Abstract: In a bundling apparatus, a stack of sheets is wound with a band coated on one side with a thermally fusible material by a winder. The winder winds the band so that one end of the band is joined with another portion of the band. As the band is wound around the stack of sheets, a forward end portion of the band is turned up by a turning mechanism, thereby forming a turnup portion in the band. The turnup portion and that portion of the band which is joined with the turnup portion is fused by a heater so that both portions are bonded together.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling and packaging coils of sheet material, especially steel strip, comprises a rotary capstan with arms that can project through the hollow core of a coil to support the coil. Successive operations of the packaging process are performed at a number of operating stations, at least one of which is so placed that its packaging operation is performed while a coil is so supported. The packaging may comprise an outer sheet metal wrapping applied by rotation of a wrapping arm about the coil to carry the wrapping sheet around the coil circumference. A feed table is provided to align the metal wrapping sheet initially with the coil. Two overlapping wrapping sheets making up a wrapping for a wider coil can be secured together by a welding arm that operates on the sheets as they are wrapped around the coil.

Abstract: A food processing machine for folding rolled sandwich type food products comprising a plurality of conveyor bands for conveying food products through first, second, third and fourth folding mechanisms, the first, third and fourth folding mechanisms each including a U-shaped bracket member with tines extending between said conveyor bands and mounted for movement in an arcuate path over said conveyor bands whereby during passage of said food product said tines lift a front portion of said product and fold it back over a following portion of said product, and the second folding mechanism comprising additional conveyor bands positioned to the outer sides of said first mentioned conveyor bands with the tangent line between the last mentioned bands changing progressively along the path of travel of said bands from essentially a horizontal orientation to a near vertical orientation whereby the side portions of a food product carried therethrough are lifted and folded over a center portion of said food product; addit

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an apparatus for making a package from a load using a single web of stretchable film material to form the overwrap. The apparatus comprises a frame, a support assembly secured to and extending from the frame, and a film dispenser mechanism rotatably mounted to the support assembly. The film dispenser mechanism comprises an arm member, a counterbalance weight on one end of the arm member, and a film stretching mechanism mounted on the other end of the arm member adjacent to a roll of stretchable film material which is also mounted on the arm member. The film stretching mechanism is constructed with two rollers closely spaced apart and mechanically connected, with the upstream roller being driven by a drive member mounted to it or its shaft.

Abstract: Motive unit carries stretch-wrap unit around stationary material to be wrapped. Guide ski follows around the material to be wrapped and controls the steering of the motive unit so that the material is wrapped into a unit.

Abstract: A construction for applying tape around the perimeter of an object wherein a supply of the tape is provided on a spool. An end of the tape is clamped, and the spool is then transported around the object with the tape then unreeling and being pressed into engagement with the object. Independently driven roller means are mounted for movement back and forth over one surface of the object, these roller means pressing respective tape ends onto the surface in overlapping relationship. This action is synchronized with clamping and severing action to prepare the system for a succeeding operation. The object to be taped is moved into position by means of a conveyor and a vertical lift. Stop means control the extent of movement of the lift, and this feature combined with the tape-applying mechanism makes the construction operable for a wide range of sizes of objects to be taped.

Abstract: A tension wrap packaging machine has a supporting frame and a driving assembly mounted in the supporting frame, a main drive shaft is mounted in the supporting frame and at one end has a combined supporting member and safety closure disc fixedly connected thereto to be rotated by the drive shaft when the driving assembly is in operation. Mounted and rotatable with the combined supporting member and closure disc are a package supporting assembly for supporting a package to be wrapped thereon and in spaced relation thereto a wrapping material supporting assembly for the material to wrap the package. Package supporting assembly and wrapping material supporting assembly in addition to rotating with the closure disc are independently rotatable, the package supporting assembly being rotated by a planetary driving means, and the wrapping material supporting assembly being rotated by an auxiliary driving means operatively connected between the driving assembly and wrapping material supporting assembly.

