Abstract: Mechanism and means for enclosing a package in a wrap. The external dimensions of the package are first determined and sufficient wrap is fed with which to enclose the package. Depending on the external dimensions of the package, the amount of wrap fed is adjusted and thereafter the package is enclosed in the wrap.

Abstract: A process and a machine for overpacking luggage of users of different transport means and in particular, for airplane passengers.The machine includes a device for forming a packing around each luggage (5), moving the luggage upon a conveyor belt (8) and during its movement, providing the packing in the form of a protecting envelope (16) made of a plastic material, while providing the envelope (16) with an opening extending in front of the handle (6).

Abstract: A covering for electrical machines has at least one film which is placed around a pole housing and around parts attached to the pole housing and which is permanently shrunk onto the pole housing and the parts.

Abstract: A food product package includes a bulky food product hermetically sealed in a bag of heat shrunk film. The package has an integral self-supporting handle which is formed from plies of the film and which extends out from an end of the package in a conventional handle shape. The handle is formed by causing a skirt portion of the bag to heat shrink about a rigid member positioned to maintain the skirt portion spaced from an end of the package during shrinking.

Abstract: A method of protecting an electronic component from the environment comprising the steps of providing a bag made from thermoplastic heat shrink material, inserting said electronic component into said bag, injecting a liquid polymerizable resin into said bag, heating said bag to shrink it about said electronic component and said resin, and curing said resin.

Abstract: A shrink wrap gift package is disclosed. A piece of shrink wrap film encloses a gift item. Excess shrink wrap film extending from the piece of film enclosing the gift is formed into body parts of humans, animals and plants. This way, the package creates a caricature of the human, animal or plant. A face decal may be placed on the outside surface of the package to emphasize the caricature. Also, a card for a message may be attached to the package.

Abstract: An improved method for shipping a display rack loaded with packaged small fragile items to provide greater protection during shipment and to provide greater convenience to the retail vendor in displaying the packaged items. Multiple packages are pre-placed on the rack and the rack is wrapped with shrink-wrap. Heat is applied and the shrink-wrap contracts pulling the packages into each other and more tightly against the rack. This wrapping makes the rack and packages easier to pack for shipment, provides further shock protection and saves the retailer time and energy in displaying the small fragile items.

Abstract: A package in which an article is sealingly enclosed with a thermally shrinkable film having a row perforations used as air discharge port during shrink packaging. A strip of a film is disposed inside of the package to close the perforations and to prevent moisture and germs from entering into the package during storage and transportion of the package.

Abstract: A thermal shrink film is continuously pulled out and is shaped into a tubular form. Individual items to be wrapped are fed into the tubular film sequentially and overlapping marginal portions of the tubular film extending lengthwise are sealed. The tubular film is sealed and cut transversely side of each of the items at the front end thereof and the tubular film is deformed inwardly by applying pressure thereto to decrease its internal volume. Then the tubular film is sealed and cut transversely of each item at the rear end thereof to form an intermediate package. The film of the intermediate package is shrunk by heating to thus shrink-wrap the item.

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: An annular article-wrapping member is includes a shrinkable wrapping material which 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: A package system for populated circuit boards is disclosed. The circuit board is placed on a piece of conductive paperboard and is shrink wrapped with an antistatic film, which may be provided with a tearstrip. Placed on a cardboard carton, the package provides good protection against physical shocks, vibration and electrostatic discharge.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided to shrink a heat shrinkable film wrapped around a product so as to produce a neat, wrinkle free finished package. As the product is transported along a conveyor path, first a bottom portion of the shrinkable film is shrunk by hot air; second, both side portions of the shrinkable film are shrunk by hot air; and third, the top portion of the shrinkable film is shrunk by warm water. The warm water employed is maintained at a temperature which is lower than that of the hot air so as to avoid wrinkles or damage to the film while efficiently shrinking the film.

Abstract: A method of preparation of packaging bags for bottles, wherein a scrap piece formed at the closed end of the bag is discharged by mechanical methods. In one method, a long cylindrical film sheet is fed to the apparatus so as to place the portion of the film sheet forming the open end of the bag at the top and both sides of scrap pieces are cut and separated simultaneously. In another method, a long cylindrical film sheet is fed to the apparatus so as to place the portion of the film sheet forming a scrap piece at the top, and the scrap piece and the periphery of a closed end of the bag are cut simultaneously.

