Abstract: An article wrapping device feeds an article to be wrapped on a conveyor in a generally horizontal direction. A sheet of wrapping material is fed upward from beneath the conveyor to intersect the path of the article. The sheet of wrapping material is maintained in a generally vertical orientation by a flow of forced air between the sheet of wrapping material and a generally vertical displaceable wall suspended alongside the path of the sheet of wrapping material. As the article intersects the sheet of wrapping material and the displaceable wall, the wall is displaced, and forces a leading edge of the sheet of wrapping material over a top side of the article.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring stacked and individual flexible products of variable height such as signatures to a wrapping machine having a continous packaging film includes a conveyor unit for transporting the signatures along a path substantially parallel to the packaging film, a main pushing unit for advancing the signatures transversely across the conveyor unit into the packaging film and a second pushing unit selectively engageable with the packaging film and travelling in advance of the signatures for adjusting the tension of the packaging film to prevent distortion of the signatures during wrapping.

Abstract: A method of feeding and folding sheet material on a flip-top cigarette packing machine, whereby a wrapping wheel on the wrapping line of the packing machine is connected to a supply device whereby flat portions of sheet material, from which to form internal collars and, if necessary, coupons, are fed successively to the wrapping wheel and into contact with the outer surface of respective groups of cigarettes already present on the wheel; the collars being formed by folding the flat portions of sheet material about respective groups as these are transferred to a further wrapping wheel on the wrapping line.

Abstract: Packets of cigarettes are directly singly and in succession along a conveyor into a cellophane wrapping machine, and thereafter to a packaging machine which is driven, together with the wrapping machine, by one main motor and incorporates a feed unit supplying wrapper blanks, and a wrapping unit by which each blank is folded about a corresponding group of packets. In the event of an interruption in the supply of packets to the conveyor, the feed unit is decoupled automatically from the main motor and the wrapping unit then allowed to complete a further cycle in which a blank already gummed and positioned by the feed unit can be fashioned as usual into an outer wrapper around a relative group of packets before the main motor is finally shut off.

Abstract: A number of pack units (3; 3.sup.1), such as rolls of soft tissue paper or packs of nappies, etc., which are enclosed by a banderole-like pack sleeve (2). The invention enables a pack to be produced which is well suited to efficient manufacture and which is also suitable for simple and safe handling, both in the production channel and in the consumer channel. In the area outside pairs of pack units (3; 3.sup.1) situated adjacent to one another, said pack sleeve (2) is attached to a holding device (4) running in an essentially straight path between the pack units (3; 3.sup.1). The invention also relates to a method for the manufacture of pack of this kind, and to an arrangement for the production of a pack of this kind.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wrapping selected articles of a plurality of articles. A stream of the articles is moved along a first path by a first conveyor. Selected articles are sequentially moved from the stream of articles moving along the first path to a second conveyor by a deflector. Moving the selected articles from the stream of articles results in the forming of gaps in the stream of articles at locations where the selected articles are sequentially moved from the stream of articles. The gaps in the stream of articles are maintained as the stream of articles moves along the first path. Disposed along the second path is a wrapping station where selected articles are sequentially wrapped. As one of the selected articles is moved through the wrapping station, a pair of webs engage opposite sides of the one article and are sealed to wrap the one article. The seal is severed along its center portion and adjacent to a trailing end of the one article.

Abstract: An automatic wrapping apparatus of cylindrical articles, particularly plastic bobbins. The apparatus includes feed rollers for feeding two wrapping sheets therebetween in opposed manner to form a bottom portion for a wrapping bag. A loading device is provided for loading bobbins onto the bottom portion by holding each unit of regularly arranged bobbins and dropping it in an orderly state. A support member is provided for supporting the bobbins unit by unit from underneath and causing the bobbin unit whenever dropped to descend by the bobin height, thus stacking bobbin units one upon another. A basket-like retainer is provided for receiving the bobbin units descending with stacking to retain them in the place so as to keep the orderly state. A heat sealer is provided for uniting the bottom portion and a top margin of the wrapping bag. A side heat sealer is provided for uniting both sides of the bag.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for wrapping a signature bundle by moving a wrapping sheet into the path of movement of a bundle, said sheet being maintained in self-supporting fashion by imparting a bend thereto as it is fed to the wrapping station. The bundle "crashes" into the sheet causing it to collapse and wrap itself about the bundle. When the wrapping operation is completed, the wrapping sheet is wrapped around three contiguous surfaces of the bundle. The sheet is automatically cut and a new wrapping operation is initiated. The wrapping sheet may be printed upon by an ink jet printing characters "on the fly". The characters are printed backwards and "bleed through" the wrapping sheet to appear in normal manner.

