Abstract: A conveyor system having first second and third stations and a return conveyor in communication with and linking the first and third stations: The first station has a device to selectively feed pallets, one at a time, from the return conveyor to a position underneath an unpackaged work piece disposed on the first station portion of the conveyor system and help position the pallet with the work piece on top of it on to another part of the first station portion of the conveyor system, which conveys the pallet and the work piece to the second station where packaging of the workpiece is carried out, for example, shrinking a plastic sheet about the work piece. Another part of the conveyor system conveys the packaged work piece to the third station where a device removes the pallet from the packaged work piece, places the packaged work piece on another part of the third station portion of the conveyor and places the pallet on the return conveyor for return to the first station.

Abstract: Banding apparatus, which is capable of high speed operations, opens perforated, heat shrinkable, plastic tubing by use of a floating mandrel. Rollers or fingers, which exert force against the sides of the mandrel, are used to feed the tubing, tear the tubing at the perforations to form bands, and then push the bands off the mandrel and onto or over containers or articles to be banded.

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: The present invention relates to a packing case comprising a box, a heat-retractable plastic and at least one lid, for storing, handling and transporting a charge.In the said case, the heat-retractable plastic (2, 22) in sheet form is bonded at one or more of its edges (32, 322) to the outer surface of a wall (3) of the said box, in the vicinity of the side of the said wall, and extends, on the outside, from the said edge (32, 322) to the side of the said wall and then inside the box, opposite the inner surface of the said wall, moving away from the latter towards the charge which is to be packed.In the said case, the charge is held down against the bottom by means of the heat-retractable plastic along an overlapping zone.

Abstract: A roll-wrapping method where rolls are wrapped with an envelope of heat-shrink plastic film with a label positioned between the envelope and roll and electrostatically bonded to the film. The bond prevents misalignment of the label prior to heat shrinking of the film onto the roll.

Abstract: This invention provides a packaging material comprising a metallic foil and at least one heat-shrinkable film of synthetic resin disposed on at least one surface of the metallic foil, the film being superposed on the metallic foil and comprising superposed portions bonded to the metallic foil and superposed portions to be heat-shrunk and not bonded to the metallic foil, and the portions to be heat-shrunk of the film being shrunk by application of heat and also provides a sealing cap made of the packaging material suitable for sealing the capped mouths of bottles for wine, champagne or the like.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming tamper-evident, sealed containers are disclosed. A plurality of filled containers are respectively fitted with generally annular, heat-shrinkable seal members, with the seal members heated by passage through a heat tunnel so that they shrink into conformance with the respective containers. In order to further conform the heat-shrinkable members to the containers, the containers are passed beneath a rotatably driven, resiliently deformable foam roller assembly, which engages each seal member, and urges it downwardly into further conformance with its respective container. In the preferred form, the roller assembly is driven so that its peripheral speed is less than the speed at which the sealed containers are moved therebeneath.

Abstract: A package and method of packaging and dispensing a plurality of bottles or other like articles. The packages include a tray for supporting a plurality of bottles and a band around the perimeter of the bottles. A shrink wrap is placed around the bottles, band and tray. The tray is filled by placing the open edge adjacent the exit port of shaker dispensing table. The bottles are dispensed from the tray by moving the band to cause the bottles to slide over the open edge of the tray onto a receiving table.

Abstract: A wrapped packet of papers including a separate title page, one or more separate table of content pages and a continuous strip of fan-folded, two-ply sequentially-numbered paper sheets. Both the separate sheets and the sheets present in the continuous strip possess punched out holes for fastening the sheets into ring or post binders.

Abstract: An arrangement for manufacturing non-pelletized packaging units which are completely surrounded with shrinking foil. The packaging units are formed by several layers of objects which are stacked on top of each other in such a way that at least two parallel recesses are formed into which support members of a lifting device can engage. The arrangement includes a single shrinking foil application device and a single shrinking device forming a combined arrangement and having a common conveyor and support track. Shaping tools of a shaping device are permanently assigned to an appropriate conveyor surface of a turning device. The shaping tools can be moved into position for shaping the shrinking foil in the recesses after a first shrinking foil has been applied and shrunk onto the stack. After turning the stack, the shaping tools are moved into a release position.

