Method of and system for packaging articles

A system for packaging articles, said articles having ends and sides, which comprises:

• a film handler including:
• a film roll holder for holding a film roll, said film having a length and a width, said film being folded along the length thereof to have an open side and closed side;
• a film holding arrangement positioned to receive film from said film roll holder, said film holding arrangement being adapted to hold open said film along said open side;
• a cross cutter positioned to receive film from said film holding arrangement, said cross cutter including an end cutting and sealing blade arrangement positioned transverse to the length of said film and adapted to cut and seal an end of said film adjacent an end of said article;
• an article handler positioned adjacent said film handler, said article handler including a first gripper arranged to grip an article, said first gripper being adapted to insert an article into said film holding arrangement through said open side of said film and move said article and film past said cross cutter, whereupon said end cutting and sealing blade is actuated to cut and seal said film adjacent an end of said article;
• and,
• a side sealer positioned adjacent said article handler, said side sealer including a side cutting and sealing blade arrangement positioned cut and seal said open side of said film adjacent a side of said article, said side sealer including a second gripper positioned to receive an article from said first gripper with said film being sealed on either end of said article, said second gripper being arranged to position the side of said article adjacent said open side of said film adjacent said side cutting and sealing blade arrangement.

A system for packaging articles, said articles having ends and sides, which comprises:

• a plurality of film handlers, each of said film handlers including:
• a film roll holder for holding a film roll, said film having a length and a width, said film being folded along the length thereof to have an open side and closed side;
• a film holding arrangement positioned to receive film from said film roll holder, said film holding arrangement being adapted to hold open said film along said open side;
• a cross cutter positioned to receive film from said film holding arrangement, said cross cutter including an end cutting and sealing blade arrangement positioned transverse to the length of said film and adapted to cut and seal an end of said film adjacent an end of said article;
• wherein each of said film handlers handles film of a different width;
• an article handler positioned adjacent said film handlers, said article handler including a first gripper arranged to grip an article, said first gripper being adapted to deliver an article to a film handler selected to have a film width greater than the width of said article and to insert said article into said film holding arrangement of said selected film handler through said open side of said film and move said article and film past said cross cutter, whereupon said end cutting and sealing blade is actuated to cut and seal said film adjacent an end of said article;
• and,
• a side sealer positioned adjacent said article handler, said side sealer including a side cutting and sealing blade arrangement positioned to cut and seal said open side of said film adjacent a side of said article, said side sealer including a second gripper positioned to receive an article from said first gripper with said film being sealed on either end of said article, said gripper being arranged to position the side of said article adjacent said open side of said film adjacent said side cutting and sealing blade arrangement.