Method of operating a multiple container shrink wrapping machine having a printing arrangement to print on the shrink wrap material simultaneously while wrapping containers and a multiple container shrink wrapping machine therefor

A method of operating a multiple container shrink wrapping machine configured to shrink wrap multiple containers into a shrink wrapped pack of containers, said multiple container shrink wrapping machine comprising:

• an arrangement being configured and disposed to form a pack comprising a plurality of containers;
• an arrangement to store shrink wrap film material with or without an imprint that has not yet been printed upon by said machine;
• a shrink wrapping station being configured and disposed to shrink wrap a plurality of containers with shrink wrap film material into a shrink wrapped pack;
• a printing arrangement configured to print on the shrink wrap film material substantially simultaneously with the wrapping of a pack of containers;
• said printing arrangement comprising at least one printing unit disposed a distance away from said shrink wrapping station;
• said at least one printing unit comprising at least one printhead;
• said printing unit being configured to print in at least one color;
• a supply arrangement configured to store the at least one color;
• a supply of shrink wrap film material with or without an imprint;
• and a control device being configured and disposed to control at least said printing arrangement;
• said control device comprising at least one of:
• printing templates and printing software stored electronically;
• said method comprising:
• feeding said shrink wrap film material from said supply to said printing arrangement;
• moving said shrink wrap film material through said printing arrangement;
• moving at least one of said shrink wrap film material and said at least one printhead with respect to one another while substantially simultaneously printing at least one color on a predetermined portion of said shrink wrap film material with said at least one printing unit to make a predetermined portion of printed shrink wrap film material;
• forming a predetermined pack of a predetermined plurality of containers;
• and
• wrapping said predetermined pack comprising said predetermined plurality of containers with said predetermined portion of printed shrink wrap film material to identify said predetermined pack of containers.

A multiple container shrink wrapping machine configured to shrink wrap multiple containers into a shrink wrapped pack of containers, said multiple container shrink wrapping machine comprising:

• a packing arrangement being configured and disposed to form a pack comprising a plurality of containers;
• a storage arrangement being configured to store shrink wrap film material with or without an imprint that has not yet been printed upon by said multiple container shrink wrapping machine;
• a shrink wrapping station being configured and disposed to shrink wrap a plurality of containers with shrink wrap film material into a shrink wrapped pack;
• a printing arrangement being configured to print on the shrink wrap film material substantially simultaneously with the wrapping of packs of containers;
• said printing arrangement comprising:
• at least one printing unit being disposed a distance away from said shrink wrapping station;
• said at least one printing unit:
• comprising at least one printhead;
• and
• being configured to print in at least one color;
• a supply arrangement being configured to store the at least one color;
• a control device being configured and disposed to control at least said printing arrangement;
• said control device comprising at least one of:
• printing templates;
• and
• printing software stored electronically;
• and
• a moving arrangement being configured and disposed to move at least one of the shrink wrap film material and said at least one printhead with respect to one another while substantially simultaneously printing at least one color on a predetermined portion of the shrink wrap film material with at least one printing unit to make a predetermined portion of printed shrink wrap film material.