GB2532019A

GB2532019A - Packing method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2532019A
Application number: GB1419667.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Huntford Nicholas
Original assignee: Namas Tech Ltd
Current assignee: Namas Tech Ltd
Priority date: 2014-11-04
Filing date: 2014-11-04
Publication date: 2016-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 2034-11-04
Also published as: GB2532019B; GB201419667D0

Abstract

A method of wrapping an item, e.g. confectionary in an inner wrapper and an outer wrapper. An outer wrapper is positioned at a predetermined outer-wrapper position 12. An inner wrapper 24 is advanced to a predetermined inner-wrapper position 20. A first portion of the outer wrapper 10 is brought into contact with the inner wrapper, in a predetermined positional relationship, while retaining a second portion of the outer wrapper in its predetermined outer-wrapper position. At least part of the contacting outer wrapper and inner wrapper is gripped between a pair of movable grippers. The outer and inner wrappers are then carried, in their predetermined positional relationship, by moving the grippers to a wrapping position for wrapping the item. The outer wrappers are preferably pre-cut and stored in a stack 2, an outer wrapper being taken from the end of a stack 2 after a portion 10 has been brought into contact with an inner wrapper 24, which is preferably a web.

Description

Packing Method and Apparatus The invention relates to a packaging method and apparatus, and to a packaged item, and in particular to wrapping an item in more than one layer of wrapping material.

Background

An example of an item which is conventionally wrapped in more than one layer of wrapping material is an item of confectionery such as a praline, or similar chocolate product. The item is typically in the shape of a tablet, or cuboid with lateral dimensions greater than its thickness, and a square or rectangular periphery.

In a conventional packaging or wrapping process an inner wrapper, usually of an aluminium foil, is folded around a praline. This is conventionally referred to as envelope-style wrapping. An outer wrapper then forms a sleeve around the inner wrapper. The outer wrapper is typically of paper, with the ends of the outer wrapper sealed with hot or cold glue to form the sleeve. The outer wrapper commonly displays an image such as a company logo or trade mark, or other promotional image.

Conventional implementations of this particular wrapping cycle or process use a web of aluminium on a first reel for the inner wrap and a web of paper on a second reel for the outer wrap.

The use of a reel for the outer wrap in particular carries some disadvantages: reels of the materials typically used for wrapping these products are expensive to manufacture; commercial manufacture of these reels requires a minimum length of wrapping material, that makes it expensive to produce relatively small batches of personalised wrapped products; machines that unwind and cut labels from reels tend to be expensive, occupy much factory space, and require sophisticated technology and skilled operators to manipulate the materials during the wrapping process and to ensure accurate alignment of the outer and inner wrappers.

A minority of praline-wrapping machines currently in use, mostly rebuilt machines from past suppliers, use a stack of pre-cut labels for the outer wrap, as opposed to unwinding this outer wrap from a web on a reel and cutting the web into labels as part of the wrapping process. This type of machine is no longer manufactured.

The operation of this type of machine is illustrated in Figure 1, which shows the inner and outer wrappers in schematic plan view as they progress through the machine. An end 2 of the web 4 of the inner-wrapper material is advanced to a predetermined position 6, being unwound from a reel. A pre-cut outer wrapper 8 is withdrawn from a stack, or column, of identical outer wrappers and is moved into position 10 relative to the end of the web of the inner-wrapper material. A length of the end of the web is then cut to form an inner wrapper, and the outer and inner wrappers are transported together to a wrapping position 12 for wrapping a praline 14.

In this type of machine, errors in the alignment of the outer and inner wrappers tend to arise unless a skilled operator sets up the machine very accurately. Errors in alignment are problematic because this can lead to the company logo or other image on the outer wrapper appearing skew on the final wrapped product.

Summary of Invention

The invention provides a method, a packaging apparatus and a packaged product as defined in the appended independent claims, to which reference should now be made. Preferred or advantageous features of the invention are set out in dependent subclaims.

The invention may thus provide a method for use in wrapping, or packaging, an item such as a confectionery product or a praline. In a preferred embodiment, the invention may enable wrapping of an item in an inner wrapper and an outer wrapper as follows.