Abstract: A method of wrapping a tray of produce or other articles requiring ventilation is provided. A ventilated package produced in accordance with the method is also provided. In accordance with the method, a sheet of flexible plastic film is applied to an open ended tray. The sheet includes a perforated portion which is bounded by non-perforated lateral edge portions. The sheet is positioned with respect to the tray such that the perforated portion is located over the open end of the tray while the non-perforated lateral edge portions extend over opposing portions of the rim of the tray and down the side walls thereof. The sheet is stretched in such a manner that the non-perforated lateral edge portions are subject to more severe stretching than the perforated portion of the sheet. The sheet accordingly will not tend to tear despite the presence of perforations.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing and dispensing unfolded files comprising a tray which has side walls, a bottom, and an open top is provided. The tray is adapted to store a stack of the unfolded files thereon. A plastic film is wrapped around the tray and unfolded files contained therein to retain the unfolded files in a tray and to form a package. Upon removal of the plastic film, the unfolded files may be removed from within the tray. Methods for storing and dispensing the unfolded files are also provided.

Abstract: A multilayer film including contiguous layers of two or more diverse thermoplastic materials of differing refractive indices whereby the film retains a permanent color change as evidence of tampering or an attempt at tampering when the yield point of at least one of the diverse materials has been at least equalled by the strain associated with such tampering or with such an attempt at tampering, and where before such yield point is at least equalled the wavelength of an unsuppressed reflectance of normally incident light is not within the visible spectrum while after such yielded point is at least equalled the reflectance is retained in the visible spectrum.

Abstract: A heater plate for a heat-printed carrier process is provided in which the contact surface of the heater plate is shaped so as to reduce the formation of air pockets between the sheet and the contact surface of the heater plate.

Abstract: A shrink bag having one end heat sealed to form the closed end of a bag pocket and including a skirt portion at this closed end which forms a handle upon heat shrinking the bag about a food product. The bag is particularly adapted for packaging whole turkeys and the like and, to this end, the heat seal is configured so the bag pocket closed end is a deep cavity shaped to accommodate the tail end of the turkey.

Abstract: Packaging made of card or similar material for packing a plurality of objects, the packaging comprising a body having a ring of sides and a bottom, thereby defining a volume for receiving said objects, and at least one sheet of shrinkable synthetic material fixed to said body for covering said plurality of objects and for holding the objects in place in said volume by said sheet being shrunk, said bottom being constituted by a plurality of flaps each of which is connected via a corresponding fold line to the bottom longitudinal edge of said ring of sides, said sheet being fixed to at least one of said bottom flaps which is covered, at least in part, by at least one other one of said bottom flaps is such a manner as to clamp said sheet between said flaps.

Abstract: A shrink packaging apparatus wherein articles surrounded by a heat shrinkable film are transported on a double side-holding conveyor and a carry-on conveyor for being sequentially fed into a series of heating units so that each article is uniformly heated all over in order to allow the entire film to come in contact with the entire surface of the article in a sightly manner, whereby shrink-wrapped packages having a good appearance can be produced.

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: The present invention provides a method of compacting a sheet article, for example an article of underwear, to produce a stable, substantially rigid, compacted article. This reduces space required for storage and distribution and facilitates packaging of the article. Compaction is effected by placing the article, or a plurality of articles, in a mould cavity, and subjecting them to elevated pressure for a certain time. The pressure and time are selected to compact the article sufficiently to form the stable, rigid body, but simultaneously not being so great as to either damage the article or compact it so much that water or other liquid is required to recover the article from its compacted state to its original state.

Abstract: Goods are packaged by first placing a thermoplastic lower foil atop a pallet with edges of the foil projecting laterally past the pallet and then stacking goods on the pallet atop the foil on the pallet within the edges of the foil. The lower edge of a downwardly open heat-shrinkable foil hood is held as the hood is fitted downward over the stack on the pallet until the lower edge is generally below the stack. This lower edge is then gripped below the stack and the foil hood is shrunk from top to bottom around the stack while continuing to grip the lower edge below the stack. Finally the foil hood is welded to the outer edge of the lower foil. Thus when the grippers are carried on the same vertically displaceable frame as the heater/blowers it is possible for the grippers to release and move upward before the top-to-bottom shrinking of the hood. During such shrinking the clamps will prevent the hood or sack from riding up too much.

Abstract: Disclosed is a skin packaging film for skin packaging high profile and/or heavy articles. The film comprises linear ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer. In one embodiment, the film is antistatic and may be employed for skin packaging of electro-static sensitive items such as circuit boards.

