Systems and method of wrapping an object are disclosed. An object wrapping system includes a contractible loop, a positioning system, and a wrapping material system. The contractible loop is configured to be deployed in an expanded position and a contracted position. The positioning system is configured to position an object in alignment with an aperture defined by the contractible loop. The wrapping material system is configured to position a wrapping material between the object and the aperture. The positioning system is configured to move the object into the wrapping material and through the aperture when the contractible loop is deployed in the expanded position. The contractible loop is configured to deploy into the contracted position to at least partially close the wrapping material around the object.

Embodiments of product handling systems facilitate transfer of individual product items from incoming bulk form into dedicated trays for inspection, sorting, selection, and packaging. Inspection may comprise interrogation of product items within a tray by electromagnetic (e.g., optical, hyperspectral) or other (e.g., physical, acoustic, gas sensing, etc.) techniques. Prior to packaging, product items disposed within the tray may be stored in a moveable carousel responsible for controlling environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, illumination, ambient gases, product-to-product interactions, and/or others. Movement of product items from a carousel's transfer station to an outside staging position may be accomplished using robots and/or conveyor belts. Embodiments may allow rapid, low-cost consumer selection of specific individual product items based upon their accompanying metadata (e.g., source, identifier), in combination with the results of inspection (e.g., visual appearance). Embodiments may receive product items pre-packaged in tray format to expedite inspection, sorting, selection, and packaging.

Embodiments of product handling systems facilitate transfer of individual product items from incoming bulk form into dedicated trays for inspection, sorting, selection, and packaging. Inspection may comprise interrogation of product items within a tray by electromagnetic (e.g., optical, hyperspectral) or other (e.g., physical, acoustic, gas sensing, etc.) techniques. Prior to packaging, product items disposed within the tray may be stored in a moveable carousel responsible for controlling environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, illumination, ambient gases, product-to-product interactions, and/or others. Movement of product items from a carousel's transfer station to an outside staging position may be accomplished using robots and/or conveyor belts. Embodiments may allow rapid, low-cost consumer selection of specific individual product items based upon their accompanying metadata (e.g., source, identifier), in combination with the results of inspection (e.g., visual appearance). Embodiments may receive product items pre-packaged in tray format to expedite inspection, sorting, selection, and packaging.

Embodiments of product handling systems facilitate transfer of individual product items from incoming bulk form into dedicated trays for inspection, sorting, selection, and packaging. Inspection may comprise interrogation of product items within a tray by electromagnetic (e.g., optical, hyperspectral) or other (e.g., physical, acoustic, gas sensing, etc.) techniques. Prior to packaging, product items disposed within the tray may be stored in a moveable carousel responsible for controlling environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, illumination, ambient gases, product-to-product interactions, and/or others. Movement of product items from a carousel's transfer station to an outside staging position may be accomplished using robots and/or conveyor belts. Embodiments may allow rapid, low-cost consumer selection of specific individual product items based upon their accompanying metadata (e.g., source, identifier), in combination with the results of inspection (e.g., visual appearance). Embodiments may receive product items pre-packaged in tray format to expedite inspection, sorting, selection, and packaging.

A packaging apparatus suitable for containing and transporting a specified quantity of bananas or plantains includes a vented box and a plastic bag that includes laser microperforations located in target areas separated from each other by distances greater than their largest dimensions. When the bag is placed within the box, filled with bananas or plantains, and hermetically sealed, the microperforations and box vents allow for limited transmission of gases into and out of the bag to establish a modified atmosphere within the bag, and to allow ethylene ripening of the bananas or plantains. The target areas are located at the top of the bag, and also at the bottom of the bag, so that they are not occluded when the bananas or plantains are placed within the bag with their concave sides facing down.

A transfer apparatus includes a finger mechanism configured to grasp an outer circumferential face of an object, wherein the finger mechanism is equipped with a plurality of finger portions supported by a base portion, each of the finger portions includes a first bone member, a second bone member rotatably coupled to one end portion of the first bone member, and a pair of third bone members, each of which is rotatably coupled to the other end portion of the first bone member and the base portion, whereby a parallel link mechanism is formed between the first bone member and the base portion, and the finger mechanism transfers the grasped object to a containing box.

A system for automatically sealing a plastic bag/enclosure over containers of biological materials carried on a pallet, comprising: a sealing system for automatically sealing a pallet bag enclosing a plurality of containers of biological materials wherein said pallet bag encloses the containers and an atmosphere surrounding the containers, the pallet bag optionally comprising at least one ACM and optionally including a reinforced portion. The pallet bag generally surrounds a number of flats or boxes on pallets containing fruits or vegetables that are sealed with or without a membrane to create an optimally suited atmosphere to control ripening, extend shelf-life, minimize microbial growth, maintain color, and maintain freshness.

An automatic packaging apparatus is provided, having a conveyor, a continuous longitudinally folded web, cutting and sealing mechanisms for forming flexible pouches from the web. The apparatus also includes processing stations for loading the pouches, transferring fluids (typically gases) into and out of the pouches, and sealing the pouches. Various alternative methods and devices are provided for separating each sealed pouch from the web by either making a continuous cut across a connecting strip of web material downline of the processing stations or pre-perforating the connecting strip upline of the processing stations. When the connecting strip is pre-perforated, a sealed pouch of sufficient weight may be separated from the web passively by a takeaway conveyor, and a lighter sealed pouch may be separated from the web by a tear-off mechanism that grips and pulls the web.

An automatic packaging apparatus is provided, having a conveyor, a continuous longitudinally folded web, cutting and sealing mechanisms for forming flexible pouches from the web. The apparatus also includes processing stations for loading the pouches, transferring fluids (typically gases) into and out of the pouches, and sealing the pouches. Various alternative methods and devices are provided for separating each sealed pouch from the web by either making a continuous cut across a connecting strip of web material downline of the processing stations or pre-perforating the connecting strip upline of the processing stations. When the connecting strip is pre-perforated, a sealed pouch of sufficient weight may be separated from the web passively by a takeaway conveyor, and a lighter sealed pouch may be separated from the web by a tear-off mechanism that grips and pulls the web.

A method of manufacturing a modified atmosphere package is provided which comprises the steps of: providing a portion of packaging material; providing a portion of produce; forming, from the portion of packaging material and the portion of produce, a closed package defining a package volume and containing in the package volume the portion of produce and a modified atmosphere. The modified atmosphere is modified with respect to the ambient atmosphere. The method comprises providing the modified atmosphere in the package volume by providing a gas mixture of at least one atmosphere modification gas and pressurised air in the package volume. An associated apparatus is also provided.