The outer wrapper is located at a predetermined outer-wrapper position and the inner wrapper is advanced to a predetermined inner-wrapper position. A first portion of the outer wrapper is then moved to bring it into contact with the inner wrapper while a second portion of the outer wrapper is retained in its predetermined outer-wrapper position.

This may be achieved, for example, as follows. In its predetermined outer-wrapper position the outer wrapper may be planar, or flat, with the second portion of the outer wrapper supported, or held, in its predetermined position. The first portion of the outer wrapper may then be movable away from the original plane of the outer wrapper by flexing or folding or bending the outer wrapper, while the second portion of the outer wrapper remains positively located in its original position. For example if the outer wrapper is held horizontally in its predetermined outer-wrapper position, and the inner wrapper is advanced to a position below the outer wrapper, the first portion of the outer wrapper may be moved, or flexed, downwards into contact with the inner wrapper.

Retaining the second portion of the outer wrapper in its predetermined outer-wrapper position, while the first portion of the outer wrapper is moved, may advantageously ensure that the outer wrapper is accurately located as it contacts the inner wrapper.

When the first portion of the outer wrapper has been brought into contact with the inner wrapper, movable grippers may be used to grip together the first portion of the outer wrapper and the inner wrapper. The grippers may grip only a part of the area of the outer and inner wrappers that are in contact, such as an edge of the contact area. Preferably, as the grippers will then be used to carry or draw the outer and inner wrappers to a wrapping position, they may grip a leading edge of the contact area of the wrappers. As the grippers move the wrappers to the wrapping position, they may then draw the second portion of the outer wrapper away from the predetermined outer-wrapper position.

In a preferred embodiment, the outer wrapper is one of a plurality of outer wrappers in the form of stack or column of outer wrappers. The outer wrappers in the stack may be identical to each other. The predetermined outer-wrapper position may then be at one end of the stack, which is urged against an end stop or end plate which defines the predetermined outer-wrapper position. If the stack is oriented such that it is urged downwards by gravity, the end stop may simply support the weight of the stack.

The end stop may only extend across part of the area of the outer wrapper at the end of the stack, leaving part of the outer wrapper unsupported. The unsupported portion is the first portion, which is movable into contact with the inner wrapper. The supported part is the second portion, which remains located in the predetermined outer-wrapper position while the first portion is moved into contact with the inner wrapper.

The end stop may support or contact between 33% and 75% of the area of the outer wrapper, and preferably between 50% and 70% of its area. The supported second portion of the outer wrapper is preferably at a first end, or side, of the area of the wrapper and the unsupported first portion at the opposite end or side of the wrapper.

The first portion of the outer wrapper may be movable by a vacuum pad, which may be fixed to a lever. The vacuum pad is arranged for movement so that the outer wrapper is only partially extracted from the stack, by moving the first portion away from its original position, or its original plane, without moving the second portion of the outer wrapper, which remains in its predetermined position.

In a preferred embodiment, the inner wrapper may be cut from an end of a web of inner-wrapper material. The step of advancing the inner wrapper may comprise advancing an end of the web to the predetermined inner-wrapper position, for example by advancing the inner wrapper material from a reel. The web is then cut to create an individual inner wrapper, either before or after the outer and inner wrappers are united by the grippers in their predetermined positional relationship.

The grippers may then move the outer and inner wrappers to a wrapping position, for example directly above the product to be wrapped. As the grippers move the outer and inner wrappers, the second portion of the outer wrapper may be withdrawn from, or slid out of, the stack of outer wrappers.

Embodiments of this invention may advantageously enable improved alignment between the outer and inner wrappers, because the outer wrapper is automatically accurately located in a predetermined outer-wrapper position, and is not transported or advanced into registration with the inner wrapper.

A further aspect of the invention provides components of a packaging apparatus for wrapping an item, such as a confectionery item or a praline.

The apparatus may comprise a locating apparatus for holding an outer wrapper at a predetermined outer-wrapper position. The locating apparatus may comprise a container for holding a stack or column of outer wrappers, with an outer wrapper at the end of the stack abutting an end stop or end plate.

The apparatus may comprise an advancing mechanism for advancing an inner wrapper to a predetermined inner-wrapper position. In a preferred embodiment, the inner wrapper may be provided using a web of inner-wrapper material, such as a continuous web of aluminium foil on a reel. The end of the web may be advanced to the predetermined inner-wrapper position, and a length of the web cut by a knife to create the inner wrapper.

