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.

Bag-sealing apparatus is provided for heat-sealing a bag. The apparatus has a heater arrangement operable to apply heat to heat-seal an open end of the bag. A bag detector detects the location of the bag relative to the heater arrangement. The heater arrangement is formed of plural heater portions. The heater arrangement is operable such that only the or each heater portion that overlies the bag as detected by the bag detector is caused to operate to apply heat to the bag.

Bag-sealing apparatus is provided for heat-sealing a bag. The apparatus has a heater arrangement operable to apply heat to heat-seal an open end of the bag. A bag detector detects the location of the bag relative to the heater arrangement. The heater arrangement is formed of plural heater portions. The heater arrangement is operable such that only the or each heater portion that overlies the bag as detected by the bag detector is caused to operate to apply heat to the bag.

A multilayer, heat-shrinkable film has a first portion containing an outer heat seal layer and a second portion containing a PVDC barrier layer and a second outer layer comprising polyester. Both film portions comprise polymer networks which are strained by solid-state orientation, but only the first portion contains a crosslinked polymer network. The film has (i) a total free shrink at 85° C. of at least 90% and (ii) an instrumented impact energy-to-break of at least 0.0.65 J/mil and/or an instrumented impact peak load of at least 70 N/mil. The film is primarily made from ethylene-based polymers. Packaging articles can be made by sealing the film to itself. The film comprises no polyamide or polyamide in an amount up to 10 wt %, on a total film weight basis.

A multilayer, heat-shrinkable film has a first portion containing an outer heat seal layer and a second portion containing a PVDC barrier layer and a second outer layer comprising polyester. Both film portions comprise polymer networks which are strained by solid-state orientation, but only the first portion contains a crosslinked polymer network. The film has (i) a total free shrink at 85° C. of at least 90% and (ii) an instrumented impact energy-to-break of at least 0.0.65 J/mil and/or an instrumented impact peak load of at least 70 N/mil. The film is primarily made from ethylene-based polymers. Packaging articles can be made by sealing the film to itself. The film comprises no polyamide or polyamide in an amount up to 10 wt %, on a total film weight basis.

An apparatus and method for the application of labels to packaging employing the application of superheated steam or other fluids in an enclosed space at atmospheric pressure are presented. Such an apparatus and method will more effectively, efficiently and safely attach shrink labeling to consumer packaged goods (CPG) with enhanced time, water and energy savings.

An apparatus and method for the application of labels to packaging employing the application of superheated steam or other fluids in an enclosed space at atmospheric pressure are presented. Such an apparatus and method will more effectively, efficiently and safely attach shrink labeling to consumer packaged goods (CPG) with enhanced time, water and energy savings.

An apparatus for heat shrinking packages includes a mover having an active surface configured for receiving one or more packages and for displacing the one or more packages along a predetermined operating path, a heating fluid circuit configured to circulate a heating fluid, a control unit operative on the heating fluid circuit, the control unit being configured to control circulation of the heating fluid in the heating fluid circuit, a chamber having an opening and being configured for receiving the one or more packages positioned on the active surface and for heat shrinking the one or more packages based on circulation of the heating fluid in the heating fluid circuit, and means for forming a liquid curtain arranged at the opening and configured to define a liquid curtain along the opening, the liquid curtain separating an inner volume of the chamber from an ambient atmosphere external to the chamber.

An apparatus for heat shrinking packages includes a mover having an active surface configured for receiving one or more packages and for displacing the one or more packages along a predetermined operating path, a heating fluid circuit configured to circulate a heating fluid, a control unit operative on the heating fluid circuit, the control unit being configured to control circulation of the heating fluid in the heating fluid circuit, a chamber having an opening and being configured for receiving the one or more packages positioned on the active surface and for heat shrinking the one or more packages based on circulation of the heating fluid in the heating fluid circuit, and means for forming a liquid curtain arranged at the opening and configured to define a liquid curtain along the opening, the liquid curtain separating an inner volume of the chamber from an ambient atmosphere external to the chamber.

An apparatus for heat shrinking a package, comprising: a chamber configured such that a package on a surface of the apparatus may be heat shrunk via a heating fluid in the chamber; and a preheat container configured to supply a preheated liquid to a heat tank from which the heating fluid is supplied to the chamber; wherein the preheat container is above the surface such that liquid in the preheat container can be preheated by heat from the chamber.