Abstract: Stacks of paper sheets are transported from a sheeter into a wrapper by the upper reach of an endless infeed conveyor. The front end faces of successive stacks catch up with and are decelerated by successive flights on an endless second conveyor which is driven at a speed less than the speed of the corresponding section of the infeed conveyor. This ensures that the dimensions of so-called tails, consisting of lowermost sheets of a stack which are shifted rearwardly with reference to the sheets above them, are reduced in size or that the tails are eliminated before the stacks enter the wrapping station. Misoriented stacks are reoriented ahead of the second conveyor by two endless lead-in conveyors having flexible belts trained over vertical pulleys and defining a channel the width of which decreases in the direction of advancement of the stacks.

Abstract: Cigarette cartons are packaged with a relatively large number (for example, ten) of cigarette packs (30). Because of a special design of this cigarette carton or of a common blank (33), it becomes possible to divide the cigarette carton to form part packs (half-cartons 34, 35) each of these part packs as well as the complete cigarette carton forming a saleable unit which is convenient to handle.

Abstract: A stacking packaging machine and a process for stacking and packaging resilient workpieces. The workpieces are usually rolled paper products. The machine is comprised of an input conveyor, an elevator, cams, workpiece holders, a packaging film feeder and an output conveyor. A first group of workpieces is placed upon the elevator by the input conveyor and the elevator is lowered. The workpiece holders are brought into place. A second group of workpieces are fed into the holders and held above the first group. The elevator begins to rise and the second group of workpieces are released. The stacked workpieces rise on the elevator toward the output conveyor. Packaging film is fed over the stacked workpieces. The film drapes over the workpieces as they rise preventing any workpieces from falling off the stack. The workpieces enter the output conveyor and are moved to final processing. The timing of the whole sequence is controlled by the cams.

Abstract: A C-shaped innerframe is preformed and then applied to a preformed cigarette bundle as part of a cigarette packing operation. The preformed innerframe first contacts the bundle with the back of the C in contact with the front surface of the bundle, and with the arms of the C adjacent the sides of the bundle and projecting rearwarly behind the rear surface of the bundle. Thereafter, the arms of the C are brought in against the side and rear surfaces of the bundle to complete application of the innerframe to the bundle.

Abstract: A method and device for wrapping cylindrical products whereby each product is fed, together with a portion of a respective portion of wrapping material, into a respective seat on a conveyor, and is fed by the conveyor into peripheral contact with a rolling surface by which it is turned about its axis and wrapped in the aforementioned portion of wrapping material; each seat being defined by idle rollers parallel to the axis of the product, and by mobile stop elements designed to cooperate laterally with the product for angularly locking the same inside the seat subsequent to rolling.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for wrapping a moving bundle of newspapers with a wrapping paper on three sides prior to tying the bundle with tying straps. The apparatus includes a section for stacking a bundle of newspapers and a mechanism for dispensing wrapping material at a predetermined feed rate at a location generally in the path of the bundle. Means is provided to grip the wrapping material and to guide the material upwardly so as to cause it to interfere with the path of the bundle and to cause the wrapping material to wrap itself about the bundle and to contact three adjacent surfaces of the bundle. Means is provided to cut the wrapping material when a predetermined length has been dispensed sufficient to contact and cover the three adjacent predetermined surface portions of the bundle. Appropriate pneumatic/electronic circuitry is provided to control the respective speeds and sequences such that each step of the operation is provided in timed sequence.

Abstract: A method and device for producing tubular wrappings for products of parallelepiped shape or similar; whereby the products are fed successively, and in a substantially radial direction, to a wrapping wheel turning at substantially constant speed and having a number of mobile elements, each defining a seat for a respective product. Each product is inserted inside a respective seat together with a sheet of wrapping material, which is folded in a U and presents two opposite portions projecting outwards of the seat. One of the portions is folded down on to the product by a first folding element, and the mobile element is moved on the wheel so as to fold and hold down the other portion by means of a second folding element mounted on the wheel, and so as to move the seat into a position facing a joining device for firmly joining the two folded opposite portions of the sheet of wrapping material.

