Abstract: A method for wrapping a floral arrangement wherein a sheet of material having one end of a band connected thereto is wrapped about the floral arrangement so as to provide a decorative covering. The band has a bonding material disposed on at least a portion thereof, such that when the sheet of material is extended about the floral arrangement and a portion of the decorative covering is crimped to provide a decorative covering for the floral arrangement, the second end of the band is connected to the sheet of material forming the decorative covering or to the band for securing the band in position about the sheet of material.

Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.

Abstract: A method for wrapping a wrapper about a floral grouping wherein the wrapper is a sleeve or sheet of material having a cinching tab or strip of bonding material or both and a detaching means such as perforations for detaching a portion of the sleeve or sheet of material. The floral grouping is placed on the sheet of material which is wrapped thereabout, or the floral grouping is disposed in the interior space of the sleeve. The cinching tab is attached near one end of the sheet or sleeve. The cinching tab has a bonding material disposed thereon which, when the cinching tab is pulled tightly about the wrapper, causes the wrapper to be crimped and tightly bound about the stems of the floral grouping.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a tape binding device winding a tape piece having an adhesive surface on one side around an electric wire bundle to bundle it. In the device, a pair of arms having a holding surface are lowered while holding the tape piece cut into a predetermined length on the holding surface. As it is lowered, free ends of both arms are lowered to both sides separated by a top portion of the electric wire bundle. At the time of lowering, after winding the tape piece by pressing it around a surface of the electric wire bundle, the free ends of both arms make adhesive surfaces of both ends of the tape piece under the electric wire bundle to adhere each other and are clipped between them, thereby laminating adhesive surfaces each other.

Abstract: A method for wrapping a wrapper about a floral grouping wherein the wrapper is a sleeve or sheet of material having a cinching tab or strip of bonding material or both and a detaching means such as perforations for detaching a portion of the sleeve or sheet of material. The floral grouping is placed on the sheet of material which is wrapped thereabout, or the floral grouping is disposed in the interior space of the sleeve. The cinching tab is attached near one end of the sheet or sleeve. The cinching tab has a bonding material disposed thereon which, when the cinching tab is pulled tightly about the wrapper, causes the wrapper to be crimped and tightly bound about the stems of the floral grouping.

Abstract: A method for wrapping a wrapper about a floral grouping wherein the wrapper is a sleeve or sheet of material having a cinching tab or strip of bonding material or both and a detaching means such as perforations for detaching a portion of the sleeve or sheet of material. The floral grouping is placed on the sheet of material which is wrapped thereabout, or the floral grouping is disposed in the interior space of the sleeve. The cinching tab is attached near one end of the sheet or sleeve. The cinching tab has a bonding material disposed thereon which, when the cinching tab is pulled tightly about the wrapper, causes the wrapper to be crimped and tightly bound about the stems of the floral grouping.

Abstract: Method for providing a decorative cover by providing a flower pot, positioning a sheet of material about the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot such that the sheet of material extends about a floral grouping so as to form a sleeve around the floral grouping which is selectively detachable from the sheet of material, and positioning a collar about the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot with a portion of the sheet of material being disposed between the collar and the flower pot whereby the collar secures the sheet of material to the flower pot.

Abstract: A system for indicating that a container has been subjected to tampering includes a container having an outer surface with at least one central depressed region defined by opposed upstanding ledges extending sharply transverse to a plane of the depressed region and a continuous band of heat shrinkable material in general alignment with the central depressed region initially loosely encircles the container which, when heated, becomes shortened and congruently conforms to the outer surface of the container and is restrained against lateral movement beyond the upstanding ledges when removal from the container is attempted. The composition and dimensions of the band of heat shrinkable material are selected such that removal from the container cannot be accomplished without causing visibly apparent deformation or fracturing of either the band or of the container.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically wrapping at least one eating utensil in a napkin includes a receiving area for at least one utensil and at least one napkin, and a mechanism for automatically wrapping. The mechanism for automatically wrapping includes a frame, a flexible belt disposed in the frame, and a belt manipulation device. The belt has a first surface adapted for frictional contact with the napkin. At least a portion of the belt is movable to form a trough in which the napkin and utensil are manipulated and urged by frictional contact with the belt to fold and roll, automatically wrapping the utensil.