The apparatus may comprise a transfer mechanism for bringing a first portion of the outer wrapper into contact with the inner wrapper, while the locating apparatus retains a second portion of the outer wrapper in its predetermined outer-wrapper position. The second portion of the outer wrapper may, for example, be held at the end of the stack of outer wrappers, against the end stop or end plate.

The transfer mechanism may comprise a vacuum pad, which may for example be fixed to a lever.

The apparatus may further comprise a movable gripper for gripping together the contacting portion of the outer and inner wrappers. The gripper may grip only part of the areas of the outer and inner wrappers in contact, preferably at a leading edge of the outer and inner wrappers. The movable gripper may then draw the outer and inner wrappers, as a single unit, to a wrapping position for wrapping the item. As the grippers move, the second portion of the outer wrapper is pulled out of the predetermined outer-wrapper position.

Problems can arise in handling a stack of pre-cut outer wrappers, for example if successive wrappers stick to each other.

The outer wrappers may be paper labels, and may be printed or embossed with publicity material or the like. For example if the wrappers are printed with ink and stacked before the ink is fully dry, or if the wrappers are embossed, then successive wrappers in the stack may tend to stick together. Static electricity may also cause wrappers to adhere.

To address this problem in a further aspect of the invention, the stack of wrappers may be held in a holder which has a profile or shape which does not match the shape of the stack, such as a curved, or wavy, profile. During operation of the apparatus the stack of wrappers moves progressively through the holder, as successive wrappers are removed from the end of the stack, and during this process the curved or wavy shape of the holder causes adjacent wrappers in the stack to move or slide laterally, relative to one another. This may advantageously loosen the wrappers from each other as they progress through the holder and reduce the risk of adjacent wrappers sticking together.

In a still further aspect of the invention, a nozzle may be provided to inject a jet of gas into a nip between a lowered first portion of the wrapper at the end of the stack and the adjacent wrapper in the stack. This may advantageously to reduce any tendency for wrappers to stick together.

In a yet further aspect of the invention, a retractable support may be provided to prevent movement of the first portion of the next outer wrapper in the stack (i.e. the wrapper adjacent to the end wrapper), as the end wrapper is drawn out of the stack by the movement of the grippers. The retractable support can then be withdrawn before the first portion of the next outer wrapper is moved into contact with its corresponding inner wrapper.

The retractable support may be a surface of a nozzle as described above.

The apparatus and the methods described above may advantageously be controlled by a controller. The controller may, for example, be a programmable controller for controlling the advancing mechanism, the transfer mechanism, and the movable gripper, and for controlling other components of the apparatus if present.

In a further aspect, the invention may advantageously provide an item wrapped by the method or apparatus described above, with the outer and inner wrappers accurately in registry with each other.

Specific Embodiments of the Invention Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a prior art method for aligning inner and outer wrappers for wrapping a praline; Figures 2 to 6 illustrate the operation of a packaging apparatus embodying the invention, as follows; Figures 2 is a side view of a portion of the packaging apparatus at a first stage in operation; Figure 3 is a side view of the apparatus in a second stage of operation showing inner and outer wrappers being united by a pair of grippers; Figure 4 shows the united wrappers of Figure 3 in plan view; Figure 5 is a side view of the apparatus after the grippers have moved the united wrappers into position to wrap a praline; Figure 6 is a plan view of the united wrappers in position over the praline prior to wrapping; Figure 7 illustrates side plates of a holder for a stack of wrappers according to a further embodiment of the invention, the side plates having wavy inner surfaces; Figure 8 is a side view of a further embodiment of the invention incorporating an air nozzle; Figure 9 is a partial side view of the embodiment of Figure 8 in a later stage of operation; Figure 10 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 8 in a final stage of operation; Figure 11 is a partial side view of a further embodiment of the invention incorporating a different arrangement for a vacuum pad mechanism; and Figure 12 is a plan view of the outer and inner wrappers of the embodiment of Figure 11 united by a gripper.

Figures 2 to 6 illustrate a packaging apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention. The apparatus is a portion of a machine for wrapping pralines in inner and outer wrappers. The inner wrapper is an aluminium foil, wrapped envelope-style around the praline. The outer wrapper is in the form of a rectangular paper label, wrapped to form a sleeve around the inner wrapper. The ends of the outer wrapper are sealed with hot or cold glue to form the sleeve. The outer wrapper can display an image such as a promotional image.