Abstract: A shrink package system is disclosed which includes a conveyer for conveying an article covered by shrink film, a hot air chamber for blowing hot air on the shrink film while the article and shrink film are on the conveyer, a plurality of rollers and a support frame for supporting the plurality of rollers above the conveyer. The shrink film covered article travels between the conveyer and the rollers, displacing the rollers vertically. In one arrangement, the support frame includes a pair of side rails held in position by at least one threaded stud, the side rails forming slots with both vertical and horizontal components for receiving the rollers shafts.

Abstract: A composite body fluid sample container is provided which incorporates safety features for containing diseased samples of such fluids from touching and/or contaminating anyone handling the samples. The composite includes a glass sample container, either evacuated or not, depending upon use which has disposed thereon a "shrunk down" sleeve of a thermoplastic film. In the event that the glass is cracked or broken, the sleeve holds the sample from spilling or leaking onto the hands of a person handling the container, or otherwise spreading a diseased sample by spilling, leakage, or cutting by broken glass.

Abstract: The method of this invention includes the step of providing a mandrel sleeve shaped on the inside to fit over the small diameter end of a contoured container and being of an outer diameter substantially equal to the large diameter portion of the container. After applying a solvent of the plastic sheet material to the trailing edge of a length thereof, the sheet is wrapped around the container and the mantrel sleeve so that the trailing edge overlaps the leading edge and the solvent forms a firm bond between the overlapped edges. The mandrel sleeve is then withdrawn from the wrapped length, leaving it around the container, and the sheet material is heat shrunk to fit tightly over its full height around the contoured container. Before the sheet is wrapped around the mandrel and container, an adhesive, such as a hot melt glue, may be applied too that portion of the sheet that is wrapped in direct contact with the container.

Abstract: A receptacle for food products and the like is provided. A plastic film is tightly wrapped about a preformed package such as a tray containing wet food products. The film defines a pair of opposing flaps and an area of overlapping film portions extending between the flaps and adjacent to the bottom surface of the tray. Heat and pressure are applied to the wrapping at the bottom surface of the tray to provide a flat, sealed film surface. A strip of adhesive tape is applied to the flat film surface, thereby connecting the opposing flaps and providing a seal over the seam defined by the overlapping film portions. The tape is then heated to cause the adhesive to flow, thereby improving the seal. The wrapping is prevented from moving from its original position by the tape and is accordingly substantially leak-proof.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method of packaging a product including drawing a thermoplastic thermoformable web into a thermoforming mold to form a cavity, inserting the product into the cavity, moving the web and product to a vacuum chamber, placing a tray, upside down, in the chamber on top of the web to define an unsealed package; sealing the tray to the web under vacuum; and shrinking the bottom web.

Abstract: An article is wrapped in a shrink film having a longitudinal seal. The longitudinal seal is formed by swirling hot melt fibers onto a longitudinal edge of the film and bringing longitudinal edges together to form an initial pressure-sensitive seal. The shrink film and hot melt are then subjected to the elevated temperature of shrink oven to shrink the film and to form a more complete bond at the longitudinal seam.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for forming a shrink-wrapped package from polyolefin film which overcomes the problems of forming the bottom lap seal of the tubular package formed from the film and initial low strength of the heat seal at the forward end of the package, by positioning the static sealer for the bottom lap seal upstream from the heat sealer for the forward end of the package and by using a ram to move packages into the tubular package but to stop them short of the heat seal at the forward end of the package.

Abstract: A package of shrunken heat-shrinkable flexible film conformed to a contained food product has no gap or virtually no gap between the food product and the shrunken film. Prior to heat shrinking, the package is subjected to non-ionizing radiation.

Abstract: A machine for wrapping generally cylindrical articles includes a web supply reel, an endless conveyor composed of a multiplicity of spaced-apart rollers for moving the articles along a predetermined path, a device for guiding and feeding the web on to the rollers, a device for feeding articles on to the web at a location at which it has already been guided on to the rollers, and transverse cutters for severing a predetermined portion of the web after an article has been placed thereon. An abutment is mounted along the predetermined path and disposed to tangentially engage the rollers to cause their rotation which, in turn, causes rotation of the articles thereby wrapping a predetermined portion of the web around themselves. The machine also includes an integral heat tunnel and an electronically-controlled drive for accelerating and decelerating the conveyor in timed relation with respect to the movement of the web. A method for wrapping cylindrical articles is also disclosed.