Abstract: A decorative covering for a flower pot where a sheet of material is extended about an outer peripheral surface of the flower pot and a band is secured about a portion of the sheet of material to form a crimped portion in the sheet of material for cooperating to hold the sheet of material in the position extending about the flower pot to provide the decorative covering.

Abstract: A method for protecting luggage in transit. A strip is made of a material which adheres to itself but not to the luggage or to a lock for the luggage. The strip is wrapped around the luggage and the lock, and the ends of the strip are pressed together, causing them to stick to one another and seal the luggage and the lock. If further protection is desired, a strand of wire, rope, cord, string, or the like is tied over the strip used to seal the luggage and lock, and a second strip of the same material wrapped over and around the strand, the first strip, the luggage, and the lock, and used to further seal the luggage and the lock by pressing the ends of the second strip against one another.

Abstract: A method to form stacked article groups utilizing packaged carton structures. The method utilizes first and second streams of packaged article groups, each packaged article group having predetermined graphic arrangements. The first and second streams are directed onto each other whereby the united packages form stacked article carriers having a unitary packaging graphic display.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel simulated capsule medicament consisting of a solid core covered with two shrink-wrapped, hard-shell gelatin capsule halves. The solid cores are covered with the hard-shell gelatin capsule halves by individually shrink-wrapping onto first one end of the core a first hard-shell gelatin capsule half and then individually shrink-wrapping onto a second end of the core a second hard-shell gelatin capsule half.

Abstract: A wrapping having a sheet of material and an elongated spring strip. The spring strip has an internal bias for maintaining an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the spring strip is straight from one end to the other end and has an arch from side edge to side edge. In the closed position, the spring strip is circular with one end overlapping the other end and has no arch from side edge to side edge. To wrap an item, such as a floral grouping, the item is placed against the sheet of material with the spring strip in the open, straight position. A portion of the arch of the spring strip is then flattened and the spring strip snaps from the open position into the closed position. In moving into the closed, circular position, the spring strip forms the sheet of material around the floral grouping.

Abstract: A decorative covering for a flower pot where a sheet of material is extended about an outer peripheral surface of the flower pot and a band is secured about a portion of the sheet of material to form a crimped portion in the sheet of material for cooperating to hold the sheet of material in the position extending about the flower pot to provide the decorative covering.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a corrugated carton sealing apparatus 10 is illustrated in the Figs. having tape application heads 32 and 34 for applying adhesive tape strips 36 to the top and bottom surfaces of the carton to seal the carton. Each of the tape application heads 32 and 34 have a leading application roller 62 and a trailing application roller 68 that are moved in unison with each other from extended positions as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, to retracted positions as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The leading application roller 62 travels in a path shown by the curve illustrated in FIG. 7 to apply pressure to a beginning leading edge 38 of the tape to firmly affix the tape edge 38 to the leading surface 14 of the carton. The tape application head 32 includes a tape feed 84 for feeding adhesive tape through the tape application head for application to the container.

Abstract: A case sealed by a strip of pressure-sensitive tape having an integral end portion of the tape at an end thereof folded back on the adhesive face of the tape and adhered thereto to form a tab which is unadhered to the case for being grasped and pulled to peel the tape away from the case, and a method of and apparatus for taping cases with this easy-open feature.

Abstract: A dual carton formed from two substantially identical single cartons adhered to one another with adhesive which remains tacky after the cartons are separated. Each carton has a top and tuck-in flap, and the flaps of the two joined cartons are overlapped to seal the dual carton. The tuck-in portion of the flap of one carton is adhered to the top portion of the flap of the other carton with similar adhesive as used to join the cartons. After the cartons are separated, the cartons may be individually sealed by reusing the adhesive on the wall of one carton and on the tuck-in portion of the flap of the other carton to adhere the tuck-in portion of the flaps of the cartons to the outside of the wall opposite the wall from which the flaps extend. The dual carton may be a cigarette carton of dimensions compatible with tax-stamping machinery and temporarily sealed in such a manner as to facilitate the opening and later resealing of the carton for tax-stamping purposes.