Figure 2 is a side view of a stack 2 of outer wrappers supported in a wrapper holder 4 between guides 6. A base of the holder is formed by an end plate 8, which extends from one side of the holder across approximately 70% of the cross-section of the stack of outer wrappers, and supports the stack. The holder is oriented during use such that the stack is slightly inclined towards the side of the stack supported by the end plate.

The outer wrappers are rectangular, having a long axis and short axis. The wrappers are positioned in the holder so that a first portion 10 of the wrapper 9 at a bottom end of the stack extends beyond, and is therefore unsupported by, the end plate; a second portion 12 of the wrapper rests on the end plate. The first portion comprises about 30% of the area of the wrapper at one end of the wrapper, in the direction of its longer axis. The second portion is the remaining 70% of the area of the wrapper.

An apparatus for providing inner wrapper material, of aluminium foil, is positioned below the stack of outer wrappers in its holder. A web of the aluminium foil 14 is fed from a reel (not shown) by feed rollers 16 onto an upper surface of an outer-wrapper support 18. In a first stage of operation of the apparatus, an end portion 20 of the web, which will form the inner wrapper 24, is fed onto the support.

As shown in Figure 3, when a length of the aluminium web has been fed onto the support, to a predetermined position, a vacuum pad 26 mounted on a lever (not shown) is brought into contact with the outer wrapper at the base of the stack (see Figure 2). The vacuum pad contacts the first portion of the outer wrapper, which is unsupported by the end plate. The lever moves the vacuum pad so as to draw the first portion of the outer wrapper downwards and into contact with the end of the aluminium web on the support 18. During this operation, the outer wrapper flexes about the end of the end plate of the holder.

By bringing the outer wrapper and the end of the web of inner wrapper material into contact with each other in this way, positional registration between the outer and inner wrappers is accurately maintained because the second portion of the outer wrapper remains held in the stack, and the inner wrapper is accurately positioned on its support 18.

An end portion of the contact area between the outer and inner wrappers is then gripped by a movable pair of grippers 28 to unite the two wrappers, i.e. to hold them in positional registration with each other. A knife 22 is then operated to cut the inner wrapper from the end of the aluminium web, and the vacuum pad is operated so as to release the vacuum pad from the first portion of the outer wrapper.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of the outer wrapper 9 and the inner wrapper 24 held by the grippers 28.

The grippers are then movable to transfer the united outer and inner wrappers into position over a praline 30 as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The praline can then be wrapped using conventional techniques. As the grippers 28 move or draw the united outer and inner wrappers from the position shown in Figures 3 and 4 to the wrapping position shown in Figures 5 and 6, the second portion 12 of the outer wrapper 9 is drawn or pulled out of the stack of wrappers, and out of contact with the end plate 8.

Once the praline has been wrapped, the process of uniting an outer wrapper and an inner wrapper can be repeated.

In the embodiment of Figures 2 to 6, the outer wrappers in the stack of outer wrappers may be pre-printed and pre-cut paper labels displaying promotional material and the like. There may be a risk that such outer wrappers may stick to one another in the stack, which can potentially lead to a problem that when the first portion of the bottom outer wrapper in the stack is lowered by the vacuum pad, a second wrapper (the next wrapper in the stack) may stick to the bottom wrapper. Also, there is a risk that when the bottom wrapper in the stack is pulled out of the stack by the movable grippers, then if the two wrappers stick together the position of the next wrapper in the stack may disadvantageously be moved. This problem may arise in various ways. For example, electrostatic attraction between the wrappers may cause wrappers to stick together.

Alternatively, if wrappers have been printed with ink and the ink has not fully dried before the wrappers are stacked, then the ink may stick the wrappers together. Further, if the wrappers are embossed, then successive wrappers in the stack may stick of bind together. These problems may be addressed by further embodiments of the invention as follows.

