Method of operating a shrink wrapping machine in a container filling plant for disposing portions of patterns at a substantially predetermined location and orientation on each shrink wrapped flat of containers, before and after a roller exchange, and apparatus therefor

Abstract

A method of operating a shrink wrapping machine in a container filling plant for disposing portions of patterns at a substantially predetermined location and orientation on each shrink wrapped flat of containers, before and after a roller exchange, and apparatus therefor. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

1 . A method of operating a shrink wrapping machine in a blow molded bottle filling plant, the method disposing all portions of a continuous uninterrupted pattern, on shrink wrap material, at a substantially predetermined location and orientation on each shrink wrapped flat of blow molded bottles, thus providing a substantially consistent aesthetic appearance of each wrapped flat of blow molded bottles, before and after a supply roller exchange;
 said blow molded bottle filling plant comprising:
 a blow molded bottle filling machine configured to fill blow molded bottles with a liquid beverage; 
 a first blow molded bottle conveying arrangement configured to convey and dispose empty blow molded bottles to said filling machine for filling; 
 a blow molded bottle closing machine configured to close filled blow molded bottles; 
 a second blow molded bottle conveying arrangement configured to convey and dispose filled blow molded bottles from said filling machine to said closing machine for closing; and 
 a third blow molded bottle conveying arrangement configured to convey and dispose closed blow molded bottles from said closing machine to said shrink wrapping machine for wrapping; 
   said shrink wrapping machine comprising:
 a separating and grouping arrangement being configured and disposed to separate and group blow molded bottles into groups and place the groups onto flats; 
 a wrapping device being configured and disposed to wrap flats of blow molded bottles with shrink wrap to secure the groups of blow molded bottles to their corresponding flats; 
 said wrapping device comprising:
 an in use supply roller configured to feed a continuous strip of patterned strip-format flat shrink wrap material for wrapping a group of blow molded bottles and its corresponding flat; 
 a ready for exchange supply roller configured to supply a continuous strip of patterned strip-format flat shrink wrap material for wrapping a group of blow molded bottles and its corresponding flat; 
 a clamp roller between said in use supply roller and said ready for exchange supply roller; 
 said clamp roller comprising a first and a second semi-cylindrical portion, said first cylindrical portion having a flat side disposed towards a flat side of said second cylindrical portion forming a substantially cylindrical clamp roller; 
 the flat sides of said first and second semi-cylindrical portions being configured to move apart and providing a vertically oriented slot for receiving a leading portion of shrink wrap material extending from said ready for exchange supply roller; 
 the flat sides of said first and second semi-cylindrical portions being configured to move together holding a leading portion of shrink wrap material extending from said ready for exchange supply roller; 
 a crank configured to rotate said clamp roller; 
 an alignment rail configured to move shrink wrap material being fed from said in use supply roller to a changing position adjacent said clamp roller and a feeding position away from said clamp roller; 
 a plurality of rollers and clamps configured to receive shrink wrap material being fed from said in use supply roller during wrapping of flats of blow molded bottles, and configured to hold the shrink wrap material being fed in place just prior to a supply roller exchange, and being configured to release tension of the shrink wrap material being fed during a supply roller exchange; 
 a first welding and cutting arrangement configured to weld shrink wrap material being fed from said in use supply roller to shrink wrap material extending from said ready for exchange supply roller, said first welding and cutting arrangement being configured to cooperate with a rounded portion of said first semi-cylindrical portion of said clamp roller; 
 a second welding and cutting arrangement configured to weld shrink wrap material being fed from said in use supply roller to shrink wrap material extending from said ready for exchange supply roller, said second welding and cutting arrangement being configured to cooperate with a rounded portion of said second semi-cylindrical portion of said clamp roller; 
 a first sensor configured to sense marks on shrink wrap material being fed from said in use supply roller to said plurality of rollers and clamps; and 
 a second sensor configured to sense marks on shrink wrap material extending from said ready for exchange supply roller to said clamp roller; 
 
