package thus obtained along the feed line; turning the package through an angle of 90°; placing over the first wrapping a second stretch film wrapping on the package thus obtained, the second wrapping having at least one narrowed strap-like segment surrounding a part of the package. The invention also relates to an apparatus that implements this method and the package obtained using the method.

Abstract: A device for changing reels of film on machines for wrapping products comprises a unit for substituting a finished reel with a new reel, the unit being mobile between a non-operating position in which it is distanced from an operating zone of a ring-shaped structure, and an operating position, in which it is close to the operating zone and to a wrapping unit; the unit comprises first means for detaching and picking up the finished reel from a support shaft, a magazine zone for at least one new or replacement reel which can be stably attached to the support shaft, second means for picking up the free end of film from the replacement reel and mobile along a path covering a preset film path, to allow film positioning close to a product to be wrapped.

Abstract: A method for wrapping groups of products with stretch film comprises the following steps: forming groups of products having a front and a longitudinal dimension following a line of feed; winding a stretch film unrolled from a first roll around first means for preforming the wrapping, positioned inside a film wrapping area and along the product group line of feed; forming a first tubular portion of stretch film; stretching the portion of film by moving the first preforming means to create an access area, whose transversal dimension is larger than the front, for a single group of products moving along the feed line; releasing the film portion to allow the portion to shrink to its former size over the group of products and thus wrapping it; expelling the wrapped package thus obtained onto the feed line.

Abstract: The end of a length of stretch film enveloping a pallet is restrained, prior to being heat-sealed, by a gripping mechanism that can be traversed toward and away from the pallet, and is capable of contracting longitudinally in a direction parallel to the plane occupied by the tail end of the film, transversely to the wrapping direction, from a position of engagement in which the gripping surfaces are spaced apart and uniformly in contact with the film over its maximum width, to a position of restraint in which the selfsame surfaces are drawn together, pinching the film to produce a uniform succession of folds and thus narrowing the material to a width that can be accommodated fully by the heat-seal plate.

Abstract: A pallet base stacked with commodities for wrapping is positioned on a horizontal platform, whereupon the wrapping operation is effected by an L-profile beam carrying a roll of plastic film and rotatable about a vertical axis in such a way as to circle the platform and wind the film around the pallet; to advantage, the horizontal member of the beam lies below the uncoiling roll of film, passing between the platform and a horizontal bed afforded by the stationary frame of the apparatus, such that with the L-beam set in rotation about the main axis a low center of inertia is achieved.