In the embodiment of Figures 2 to 6, the side plates 6 of the holder may be straight, in order to match the straight sides of a conventional stack of outer wrappers. As shown in Figure 7, however, in a further embodiment the side plates 6 on opposite sides of the holder may have complementary wavy or curved profiles 32, as viewed from direction A in Figures 2, 3 and 5, contacting the stack 2 of wrappers. As the stack of wrappers is placed in the holder, and as the wrappers move down the holder during operation of the apparatus, the matching or complementary wavy or curved profiles of the side plates force adjacent wrappers to move laterally relative to one another. This tends to decrease any adhesion between the wrappers when they are united with corresponding inner wrappers in due course.

Figures 8 to 10 illustrate a further embodiment incorporating another approach to avoiding the problem of the outer wrappers sticking together. This approach may be used in combination with the technique described above. This further apparatus is substantially identical to the apparatus of Figures 2 to 6, except that a movable nozzle 40 for injecting compressed air is provided. Other components in Figures 8 to 10 are shown using the same reference numerals as in Figures 2 to 6.

The apparatus of Figures 8 to 10 operates in the same way as the apparatus of Figures 2 to 6, with Figure 8 corresponding to the situation illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. At this point, however, the nozzle 40 operates as follows.

The nozzle is positioned alongside the bottom of the holder 4 for the stack of wrappers 2, opposite the end plate 8. When the vacuum pad 26 has been used to lower the first portion of the bottom outer wrapper into contact with the inner wrapper 24, and the grippers 28 have united the two wrappers, the nozzle 40 is advanced from its rest position as shown in Figure 8 towards the end plate and into an active position as shown in Figures 9 and 10. As the nozzle advances, it approaches the nip 42 between the bottom outer wrapper, held in the grippers, and the next wrapper in the stack. An upper surface 44 of the nozzle slides into contact with, and supports, the first portion of the next wrapper in the stack, helping to hold it in place. An end 46 of the nozzle is bevelled to allow the nozzle to slide beneath the next wrapper in the stack.

When the nozzle has advanced, a jet of compressed gas, such as air, is blown from the nozzle into the nip 42 between the lowered wrapper and the next wrapper in the stack, at the edge of the end plate 8. The duration of the jet may only be brief, for example less than 100ms. The effect of the jet is to aid separation of the wrappers.

The nozzle remains in its advanced position, a shown in Figure 10, as the grippers then draw the outer and inner wrappers into position for wrapping the praline. The upper surface 44 of the nozzle helps to support the next wrapper in the stack as the grippers withdraw the bottom wrapper in the stack. The nozzle is then withdrawn to its rest position as shown in Figure 8, and the cycle can be repeated.

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention. This is the same as the embodiment of Figures 8 to 10, except for the positioning of the vacuum pad. In the embodiment of Figures 2 to 6, the vacuum pad 26 is positioned near the centre of the first portion of the outer wrapper at the bottom of the stack. By contrast in the embodiment of Figures 11 and 12, the vacuum pad 50 is positioned close to the free end of the first portion of the wrapper at the bottom of the stack. When the vacuum pad lowers the first portion of the outer wrapper into contact with the inner wrapper, the vacuum pad passes just beyond an end of the inner wrapper and its support 18. Figure 12 illustrates, in plan view, a modified form of the grippers 52 for gripping and uniting the outer and inner wrappers. The grippers are shaped with a cut-out portion 54 which fits around the vacuum pad.

This positioning of the vacuum pad at the middle of the free end of the first portion of the outer wrapper may provide more accurate positioning of the outer wrapper when it is lowered into contact with the inner wrapper.

