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.

The present invention relates to a heat-shrinkable packaging intended for wrapping a series of containers, comprising a lower portion, an upper portion and lateral portions and having a reinforcement strip arranged transversely to the rows of containers, the packaging according to the present invention comprising at least two perforation lines. The present invention also relates to a method for packaging containers by means of a packaging and to a packaging blank.

In an installation for the treatment of containers comprising at least one filling station and a packing station for processing film or packaging material blanks and having work components acting upon the packaging material and forming packages, at least one measuring device for dimensional deviations of filled containers and a control unit for automatically adjusting at least one installation station depending on a dimensional deviation detected, work components in the packing station (P) acting upon the packaging material when the filled containers are packed are automatically adjustable by way of the control unit. In a method for packing filled containers, work components of the packing station acting upon packaging material are adjusted automatically depending on dimensional deviations measured in order to form packages of different dimensions with at least substantially the same packing density.

A packaging process includes providing a semi-sealed package containing a product to be packaged, providing a vacuum chamber, adjusting a spacing between members of the vacuum chamber to open the vacuum chamber, relatively positioning the package and the vacuum chamber such that a terminal portion of an end of the package is positioned within the vacuum chamber and a non-terminal portion of the end is positioned outside the vacuum chamber, an intermediate portion of the end passing through the opening, adjusting the spacing to bring the members substantially sealingly in contact with one another, the intermediate portion being received in the opening, creating, within the vacuum chamber, an internal vacuum pressure to determine a gas flow through the opening causing opposing layers of the film at the second end to maintain a substantially spaced-apart configuration, and to aspirate both gas from inside the package and gas through the opening.

Method for making a bundle (10) of the type comprising a plurality of containers (11) positioned along at least one row and wound in a heat-shrunk film (12) due to a heat-treatment effect; said method comprising the steps of: a) arranging a heat-shrinkable film (12) around said containers (11) ordered along at least one row in order to obtain an open tunnel (13) along the transverse direction (20) with respect to the longitudinal direction of advancement (20), said open tunnel (13) identifying along said transverse direction (20) lateral over-edge portions (14) with respect to said containers (11); b) handling said over-edge portions (14); c) supplying said containers (11) and said heat-shrinkable film (12) to a heat-treatment device, so that said over-edge portions (14) are compacted to said containers for heat-shrinking; in which said step of handling said over-edge portions comprises the step of making said over-edge portions (14) at least partially adhere to said containers (11).

A method for packaging groups of articles to form packaging units, includes sheathing a packaging unit with a film as it moves in a running direction on a transporting path by simultaneously forming a film cover and flaps projecting beyond the packaging unit along a direction perpendicular to the running direction, and positioning the flaps against the packaging unit as the packaging unit moves through a folding unit, fixing the flaps, and forming a film wrapper that is closed on all sides of the packaging unit. A preliminary-fixing step, which includes positioning the flaps in relation to one another, and initially fixing the flaps by generating heat, and exposing the flaps to the heat, follows. This is followed by a definitive-fixing step that includes exposing the packaging unit, as a whole, to generated heat.

Disclosed is object a method for operating a retraction device of an automatic bundler that is designed to be used in a facility for processing products that are delivered in the form of bundles that each group multiple products held together with a retractable film; with the retraction device being equipped with a retraction furnace including at least one heating unit that is designed to heat the air of the furnace and at least one air circulation unit that is designed to distribute the hot air in the furnace; with the operating method including a production mode during which the bundler is adjusted to be able to produce output and a superficial standby mode that helps save energy. The superficial standby mode includes the reduction in speed of at least one air circulation unit, compared to production mode, to a non-zero value. Also disclosed is a corresponding device.

A device (1) for grouping and combining articles (5) into packages with different package sizes is disclosed. The device comprises a dividing unit (3), by which groups (6a, 6b, 6c) can be formed from moving articles (5). Further, it consists of a cutting station (18) for cutting to length flat thermoplastic packaging material (20) from a supply roll, a workstation (40) for applying the cut-to-length flat thermoplastic packaging material (20) onto the groups (6a, 6b, 6c) of articles, and a shrinking tunnel (50), in order to produce the packages. The dividing unit (3) and the cutting station (18) are operatively connected to one another by a control unit (S), which has information relating to a layer to be produced from the packages.

Holes in the film can be formed after film wrapping the bundle. Slits are formed in the heat shrink film prior to film wrapping the bundle. While the bundle moves through a heat shrink tunnel on a conveyor, the slits can be opened by increasing the shrinkage of the film surrounding the slit. This can be accomplished by directing high speed jets of hot air on the slits. Although slits are preferred the hot air can be used on any opening to increase the size of the opening.

This invention is related to film wrapping bundles of articles or articles with heat shrink film by providing a film having folded edges to increase tear resistance.