Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a constant tension to a film in a wrapping machine having a film roller rotated at a variable rate by a film drawn over the film roller. The rotating film roller drives a hydraulic pump at a variable rate dependent on the rotation rate of the film roller. An oil reservoir is coupled to the hydraulic pump to form a hydraulic circuit, wherein the hydraulic pump pumps oil through the hydraulic circuit as the film roller drives the hydraulic pump. An adjustable constant pressure valve is coupled to the hydraulic circuit and maintains a constant oil pressure in the hydraulic circuit, wherein the hydraulic pump maintains a constant drag on the film roller independent of the rate at which the film roller drives the hydraulic pump, and wherein the constant drag on the film roller applies a constant tension to the film independent of the rate at which the film is drawn over the film roller.

Abstract: A load of stretch wrap with a sheet of stretch wrap packaging material by feeding a sheet through a stretch wrap dispenser and stretching and dispensing from the dispenser, and providing relative rotation between the dispenser and the load to wrap the stretched sheet around the load. The portion of the sheet is weakened with a sheet weakening device, and sheet is tensioned to break the sheet at the weakened portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for palletizing and wrapping a load of material which may be irregularly shaped solid articles; liquid or flowable granules comprising a support base and an open upstanding framework adapted to form a volume to be at least partially filled with articles, wherein said framework provides a formwork for plastic film wrapped there around at least on its vertical periphery.

Abstract: A load is stretch wrapped with a sheet of stretch wrap packaging material by adhering a leading end portion of the sheet to a holding member, dispensing the sheet from a stretch wrap dispenser, and providing relative rotation between the dispenser and the load to wrap the sheet of stretch wrap packaging material on a load. The leading end portion of the sheet is released from the holding member, and a trailing end portion of the sheet is adhered to the holding member. The packaging material between the load and the holding member is severed while being held by the holding member. The sheet of stretch wrap packaging material is held in place against the holding member with a vacuum or by a tacky surface. The severing is accomplished by a hot wire on the holding member.

Abstract: A load having top and bottom caps is stretch wrapped at a wrapping station having turntable and a dispenser for dispensing stretch wrap packaging material, and a corner board placer for placing a corner board having tapered top and bottom edges on each corner of the load. With the load positioned on the turntable, the corner board placer is controlled by a controller to perform the steps of forming an acute angle between first and second portions of the corner board, and moving the corner board toward the corner until the first and second portions have been inserted between the top and bottom caps.

Abstract: A portion of film, with a length proportionate to the dimensions and to the characteristics of the product to be wrapped, is subjected to a transverse pre-stretching, the extent of which is also proportionate to the said parameters. The film is held at one end by a fixed dispenser (30) and at the other end by a movable rear clamp (61), which conveniently reduce the longitudinal tension of the film, both in pre-stretching and during the subsequent lifting of the product. In this phase, the side clamps (78-178) approach each other to reduce the pre-stretching, and are then inserted under the product and are opened, to extend the side flaps of the film under the product.

Abstract: Stretch wrapping packaging material on a load includes introducing such wrapped packaging material onto tips of projecting portions of the first grooved rollers so that the packaging material spans the nonprojecting portions of the first grooved roller. The web of the packaging material on the first grooved roller are transported in the direction generally parallel to the grooves by powering the first grooved roller. The web of the packaging material spanning the nonprojecting portions of the first grooved roller is impinged by the tips of the projecting portions of an idling second grooved roller to stretch the sheet between the projecting portions of the first and second grooved rollers in a direction transverse to the direction in which the sheet is transported. The web is preferably separated from second grooved surface either before or simultaneous with its separation from the first grooved roller.

Abstract: A system for forming a container (21) suitable for storage of flowable or non-flowable material, comprising the steps of forming an open container of flexible material having walls and a closed bottom with a retractable or removable framework (11) therein; at least partially filling the container (21) with material; removing or retracting said framework (11) from said container (21); closing the container (21); and subsequently over-wrapping the closed container (21) with stretch plastic film (16) to form reinforcing strips to reinforce the container (21), and to allow engagement with handling apparatus such as the forks of a lift truck.

Abstract: The film (F) fed to the packaging machine has a width suitable for wrapping articles whose sizes may vary over a wide range, and its width is made proportionate to the largest size of article which the machine can wrap. For the wrapping of articles whose dimensions are smaller than the maximum ones acceptable by the machine, the width of the film is modified as required to suit the dimensions of the article to be wrapped, by a pleating process (9-12-112-29-129-229) such that the longitudinal axis of the pleats lies in the direction of the length of the section of film introduced into the wrapping station.