Abstract: A tamper evident seal for containers having a plastic shrink sleeve placed around the cap and neck and extending over the shoulder. A paper label is placed over a portion of the sleeve to prevent the sleeve from being removed intact. The sleeve has zigzag, saw-tooth perforations above and below a median line. The perforations are between the shoulder and cap of the container. When the cap is twisted and removed the plastic sleeve is randomly fragmented making it difficult, if not impossible to match in any attempt to reseal the container.

Abstract: An arrangement for sliding and shrinking a hood of shrinking foil over and onto a stack formed by a number of packaging objects. The arrangement includes a vertically movable frame with shrinking devices provided in the upper region of the frame and gripping elements for grasping and pulling down the lower edge of the shrinking foil. A lifting device arranged centrically underneath the stack serves to raise the stack from a conveying device which transports the stack into and out of the arrangement according to the invention. The lifting device raises the stack so that the lower edge of the hood of shrinking foil can be shrunk onto the stack up to the region of the conveying device. Subsequently, the lifting device is lowered. The vertical distance between the gripping elements and the shrinking devices is adjustable.

Abstract: Pancakes of recording tape are packaged using stiff, expanded-plastic spacers, each having a web against which pancakes can rest in a stack of alternating pancakes and spacers. Each web terminates in an annular recess from which at least one deformable protuberance projects, and the core of each pancake is pinched between facing proturberances. A protective or reinforcing rim at the outer periphery of each web is sufficiently thin not to touch the rims so that each pancake can be held tightly against the adjacent webs while the stack is under axial compression, e.g., by a plastic shrinkwrap. By thus restraining both each pancake and its core, there is no core drop, upset or core rotation, problems besetting prior packages of pancakes of magnetic recording tape.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for formation of a spirally-wound, heat-shrinkable tube from which a great multiplicity of tamper-evident bands can be cut for subsequent heat-shrinkable application to containers. A strip of strinkable material oriented primarily in the direction of its length is spirally-wound to form the tube from which the bands are severed, with heat-shrinkability of the tube and bands being primarily in a radial direction. The radial heat-shrinkability of the tube and bands assures proper heat-shrink fitment of the bands to associated containers for tamper indication, with the spirally-wound formation of the tube facilitating very economical fabrication of the tamper-evident bands.

Abstract: A process for the continuously packing shirred tubular food casings in a net, wherein the shirred tubular food casings are introduced parallel and at a mutual spacing between two endless running net film belts and at a right angle to the direction of movement of the belts, the upper net film is sealed with the lower net film in each case between two gathered-up food casings lying parallel, and thus they enclose the casings in the manner of a tube, and the ends of the tubular casings are enclosed by the net films projecting to a greater or lesser extent at both ends of each food casing, depending on the width of the net film belts used, by shrinking and, in so doing, form a circular opening the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the shirred food casing.

Abstract: Machine for packing products in a thermoretractable film is disclosed and includes a roll supplying a supple film center-folded in two layers for wrapping a product, means for separating the two layers of film, means for welding the periphery of said film, and means for retracting the film about the product to be packed. In the machine the welding and retraction means are regrouped into one working station on a fixed table. The retraction means are constituted by a movable structure, disposed in parallel to and above the fixed table, said structure being equipped with a source of hot air directed towards the table, and being able, on the one hand, to slide horizontally along the table so as to sweep the surface of the film to be retracted, after edge-to-edge welding; and on the other hand, to pivot inside an orthogonal plane with respect to the plane of the table.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging a stack of goods by shrinking a shrinkable foil covering on it comprises a delivery mechanism for drawing a foil tubing from a roll of tubing which cuts away a piece from the foil tubing and closes the top of that piece by an end weld seam, and a framelike vertically movable shrinking mechanism which heats all sides of the piece covering the stack of goods. To avoid a premature shrinking of the shrinkable foil covering or the foil tubing a nozzle device for making an air curtain extending substantially horizontally is provided under the delivery mechanism but above the range of travel of the shrinking mechanism and a blower for providing the air flow for the air curtain is connected with the nozzle device.

