A packing method and unit to pack articles, includes: moving first seats by a first conveyor and second seats by a second conveyor along first and second paths at first and second moving speeds, respectively; and cyclically transferring an article from a first seat to a second seat in a transfer station. The first seats and second seats each designed to house an article. During normal operation with no rejected articles, the first moving speed is functionally equal to the second moving speed, and the same number of first and second seats pass through the transfer station in a given time interval. Where at least one article is rejected in a first seat, the second moving speed is functionally decreased relative to the first moving speed so that two first seats (one containing the rejected article) passes through the transfer station in the time interval as one second seat.

A transport unit transports a package combination through a wrapping unit that wraps it with a cutout such that a front end of the cutout and a rear end of the cutout are arranged to overlap each other while lying on the transport unit. The transport unit includes a wrapping belt that passes through the wrapping unit for conveying the combination along a transport plane from an inlet to an outlet. The wrapping belt comprises long belts and short belts that are parallel to each other and that circulate in a transport direction. The long belts extend from the wrapping-belt inlet to the wrapping-belt outlet and the short belts extends from the wrapping-belt inlet as far as an end region that falls short of the wrapping-belt outlet. Each of the short belts is arranged between a pair of the long belts, thereby forming free spaces between the long belts.

A transport unit transports a package combination through a wrapping unit that wraps it with a cutout such that a front end of the cutout and a rear end of the cutout are arranged to overlap each other while lying on the transport unit. The transport unit includes a wrapping belt that passes through the wrapping unit for conveying the combination along a transport plane from an inlet to an outlet. The wrapping belt comprises long belts and short belts that are parallel to each other and that circulate in a transport direction. The long belts extend from the wrapping-belt inlet to the wrapping-belt outlet and the short belts extends from the wrapping-belt inlet as far as an end region that falls short of the wrapping-belt outlet. Each of the short belts is arranged between a pair of the long belts, thereby forming free spaces between the long belts.

A packaging of compressed bales (1) includes packaging (11) surrounding the compressed bale. The compressed bale is formed from highly compressed, preferably short-cut, textile fibers and has mutually opposite pressing sides (5, 6), which are acted upon by a pressing device (32) in a pressing direction (10), and circumferential sides (7, 8), which are arranged between the pressing sides. The packaging has multipart film packaging (12) resting on the bale body (4) and first strapping (22) with a plurality of parallel endless bands (23) that are laid over the pressing sides of the compressed bale. An additional strapping (25) having a plurality of endless strapping bands (26, 27) are applied to the compressed bale. The strapping bands are laid peripherally only over the circumferential sides and are arranged externally on the film packaging and on the bands. The strapping bands cross the bands, forming cross strapping (21).

A packaging of compressed bales (1) includes packaging (11) surrounding the compressed bale. The compressed bale is formed from highly compressed, preferably short-cut, textile fibers and has mutually opposite pressing sides (5, 6), which are acted upon by a pressing device (32) in a pressing direction (10), and circumferential sides (7, 8), which are arranged between the pressing sides. The packaging has multipart film packaging (12) resting on the bale body (4) and first strapping (22) with a plurality of parallel endless bands (23) that are laid over the pressing sides of the compressed bale. An additional strapping (25) having a plurality of endless strapping bands (26, 27) are applied to the compressed bale. The strapping bands are laid peripherally only over the circumferential sides and are arranged externally on the film packaging and on the bands. The strapping bands cross the bands, forming cross strapping (21).

A method advances products arranged consecutively in at least one row which are moved forwards into a packaging machine to be wrapped in at least one stretch film. The method includes ordering and advancing the products arranged consecutively in at least one continuous row, followed by wrapping the products arranged consecutively in at least one continuous row in at least one stretch film. The products arranged consecutively in at least one continuous row and wrapped in the at least one stretch film are evacuated. In at least one of the steps, guides with a minimum friction coefficient are used for guiding and/or supporting the products arranged consecutively in at least one continuous row and/or wrapped in the at least one stretch film.

A method advances products arranged consecutively in at least one row which are moved forwards into a packaging machine to be wrapped in at least one stretch film. The method includes ordering and advancing the products arranged consecutively in at least one continuous row, followed by wrapping the products arranged consecutively in at least one continuous row in at least one stretch film. The products arranged consecutively in at least one continuous row and wrapped in the at least one stretch film are evacuated. In at least one of the steps, guides with a minimum friction coefficient are used for guiding and/or supporting the products arranged consecutively in at least one continuous row and/or wrapped in the at least one stretch film.

A heat shrinking apparatus 1 includes: a conveyance unit 11 conveying a package 3 obtained by wrapping an object(s) 5 with a heat-shrink film 4; an endless belt 21 disposed below a conveying surface of the conveyance unit, rotating along a conveying direction of the conveyance unit; and a hot air jet unit 19(20) jetting out hot air from an inside to an outside of a belt surface of the endless belt facing the conveying surface, wherein: the endless belt has a hot air passing portion 30 extending in a belt width direction; the hot air jet unit jets out the hot air toward the conveying surface through the hot air passing portion; and the endless belt rotates following a movement of the package so that a seal portion(s) 6a(6b) provided at a front end and/or a rear end of the package is/are heat-shrunk with the hot air.

A method is described for making a pack of smoking products having an ordered group of packets containing smoking products and positioned in contact with each other, wherein the group of packets has a closed lateral surface around a theoretical axis of the group of packets, which delimits two opposite surfaces of the group of packets, each of which surfaces is defined by the set of homologous surfaces of all the packets. The method includes unwinding from a reel at least one adhesive tape and applying it to the closed lateral surface and completely around the latter, to hold the packets of the group together solely by means of the at least one adhesive tape.

A wrapping unit that wraps a container pack with a piece of film as it moves along a container-transport path includes a linear transporter having an electromagnetic linear drive. This linear transporter circulates movement elements in a common direction around a closed movement-path. Each of these movement elements has a gripping head arranged thereon.