Abstract: A dispenser apparatus comprised of a stretchable adhesive tape which is detackified when stretched longitudinally. The tape is advanced through a stretching station to an array of articles to be unitized. Tension rollers are utilized on either side of the stretching station to ensure that the tape advances evenly and does not recoil. The dispenser apparatus also includes a first prime mover which advances the tape through the tension rollers and stretching station at a rate which ensures proper stretching (at predetermined intervals) and proper feeding of the tape to the array of boxed items. A controller simultaneously controls the z-axis motion (of the dispenser and rotation of the articles to be unitized. Therefore, both the number of wraps about the articles and the location of the wraps between the base of the articles and the top of the articles may be controlled.

Abstract: A roll product is wrapped with a sheet of stretch wrap packaging material dispensed from a stretch wrap dispenser. A portion of the sheet is positioned between a clamp and the stretch wrap dispenser so that the portion of the sheet is across a load path between the load and a roller for rotating the load. The load is transported along the load path and placed in driving contact with the roller. The load is rotated by driving the load with a roller. The clamp is moved from a first location to a second location where the sheet is wrapped around the load and secured in place by another portion of the sheet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for placing sleeves on bottles and other objects is disclosed. In particular, a high speed method and apparatus having a plurality of sleeving stations for placing sleeves on bottles is disclosed. Each sleeving station includes a circularly arranged set of relatively movable parallel pins which are operable to contract or expand. A label transporter deposits a sleeve on the pins when they are contracted. The pins expand to stretch the sleeve. A bottle and the pins are then moved relative to one another to place the bottle inside the stretched sleeve. A gas flow is provided between the bottle and the sleeve to reduce friction. The sleeved bottle is then stripped from the pins. The method occurs without starts and stops by the bottle or the sleeve and is thus capable of very high production rates.

Abstract: Peat moss is palletized in bulk compressed form by holding a predetermined quantity of peat moss stacked vertically on a pallet to confine the peat moss to a desired, compressed shape, the peat moss having a water-content ranging from about 25 to about 50 weight % and a density ranging from about 0.05 to about 0.15 gm/cc on dry basis, and downwardly compressing the peat moss directly onto the pallet at a pressure ranging from about 3 to about 5 kg/cm.sup.2 so as to form the peat moss into a coherent, shape-retaining body without substantially altering the water-content and intrinsic properties of the peat moss. The body of compressed peat moss maintains a structural integrity for a period of time sufficient to permit wrapping thereof. Such a body of compressed peat moss is then wrapped to retain the peat moss in compressed form on the pallet. The invention enables one to significantly increase the quantity of peat moss per unit of shipment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a packing method and an apparatus, wherein a substance to be packed is carried from a carrying-in section in which the substance is carried to a position under a packing section where a film stands by in a horizontally stretched state. The substance to be packed is lifted to the film and is covered on the upper surface with the film, and the end portions of the film are folded under the bottom portion of the substance to be packed. The packing method and packing apparatus are for a no-tray system for directly packing a substance to be packed without a tray.

Abstract: A machine for making a package of food casing strands, wherein the package has a hexagonal-like cross section, comprising a product holder for initially holding a plurality of the strands in a configuration having a hexagonal-like cross section, wherein the holder has an opening therein for admitting the strands into the holder; means for transporting the strands to the holder and for depositing the strands into the opening; shaker means for shaking the holder at predetermined times to ensure that the plurality of strands settle into the holder in the configuration having a hexagonal-like cross section; means for measuring and cutting a predetermined amount of stretch film, where the stretch film is a closed loop used to encase the package of food casing strands; means for stretching and holding the stretch film into a shape of a polygon having a perimeter which is larger than the perimeter of the holder; means for moving the stretched film into a position proximate the holder; means for pushing all of the st

Abstract: A system of wrapping and securing together the components of a bulk package including a bottom tray element and a top cap element with an integral web of plastic material. The plastic material, while in a rope-like configuration, is looped about only a single pair of diagonally opposed corners of each of the top cap element and bottom tray element. The tail or terminal end of the web is secured in place by being positioned between a wrap convolution and the bulk package.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wrapping the top and sides of a load. A web dispenser dispenses and stretches web on the direction in which it is dispensed. The load is rotated relative to the web dispenser as web is wrapped onto the load. The web dispenser is positioned in an orientation generally parallel to the sides of the load for wrapping the sides of the load, and is changed to an orientation generally parallel to the top of the load for covering the top of the load. A web supply may change orientation along with the web dispenser or may be fixed relative to the web dispenser in an orientation generally parallel to the sides of the load. When the web supply is fixed, an accumulator is provided for accumulating web. The accumulator dispenses web when the web dispenser is changing orientation and when the web dispenser is in the orientation generally parallel to the top of the load.

