Apparatus and method for differentially shrinking selected portions of heat shrinkable film wrapped around a product

A method for differentially shrinking selected portions of heat shrinkable film wrapped around a product having bottom, side and top portions, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) applying in sequence a thermally insulating removable material and a moderate amount of heat to a selected portion of the bottom of said film so as to selectively, moderately shrink said selected portion thereof;
• (b) applying a greater amount of heat to said bottom so that said film is caused to shrink to a greater degree in other than said selected portion;
• (c) applying heat to side portions of said heat shrinkable film to cause said side portions to shrink;
• and
• (d) applying heat to a top portion of said heat shrinkable film to cause said top portion to shrink.

An apparatus for differentially shrinking selected portions of heat shrinkable film wrapped around a product, comprising:

• (a) means to convey a film wrapped product along a conveyor path;
• (b) means at a first location along said conveyor path to apply a
• thermally insulating material to a selected portion of said film;
• (c) means at a second location along said conveyor path to apply heat to said selected portion of said film so as to moderately shrink said selected portion of said film;
• (d) means at a third location along said conveyor path to apply heat to other portions of said film so as to shrink other portions of said film;
• and
• (e) means at a fourth location along said conveyor path to remove said insulating material from said selected portion of said film.

An apparatus for differentially shrinking selected portions of heat shrinkable film wrapped around a product, comprising:

• (a) means to convey a film wrapped product along a conveyor path;
• (b) means at a first location along a conveyor path to apply in sequence both a thermally insulating removable material and a moderate amount of heat to a selected portion of said film so as to shrink said selected portion;
• and
• (c) means at a second location along said conveyor path to apply a greater amount of heat to portions of said film including said selected portion so as to shrink other portions to a substantially greater extent than said selected portion.