Abstract: A method of packaging a rectangular moulded chocolate bar having a predetermined thickness, an upper face and a bottom face and bevelled longitudinal and lateral side faces, with a single sheet of heat sealable, composite multilayer material, by forming a longitudinal tube of the material completely around a bar with one longitudinal edge of the sheet projecting over another longitudinal edge and forming a covering flap, sealing the other longitudinal edge against an inner surface of the base of the covering flap, forming lateral folds which are first applied against the bevelled lateral side walls and then bent and applied on the ends of the bottom face, the lateral folds being made at each end of the tube, and folding the covering flap down over the bottom face in overlying relation to the lateral folds. The covering slap is sealed at least partially along a line parallel to a longitudinal edge of the flap, to provide a sealed and inviolable package.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for wrapping a product, particularly a bundle of newspapers or magazines, especially an extra thick bundle or an extra thin bundle comprising a few or a single newspaper or magazine. The product is carried on a conveyor system through a plane towards a curtain of film formed by an upper and a lower sheet of film. The curtain thus accompanies the product and is auto-sealed behind the product, after which the sheets of film are separated in the middle of the sealing region, the curtain of film being re-established and the product being provided with a wrapper.

Abstract: A method of packing cigarettes in hard flip-flop packs,whereby flat hard pack blanks and preformed groups of unpacked cigarettes are fed, the former continuously and the latter intermittently, on to a continuously rotating packing wheel, and the packsformed on the packing wheel are unloaded from the same on to an intermittent output unit; the packing wheel presenting a number of seats, each designed to receive a blank and a respective preformed unit, and each connected to the packing wheel by a respective articulated support the configuration of which is controlled in such a manner as to feed the respective seat at constant speed through a station for loading the blanks, and to stop the respective seat in a station for loading the preformed groups and in a station for unloading the finished packs.

Abstract: Inner wrappings (20) for cigarette groups (21) or the like, as part of the pack, should be as effectively sealed against aroma and moisture losses as possible. For this purpose, side tabs (34, 35) for forming side walls (27, 28) are connected to one another in a sealed manner in the region of overlapping strips (37, 38), to form a bonding strip (36). The bonding strip (36) extends over part of the height or length of the inner wrapping (20), so that an opening flap (29) can be freed from the inner wrapping (20).

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for packaging an article with a thermoplastic resin film in which the film is rolled on the two rolls on both side so that an intermediate region thereof may be extended in tension condition between the rolls, and an article to be packaged is fed through a space between the rolls so as to push against the extended intermediate region of the film and be wrapped therewith, and overlapped portions of the wrapping film are set in parallel with the surface of the article and are fused together, and at the same time are cut so that there may be obtained such a fused adhesion line on the overlapped portions of the film that extends in the lateral width of the film and is longer in length than the width of the film, so that there is obtained the packaged article in which the fused overlapped portions of the packaging film is laid along on the surface of the article and, on the other hand, there is obtained an intermediate region of the film which is extended between the two rolls a

Abstract: An automatic bag system for supermarket check-out counters is disclosed. An open top loading compartment is provided adjacent to the check-out clerk and a roll of plastic material is mounted to feed sheet plastic over the open top of the loading compartment. The loading compartment is provided with transversely opposed vertical slots and guide rollers rotatively secured at the top of the slots. Upon loading purchased items into the loading compartment above the plastic material, the plastic material will be urged interiorly of the loading compartment and will assume the shape of the compartment interior configuration. The guide rollers and the vertical slots cooperate to form left and right vertical seams in the plastic material as the compartment is loaded. The left and right seams are heat sealed upon completion of the loading operations to form a finished plastic package with the purchased items contained therewithin.

