Apparatus and method relating to flow wrapping

An apparatus for presenting a number of packs for flow wrapping, where each pack has a lower region, an upper region and an edge region, said edge region being provided between said lower and upper regions, said apparatus displacing a number of packs from a first location where the packs are self-standing on their lower region to a second location where the packs are on edge to form a substantially horizontal stack;

• said apparatus comprising:
• a first conveyor and a second conveyor, both of said conveyors having a number of individually displaceable hands;
• wherein said first conveyor is an endless conveyor incorporating a track along which each of said individually displaceable hands can be individually displaced, in use;
• wherein the hands of said first conveyor displace packs by scooping these up from beneath from a first location where the packs are self-standing on their lower region to a second location where the packs are on edge whilst being held by said hands of said first conveyor, and at least one of said hands of said second conveyor cooperates with at least one of said hands of said first conveyor to hold packs on their edge to form a substantially horizontal stack;
• and
• a pair of individually displaceable hands of said second conveyor is located above said horizontal stack;
• said pair of hands being configured to hold at the forward and rearward most portions of said formed substantially horizontal stack and displace said stack towards a flow wrapping station.