Abstract: A reusable insulated box includes a shipping container having a plurality of interconnected sides integral with a closed bottom and a sealable top. Bottom, top and side insert members are comprised of a rigid insulating material having at least an inner or outer surface thereof coated with a reflective insulating material for thereby providing a plurality of insulating plate members and each of the insulating plate members is sheathed in a heat shrunk thermoplastic insulating material. The bottom insert member is disposed in facial relation with the closed bottom of the container and the side insert members extend upwardly from a peripheral portion thereof in facial relation with the sides of the container. A top insert member is engaged with and supported by an upper surface of each of the side insert members and the combination of the thickness of the top and bottom insert members with the height of the side insert members is sufficient to permit closing and sealing of the sealable top.

Abstract: Blocks of cheese are entubed in relatively thin plastic film wrapping material that is heat shrinkable and sealable. According to the method and apparatus, the entubed blocks of cheese are heated to tightly shrink the wrap onto the blocks of cheese to drive air out from between the cheese and the film wrap to provide for good shelf-life and to maintain flavor and other qualities of the product.

Abstract: A method of packaging fresh meat is disclosed in which a first web of material is formed into a receptacle to receive the fresh meat and the receptacle is sealed with a second web of material. The meat is subjected to a vacuum treatment in the receptacle and sealing is effected at reduced pressure. In the vacuum treatment the oxygen partial pressure in the vicinity of the meat is first reduced below about 0.9 mm. of mercury to degas the meat and controlled partial release of the vacuum to an oxygen partial pressure of above about 11 mm. of mercury, preferably about 600 mm. of mercury is effected, the sealing being conducted at this pressure. By this means it is ensured that the meat is not stored or likely to remain under an oxygen partial pressure which is highly deleterious to the meat, particularly to its color and customer appeal.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for wrapping packages with heat shrinkable material, wherein one or more bands of heat shrinkable material are wrapped about each package at the same time the film material is applied. The bands are heated and shrunk with the film material to produce a tightly secured, reinforced package. The package can comprise either a single object or a group of objects wrapped together in a bundle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating selected portions of an article include transport means for moving the article into a heating compartment. Shroud means, which are disposed within the heating compartment and located adjacent to limited portion of the article, direct a stream of heated gas toward a marginal portion of this article. Supply means deliver a volume rate flow of heated gas to the shroud means, and discharge means remove a volume rate of exhaust gas flow from the heating compartment. The discharge means is constructed and arranged to provide a volume rate of exhaust gas flow from the heating compartment which is greater than the volume rate of heated gas flow supplied into the shroud means.

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: A wrapping machine comprises: front and rear folding members movable relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the machine; a pair of lateral folding members respectively positioned at both lateral sides of the rear folding member, the lateral folding members being opened and closed with respect to each other in response to the longitudinal movement of the rear folding member; a folding area defined between the front and rear folding members and the pair of lateral folding members, in which folding area the edge portions of a piece of wrapping film are gathered together tightly underneath an object to be wrapped; and a pair of mounting members positioned above the pair of lateral folding members, respectively, and entering the space underneath the object so as to mount the same thereon before all of the folding members enter the space underneath the object so as to fold the piece of wrapping film.

Abstract: Electrochemical cells jacketed with a decorative heat shrink jacket are pre-heated to a temperature sufficient to soften the heat shrink jacket when placed thereon but below a temperature which will rapidly heat shrink the jacket. The heat shrink jacket is thereafter conformed to the cell by heat shrinking with distortion of the decoration thereon being minimized.

Abstract: A shrink-wrapped packet of papers including a separate title page, one or more separate table of content pages and a continuous strip of fan-folded, two-ply sequentially-numbered paper sheets. Both the separate sheets and the sheets present in the continuous strip possess punched out holes for fastening the sheets into ring or post binders.

Abstract: Tight packaging of a load including a stack of goods mounted on a pallet is achieved by lifting the loaded pallet above a conveyor or other supporting surface, pulling a hood of heat-shrinkable plastic foil from above over the load with the rim of the hood projecting below the underside of the pallet, heating that rim to substantially shrinkage temperature for causing it to contract around the pallet periphery, and lowering the load onto the supporting surface to press the hot, contracted hood rim against the bottom of the pallet. The contraction is aided by a blower below the pallet aspirating air toward the center thereof. The remainder of the hood is then thermally shrunk around the load.