Abstract: For the wrapping of articles, especially cigarette packs (10) in an outer wrapping (11) consisting of film material or the like, a high output is required. The cigarette packs (10) come from the preceding packaging machine in a close-packed row (42). Two cigarette packs (10) at a time are pushed upwards out of the close-packed row (42) into pockets (30, 31) of a folding turret (29). During the pushing-in movement, a blank (12, 13) is laid round the respective cigarette packs (10) in a U-shaped manner. The two blanks (12, 13) are separated from a common web of material (47) and fed to the cigarette packs (10) via conveying rollers in an exact position transverse relative to the pushing direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging an article such as, for example, a chocolate bar or other food product. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a conveyor system including a portion which leads the articles to a rotary inverter subsequent to an apparatus which folds a wrapper partially around the article. The inverter turns the article over to have the lower surface of the article face upwardly for having the final folds of the wrapper to be folded against the lower surface. The wrapper is preferably made from thermosealable material. Around the periphery of the inverter are workstations which preheat the thermosealable wrapper; apply pressure to cool the wrapper thereby sealing it; and fold the wrapper to create an extra flap with lateral folds projecting from the article. Downstream of the inverter is a workstation which seals the lateral folds, by heating, applying pressure to them, and cooling them. The lateral folds are supported from above during sealing by a support and guidance device.

Abstract: A wrapper for tabular products, especially chocolate bars. The wrapper consists of a one-piece blank wrapped asymmetrically around the bar to create a facing and of a tube of wrapping material established by a longitudinal sealing seam adjacent to one side of the bar and closed at the ends of the bar by a bellows. The bellows encompasses the longitudinal sealing seam as part of the tube of wrapping material and is wrapped around onto the lower surface of the bar to create an inner flap. The facing covers up areas of the bellows and is secured to the portion of the tube of wrapping material adjacent to the lower surface of the bar. The blank (7) is rectangular. The facing (25) is created by folding in the inner flaps (24) in such a way that both the facing and the inner flap are free of any part of the longitudinal sealing seam (11). The bellows is bridged by a transverse sealing seam (21) located in one area of the bellows that is wrapped against the lower surface (3) of the bar (1) and covered by the facing.

Abstract: Groups of cigarettes are inserted in succession into the peripheral pockets of an indexed wrapping wheel, each together with a relative sheet of heat-sealable wrapping material that incorporates a tear-open strip to facilitate the operation of breaking open the pack; the sheet is folded initially to create a sheath, enveloping the group of cigarettes lengthwise, the overlapping flaps of which are fused together by heat-seal elements that operate each time the wheel pauses; the projecting ends of the sheet are then folded down over the top and bottom of the pack by an assembly of mechanisms, and fused together by further heat-seal elements.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to provide a tea bag with a cover. The tea bags (1) slide (2) onto a length of cover material (3) where they are attached at one edge only, using heat sealing, etc. (7). The cover material is creased (5, 9) and cut (13), the rollers (10, 11) serving to forward it and the bags attached thereto. Blade (15) pushes the creaseline of a cover so that bag and cover are forced between rollers (16, 17) to fold the cover about its bag. In an alternative, blade (15) pushes each bag and cover between two spring steel plates whereby the pressing of the plates folds the cover about its bag.

Abstract: Apparatus for draping blanks around blocks of parallel cigarettes has a continuously driven turret with radially inwardly extending pockets in its peripheral surface. Successive pockets of the turret receive blocks of cigarettes from successive pockets of a first endless belt or chain conveyor which partially overlies the peripheral surface of the turret and carries pushers which transfer the blocks into the pockets of the turret in the region of overlap. First blanks are caused to overlie the pockets of the turret ahead of the region of overlap so that the blocks deform the blanks during transfer into the pockets of the turret. The blanks are provided with flaps and tucks during travel with the turret, and the latter is further overlapped by a portion of a second endless belt or chain conveyor whose pockets receive blocks and the at least partially draped first blanks from the pockets of the turret in the region where the second conveyor overlaps the peripheral surface of the turret.

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

Abstract: A process for wrapping a load with prestretched film comprising unwinding and prestretching the film before applying the film to the load, passing the load through a curtain of film and cutting the film behind the load while forming the curtain and wherein said prestretching step includes positioning the prestretching means in a standby position in front of the load wherein said means are positioned close together while initially prestretching the curtain, moving the prestretching means apart transversely in association with the required delivery of the prestretched film until such means are in a spaced apart position near the side surfaces of the load, prestretching the film to cover the side surfaces of the load, prestretching the film to cover the rear surface of the load, and then moving the prestretching means toward one another transversely behind the load until they are close together in association with the necessary delivery of prestretched film.

