Methods and plastics films for handling items

Abstract

Items ( 30 ) are unitised into a package ( 31 ) by applying an apertured member ( 1 ) to an array of items ( 30 ) using a roller. The apertured member ( 1 ) has a series of apertures ( 2 ) each accommodating an item ( 30 ) within edge portions ( 10 ), with inter web portions ( 6 ) between the apertures ( 2 ). A release member ( 3 ) is attached at one edge ( 4 ) of the apertured member ( 1 ) for interacting with the inter web portions ( 6 ) to sequentially release items ( 30 ) from the package ( 31 ) without disturbing the array of items ( 30 ). The package can be used as a carrier for depositing items ( 30 ) directly to stock shelving or vending machines quickly by a single linear pull action upon the release member ( 3 ) first releasing the array of items to the shelving or vending machine and finally removing the apertured plastics carrier.

1 . A plastics film unitising member comprising a plastics film having a series of apertures for respectively interacting with an item in a unitising operation, each aperture being defined within flexible plastics film edge portions, and spaced apart by inter web portions, wherein each aperture is of dimensions to pass over an upper part of the item and bring the flexible plastics film edge portions into contact with an outer surface of the item, wherein a release member is provided, said release member being attached at one edge of the plastics film unitising member and extending across at least a portion of a surface of the plastics film unitising member. 
     
     
         2 . A plastics film unitising member comprising a series of apertures for respectively interacting with an item in a unitising operation, each aperture being defined within flexible plastics film edge portions, and spaced apart by inter web portions, wherein each aperture is of dimensions to pass over an upper part of the item and bring the flexible plastics film edge portions into contact with an outer surface of the item, wherein the plastics film unitising member has a separable side web portion adjacent to the apertures, and wherein the plastics film unitising member is provided with a release member extending across at least a portion of one surface of the plastics film unitising member and being attached at one edge of the plastics film unitising member. 
     
     
         3 . A plastics film unitising member according to  claim 1 , wherein the release member is positionable between the plastics film unitising member and items to be unitised. 
     
     
         4 . A plastics film unitising member according to  claim 1 , wherein the release member is formed from an elongate plastics film strip. 
     
     
         5 . A plastics film unitising member according to  claim 1 , wherein the release member is bonded to inter web portions of the plastics film unitising member. 
     
     
         6 . A plastics film unitising member according to  claim 1 , wherein the release member has a length allowing it to protrude beyond an edge of the plastics film unitising member opposite said one edge of the plastics film unitising member where the release member is attached, the protruding length part providing a user draw tab. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A plastics film item unitising member according to  claim 1  wherein the plastics film item unitising member is made from recycled plastics. 
     
     
         10 . A plastics film item unitising member according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible plastics film edge portions are configured to provide item unitising retention surfaces when the plastics film item unitising member is reformed around an item during a unitising operation using a roller device to apply the plastics film item unitising member to the item. 
     
     
         11 . A method of unitising items comprising, presenting a plurality of items in alignment for unitisation, providing a plastics film unitising member, the plastics film unitising member having a series of apertures for respectively interacting with an item in a unitising operation, each aperture being defined within flexible plastics film edge portions, and spaced apart by inter web portions, wherein each aperture is of dimensions to pass over an upper part of an item and bring the flexible plastics film edge portions into contact with an outer surface of the item, presenting the plastics film unitising member to an upper part of a first item and rolling the plastics film member over the top of the first item whereby at least an upper part of the first item is within an aperture and an outer surface of the item is contacted by plastics film edge portions, continuing the rolling action to apply successively each aperture to respective items to thereby unitise the items, wherein the plastics film unitising member is provided with a release member extending across at least a portion of one surface of the plastics film member and being attached at one edge of the plastics film unitising member. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein a release member is provided with the plastics film unitising member, said release member being attached at one edge of the plastics film unitising member and extending across at least a portion of a surface of the plastics film unitising member. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the plastics film unitising member has a separable side web portion adjacent to the apertures, and wherein the plastics film unitising member is provided with a release member extending across at least a portion of one surface of the plastics film unitising member and being attached at one edge of the plastics film unitising member. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the release member is positionable between the plastics film unitising member and items to be unitised. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the release member is formed from an elongate plastics film strip. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the release member is freely separable from the plastics film unitising member apart from being attached at one edge of the plastics film unitising member. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the release member is bonded to inter web portions of the plastics film unitising member. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the release member extends across an upper or lower surface of the plastics film unitising member, and the longest dimension of the release member extends to less than the full length of the plastics film unitising member. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the release member has a length allowing it to protrude beyond an edge of the plastics film unitising member opposite said one edge of the plastics film unitising member where the release member is attached, the protruding length part providing a user draw tab. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the additional steps of depositing the unitised items upon a surface of the display unit and withdrawing the release member linearly to remove the plastics film unitising member from each of the items, leaving the items deposited on the surface of the display unit. 
     
     
         23 . A plastics film unitising member according to  claim 2 , wherein the release member is formed from an elongate plastics film strip. 
     
     
         24 . A plastics film unitising member according to  claim 2 , wherein the release member is bonded to inter web portions of the plastics film unitising member. 
     
     
         25 . A plastics film unitising member according to  claim 2 , wherein the release member has a length allowing it to protrude beyond an edge of the plastics film unitising member opposite said one edge of the plastics film unitising member where the release member is attached, the protruding length part providing a user draw tab. 
     
     
         26 . A plastics film item unitising member according to  claim 2  wherein the plastics film item unitising member is made from recycled plastics. 
     
     
         27 . A plastics film item unitising member according to  claim 2 , wherein the flexible plastics film edge portions are configured to provide item unitising retention surfaces when the plastics film item unitising member is reformed around an item during a unitising operation using a roller device to apply the plastics film item unitising member to the item.