Abstract: A package system 10 containing a plurality of articles of manufacture comprises, a pallet 12, and a photographic product handling device releasably attached to the pallet 12. The photographic product handling device 13 comprises first and second platform assemblies 14, 22 having on one side positioning means formed thereon for facilitating stacking and resisting motion of the product contained therein. The opposite side of platform assembly 22 comprises at least one pair of spaced runners for conveniently stacking one package system 10 atop the other in an interlocking relationship. The sensitive photographic product 20 are encased in a foldable enclosure 18 defining an interior space, each end having releasably mounted thereon a platform assembly 14, 22 thereby forming a closed ended enclosure. Straps 24 are wrapped circumferentially around the closed ended enclosure 18 and the enclosure and pallet 12 are then wrapped with a stretchable material layer 30 to resist ambient contamination.

Abstract: A method to form and package stacked article groups utilizing flexible packaging materials. The method provides first and second streams of article groups which are directed to a supply of flexible packaging material, such as shrink or stretch film, to form stacked article groups.

Abstract: A stretch-wrap packaged assembly comprising a product core and a packing end cap of stiff material on at least one end of the product core wherein the cap has an open end, an end panel section, and a plurality of side flanges extending from the end panel section defining a plurality of side intersections of the end cap extending from the end panel section. Stretched elastic film is wrapped around the product end of the product core such that the film overlaps a first portion of the side flanges leaving a second portion of the side flanges free of coverage by the film and the sleeve having at least one terminal end edge created by a gathered portion of the film for forming a rope section tightly circumscribing and engaging the side flanges of the end cap in spaced relationship to the panel section for securing the end cap to the product core. A related method is also provided.

Abstract: A machine for wrapping the sides and one end face of a palletized load is provided with a rotatable load support means and a pivoting axis reel of film which is capable of vertical movement in a plane parallel to the vertical sides of the load as well as rotation about a second axis perpendicular to the side face of the load. The load is wrapped by attaching a terminal end of the plastic film near the bottom edge of the load and rotating the load while the film reel moves vertically and pivots about an axis perpendicular to the vertical side faces of the load until the sides and top face of the load are wrapped.

Abstract: A wrapping machine for wrapping a palletized load is provided with a film carriage having a spool of film. A means for unwinding the film from the spool from an upstream winding position to a downstream position in accordance with a selected path where it is applied to the load is also provided. Prestretching rollers for prestretching the film before it is applied to the load are contained on the film carriage. Cutting blades are used to pierce the film, downstream of the prestretching rollers, into longitudinally extending strips. The strips are then separated into longitudinally extending bands by a separating roller. The bands are applied to a load by the carriage which slidably moves up and down along a support column in combination with a turntable upon which the load rotates.