Abstract: A number of elongate articles such as slide fasteners are placed on a length of a band web supplied on a bundle tray. Free and opposite ends of the length of the band web are gripped by a gripper mechanism with the length surrounding the elongate articles. End portions of the length are then ultrasonically fused together by an ultrasonic horn and an anvil. The opposite end of the length as it is gripped by the gripper mechanism is cut off by a cutter mechanism to form a band bundling the elongate articles. The elongate articles bundled by the band are then discharged by the bundle tray.

Abstract: This relates to press-on closure assemblies for containers. It is known to provide containers which are formed of plastic or glass with a neck finish including an end sealing surface and a recessed, generally cylindrical, but possibly tapered, surface disposed between two opposed axially spaced shoulders. A separately formed insert is pressed over the neck finish and positioned between the two shoulders in opposed relation to the recessed surface of the neck finish. The insert has lugs or threads for interlocking engagement with a closure which may be removed by rotation. The closure and the insert are preassembled and pressed onto the container neck finish with a gasket or sealing material carried by the closure engaging the end sealing surface. The past problem is the rotation of the insert relative to the container neck finish, thereby preventing removal of the closure.

Abstract: A container capping method and system for applying mechanical lock type tamper-evident closures to containers wherein the closures are heated prior to closure application to temporarily increase the flexibility thereof in a manner that tamper-indicating portions of the closures more readily withstand the closure application process without incurring visible damage or otherwise degrading the tamper-indicating function.

Abstract: A process for kiln drying firewood comprises splitting essentially uniform lengths of green tree logs to form firewood pieces. The green firewood pieces are placed in a kiln drying oven and dried at temperatures in excess of 150.degree. F. by moving heated air over the pieces until they have an overall moisture content ranging from 15% up to 30% by weight. The firewood pieces are removed for subsequent distribution and use. The kiln dried firewood pieces have an outer layer of a moisture content which is sufficiently low to permit igniting of the firewood with ignited paper or the like without requiring the use of kindling wood.

Abstract: A method of mounting and confining poorly and/or unconsolidated core samples for subsequent handling and testing is disclosed. The preferred method comprises the steps of inserting a poorly consolidated core sample into a predetermined length of heat shrinkable tubing. End plugs are inserted at each end of the core sample and within the tubing. Heat is then applied to the heat shrinkable tubing and the tubing shrinks to conform to the outer circumferential surface of the core sample and the end plugs. The tubing is cut off at each end of the poorly consolidated core sample at the line of contact between the poorly consolidated core sample and each end plug. Then the poorly consolidated core sample is seated to attempt to return grains to their in situ grain to grain relationship. Suitable screens are placed against each end of the core sample. Screen caps are then attached to each end of the core sample to provide a constant pressure on the ends of the core sample.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing a heat shrinkable package with a frangible access panel therein defined by perforations disposed in the heat shrinkable package. A novelty of the method and apparatus resides in the perforation of the heat shrinkable material prior to passing the package through a heat shrink oven. The package is oriented on a conveyor with the perforations adjacent to the conveyor, enabling the perforated portion of the package to be subjected to less heat than the remainder of the package, enabling formation of the heat shrink package without severing the perforations defining the access panel.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for packaging palletized stacks of goods which are brought on a chain conveyor to a wrap cover station where they are raised by an elevating platform located under the wrap cover station. A suction fan is provided under the wrap cover station which sucks in the edges of a shrink wrap drawn over the stack of goods, which edges project over the underside of the pallet, before the palletized stack of goods is lowered and transported to a shrinking station. In addition, tools for folding back the projecting edges of the shrink wrap under the pallet are located in the zone of the wrap cover station. In order that folded-back sections which are as free of folds as possible are produced on the underside of the pallet, the tools are slide plates which are located at the height of the upper side of the elevating platform when the elevating platform is raised and the plate and slide plane of which runs essentially parallel to the plane of transport.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for packaging a product article such as meat, in a plastics bag (1) by injecting a hot gas, in this case steam, into the bag interior from behind the product article (2) using a nozzle (3) to flush air (at 5) from the bag (1) and to impart shrinking heat to the material forming the bag.When using steam, or another vapor capable of condensing at atmospheric pressure above room temperature, the condensing of the vapor effects evacuation of the bag interior.