Abstract: A method and device for handling items, whereby each item is transferred from a first wheel turning in one direction, on to a second wheel turning in the opposite direction, along circular trajectories about the axes of the aforementioned wheels; which transfer is made in a position wherein the two wheels are set a minimum distance apart, and wherein in a seat for an item on the first wheel is aligned and coincides substantially totally with a corresponding seat on the second wheel.

Abstract: A machine for the automatic protective wrapping of baggage items having different dimensions comprising conveyor belts for moving successive single baggage to an automatic bundling machine with two sealing bars disposed at right angles to each other, to adapt every individual baggage item in a heat-shrinkable plastic film in such a way to form a wrapper sealed on three sides, the fourth being contact-sealed after passage of the wrapper containing the baggage item through a tunnel-type hot-air oven in which the heat-shrinkage of the plastic film takes place with perfect adherence of it to the baggage.

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: The package to be wrapped is moved during a first step towards a foil section which is extended under tension transversely relative to the direction of movement of the package. During a further course of movement of the package the aforementioned foil section is applied to three sides around the package in a substantially U-shape. Subsequently, a loop is formed from the web-like foil by entraining means which act on the web-like foil. The two runs of the loop are releasably held at their ends by related holding means. These two loop runs of the foil are separated from each other using a cutting knife. The foil section thus produced, which runs along the rear side of the package, has a length which is greater than the height of the package. An end section of this foil section of greater length and which protrudes past the package is now displaced towards and against the underside of the package.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a machine for wrapping a band of self adhering transparent stretch plastic film around a roll of wound sheet material.

Abstract: A wrapping machine wherein article units are wrapped by a shrinkable web to form a package. The machine includes a conveyor which includes an upper article supporting run. The conveyor has regularly spaced openings and associated with the rear of each opening is a web pulling bar. Article units are fed to the conveyor run in timed relation to conveyor movement and a series of retarder bars, moving at a slower rate, pull the web in front of each article unit to be wrapped with the article unit then bearing against the retarder bar and being slowed to the speed of the retarder bar with the conveyor moving therebeneath. A clamp bar moves down behind each article unit, draws the web down behind the article unit and then clamps the web to the article unit. In advance of this, and before the clamp bar engages the article unit, web drawing means engages the web between two adjacent article units and draws the same down into the associated conveyor opening and engages the web with the article pulling means.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for folding cohesive coated material like corrugated paper and coated film about three dimensional solids like paper products, toys, machinery and books for transport is accomplished by a framework supporting a roll or other supply of the cohesive coated material, a guide for the material, a platform for a cutting blade and an end frame or mandrel and a movable U-shaped crimping frame for forcing the leading sheet of coated paper or film back into contact with itself around the object to be packaged.The apparatus may support horizontally a roll or other supply of cohesive coated paper or film that is conducted over a horizontal shelf beneath a restraining strip and then passed over a rounded mandrel until a proper length is beyond the mandrel so as to encompass the object to be wrapped or packaged, the paper being pulled over the mandrel by contact with a crimping frame of rounded tubing that is articulate with respect to the mandrel.

Abstract: In the application of preprinted film wrappings around packing containers it is sometimes required that the text or decorative pattern of the wrapping should be located in a certain position in relation to the edges of the finished packing container. A method of film wrapping around an object, e.g. a packing container, is described in which a film web is joined to a waste material web and is advanced with the help of this until the decoration is situated in a predetermined position. Subsequently the packing containers are wrapped while the film web is delivered from a film roll whereupon the sealing is performed on a previously unused part of the film web. Apparatus for carrying out the method is described which comprises co-operating sealing jaws and a conveyor consisting of two parallel parts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in the packaging of cigarettes which eliminates interior package edges which interfere with reinsertion into a cigarette package of partially withdrawn cigarettes. The creation of interfering internal edges if avoided by employment of a novel technique for the folding of the package inner wrapper about a block of cigarettes.