Abstract: A system for packaging hay bales includes a press for compressing hay to small, compact bales and a wrapping machine which applies multiple sheets of a thin material to form a package of an effective strength that maintains the form and integrity of the hay bales, and prevents them from expanding back to their pre-compressed size. The wrapping machine applies the thin film to successive compressed hay bales such that the material extends therebetween to integrate multiple hay bales into a common bundle. A partial cutting machine positioned downstream of the wrapping machine cuts a portion of the material between adjacent hay bales to provide a detachable seam. A full cutting machine positioned downstream of the partial cutting machine completely cuts the material between selected pairs of adjacent wrapped hay bales to define sets of multiple wrapped hay bales. A method for packaging hay bales, and the resulting packaged set of multiple hay bales, are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for placing sleeves on bottles and other objects is disclosed. In particular, a high speed method and apparatus having a plurality of sleeving stations for placing sleeves on bottles is disclosed. Each sleeving station includes a circularly arranged set of relatively movable parallel pins which are operable to contract or expand. A label transporter deposits a sleeve on the pins when they are contracted. The pins expand to stretch the sleeve. A bottle and the pins are then moved relative to one another to place the bottle inside the stretched sleeve. A gas flow is provided between the bottle and the sleeve to reduce friction. The sleeved bottle is then stripped from the pins. The method occurs without starts and stops by the bottle or the sleeve and is thus capable of very high production rates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel multi-layer coextruded thermoplastic stretch wrap films useful for the packaging or palletizing of goods. More particularly the films of this invention comprise at least three layers having two outer layers and at least one intermediate layer placed between the outer layers. The intermediate layer is formed from a high pressure low density polyethylene resin and the outer layers are formed from a linear low density polyethylene copolymer such as ethylene copolymerized with a minor amount of at least one C.sub.4 to C.sub.10 alpha-olefin, such as hexene-1, octene-1, decene-1, 4-methyl-pentene-1 and butene-1. The force required to stretch the novel films of this invention may be controlled by the thickness of the intermediate layer relative to overall film thickness, the melt index of the intermediate layer resin, the molecular weight of the intermediate layer resin or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for wrapping a load conforming generally to a rectangular solid, such as a cotton bale. Lengths of wrapping film from two rolls are welded to form a predraped wall of such film, into which the load is conveyed to cover its front face and its lateral faces, whereupon the welded lengths are welded again behind the bale and are severed from such rolls. As the load is conveyed, a length of wrapping film from a third roll is wrapped in a spiral pattern so as to cover the upper, lower, and lateral faces of the load. Moreover, generally V-shaped perforations pointing toward the front face are formed in the lateral faces, by means of perforating mechanisms. Each mechanism comprises a pivotal arm biased toward the load, a wheel rotatable on the arm, and perforating cutters extending radially from the wheel, in two circumferential arrays.

Abstract: A method of producing a film wrapped package enables the package to have a bottom seam which is offset from the center-line of the tray and thus lends itself to pre-printing relatively large labels on the bottom of the package without interference from the bottom seam.

Abstract: An annular article-wrapping member includes a shrinkable wrapping material is wound on the outer periphery of an annular article to be wrapped in such a manner that the direction of shrinkage of the shrinkable wrapping material coincides with a circumferential direction of the outer periphery of the annular article. The overlapped portions of the wrapping material subsequently are joined together. The shrinkable wrapping material is heated to be shrunk to provide an intermediate wrapping member having sleeve openings having a diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the annular article. Sleeve forming portions of the intermediate wrapping member together in a ring-shape along an inner periphery of the annular article. The portion of the shrinkable wrapping material disposed inwardly of the joined portion is removed by cutting, thereby obtaining the annular article-wrapping member.

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: In a wrapping machine comprising a ring rotatable on a frame, a ledge to support a package being wrapped, and a carriage supporting a roll of plastic film and movable with the ring to wrap the film around the ledge and around a package supported thereby, a severing arm, pivotable between a horizontal position underlying the ledge and a vertical position, carries a heated severing wire. Also, a spacing arm, pivotably movable between a horizontal position underlying the ledge and a vertical position, spaces an outer film layer from the ledge. In one embodiment, the severing arm carries heated welding elements, and the spacing arm applies a partial vacuum to cause a severed film portion to adhere to the spacing arm. In another embodiment, the severed film portion is clamped between the spacing and severing arms.

Abstract: Baled material (4) is fed into a resilient sheath (4) through an open end thereof with at least the open end portion held in a resiliently expanded condition so that after insertion of the material the sheath can contract around the material, so expelling excess air. The sheath is held by a holding device having members (25; 124) movable on cranks between positions in which the sheath can be readily located on the members in its unstressed condition and in which at least the open end of the sheath is enlarged by stretching.

Abstract: A protective tray for use in a palletized load of stacked packages of material, such as bags of particulate material, prevents the lower packages in the stack from being ripped or torn by the pallet slats in the event the load shifts laterally relative to the pallet and must be pushed back onto the pallet. The protective tray may be made from plastic or from a relatively high strength inexpensive fiberboard blank having fold and score lines enabling assembly of the blank to define a bottom panel and integral upstanding side panels and end members. The side panels and end members are maintained in upstanding relation to the bottom panel by corner retaining flaps. A low-friction sheet, such as heavy gauge paper, is preferably provided between the pallet and the bottom panel of the protective tray to facilitate sliding of the shifted load and protective tray onto the pallet.

Abstract: The present invention is a portable manual tape dispensing apparatus for use with a stretchable adhesive tape such as of the type that progressively detackifies when stretched. The apparatus has a supply spool for carrying a supply of the tape and a handle connected to the supply spool for manually grasping and manipulating the apparatus. A mechanism for stretching the tape is arranged and configured to receive the tape from the supply spool. The stretching mechanism has a stretching zone defined between first and second engagement surfaces. The first and second engagement surfaces frictionally engage the tape and move at disparate longitudinal speeds to stretch the tape when the stretching mechanism is activated. A manually operative mechanism is provided for selectively activating the stretching mechanism so an operator can remove the tape from the supply in a substantially detackified stretched condition when the stretching mechanism is activated.

