Abstract: A cutting unit in a packaging machine for separating a series of finished packages containing a predetermined number of products from a continuous packaging or bundle advancing on a conveyor, comprising a frame, which supports a pair of side cutting blades and a pair of upper cutting and lower cutting blades arranged facing four sides of the continuous bundle, wherein the two pairs of blades can be alternately moved forward and backward between a rest position separated from the continuous bundle, and an engagement position on the continuous bundle containing groups of the products arranged on two flanked rows and wrapped in a film of extendable plastic material, each pair of blades being driven in an alternating forward and backward movement for engagement with and disengagement from the continuous bundle by a double crank actuated by a single motor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing and hot-filling a PET container comprising the following steps: a) providing a PET preform capable of being blow molded; b) blow molding the preform in the cavity of a mold so as to form a container; c) removing the container from the mold cavity; d) filling the container with a liquid, the temperature of which is above 80° C.; e) sealing the container in a leaktight fashion; f) sterilizing and cooling the container; and g) shrinking the container, characterized in that: in step a) a PET preform composed of a copolymer based on terephthalic acid is used; in step a), at least one part of the preform is at a temperature greater than or equal to 110° C.; the temperature of the mold used in step b) is less than or equal to 65° C.; and during step g) the container is heated for a duration between 1 and 5 seconds at a temperature between 600 and 1000° C.

Abstract: A heat shrinking apparatus for a shrink film, which can uniformly heat shrink a shrink film covering a part of a whole of an article and can prevent adherence of water droplets on the surface of the article and the shrink film. The heat shrinking apparatus may include a heat treatment chamber installed so as to surround a transfer conveyor for transferring a bottle on which cylindrical label has been fitted, and heating means that heats the cylindrical label fitted on the bottle passing through the heat treatment chamber. The heat treatment chamber may include an external tunnel and an internal tunnel installed in a preheating zone, and an external tunnel and an internal tunnel installed in a main heating zone.

Abstract: A process for filling a container with a liquid includes providing a plastic container comprising a spout, a base, and a sidewall. The container is filled with a liquid and the spout is sealed with a closure. An internal vacuum or depression is formed within the container, resulting in visible deformation of the container. Heat is applied to the container to bring about internal pressurization of the container to at least compensate for the depression or vacuum.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shrinking process for producing solid, transportable and printable containers by wrapping the articles to be packaged with a film in such a manner as to produce an overlapping section of the film ends on the base area, heating by heat exchange or convection in order to seal the free ends in the area of overlap, and finally heating in a shrinking oven, the container so produced being stabilized by the shrinking process.

Abstract: A heat-shrinkable holder is disclosed for securing a plurality of articles. The holder may include a first sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material, and a second sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material and joined to the first sheet. The first sheet and the second sheet each have a substantially equal pre-shrinking length, and are joined so as to create at least two openings therebetween. Each of the openings is sized larger than one of the articles. The first and second sheets are heat-shrinkable to an extent to shrink the openings sufficiently to secure two of the articles together into a unit. Various modifications and additions are possible, including use of more than three sheets, providing for the reading of printed indicia on the articles or holder, providing a handle. Numerous orientations and collections of articles are possible. Related packages including a holder and articles are also disclosed, as well as related methods of manufacture of the holder and package.

Abstract: A process for hot filling a container with a sterilized liquid, generally at a temperature that is between 60 to 95° C. An embodiment of the process includes (a) providing a container that is made of a polymer and following a process that can make it able to withstand the hot filling of said liquid; (b) filling the container with said hot liquid; (c) closing the filled container immediately after filling; (d) allowing the container to cool at least below a transition temperature that is on the order of from 40° C. to 50° C. and forming a depression inside the container, resulting in visible deformation; and (e) heating the container to bring about a relief of the residual stresses, whereby this relief leads to a shrinkage and consecutively generates an internal pressurization that compensates for at least the deformation undergone by the effects of the depression of stage (d).

Abstract: A method of shrink wrapping packs of containers and a shrink-wrapping arrangement for performing the method. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with a liquid beverage material with a packing apparatus for packing filled bottles and a method of operation thereof. Further, a method of manufacturing and stacking packaging units with increased stability is performed.

Abstract: A heat tunnel for applying heated air to articles enclosed in shrink-wrap film includes at least one air supply unit; a conveyor; and a heat shroud spaced from the conveyor. The air supply unit includes a source of heated air, a fan, a heated air plenum, air ducts, and a return air plenum. Multiple air supply units can be provided along the conveyor to create a heat tunnel of desired length.

Abstract: A heat tunnel for applying heated air to articles enclosed in shrink-wrap film includes at least one air supply unit; a conveyor; and a heat shroud spaced from the conveyor. Tha air supply unit includes a source of heated air, a fan, a heated air plenum, air ducts, and a return air plenum. Multiple air supply units can be provided along the conveyor to create a heat tunnel of desired length.

Abstract: A package for companion products has two containers (102, 104), each comprising a mating formation (408, 502) protruding in a direction toward the other container and defining a mating surface facing at an angle to the direction of protrusion and engaging the mating surface of the other container. Each container has a generally flat bottom and a center of gravity in vertical alignment with the generally flat bottom, whereby each container can stand independently of the other container. The shape of each container is the same as the other, and the containers are attached to one another. The shape enables the mating surfaces to be brought into engagement with one another by movement in a plane parallel to the bottoms of the containers.

Abstract: A double sleeve shrinkable label inserting machine includes a station, a shrink film conveying device, a guiding device, a cutter device, a tuning device, a thermosetting device and two rotary wheels. The guiding device and cutter device may be adjusted rapidly according to the shape and size of two identical or different package goods to wrap a shrink film sleeve on the package goods, and the thermosetting device can bond the shrink film sleeve neatly to the package goods.

Abstract: A method of wrapping an object with a heat-shrinkable material. A sheet of the heat-shrinkable material is heated to its frosting temperature and then fitted around the object like a sleeve so that leading and trailing ends of the sheet overlap and are welded together. The object and the sleeve are allowed to cool to shrink the sleeve onto the object.

Abstract: A film of thermoformable plastic material is heated and positioned on the upper part of a group of cans, the film is made to adhere to the surface of said upper part of the group of cans by a thrust action, acting on the top of the film, exerted by a deformable elastic pad in the regions surrounded by the can clinching rim, to urge the film downwards, that film portion adhering to the upper part of the group of cans is separated from the rest of the film, the film is previously heated to an appropriate temperature such that, following cooling, it retains its shape and remains adhering to the surface of said upper part.