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.

A method for creating an opening in a sheath, made of stretch film, that retains a goods stack arranged on a pallet. The pallet comprising an upper-side deck surface as support for the goods stack and lower-side support feet. The sheath engages under the support feet arranged in the region of the four outer edges of the pallet. At least one opening is in the sheath between two support feet . At least one opening is generated such that the sheath is first heated, the heated sheath is retracted from the pallet and then, still in the heated state, displaced upward. The upwardly displaced sheath is secured in its upwardly displaced position by cooling. The invention also relates to a shaping apparatus, and additionally to at least one heating device for carrying out the method.

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.

A method for creating at least one clearance in a sheathing consists of shrink film and secures a stack of items arranged on a pallet. The pallet has a top standing surface for the stack of items and a plurality of spaced bottom legs forming leg clearances. The sheathing engages under the legs in the region of the four outer edges of the pallet. At least one clearance is introduced into the sheathing region located between two legs. At least one clearance is intended to be created such that the sheathing region is first of all pulled away from the pallet in the still-hot state and is subsequently displaced upwards in the still-hot state, wherein the upwardly displaced sheathing region is then fixed in its upwardly displaced position by cooling. The invention also relates to a shaping apparatus for carrying out the method.

A transportation base load unitizer for unitizing a load on a transportation base, such as a pallet. The unitizer comprises at least one elastic section and at least one protection section for providing greater protection to a load on a transportation base than the at least one elastic section. The unitizer is configured such that, in use, the unitizer holds together as a unit and protects a load on a transportation base.

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.

Pallet bag gathering apparatus to gather pallet bags for use in an automated pallet bag packaging system, preferably for the packaging of fruits or vegetables. The pallet bag gathering apparatus may be automated, semi-automated or manual in nature.

A packaging unit includes at least two of a bagging unit, a pallet loading device, and a pallet securing device. The bagging unit, the pallet loading device, and the pallet securing device are connected to each other via at least one data transmission device.

An object is first wrapped with a strip of thermoplastic film such that upper edges of the strip project upward past a top face of the object and fold inward onto outer edge regions of the top face of the object. Then a cover sheet is laid on the top face over the folded-in edges of the strip with outer edges of the cover sheet projecting outward past and hanging down around the wrapped object outside the film strip. A heated plate is then pressed down against the cover sheet and hot air is blown against the strip on the side faces so as to shrink the strip against the side faces and such that the hot air rises and welds the outer cover-sheet edges sheet to the strip around upper regions of the side faces.