A shrink wrapping apparatus, and associated process, includes a housing (turbine) having a wall forming a passage dimensioned to receive the associated container assembly and associated sleeve. The passage has an inlet and an outlet spaced therefrom. A steam/hot air path communicates with the passage to provide steam from an associated steam source to at least a portion of the passage in order to shrink wrap the associated sleeve on the associated container assembly as the container assembly and sleeve move through the passage. The apparatus also includes a stop member for engaging the associated container assembly and holding in the passage for a predetermined amount of time.

The present invention relates to a package for containing a product comprising a support (1) which has: a base (2) configured for receiving one or more products, a perimetral edge (6) which surrounds the base (2), a removable portion (21) extending as a prolongation of the perimetral edge (6) away from the base (2). The package further comprises a closing film (10) engaged to a portion of the perimetral edge (6) and to the removable portion (21) and configured for defining—in cooperation with the support (1)—a housing compartment (5) for the product (P); the removable portion (21) and at least a part of the closing film (10) are configured for being separated from the support (1) during an opening step of the package (100). The package (100) is configured for defining a closing condition in which: the closing film in cooperation with the support (1) prevents access to the housing compartment (5) of the product (P), and the removable portion (21) is aligned with at least a portion (6a) of the perimetral edge (6) from which it extends as a prolongation. The package (100) further comprises a gripping portion (22) emerging from the perimetral edge 6 and extending, in the closed condition of the package, transversally to the removable portion (21). The present invention also relates to a process and an apparatus for making said package.

The present invention relates to a package for containing a product comprising a support (1) which has: a base (2) configured for receiving one or more products, a perimetral edge (6) which surrounds the base (2), a removable portion (21) extending as a prolongation of the perimetral edge (6) away from the base (2). The package further comprises a closing film (10) engaged to a portion of the perimetral edge (6) and to the removable portion (21) and configured for defining—in cooperation with the support (1)—a housing compartment (5) for the product (P); the removable portion (21) and at least a part of the closing film (10) are configured for being separated from the support (1) during an opening step of the package (100). The package (100) is configured for defining a closing condition in which: the closing film in cooperation with the support (1) prevents access to the housing compartment (5) of the product (P), and the removable portion (21) is aligned with at least a portion (6a) of the perimetral edge (6) from which it extends as a prolongation. The package (100) further comprises a gripping portion (22) emerging from the perimetral edge 6 and extending, in the closed condition of the package, transversally to the removable portion (21). The present invention also relates to a process and an apparatus for making said package.

A system for controlling a manufacturing process for packaging units is disclosed, the packaging units are manufactured from a packaging material comprising machine readable identifiers. A control unit associates the identifiers with corresponding data images of the packaging units, wherein for a first process application to manipulate packaging material based on a first set of process parameters, the control unit is configured to store at least part of the first set of process parameters to the associated data image, wherein for a subsequent second process application to manipulate said packaging material, read at least part of the first set of process parameters stored in said associated data image to control the second process application based on at least part of the first set of process parameters.

Systems and methods to form openings in water soluble packets are described. The system includes a packet forming assembly to form water soluble packets, and a laser to form one or more openings in the water soluble packets. The method includes forming openings in the water soluble packets with a laser. The openings permit air to escape from the packets. By allowing air to escape, the water soluble packets have improved packaging characteristics. The water soluble packets are packed more tightly with a product.

Systems and methods to form openings in water soluble packets are described. The system includes a packet forming assembly to form water soluble packets, and a laser to form one or more openings in the water soluble packets. The method includes forming openings in the water soluble packets with a laser. The openings permit air to escape from the packets. By allowing air to escape, the water soluble packets have improved packaging characteristics. The water soluble packets are packed more tightly with a product.

A stretch wrap applicator includes one or more cutting members arranged, for instance, in parallel and designed to engage the stretch wrap to cut it into strips as it is dispensed from the roll. The strips are then gathered and stretched into strings that are wrapped around the object. The strings formed from the stretch wrap can stretch to an extended length while maintaining excellent tensile strength to secure heavy loads. In a further approach, an applicator can selectively gathers or not gather the stretch film in such a way as to create a solid string or a film during continuous application to an object so that the user can rotate from film to string and then back to film. Such approaches save on the volume of stretch wrap used to secure a load without significantly compromising strength.

A stretch wrap applicator includes one or more cutting members arranged, for instance, in parallel and designed to engage the stretch wrap to cut it into strips as it is dispensed from the roll. The strips are then gathered and stretched into strings that are wrapped around the object. The strings formed from the stretch wrap can stretch to an extended length while maintaining excellent tensile strength to secure heavy loads. In a further approach, an applicator can selectively gathers or not gather the stretch film in such a way as to create a solid string or a film during continuous application to an object so that the user can rotate from film to string and then back to film. Such approaches save on the volume of stretch wrap used to secure a load without significantly compromising strength.

An unwind station for a packaging machine may be configured to form wrappers having different sizes from a web of packaging material and supply the wrapper to a wrapping station. The unwind station may include a base configured to support the web of packaging material and a carriage configured to selectively slide in a longitudinal direction on the base. A rotating blade can be configured to periodically score the web to form a break line extending between lateral sides of the web. A first conveyor arm and a second conveyor arm may project longitudinally outward from the carriage. The first conveyor arm and the second conveyor arm can each include a low-speed conveyor configured to transport the web to a high-speed conveyor. The high-speed conveyor is configured to separate the wrapper from the web as the break line passes a shear point between the low-speed conveyors and the high-speed conveyors.

An unwind station for a packaging machine may be configured to form wrappers having different sizes from a web of packaging material and supply the wrapper to a wrapping station. The unwind station may include a base configured to support the web of packaging material and a carriage configured to selectively slide in a longitudinal direction on the base. A rotating blade can be configured to periodically score the web to form a break line extending between lateral sides of the web. A first conveyor arm and a second conveyor arm may project longitudinally outward from the carriage. The first conveyor arm and the second conveyor arm can each include a low-speed conveyor configured to transport the web to a high-speed conveyor. The high-speed conveyor is configured to separate the wrapper from the web as the break line passes a shear point between the low-speed conveyors and the high-speed conveyors.