Wrapping Material For Use With An Automated Packing Machine And Methods Of Manufacture And Use

A wrapping material for use in covering an article on an automated packing machine, the material comprising:

• an interconnected network to form a netting including a plurality of machine-direction strands being integrally joined to a plurality of cross-direction strands, the netting having an outwardly-facing flat side;
• a first film segment having a longitudinal axis, the first film segment being situated overlapping and bonded to the netting;
• and
• a second film segment having a longitudinal axis and being spaced apart from the first film segment, the second film segment being situated overlapping and bonded to the netting wherein the netting comprises a surface area of the material ranging 5 area % to 45 area % of the material.

A method of forming a wrapping material for use in covering an article on an automated packing machine, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a tensioned netting including a plurality of machine-direction strands being integrally joined to a plurality of cross-direction strands, the netting having an outwardly-facing flat side;
• disposing a first film segment in a first overlapping relationship with the netting forming a first overlap area;
• disposing a second film segment spaced apart from the first film segment, the second film segment in a second overlapping relationship with the netting forming a second overlap area;
• bonding the netting to the first film segment forming a first film-net seal in the first overlap area;
• bonding the netting to the second film segment forming a second film-net seal in the second overlap area, the first film segment being separated from the second film segment forming a tensioned film-netting-film composite;
• cooling the tensioned film-netting-film composite;
• and
• releasing tension from the tensioned film-netting-film composite during the cooling step (f) to form the wrapping material, the step of releasing the tension being done at such a rate that the first overlap area and the second overlap area have a maximum wave height of 0.25 inches when the tension is released to form the wrapping material.