Abstract: A capsule and a method of making a capsule for use in the dissolution of a chlorine chemical compound into a body of water. The capsule comprises a tablet section having at least one chlorine compound tablet and a shell securely fitted about the tablet section. The shell has two apertures at opposite ends, each extension extending away from the tablet section and having a conduit communicating with an aperture to reduce the dissolving rate of the chlorine into the water. The ends of the extensions may be shaped to prevent the capsule from standing on its ends.

Abstract: A transport and merchandising assembly consists of a multiplicity of package modules stacked upon pallets, several of which are in turn disposed upon the support surface of a skid. The stacks are independently secured to provide separate subassemblies, which are in turn also secured to the skid. The carton of each package module consists of a tray-like base component and a sidewall component, the latter being readily removable to expose the produce units, which are stably supported by a stand inserted within the recess of the base component.

Abstract: The method includes the step of providing a cylindrical mandrel with vacuum openings around the circumference thereof and of a diameter substantially equal to the maximum diameter of the container. A thermoplastic strip is then wrapped around both the container and the mandrel, and just that portion of the strip enclosing the container is heat shrunk to follow closely the contour of the container. Then, the mandrel is withdrawn from the thermoplastic sleeve and that portion of the sleeve extending above the container is heat shrunk to engage snugly over the top of the container lid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging firewood and kindling material wherein said device includes a rigid support frame for stacking and packaging. The rigid support frame includes a base member, a vertical support member hingedly affixed to said base member, and a truss member detachably affixed to said vertical support member at one end and pivotably affixed to said base member on its opposing end. The firewood is vertically positioned on said frame in a multiplicity of layers, wherein each layer is positioned in substantially normal axial displacement to one another, thus preventing lateral stability during said packaging procedure. A shrink wrap material is provided along with a heating element, e.g., hand held air blower, such that said shrink wrap may be applied to encase said vertically positioned firewood, and its corresponding kindling material. The method and apparatus of the invention thereby provides a transportable package of firewood along with a combustible material, i.e.

Abstract: A tamper indicator for a blister package having a rupturable lid which is attached to a base formed with recesses that hold articles in the recesses between the lid and the base. The indicator comprises an easily ruptured and tearable film that completely covers the exposed surface of the base and is attached to the lid near the juncture of the lid and the base.

Abstract: This shrink wrap package includes a container having side margins defining an open top and a shrink wrap plastic cover having a first portion disposed above the container margins and a second portion disposed in lapped relation to the container below the margins, the first portion including vent openings of a size and number to permit free airflow through the package and allow the escape of gas. The cover is shring-wrapped to the container by means of a heat gun and in one embodiment the cover is dome-shaped to suit placement over a container basket having an arcuate handle.

Abstract: A shrink wrap packaging machine that shrink wraps twice as many packages per unit of time as conventional machines. The machine includes a pair of longitudinally spaced sealing and cutting elements. Both elements are preceded by a sensor. The first sealing and cutting element is activated when the trailing edge of even numbered packages are detected whereas the second sealing and cutting element is activated when the second sensor detects the trailing edge of odd numbered packages. Packages are therefore wrapped in groups of two after leaving the first sealing and cutting station and are individually wrapped after leaving the second sealing and cutting station. The conveyor belt that carries packages through the machine operates at nearly twice the speed of prior art machines but the sealing and cutting elements of the present machines operate at the same rate as prior art machines.

Abstract: The apparatus for shrinking a shrinkable cover to enclose a palletted stack of goods comprises a shrinking device, a conveying system for the palletted stack of goods transported past the shrinking device, a lifting device positioned under the shrinking device for raising the palletted stack of goods and a suction device positioned in the vicinity of the lifting device. The lifting device is located astride the path of the conveyor system thereby eliminating below ground conveyors in favor of driverless automatically controlled floor conveying devices. Part of the lifting device is at least one raisable and lowerable support movable under a palletted stack of goods being guided on the conveyor system. The support has seat members projecting from it for the palletted stack of goods and the seat members are movable from a horizontal into a vertical orientation, especially by rotation of the support about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Filamentary or thread textile material is wound onto lap creels (2), which are capable of being pushed, in a telescoping manner, one into the other to form stacks (3). Each stack (3) is covered with a film tube or hose (6) which is shrunk onto the stack for holding together the individually wound lap creels (2). Immediately prior to a treatment, several stacks (3) are formed into a column, which is compacted by an axially effective compression. The slackened tension of the film tube (6) is then re-established by renewed shrinkage thereof prior to or at the start of the treatment of the textile material. Film material capable of repeated shrinking, especially heat shrinking is used for this purpose.