Abstract: A machine for packing articles supplied in a uniformly spaced manner by means of a continuously moving conveyor with a web which is progressively cut from a roll of heat-shrinkable material and projects from two lateral faces of the articles and brought in sequence by suction feed means along the respective longitudinal edges across the feed path between individual successive articles so as to be folded over the front, upper, lower and rear faces of a corresponding article with a trailing end portion extending beyond the respective lower face. The conveyor comprises two adjacent conveyor belt sections with the web feeder means supported in the area of the zone lying between the two adjacent conveyor belt sections.

Abstract: A method of producing a package is provided wherein a product is brought into a depression formed using a shrinkable sheet material, a cover is brought over the depression, the sheet material is shrunk by heating and the depression is closed with a cover by heat-sealing. In order to shrink the depression free from creases onto different and irregular product surfaces steam is admitted to the sheet material having a saturation temperature above the sheet material temperature such that the steam condensing at the sheet material transfers its heat of condensation to the sheet material. The apparatus for performing the method comprises a sealing station with an upper tool and a lower tool movable relatively thereto and having a chamber for receiving the depression, the chamber being connected with a steam generator.

Abstract: In order to package a stack of goods in an envelope of heat-shrinkable plastic material such as polyethylene, with prevention of adhesion between the envelope and the goods which may themselves be wrapped in similar sheet material, the stack is placed on a pallet and is covered by the envelope whose lower rim is clamped between the legs of the pallet and an apertured supporting surface such as an upper run of a chain conveyor. The envelope is then inflated from below, by way of the supporting surface, with a low-temperature gas such as ambient air, to establish significant clearances between the stack and the inner surface of the envelope which is then thermally shrunk around the stack by training jets of hot gas onto its outer surface. In zones where the envelope is in contact with the stack, as along edges of the latter, the heating intensity may be reduced to avoid fusion with individual wrappings.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for continuously applying heat-shrinkable members to containers, such as for formation of tamper-evident seals, protective sleeves, labels, or the like. The apparatus includes a conveyor for carrying and moving the containers, and further includes an inclined gravity feed magazine for holding a quantity of the annular-shaped heat-shrinkable members. The apparatus includes a transfer mechanism which uniquely functions to apply a suction to each of the heat-shrinkable members received from the feed magazine so that each member is releasably retained at an acute angle with respect to the direction of movement of the containers on the conveyor. In this way, each container engages its respective one of the heat-shrinkable members to move it from the transfer mechanism into association with the container.

Abstract: A shrink bag having an integral carrying handle is provided that includes an extended lip bag of a heat shrinkable thermoplastic material and having a carrying hole in the lip with a continuous fused bead around its periphery, the carrying hole being spaced sufficiently below the top of the lip such that upon heat shrinking the bag about a product sealed therein enhanced thickening along the carrying-load bearing portion of the hole periphery occurs relative to the non-load bearing portion of the hole periphery. An associated method for making the bag is also provided.

Abstract: A method for vacuum shrink packaging a product is provided that includes the steps of placing the product in a heat shrinkable thermoplastic bag; then shrinking the bag in a heated gaseous medium, while partially constricting the mouth of the bag to cause ballooning of the bag, further provided that the constricting is selected such that shrinkage of the bag overcomes the ballooning to collapse the bag onto the product; and then placing the bag in a vacuum chamber followed by vacuumizing and in-chamber sealing, further provided that the rate of vacuumizing is limited to substantially prevent reballooning of the bag. Associated apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: A package for perishable products which can readily be prepared for home freezing is comprised of a relatively rigid tray and a flexible cover, the cover having a hole covered by a removable, replaceable seal. The tray is provided with collapsible supports, which hold the cover above the perishable product on the tray during fresh storage, but which can be readily collapsed in order to provide maximum expulsion of air from the package in preparation for freezing. The atmosphere in the package may be modified so as to inhibit bacterial decay of the product and/or to enhance its appearance. The package is prepared for freezing by removing the seal, collapsing the supports and expelling as much of the atmosphere in the package as possible, and then replacing the seal.