Abstract: A package light-tightly enclosing a photosensitive web roll for use in cooperating apparatus comprises an opaque leader joined to the web and wrapped circumferentially at least twice around the roll and a pair of thin, readily foldable, disk-shaped, opaque end caps covering the roll ends. Each end cap has an inner annular portion that is folded into and sealed inside one of the roll core ends and an outer annular portion that is folded over the corresponding roll end periphery and onto the adjacent lateral edge portion of the first leader convolution. A pair of opposite lateral edge portion recesses extend inwardly from the leader opposite lateral edges, by an amount slightly exceeding the folded-over end-cap outer-annular-portion width, at a circumferential site on the leader where the first leader convolution ends.

Abstract: A pressure vessel capable of withstanding elevated external hydrostatic pressures is provided, comprising a tubular casing capable of withstanding hydrostatic pressures having an internal cavity and at least one end opening permitting entry into the cavity. An end closure seals the end opening and defines an external joint between the closure and the pressure vessel casing upon sealing of the opening. The end closure has an outer circumferential surface which is coextensive, that is flush, with the adjacent circumferential surface of the pressure vessel casing. At least a portion of the pressure vessel casing and closure are encapsulated by a seamless tubular sleeve of heat or air-shrinkable material which covers the entire extent of the external joint and is heat or air-shrunk about the vessel to seal the external joint. There is a layer of sealant in the form of an adhesive or a mastic, between the shrunk sleeve and the vessel.

Abstract: A device for wrapping a plurality of objects together into a tape-wrapped bundle includes a frame having an open-mouth recess, a quantity of one-sided cohesive tape, a pair of advance rollers mounted on the frame and selectively operable to advance a length of the tape, with the sticky substance thereon facing away from the recess, across the mouth of the recess such that, when objects are thereafter inserted into the recess, the advanced tape length will be gathered in the recess, a pair of relatively movable jaws, mounted on the frame and operatively arranged to selectively press together portions of the leading and trailing tape parts proximate the mouth of the recess, a wiping blade mounted on the pressing member for horizontal movement therewith but mounted for selective vertical movement relative thereto for progressively increasing the length of such pressed-together portions in a direction toward the objects, and a guillotine cutting blade assembly for cutting the extreme ends of the leading and trail

Abstract: Produce packages are stacked onto a pallet having an underlying gasproof plastic sheeting. The loaded pallet is placed on a rotatable table and a plastic bag is lowered over the produce which has its lower edges located partway down over the upturned portions of the plastic sheeting and onto the rim of the pallet. Two rolls of tape mounted at different heights on vertical spindles closely adjacent the table provide two tape strips with an edge portion overlapping. An idler roller joins the two strips of tape together in a single composite tape strip. The composite tape strip is applied by a pressure roller along the lower edge of the plastic bag and the pallet. After a full revolution of the table is completed, the tape is cut and the bag is completely sealed to the pallet. A lever arm on the pressure roller is spring-loaded to maintain the tape compressingly contacting the plastic bag and pallet throughout the full range of table rotation. Artificial gaseous environment is then provided to sealed container.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process of making flat stock fibrous cellulosic food casings containing a low plasticizer level of between about 10 wt. % and about 17 wt. %, including at least about 9 wt. % polyol, both based upon the bone dry weight of cellulose in the casing, This process comprising forming a fibrous web into a tube, annularly extruding viscose onto the tube, passing the viscose coated tube through a regenerating bath, and incorporating water-soluble plasticizer into either or both the resulting cellulosic gel stock fibrous tube and the dried fibrous tube.

Abstract: A method of shrink film packaging an assembled aircraft or portion thereof for transport, storage or the like comprises the steps of covering exposed jagged or sharp edges and discontinuities, exposed irregularly shaped areas, and exposed heat-sensitive components of the aircraft with a foam material. The aircraft is then wrapped with a plurality of separate sections of heat-shrinkable polymer film with adjoining sections partially overlapping to provide a generally continuous covering. Heat is then applied to the heat-shrinkable film sections to shrink the film to tightly conform to the aircraft, to fuse together overlapping film sections and to fuse portions of the film to adjoining foam material. Elongated strips of heat-shrinkable material are then applied along seams formed by the fusing together of the overlapping film sections. Finally, heat is applied to the elongated strips to shrink and fuse the strips to the film sections on both sides of the seams to seal and reinforce the seams.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for packaging, guarding and sealing a portion of a publication. The pages of the publication contained in the portion thus packaged, guarded and sealed are prevented from being viewed until and unless a seal is broken, at which time these pages and/or content can then be freely viewed. The cover, pages and content of the other portions of the publication which are not so protected, packaged, guarded and sealed are permitted to be viewed as though the protecting apparatus guarding the sealed off portion of the publication were not present. The apparatus and the method can be used with publications of varied sizes and for guarding portions of the publication which may contain various amounts of pages, as required and as deemed appropriate at the time the publication whole content is assembled for binding.

