A packaging apparatus includes a first holding unit configured to hold a peripheral edge portion of a film on a front side; a second holding unit configured to hold the peripheral edge portion on a rear side; a lifting unit configured to press an article to be packaged to the film; a folding unit configured to fold the peripheral edge portion on the rear side into an underside of the article to be packaged; and an extruding unit configured to extrude the article to be packaged to the front side. The first holding unit moves to decrease tension of the held film after the peripheral edge portion on the rear side starts to be folded into the underside of the article to be packaged before the extruding unit starts to extrude the article to be packaged from the rear side to the front side.

An unwind station for a packaging machine may be configured to form wrappers having different sizes from a web of packaging material and supply the wrapper to a wrapping station. The unwind station may include a base configured to support the web of packaging material and a carriage configured to selectively slide in a longitudinal direction on the base. A rotating blade can be configured to periodically score the web to form a break line extending between lateral sides of the web. A first conveyor arm and a second conveyor arm may project longitudinally outward from the carriage. The first conveyor arm and the second conveyor arm can each include a low-speed conveyor configured to transport the web to a high-speed conveyor. The high-speed conveyor is configured to separate the wrapper from the web as the break line passes a shear point between the low-speed conveyors and the high-speed conveyors.

An unwind station for a packaging machine may be configured to form wrappers having different sizes from a web of packaging material and supply the wrapper to a wrapping station. The unwind station may include a base configured to support the web of packaging material and a carriage configured to selectively slide in a longitudinal direction on the base. A rotating blade can be configured to periodically score the web to form a break line extending between lateral sides of the web. A first conveyor arm and a second conveyor arm may project longitudinally outward from the carriage. The first conveyor arm and the second conveyor arm can each include a low-speed conveyor configured to transport the web to a high-speed conveyor. The high-speed conveyor is configured to separate the wrapper from the web as the break line passes a shear point between the low-speed conveyors and the high-speed conveyors.

A method for bringing together a wrapper and a plurality of inserts can be used to form an advertising means compilation. In a region of a compilation section, the wrapper and the inserts are deposited on one another individually and in succession on a conveying element which is moved in a direction of transport. A leading edge of the wrapper is deposited offset relative to leading edges of the inserts so as to form an excess length of the wrapper. The inserts are deposited on one another, forming a stack, such that the leading edges of the inserts form a common fold edge. The excess length of the wrapper, which lies flat on the conveying element or on the stack of inserts, is folded around the fold edge and, at least in part, around the stack of inserts so as to form the advertising means compilation.

A method for bringing together a wrapper and a plurality of inserts can be used to form an advertising means compilation. In a region of a compilation section, the wrapper and the inserts are deposited on one another individually and in succession on a conveying element which is moved in a direction of transport. A leading edge of the wrapper is deposited offset relative to leading edges of the inserts so as to form an excess length of the wrapper. The inserts are deposited on one another, forming a stack, such that the leading edges of the inserts form a common fold edge. The excess length of the wrapper, which lies flat on the conveying element or on the stack of inserts, is folded around the fold edge and, at least in part, around the stack of inserts so as to form the advertising means compilation.

Systems and methods for securely identifying an item are disclosed. The method includes receiving an item, selecting a plastic wrap that is opaque and that includes a random pattern of markings, and wrapping the item with the plastic wrap, which protects the protects the item frons visual inspection with the opaque plastic and that secures the item with a unique fingerprint/code formed from the random pattern of markings.

Systems and methods for securely identifying an item are disclosed. The method includes receiving an item, selecting a plastic wrap that is opaque and that includes a random pattern of markings, and wrapping the item with the plastic wrap, which protects the protects the item frons visual inspection with the opaque plastic and that secures the item with a unique fingerprint/code formed from the random pattern of markings.

An unwind station for a packaging machine may be configured to form wrappers having different sizes from a web of packaging material and supply the wrapper to a wrapping station. The unwind station may include a base configured to support the web of packaging material and a carriage configured to selectively slide in a longitudinal direction on the base. A rotating blade can be configured to periodically score the web to form a break line extending between lateral sides of the web. A first conveyor arm and a second conveyor arm may project longitudinally outward from the carriage. The first conveyor arm and the second conveyor arm can each include a low-speed conveyor configured to transport the web to a high-speed conveyor. The high-speed conveyor is configured to separate the wrapper from the web as the break line passes a shear point between the low-speed conveyors and the high-speed conveyors.

A method for bringing together a wrapper and a plurality of inserts can be used to form an advertising means compilation. In a region of a compilation section, the wrapper and the inserts are deposited on one another individually and in succession on a conveying element which is moved in a direction of transport. A leading edge of the wrapper is deposited offset relative to leading edges of the inserts so as to form an excess length of the wrapper. The inserts are deposited on one another, forming a stack, such that the leading edges of the inserts form a common fold edge. The excess length of the wrapper, which lies flat on the conveying element or on the stack of inserts, is folded around the fold edge and, at least in part, around the stack of inserts so as to form the advertising means compilation.

A method for bringing together a wrapper and a plurality of inserts can be used to form an advertising means compilation. In a region of a compilation section, the wrapper and the inserts are deposited on one another individually and in succession on a conveying element which is moved in a direction of transport. A leading edge of the wrapper is deposited offset relative to leading edges of the inserts so as to form an excess length of the wrapper. The inserts are deposited on one another, forming a stack, such that the leading edges of the inserts form a common fold edge. The excess length of the wrapper, which lies flat on the conveying element or on the stack of inserts, is folded around the fold edge and, at least in part, around the stack of inserts so as to form the advertising means compilation.