Abstract: A method of forming and holding a stack of bags where the bags are of a type and filled with a material to be vulnerable to dislodgement if the stack is too high the method including the steps of confining the stack during the building of the stack by leaves projecting vertically up each side of the stack, tightening the sleeve around the stack thus built including the leaves, and then withdrawing the leaves.There are further features of one of the leaves being dismountable in sections to assist in building the stack and the further step in the method for holding the leaves together by disposable cords to resist upper spreading of the leaves during the building of the stack.

Abstract: Apparatus for packing commodities such as meat or bacon into bags of flexible thermoplastics film material comprises a vacuum chamber and sealing means arranged to hold closely together without application of pressure a band of bag material extending across the neck of the bag and applying heat to fuse the band of bag material and form a fluid tight seal. The vacuum chamber may include heating means so that after sealing the bag may be inflated off the commodity and thereby heated prior to collapse into close engagement with the commodity.

Abstract: A shrink oven whose air volume is maintained constant as heated loads are removed and new loads are introduced, to prevent loss of heat and to improve performance. In an oven in which loads are introduced through an entry opening, move through the oven, and exit through another opening, exiting and entering loads are moved so that the rate of load displacement out of the oven at the exit is compensated by the rate of load displacement into the oven at the entry. Special arrangements prevent hot air loss around the sides of the load during the exit and introduction phases. These include close-lying passage walls above and on both sides of the openings, for limiting the air conductance of the gaps about the loads, stacking adjacent loads close together at entry and exit to minimize air leak gaps between the loads, and close positioning of the loads next to doors during opening and closing of doors.

Abstract: Method is disclosed for packaging rolls of compressible insulation, including partially compressing a multi roll assembly of rolls superimposed upon each other between upper and lower contoured panels, while restraining lateral spreading of the assembly of rolls, and thereby establish predetermined package dimensions in both directions transversely of the rolls. There is also disclosed a method for stacking and interconnecting a plurality of the partially compressed multi roll packages.

Abstract: A method and device for packaging essentially conical objects, particularly ice-cream cones, in individual wrappings. The ice-cream cones (1) are advanced with the aid of holder members (7). A web (11) of shrinking foil is folded over the cones. The ice-cream cones are advanced up to two wheels (12, 13) formed with cogs (14). On the cogs of one of the wheels two jaws (15) and a heating wire (16) are provided. The opposite wheel (13) is formed on its cogs (14) with a back-up surface. When the ice-cream cones reach the wheels (12, 13) the foil is compressed between the cogs (14) and burnt off by the heating wire while at the same time vertical edges are formed in the foil and fused together in such a manner that individual wrappings are formed about each ice-cream cone (1). Hot air is finally blown against the part of the wrapping that is positioned below the cone edge so that this part of the wrapping is shrunk onto the ice-cream cone and the wrapping securely retained thereon.

Abstract: This relates to method and apparatus for the packaging of a tubular shirred casing strand within a wrap sleeve. The wrap sleeve is provided with end portions which extend beyond the casing strand, and these end portions are heated and folded and deformed by way of a plunger which functions as a piston within a mold structure so as to define a rigid substantially solid end cap which is integral with the wrap sleeve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for packaging containers in cardboard trays with a surrounding plastics resin film. The trays are formed with apertures in each corner thereof, and holes are burned in the plastics resin film, after the package is formed, in registry with the apertures of the tray, permitting escape of leaked product within the containers from the package.

Abstract: A method of sealing a cryogenic tube comprising the steps of inserting the tube into a tubular body made from a heat-shrinkable material and having a length greater than that of the receptacle, heating the tubular body to a temperature sufficiently high to effect shrinkage of the tubular body and compressing the ends of the tubular body to cause the opposite tube walls to melt together to form an envelope completely surrounding the receptacle.