Abstract: A single sheet of standard grade plastic laminate material is bent at two locations to form it into a side wall and two end walls corresponding to the side wall and two end walls of a bathtub recess. Following forming, one end wall portion of the wall covering is loosely folded over the opposite end wall portion. Then, the partially folded wall covering is pushed endwise into a rectangular cardboard box having a normal thickness which is substantially smaller than the initial depth of the partially folded wall covering. The box with the partially folded wall covering inside is moved through a rectangular opening provided in a rigid mandril, sized to be substantially equal to the normal outside dimension of the box. The mandril forces the outwardly bulging side walls of the box inwardly and reshapes both the side walls of the box and the side and end walls of the partially folded wall covering therein.

Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping an article with stretch film. The article is first advanced against a vertical web of film to partially enfold the film longitudinally about the article and to advance the article to a longitudinal folding station where a tail of the film is folded up against the bottom of the article and at which film wings laterally project from the article. The partially wrapped article is then advanced to a stretch and lateral fold station at which the film wings are clamped by clamping jaws which are moved laterally away from the article whereby to stretch the film. The article is then lifted and the clamping jaws are advanced toward each other and beneath the bottom of the article whereby to fold the wings at least partially against the article while maintaining stretching tension on the film. Thereafter, the article is advanced through a plow to complete the wrapping of the wings against the article.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for wrapping a film around a palletized load, in which the main operative portions are suspended above the load, in order to save space. A central driven shaft extends downwardly from a frame which is supported above the wrapping location, and the shaft supports and rotates a radially extending arm from the distal end of which a downward member extends. A vertically reciprocating carriage mounted on the downward member carries a roll of film, which is dispensed as the roll is carried in a circular path to orbit around the load. Where the width of the film is less than the height of the load, the carriage is reciprocated while orbiting, so that a helical wrapping procedure can be accomplished. A similar but non-reciprocating carriage permits the wrapping to be performed using a film width equal to the height of the load as an alternative embodiment.

Abstract: Motive unit carries stretch-wrap unit around stationary material unit to be wrapped. Motive unit is preferably self-propelled and is biased to be self-guided around the unit to be wrapped. Follower wheel contacts unit to be wrapped and controls steering. Propulsion urges motive unit toward material to be wrapped.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a package forming machine wherein one or more articles are packaged as a unit by the wrapping of a film of shrinkable plastics material thereabout, the plastics material being provided as a continuous web. The machine is particularly adapted to the packaging of plural containers arranged in plural rows. A particular feature of the machine is the provision of draw members to draw the film down between adjacent units with the draw members being carried by an endless conveyor for circulation in a plane which extends transversely of the path of movement of the article being packaged and slopes downwardly in the direction of movement of the articles. The plane of the draw members may be varied in accordance with the height of the articles whereby a basic machine may be adjusted to accommodate articles of different heights.

Abstract: Motive unit carries stretch wrap unit around stationary material to be wrapped. Motive unit is preferably self-propelled and is preferably self-guided by means of a track follower, although manual motive unit guide controls are provided.

Abstract: The disclosure is of apparatus including a pallet load which is to be wrapped with film, the pallet and load being horizontally movable along a straight-line path from a loading area to a wrapping station. At the wrapping station, there are a fixed vertical roll of wrapping film and a movable vertical roll of wrapping film, and the film to be wrapped around the load extends, as a curtain, between the two rolls. When the pallet load is moved into the wrapping station, it is pushed into the curtain of film which partially encloses the load, and the movable roll is driven toward the fixed roll to complete the wrapping of the film about the load and to provide a region where two layers of film overlap each other. With the load thus completely enclosed, a clamping bar secures the seal area, and a heat-sealing device is used to seal the overlapping layers of film to complete the wrap.

Abstract: A method of automatically wrapping in plastic film a shallow tray filled with irregularly-shaped contents such as meat or vegetables is provided. No elevator for tray movement is required yet the method forms a lap seal on the bottom of the tray with any of the modern soft plastic films, including stretching and shrink films. The trays advance into a curtain of the plastic film arranged transversely to a tray feed track. A first air blower blows onto the film surface above the tray, billowing the film smoothly ahead of the tray to prevent folds from forming in the film and to keep moving air between the tray and the film during tray advance to avoid snagging therebetween. A lower edge of the film is captured between the tray bottom and tray support rollers. The film is draped over the top and back of the tray. A second fan blows air upwardly onto the under-tucked film to ensure proper placement thereof.