Claims

Claims 1. A method for wrapping an item, comprising the steps of; locating an outer wrapper at a predetermined outer-wrapper position; advancing an inner wrapper to a predetermined inner-wrapper position; bringing a first portion of the outer wrapper into contact with the inner wrapper while retaining a second portion of the outer wrapper in its predetermined outer-wrapper position, such that the first portion of the outer wrapper and the inner wrapper are in contact in a predetermined positional relationship; gripping together at least a part of the first portion of the outer wrapper and the inner wrapper between a pair of movable grippers; and moving the grippers to draw the second portion of the outer wrapper away from its predetermined outer-wrapper position and to carry the outer and inner wrappers, in their predetermined positional relationship, to a wrapping position for wrapping the item.
2. A method according to claim 1, in which the outer wrapper is one of a plurality of outer wrappers in the form of a stack of outer wrappers.
3. A method according to claim 2, in which the predetermined outer-wrapper position is at an end of the stack.
4. A method according to claim 2 or 3, in which the predetermined outer-wrapper position is at a lower end of the stack.
5. A method according to any preceding claim, in which the inner wrapper is the inner wrapper at an end of a stack of inner wrappers.
6. A method according to any of claims 2 to 5, in which the predetermined inner-wrapper position is aligned with an end of the stack of outer wrappers.
7. A method according to any preceding claim, in which the first portion of the outer wrapper is brought into contact with the inner wrapper by a movable vacuum pad.
8. A method according to any preceding claim, in which a first portion of a next outer wrapper in the stack is supported by a retractable support as the second portion of the outer wrapper is moved away from its predetermined outer-wrapper position.
9. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising the step of blowing a jet of gas into a nip between the first portion of the outer wrapper in contact with the inner wrapper and a corresponding first portion of a next outer wrapper in the stack, before and/or at the same time as the second portion of the outer wrapper is moved away from its predetermined outer-wrapper position.
10. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising the step of holding the stack of outer wrappers in a holder having sides which are not straight, to cause lateral movement between outer wrappers in the stack as the stack moves through the holder.
11. A method according to any preceding claim, in which the inner wrapper is cut from an end of a web of inner-wrapper material.
12. A method according to claim 11, in which the step of advancing the inner wrapper comprises advancing an end of the web to the predetermined inner-wrapper position.
13. A method according to any preceding claim, in which the grippers grip an edge of the contacting portion of the outer and inner wrappers.
14. A method according to any preceding claim, in which the item is an item of confectionery.
15. A method according to any preceding claim, in which the item is wrapped in envelope style. 30
16. A packaging apparatus for wrapping an item, comprising; a locating apparatus for holding an outer wrapper at a predetermined outer-wrapper position; an advancing mechanism for advancing an inner wrapper to a predetermined inner-wrapper position; a transfer mechanism for bringing a first portion of the outer wrapper into contact with the inner wrapper while the locating apparatus retains a second portion of the outer wrapper in its predetermined outer-wrapper position, such that the first portion of the outer wrapper and the inner wrapper are in a predetermined positional relationship; a movable gripper for gripping together at least a part of the outer and inner wrappers in contact with each other and movable to draw the second portion of the outer wrapper away from the locating apparatus and to carry the outer and inner wrappers, in their predetermined positional relationship, to a wrapping position for wrapping the item.
17. A packaging apparatus according to claim 16, in which the locating apparatus can hold a stack of outer wrappers, the predetermined outer-wrapper position being at a fixed end of the stack.
18. A packaging apparatus according to claim 16 or 17, in which the transfer mechanism comprises a movable vacuum pad.
19. A packaging apparatus according to claim 16, 17 or 18, comprising a retractable support which can be advanced to support a first portion of a next outer wrapper in the stack as the second portion of the outer wrapper is moved away from its predetermined outer-wrapper position.
20. A packaging apparatus according to any of claims 16 to 19, comprising a nozzle for blowing a jet of gas into a nip between the first portion of the outer wrapper in contact with the inner wrapper and a corresponding first portion of a next outer wrapper in the stack, before and/or at the same time as the second portion of the outer wrapper is moved away from its predetermined outer-wrapper position.
21. A packaging apparatus according to any of claims 16 to 20, comprising a holder for a stack of outer wrappers, the holder having sides which are not straight, to cause lateral movement between outer wrappers in the stack as the stack moves through the holder.
22. A packaging apparatus according to any of claims 16 to 21, in which the advancing mechanism advances an end of a web of inner-wrapper material to the predetermined inner-wrapper position, and the apparatus comprises a cutter for cutting the web to form the inner wrapper.
23. A packaging apparatus according to any of claims 16 to 22, in which the gripper grips together an edge of the outer and inner wrappers in contact with each other.
24. A packaging apparatus according to any of claims 16 to 23, for wrapping an item which is a confectionery item.
25. A packaging apparatus according to any of claims 16 to 24, for wrapping the item in envelope style.
26. A packaging apparatus according to any of claims 16 to 25, comprising a controller for controlling the packaging apparatus to carry out a method as defined in any of claims 1 to 15.
27. An item wrapped in accordance with a method as defined in any of claims 1 to 15.
28. A method for wrapping an item substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
29. A packaging apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
30. A wrapped item substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.