Aspects of the present disclosure relate to packaging apparatuses and methods adapted to wrap absorbent paper product in a continuous sheet of film formed into tube shape with an asymmetric opening. A former may include a plurality of forming members, wherein each forming member includes an outer surface connected with an inner surface along an edge. In operation, a continuous sheet of film advances around the edges of the forming members and forms an opening. In addition, opposing longitudinal edges of the continuous sheet are guided into an overlapping arrangement that forms the plastic film into a tube shape that extends downstream from the opening in the machine direction. The opening is symmetrical about a first axis and is asymmetrical about a second axis. Absorbent paper product to be packaged advances in the machine direction through the opening and into the tube.

One embodiment of the present invention includes an apparatus for securing a wrapping material around an item, such as a baled agricultural item, the apparatus including a main plate and at least one projection, the projection including a heating element and a height adjustment mechanism, wherein the height adjustment mechanism controls a force applied to the wrapping material by the projection and provides a force for moving the projection.

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 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.

An utensil wrapping device that includes: a tray holder, where the tray holder is adapted to receive a set of napkins; a series of rollers below the tray holders, where the rollers enable the rolling of a napkin; and a plurality of utensil dispensers below the series of rollers, where the dispensers release utensils for placement into a napkin for rolling. Preferably, the at least one of the plurality of utensil dispensers may include forks, knives or spoons.

An utensil wrapping device that includes: a tray holder, where the tray holder is adapted to receive a set of napkins; a series of rollers below the tray holders, where the rollers enable the rolling of a napkin; and a plurality of utensil dispensers below the series of rollers, where the dispensers release utensils for placement into a napkin for rolling. Preferably, the at least one of the plurality of utensil dispensers may include forks, knives or spoons.

A method is disclosed for forming a tissue bundle from a stack of folded absorbent tissues. The method includes the steps of forming a stack of folded absorbent tissues; compressing the stack to an initial density in a first compression step; wrapping the stack a first time in a supporting wrapper to form an initial bundle and maintain the initial density; subsequently applying a second compression step to compress the stack to a final density that is higher than the initial density; and wrapping the stack a second time to form a final bundle and to maintain the final density.

A method is disclosed for forming a tissue bundle from a stack of folded absorbent tissues. The method includes the steps of forming a stack of folded absorbent tissues; compressing the stack to an initial density in a first compression step; wrapping the stack a first time in a supporting wrapper to form an initial bundle and maintain the initial density; subsequently applying a second compression step to compress the stack to a final density that is higher than the initial density; and wrapping the stack a second time to form a final bundle and to maintain the final density.

Described is a machine for wrapping groups (1) of products in a roll, comprising: a packaging unit (2) positioned above a feed channel (3); a transfer element (5) configured for feeding, in a feed direction (V5), to the packaging unit (2) the groups (1) of products in a roll with a corresponding sheet of wrapping material (6); feed and positioning units (8) configured for feeding the sheet (6) of wrapping material inside the vertical channel (3), in a direction (T6) transversal to the direction (V5) for feeding the group (1) of products; the machine also comprises means (9) for controlled retaining and unwinding of the sheet (6) of wrapping material positioned along the vertical feed channel (3); a first movement unit (10) connected to the controlled retaining and unwinding means (9) and configured to move the controlled retaining and unwinding means (9) from a position of free passage of the sheet (6) of wrapping material to a position for bilateral retaining of the sheet (6) of wrapping material positioned in the channel (3); a second movement unit (11) connected to the controlled retaining and unwinding means (9) and configured to move the controlled retaining and unwinding means (9), located in the retaining position, so as to unwind the sheet (6) of wrapping material in a controlled manner and at the movement of the transfer element (5) from the first lower operating position to a second upper operating position.

Described is a machine for wrapping groups (1) of products in a roll, comprising: a packaging unit (2) positioned above a feed channel (3); a transfer element (5) configured for feeding, in a feed direction (V5), to the packaging unit (2) the groups (1) of products in a roll with a corresponding sheet of wrapping material (6); feed and positioning units (8) configured for feeding the sheet (6) of wrapping material inside the vertical channel (3), in a direction (T6) transversal to the direction (V5) for feeding the group (1) of products; the machine also comprises means (9) for controlled retaining and unwinding of the sheet (6) of wrapping material positioned along the vertical feed channel (3); a first movement unit (10) connected to the controlled retaining and unwinding means (9) and configured to move the controlled retaining and unwinding means (9) from a position of free passage of the sheet (6) of wrapping material to a position for bilateral retaining of the sheet (6) of wrapping material positioned in the channel (3); a second movement unit (11) connected to the controlled retaining and unwinding means (9) and configured to move the controlled retaining and unwinding means (9), located in the retaining position, so as to unwind the sheet (6) of wrapping material in a controlled manner and at the movement of the transfer element (5) from the first lower operating position to a second upper operating position.