Abstract: A method of unitizing a cargo of multiple substantially identical high density hay bales into multiple non-palletized units capable of being handled by a forklift truck or the like and fitted into shipping containers and utility vehicle cargo spaces comprises the steps of selecting a plurality of substantially identical high density bales of hay, arranging the plurality of bales of hay into selected size stacks of at least one layer of multiple horizontal rows, and wrapping multiple layers of an elongated continuous sheet of pre-stretched polymeric film having a memory horizontally around the plurality of bales of hay.

Abstract: A method for covering and sealing an opening in a container. The method employs a polyolefin-based stretch film which is free of adhesive and has a softening temperature in excess of 100.degree. C. At least one surface of the film having an upper and lower surface is substantially free of constituents which can dissolve in, or react with an organic solvent or a caustic agent. The method includes the steps of:(i) providing a portion of the film which covers the container opening,(ii) stretching the film using a mechanical force in a direction generally parallel to the principal axis of the container opening, and(iii) releasing the force and allowing the film to contract around the container opening to provide a liquid-tight seal over the opening.

Abstract: A method of producing packaging in which the goods to be packaged are engaged against a rigid base and a flexible material is held taut over the goods. Portions of the flexible material near the side edges thereof are engaged and moved to a position below the top of the goods. The intermediate portions of the flexible material are tensioned and stretched thereby compressing the goods to the base. A lid is applied over the base so there is a space between the lid and the flexible material which is secured to the base below the goods to maintain the goods against the base. A gas is charged into the space to preserve the goods, ad the lid and flexible material are sealed to the base with the gas in the space.

Abstract: This invention relates to both an apparatus and method of forming a thin flexible and to some extent resilient material strap from a supply of sheet film and further wherein the apparatus and method involves the positioning of the formed stretchable strapping about and in binding relation to the exterior of any one of a plurality of various types of packages, articles, etc. The apparatus comprises positioning means which serves to grip a free end of the formed stretch strapping and exert a pulling force thereon to direct it about a predetermined path of travel surrounding the article being bound and subsequently securing a length of the stretch strapping in binding engagement with the exterior surfaces or portions of the article being bound.

Abstract: A stretch wrapping machine includes a web dispenser and a rotatable support for providing relative rotation between the web dispenser and load to wrap a web of packaging material around the load. Cooperating engagement members are selectively and positively engageable with each other throughout the rotation of the rotatable support for stopping the rotation of the rotatable support when the engagement members are positively engaged and for permitting rotation of the rotatable support when the engagement members are disengaged. One of the engagement members is mounted on a rotatable support and the other is mounted on a fixed support. An actuator selectively engages engagement members. One engagement member preferably includes at least two stop units spaced at a distance less than the distance between the engageable formations of the other engagement member.

Abstract: A wrapping apparatus which comprises:means for supplying a band-like member,means for stretching the band-like member in at least lateral direction thereof, the lateral stretch means comprising a unit for running the band-like member to spread out the member so that it forms a sector (an unfolded fan) and a unit for detachably gripping the regions (or margins) of the band-like member respectively near the opposite widthwise ends thereof so that they are detachable from the running unit, andmeans for winding the stretched band-like member around an article for the wrapping thereof.As one embodiment of the present invention, a method for wrapping an article with said wrapping apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: A film for stretch packaging comprising as a substrate a film of a linear low density polyethylene having a melt flow rate (190.degree. C.), as measured by an ASTM-D-1238E method, of 0.3 to 8 g/10 min., a density, as measured by an ASTM-D-1505 method, of 0.900 to 0.918 g/cm.sup.3, a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of 2 to 6, two or more melting points existing as measured by a differential scanning calorimeter, a maximum melting point Tm.sub.1 of 118.degree. to 125.degree. C. and a ratio of the height Tm.sub.1 H of the peak of the highest melting point Tm.sub.1 to the height Tm.sub.1 H of the melting point Tm.sub.2 adjacent thereto (i.e., Tm.sub.1 H/Tm.sub.2 H), of 1.3 or less.