Abstract: This invention relates to a modular promotional display for blister card battery packages. The blister card packages are loaded into a multicompartmented module at the manufacturing point. The filled modules are shipped to the promotional display assembly point where a plurality of modules are placed into a display tray. Thus, the modules serve as both a shipping container and a display container for the batteries.

Abstract: A method of applying a cover to an open-topped vehicle, such as a freight vehicle, includes steps of applying a single-use covering which includes a cage having a standard length and adjustment elements for taking up the difference between the cage length and the length of the vehicle to the vehicle. The cage includes cover supporting ribs that are spaced apart from each other according to preset distances. The covering also includes a flexible cover that is shrinkable and self-weldable upon the application of heat thereto, and is attached to the vehicle by forming double-ply end joints by welding a first portion of the cover to a second portion of the cover to form a hem with a line located inside the hem. The line is attached to the vehicle. Patches can also be placed in locations on the cover needing multi-ply protection and heat welded to the cover at those locations.

Abstract: The process according to the invention consists of superposing a plurality of panels of compressible materials (1), of providing the pile thus produced with at least one enclosure (2) of shrinkable plastic material, of subjecting the pile to a first compression normally on its wide surface, of causing the shrinking of the enclosure (2) on the compressed pile to provide a package, of superposing in order of thickness a plurality of identical packages of compressed panels, of applying a flat rigid element (12) against each of the terminal surfaces of the pile of packages thus produced, of subjecting the said pile to a second compression, perpendicular to the flat elements (12) and of joining the pile of packages (5) thus compressed with the aid of assembly means.

Abstract: A recipient having an axially upwardly open neck formed with at least one radially projecting neck thread is capped by fitting a circumferentially thermally shrinkable sleeve around a plug, fitting the plug into the open neck to block same, fitting the sleeve also around the neck over the neck thread, and heating the sleeve and thermally shrinking it circumferentially into tight engagement with the plug and with the neck and neck thread. The sleeve can be first fitted around the plug and then shrunk over the plug, after which the plug and sleeve are fitted together to the recipient, whereupon the sleeve is shrunk over the neck. Alternately the plug is fitted to the neck, then at the same time the sleeve is fitted around the plug and around the neck, and then the sleeve is heated to shrink it onto the plug and neck at the same time.

Abstract: The process according to the invention consists of superposing a plurality of panels (1), of providing the pile thus produced with at least one enclosure (2) of shrinkable plastic material, of subjecting the pile to a first compression in a direction normal to its wide surface, of causing the shrinking of the enclosure (2) on the compressed pile to provide a package, of superposing in order of thickness a plurality of identical packages of compressed panels, of applying a flat rigid element (12) against each of the terminal surfaces of the pile of packages thus produced, of subjecting the said pile to a second compression, perpendicular to the flat elements (12) and of joining the pile of packages (5) thus compressed with the aid of assembly means.The invention is applied to the packaging of panels of compressible materials.

Abstract: A method for packaging a playing ball so as to provide a partially exposed surface of the ball which comprises the steps of imprinting selected indicia on a heat shrinkable plastic film loop, placing the loop about the ball in frictional contact with a portion of the surface of the ball, applying heat to the loop and the ball to shrink said loop so as to wrap a circumferential section of the ball, and removing the heat and permitting the loop to cool about the ball in its shrunken state. If the ball is partially deflated, the loop is placed about the ball and the ball is inflated until frictional contact between the ball and loop occurs with subsequent heat application.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for packaging a number of disc-like information recording media each having a hole at its center portion. The disc-like information recording media are collected with the holes thereof being aligned with each other to form a cylindrical assembly with a through-hole, and an elongated member is inserted into the through-hole and a pair of collars are set on the elongated member from both ends thereof so as to fix the cylindrical assembly with respect to the elongated member. Thereafter, the cylindrical assembly is wrapped by a shrinkable material and encased in a container comprising upper and lower halves each having at least one assembly-receiving portion with a configuration substantially equal in dimension to the semicylindrical half portion of the cylindrical assembly. The container has an engaging arrangement comprising L-shaped extending portions and L-shaped shelf portions so that the upper and lower halves are stably coupled to each other.