Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a packaging apparatus and method for packaging an article with a tubular film to be pulled over the article. The packaging apparatus has a machine frame on which a film supply apparatus and a film covering apparatus are mounted. The packaging apparatus includes a releasable drive coupling usable to operatively couple a drive with either the film covering apparatus or the film supply apparatus (or a subcomponent of the film supply apparatus). Once coupled, the drive can move the film covering apparatus or the film supply apparatus relative to the frame.

Machine for wrapping pallets (P) by means of a stretchable film cap, comprising: a main frame (1) which defines a working area (A) of the machine; a traction device (2), arranged to lower the film cap by fitting it onto the pallet (P); a feeder device (3) arranged to feed the film to the traction device (2); a cutting and welding device (4) of the film, arranged to cut and weld the film so as to obtain a cap closed at one end thereof. The feeder device (3) is movable along the frame (1) between an operating position, located above the main frame (1), and a service position, in which said feeder device is located at a given height from the ground, on one side of the main frame (1). The feeder device (3) comprises two diverters (31), each of which is structured to grip two adjacent corners (C) on opposite sides of the film, and to move the corners away from one another. The diverters (31) are movable on an area outside of the main frame (1) along guides (11,12), structured to maintain the feeder device (3) outside the main frame (1) and the working area (A), during the displacement between the working position and the service position.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a stretch-wrapping machine with self-adjusting pinch rollers configured to reorient themselves to compensate for misalignment relative to their respective pre-stretch rollers. This ensures the pinch rollers press the entire width of the film against their respective pre-stretch rollers as the film is drawn through the rollers.

A foldably constructed pallet includes a top member forming a top surface of the foldably constructed pallet and a bottom member forming a bottom surface of the foldably constructed pallet. The bottom member includes, extending from the bottom surface, a plurality of outer sidewalls, and a plurality of internal sidewalls. An outer sidewall of the plurality of outer sidewalls and an internal sidewall of the plurality of internal sidewalls cooperate to define a cradle configured to hold a structural insert such that folded panels of the structural insert may be engaged with each of the outer sidewall and the internal sidewall. The top member may be connected to the bottom member and covering the cradle.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a stretch-hood machine configured to optimize reefing device lateral movement and unwinding speed during film stretching to minimize reefing device travel distance and wear on the actuators that move the reefing devices and to reduce the possibility of damaging the film during stretching.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a packaging apparatus and method for packaging an article with a tubular film to be pulled over the article. The packaging apparatus has a machine frame on which a film supply apparatus and a film covering apparatus are mounted. The packaging apparatus includes a releasable drive coupling usable to operatively couple a drive with either the film covering apparatus or the film supply apparatus (or a subcomponent of the film supply apparatus). Once coupled, the drive can move the film covering apparatus or the film supply apparatus relative to the frame.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a stretch-hood machine configured to optimize reefing device lateral movement and unwinding speed during film stretching to minimize reefing device travel distance and wear on the actuators that move the reefing devices and to reduce the possibility of damaging the film during stretching.

The present invention relates to a method for gathering-up a tubular film portion on at least two gathering fingers of a packaging machine and to a gathering apparatus of a packaging machine for carrying out the method as claimed in the invention. The method is distinguished in that the tubular film portion is expanded at least in a part region when being gathered-up onto the gathering fingers. The gathering apparatus as claimed in the invention is distinguished in that the gathering fingers can be driven into a gathering-up position for gathering-up the tubular film portion, in which gathering-up position the tubular film portion is expanded at least in a part region.

Packaging method and device in which, with the aid of a stretch hood system 1, a tubular film portion 3 is drawn over an article 2 that is to be packaged. The tubular film portion 3 is firstly reefed with the aid of a reefing device 8 onto at least two reefing fingers 7 of a drawing-over device 6. Then, by moving the drawing-over device 6 along the article 2 that is to be packaged, the tubular film portion 3 is unreefed from the reefing fingers 7 of the drawing-over device 6 and drawn at least in sections over the article 2. During the reefing, the tubular film portion 3 is at least intermittently inflated.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a packaging apparatus and method for packaging an article with a tubular film to be pulled over the article. The packaging apparatus has a machine frame on which a film supply apparatus and a film covering apparatus are mounted. The packaging apparatus includes a releasable drive coupling usable to operatively couple a drive with either the film covering apparatus or the film supply apparatus (or a subcomponent of the film supply apparatus). Once coupled, the drive can move the film covering apparatus or the film supply apparatus relative to the frame.