Abstract: A wrapping machine which includes an elevated platform with a pair of opposed clamping members adapted to hold a narrow workpiece being wrapped therebetween. Each clamping member includes a flat base and a pair of sides for holding a narrow workpiece between the clamping members, with each of the clamping members being rotatably mounted. One of the clamping members is coupled to the platform and the other of the clamping members is coupled to a vertically movable arm. A vertical support is provided to support the vertically movable arm, with a first drive mechanism rotatably driving one of the pair of clamping members, and a second drive mechanism for moving the movable arm relative to the support to position the pair of clamping members with respect to the workpiece being wrapped.

Abstract: A multilayer thermoplastic stretch wrap film having two outer layers, at least one of said layers comprising a layer of a linear low density copolymer of an appha olefin of from 4 to 10 carbon atoms, said copolymer containing from 3.5 to about 15 weight percent of n-hexane extractibles.

Abstract: An improvement to the conventional apparatus and method for wrapping products and product trays with a film is provided. As the wrapping film is carried over and with the product by chains fitted with gripper clamps, a set of guiding rollers is brought into contact with the film to maintain the film substantially horizontal between the rollers and the grippers. The apparatus described also permits stretching of the film to minimize wrinkles and maximize film utilization.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel multi-layer coextruded thermoplastic stretch wrap films useful for the packaging or palletizing of goods. More particularly the films of this invention comprise at least three layers having two outer layers and at least one intermediate layer placed between the outer layers. The intermediate layer is formed from a high pressure low density polyethylene resin and the outer layers are formed from a linear low density polyethylene copolymer such as ethylene copolymerized with a minor amount of at least one C.sub.4 to C.sub.10 alpha-olefin, such as hexene-1, octene-1, decene-1, 4-methyl-pentene-1 and butene-1. The force required to stretch the novel films of this invention may be controlled by the thickness of the intermediate layer relative to overall film thickness, the melt index of the intermediate layer resin, the molecular weight of the intermediate layer resin or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for differentially softening plastic used to package articles. Select areas of the sheet are selectively softened by treating those areas to allow either increased or decreased softening of the sheet in response to radiation absorption. The treatment can include the application of coating materials to the select areas or the lamination of different types of plastics. In the illustrated embodiment, heat is applied to the sheet by use of a infrared radiation source. Either before or after the sheet has been softened in the areas, the sheet is positioned adjacent to a forming plate for stretch forming the sheet. The plate causes the softened areas of the sheet, along with any unsoftened areas bordering the softened areas, to be drawn and stretched over and around the surface of the article intended to be covered or held.

Abstract: A generally parallepipedal package comprised of a stack of goods sitting on a pallet has four horizontally directed sides, vertically oppositely directed top and bottom faces, and upper and lower horizontally extending edges meeting at upper and lower corners. It is wrapped by first securing an end of a stretch foil to the package adjacent the bottom face, then drawing the foil from one of lower corners of one of the sides diagonally across the one side to the diagonally opposite upper corner of the one side while maintaining the foil taut, and then laying the foil on and along the upper edge of the adjacent side extending perpendicularly from the one side to the opposite upper corner with the foil contacting both the top face and the one side.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method are disclosed for winding and wrapping rolls of web material or other objects, in which the roll (10) is wrapped prior to removal from the turret winding machine (96). A roll (16) of stretch wrap material is traversed, swiveled and tilted beside the rotating roll (10) or other object to be wrapped under the control of a traverse motor (144), swivel motor (178) and tilt motor (192) which are actuated in proportion to the speed of rotation of roll (10). For improved accuracy of wrapping, roll (16) of wrap material preferably is located along the swivel axis of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wrapping the sides and covering the top of a load. The apparatus comprises of a reel of wrapping film and a load support that can be rotated relative to each other about an axis that is coincident with the vertical axis of the load to thereby wrap the sides of the load. The film reel and the load support are further pivotable relative to each other about a second axis that is orthogonal to the load axis as well as slidable relative to each other along this second axis to thereby cover the top face of the load.

Abstract: A plastic film is simultaneously stretched laterally and longitudinally and wound around a load just after stretching thereof, thereby tightening the load in both the vertical direction and horizontal direction with the film.

Abstract: A method of forming a suture needle holder for a suture needle. A suture needle is placed in a trough cut into the surface of a die. This trough intersects a cavity within the die. A sheet is placed onto the surface of the die after the needle is placed in the trough. The sheet is then thermoformed into the cavity to form a pedestal around the needle. During thermoforming the needle is captured by the sheet and a slot is formed about the suture needle.