Gathering and sealing systems for encasing articles in a protective wrap

A gathering mechanism for bunching wrapping material to seal the material after wrapping an article and having a vertical axis, the gathering mechanism comprising:

• at least two portions that move to adjust the size of an opening formed between the portions from a wrapping position through which wrapped articles pass to a sealing position in which the wrapping material is bunched to seal the wrapping material, the gathering mechanism in the wrapping position having a widest width W1 that extends between a first end and a second end of the gathering mechanism and that is perpendicular to the vertical axis, the opening in the wrapping positon having a width W2 that is perpendicular to the vertical axis, and the ratio of W1 to W2 being less than about 3:2.

A bale wrapping system for wrapping bales in a protective wrap, the system comprising:

• a wrapping device for stretching a tube of wrapping material as a module of bales passes through the wrapping device and into the protective wrap;
• and
• a gathering mechanism for bunching wrapping material to seal the material after wrapping the module of bales, the gathering mechanism comprising a set of arms that pivotally rotate to reduce the size of an opening to bunch the material within the opening and to a sealing position.

A gathering and sealing system for wrapping articles in a protective wrap, the system comprising:

• a gathering mechanism for bunching wrapping material to seal the material after wrapping the articles, the gathering mechanism comprising a set of arms that pivotally rotate to reduce the size of an opening to bunch the material within the opening and to a sealing position;
• and
• a sealing device that actuates to seal the wrapping material when the gathering mechanism is in the sealing position, the sealing device being disposed within an arm of the gathering mechanism.