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(11) | EP 0 291 858 A3 |
(12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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(54) | Process for packing stacked items and enabling handling by a fork-lift truck |
(57) A process comprising a first stage consisting in arranging items in the form of
a substantially parallelepiped stack (2) wherein at least the bottom layer (3) is
narrower than the others, so as to form a pair of steps, and wherein, between the
aforementioned bottom layer and the others, there is placed a sheet (5) of a first
meltable material; a second stage wherein a first strip (10) of a second heat-shrinkable
material is wound about the four surfaces of the stack perpendicular to a first vertical
plane, so as to form a first continuous loop; a third stage wherein a second strip
(15) of the aforementioned second material is wound about the four surfaces of the
stack perpendicular to a second vertical plane perpendicular to the aforementioned
first vertical plane, so as to form a second loop; a fourth stage wherein the assembly
so formed is heated, so as to at least partially melt the aforementioned strip and
sheet material and seal the free ends of the same; a fifth stage wherein the strip
portions overlapping the aforementioned steps are deformed permanently in such a manner
as to adhere to the surfaces of the same; and a sixth stage wherein the assembly so
formed is cooled for shrinking the material and so forming the package. |