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: A method and apparatus for packaging irregularly shaped articles is provided in which one or more articles is supported on one or more supports, enclosing the supports and the articles in a pack and removing the supports through one or more openings in the pack.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of packing an article which comprises the steps of: stretching and gripping a packing film; sending an article onto a reception block having a turning belt for mounting the article thereon, under the packing film; moving up the article together with the reception block so as to urge the article against the packing film; moving thereafter the reception block and a tuck block situated in an article send-in side of the reception block, to an article send-out side of the same, thereby shifting the article from the reception block to the tuck block, the packing film being put in a state where one end portion of the packing film is extended down through a gap between the reception block and the tuck block and gripped thereat, in shifting the article; moving a mounting portion of the belt of the reception block in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the reception block and the tuck block, in shifting the article; and tucking-in the one end portion of the packing film under the

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for netting meat products wrapped in an edible collagen film. The apparatus includes a receiving surface into which the meat products are deposited and wrapped with the film. The wrapped meat products are then forced through an extrusion device and into a netting. The apparatus includes a lubrication distribution system for lubricating the surfaces which contact the wrapped meat products. Also associated with the apparatus is a container for storing edible collagen film pieces trimmed to selected lengths and stacked therein.

Abstract: For raising the rate of production of packaging machines, especially for the manufacture of cigarette packets (10, 11), the rate of production of an apparatus for wrapping the packets in an outer blank (film blank 19, 20) is to be raised. For this purpose a plurality, especially two adjacent packets (10, 11) are conveyed simultaneously, and are wrapped in a common overall blank (18) of corresponding width. After formation of a stable tubular blank, which wraps both the packets (10, 11), there follows the cutting through of the overall blank (18), with formation of the individual film blanks (19, 20) which thereafter are fully folded.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for wrapping batches of products, in particular candies, and for forming sealed packets, which envisages: a batch of products being supplied to a wrapping wheel; a sheet of heat-sealing material with two lateral downward turned borders being placed above the batch; the said borders being welded one to the other in order to form a tube, the opposite extremities of which are first flattened through the insertion in between them of divarication means; the said extremities then being sealed by welding/pre-folding grippers designed to make, on each welded tubular extremity, weakening lines that aid the subsequent folding of the said extremities.

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: A machine and method for automatically cartoning fruit in the cells of a protective honeycomb, in which the method includes the steps of positioning a foldable carton blank at a first station, disposing an expanded honeycomb defining a plurality of open cells over the blank, depositing articles such as fruit in the cells to form a fruit-filled honeycomb on the blank, and forming the carton blank into a base portion and side and end portions closely embracing the periphery of the fruit filled honeycomb, thereby to form a self-supporting fruit containing carbon.

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: Apparatus and method for wrapping a resiliently stretchable film wrap around a group of articles stacked on a pallet, with the film wrap tensioned to a desired tension, by feeding the film wrap along a feed path from supply rolls to a wrapping station, with tension rollers placed serially along the feed path such that the film wrap is coupled for movement with the surface of each tension roller, the tension rollers being driven so that the surface speeds of the serially located roller surfaces differ from one another in order to stretch and tension the film wrap to a given tension, and the stretched and tensioned film wrap being applied to the stacked articles with essentially uniform tension in the film wrap around the periphery of the unit load.

Abstract: A machine for automatically wrapping in stretch plastic film a shallow tray filled with irregularly shaped contents comprises, in sequence of operation, a horizontally directed feed table means by which articles to be wrapped are fed into the machine, a film feed station, a girth wrapping station, a side wrapping station, and a discharge or delivery conveyor for conducting a fully wrapped and sealed article out of the machine. The machine is capable of operating continuously, handling a consecutive seriatim flow of articles therethrough. The film feed station comprises a vertically reciprocable film clamp and support arm for raising a sheet of stretch film transversely across the travel path of the article to be wrapped. The article passes through the curtain of film and into the girth wrapping station, causing the lower edge of the film to be folded beneath the bottom of the article tray.

Abstract: An article wrapper for an article, or plurality of articles in at least one row, is formed from an elongated blank having a top panel, a pair of side panels connected to the top panel along fold lines, and a pair of bottom panels with each of the bottom panels connected to the adjacent side panels at two score lines. Compression tabs are positioned between the bottom score lines to allow tightening of the wrapper by squeeze guides. The bottom panels are arranged in overlapping relation and secured to each other by an adhesive, for example, after tightening the wrapper. The uppermost bottom score line adjacent each of the side panels enables a right angle corner to be formed at the bottom of each of the side panels so that each of the side panels presents an uninterrupted surface. The tabs are tucked under the bottom so as to be hidden from view.