Abstract: A thin film adapted for forming seals about a closure attached to a container, which film is of uniaxially oriented polyolefin, will easily tear in a straight line in the oriented direction without the need of a tear strip, can be heat shrunk in the range of three to twenty percent in the oriented direction by exposure of about ten seconds to a temperature of about 225.degree. F., and is formed by uniaxially orienting polyolefin at a temperature in the range of 120.degree. to 170.degree. C. by stretching the polypropylene without restraining its edges at a draw ratio in the range of 3/1 to 10/1 and then quickly cooled to prevent substantial heat annealing.

Abstract: Apparatus for binding closed the openings of bags in which predetermined lengths of non-adhesive face-applying tape are applied to the adhesive surface of adhesive tape at predetermined intervals, the adhesive surface of the adhesive tape between the predetermined lengths of the non-adhesive face-applying tape is wrapped around the puckered openings of bags to be bound shut, and the predetermined lengths of the non-adhesive face-applying tape and the underlying adhesive tape are thereafter severed so as to divide the predetermined lengths of the non-adhesive face-applying tape into two equal portions, whereby both ends of the adhesive tape binding each successive bag have separate, equally sized portions of the non-adhesive face-applying tape applied thereto.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for packaging paper rolls (2), wherein a wrapper sheet (1) of such a size as to exceed the axial length of the roll is wrapped around the roll and the width of the wrapper sheet is reduced to a size corresponding to the length of the roll by removing the part (5, 6) of the wrapper sheet which extends over the ends of the roll. The header sheet (14, 15) which is bigger than the end surface of the roll, is placed on the ends of the roll and reduced to a size corresponding to the diameter of the roll or smaller by removing at least the part of the header sheet extending over the end surface. Thereafter the header (14, 15) and the wrapper (25) are secured to each other so that a tight joint is formed.

Abstract: A sealed package comprising a container, intended for use or reuse as a drinking vessel, and a cover. The container has a cylindrical surface adjacent its mouth to receive a length of tape which, on one side, carries a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive, which can be peeled from the container without leaving objectionable residues. The tape carries a layer of heat-sealable material on its opposite face and this is heat sealed to an aluminium foil lid, also bearing a coating of a heat sealing material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a heat-sprinkable secondary closure for a container are disclosed, wherein filled, lidded containers moved by conveyor means are delivered to a secondary closure formation and application station, where a band of heat-shrinkable thermoplastic adhesive tape is wrapped around each container such that the tacky side of the tape faces the container, with tape overlapping the seam formed between the periphery of the lid and the sidewall of the container. The tape band is severed from the tape supply during wrapping, and heater means located adjacent the container shrinks the tape into compressive engagement with the periphery of the lid and the sidewall of the container as the tape is wrapped thereabout.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a disposable fluid dispensing tube. The apparatus includes a rotatably mounted turret which is adapted to receive tubes. Tubes mounted in the turret are indexed through stations positioned around the periphery of the turret. At each station an operation is performed on the tube and at the final station a filled and sealed dispenser tube is discharged from the turret.In the practice of the preferred method of the invention, operations performed upon the tube include mounting a nozzle on the end of the tube, securing the nozzle to the tube, sealing the end of the nozzle, filling the tube, positioning a plunger in the other end of the tube and releasably securing the plunger to the tube.

Abstract: A novel bag closure system is provided which has considerable advantages over conventional tin tie closure systems. A specially-designed closure strip having bag material-receiving recesses is affixed to the bag and the bag is closed using the closure strip. Equipment is described for effecting the closure automatically.