   said method of operating a shrink wrapping machine in a blow molded bottle filling plant comprising:
 feeding a continuous strip of patterned strip-format flat shrink wrap material for wrapping a group of blow molded bottles on a corresponding flat with said in use supply roller; 
 wrapping groups of blow molded bottles on corresponding flats with said in use supply roller disposing all portions of a continuous uninterrupted pattern on the shrink wrap material at a predetermined location and orientation on each wrapped flat of blow molded bottles; 
 sensing marks on shrink wrap material being fed from said in use supply roller with said first sensor; 
 placing said ready for exchange supply roller into said shrink wrapping machine; 
 moving apart the facing flat sides of said first and said second semi-cylindrical portions of said clamp roller providing a vertically oriented slot in said clamp roller; 
 inserting a leading portion of shrink wrap material extending from said ready for exchange supply roller into an upper portion of the vertically oriented slot between the facing flat sides of said first and said second semi-cylindrical portions of said clamp roller; 
 moving together the facing flat sides of said first and said second semi-cylindrical portions of said clamp roller to hold said leading portion of shrink wrap material; 
 rotating said clamp roller with said crank to move shrink wrap material held in said clamp roller and disposing shrink wrap material on the cylindrical surface of said clamp roller adjacent shrink wrap material being fed by said in use supply roller to said plurality of rollers and clamps; 
 said rotating of said clamp roller comprising rotating said clamp roller and shrink wrap material disposed on said clamp roller in a direction opposite the direction of shrink wrap material being fed by said in use supply roller upon the shrink wrap material disposed on said clamp roller becoming adjacent shrink wrap material being fed by said in use supply roller; 
 stopping feeding of continuous strip of shrink wrap material from said in use supply roller with said plurality of rollers and clamps upon said first sensor sensing a predetermined number of marks on the shrink wrap material being fed from said in use supply roller; 
 holding the shrink wrap material being fed from said in use supply roller in place, and releasing tension of the shrink wrap material being fed about said clamp roller with said plurality of rollers and clamps; 
 moving said alignment rail toward said clamp roller, and moving shrink wrap material being fed from said in use supply roller, and contacting shrink wrap material extending from said ready for exchange supply roller with shrink wrap disposed on said clamp roller; 
 aligning marks on the shrink wrap material being fed from said in use supply roller with marks on shrink wrap material extending from said ready for exchange supply roller disposed on said clamp roller; 
 welding shrink wrap material being fed from said in use supply roller to shrink wrap material extending from said ready for exchange supply roller to provide a continuous uninterrupted pattern on the shrink wrap material at the weld; 
 cutting away overlapping not welded shrink wrap material from at least one of said ready for exchange supply roller and said in use supply roller and providing a continuous sheet of shrink wrap material extending from said ready for exchange supply roller to said plurality of rollers and clamps; 
 applying tension to the welded shrink wrap material now being fed from said ready for exchange supply roller with said plurality of rollers and clamps; 
 feeding shrink wrap material from said ready for exchange supply roller; 
 wrapping groups of blow molded bottles on corresponding flats with said ready for exchange supply roller and disposing all portions of a continuous uninterrupted pattern, on the shrink wrap material, at a substantially predetermined location and orientation on each shrink wrapped flat of blow molded bottles, thus providing a substantially consistent aesthetic appearance of each wrapped flat of blow molded bottles, before and after a supply roller exchange; and 
 shrinking the shrink wrap wrapped around each of the wrapped groups of blow molded bottles on their corresponding flat. 
   
   
   
       2 . The method of operating a shrink wrapping machine in a blow molded bottle filling plant of  claim 1 , wherein said step of rotating said clamp roller disposes an overlapping portion of shrink wrap material, extending from said ready for exchange supply roller, said overlapping portion of said shrink wrap material extending from said extending from said ready for exchange supply roller, on said clamp roller, overlaps with shrink wrap material extending from said in use supply roller. 
   
   
       3 . The method of operating a shrink wrapping machine in a blow molded bottle filling plant of  claim 2 , wherein said step of cutting away overlapping not welded shrink wrap material, comprises cutting away a not welded overlapping portion of said overlapping portion of said shrink wrap material extending from said ready for exchange supply roller. 
   
   
       4 . A method of operating a shrink wrapping machine in a container filling plant, the method disposing all portions of a continuous uninterrupted pattern, on shrink wrap material, at a substantially predetermined location and orientation on each shrink wrapped flat of containers, thus providing a substantially consistent aesthetic appearance of each wrapped flat of containers, before and after a supply roller exchange, said method of operating a shrink wrapping machine in a container filling plant comprising:
 feeding a continuous strip of patterned shrink wrap material for wrapping a group of containers on a corresponding flat with a first supply roller to a plurality of rollers and clamps;   wrapping groups of containers on corresponding flats with said first supply roller disposing all portions of the continuous uninterrupted pattern on the shrink wrap material at a predetermined location and orientation on each wrapped flat of containers;   sensing at least one indicum on shrink wrap material being fed from said first supply roller with a first sensor;   placing a second supply roller into said shrink wrapping machine;   moving apart facing flat sides of a first and a second semi-cylindrical portion of a clamp roller providing a vertically oriented slot in said clamp roller, said clamp roller being disposed between said first and said second supply rollers;   inserting a leading portion of shrink wrap material extending from said second supply roller into an upper portion of the vertically oriented slot, between the facing flat sides of said first and said second semi-cylindrical portions of said clamp roller;   moving together the facing flat sides of said first and said second semi-cylindrical portions of said clamp roller to hold said leading portion of shrink wrap material extending from said second supply roller;   rotating said clamp roller to move shrink wrap material held in said clamp roller and disposing shrink wrap material on a cylindrical surface of said clamp roller adjacent shrink wrap material being fed by said first supply roller to said plurality of rollers and clamps;   said rotating of said clamp roller comprising rotating said clamp roller and shrink wrap material disposed on said clamp roller to move in a direction opposite the direction of shrink wrap material being fed by said first supply roller upon the shrink wrap material disposed on said clamp roller becoming adjacent shrink wrap material being fed by said first supply roller;   stopping feeding of continuous strip of shrink wrap material from said first supply roller with said plurality of rollers and clamps upon the first sensor sensing a predetermined number of indicia on the shrink wrap material being fed from said first supply roller;   holding the shrink wrap material extending from said first supply roller in place with said plurality of rollers and clamps;   releasing tension of the shrink wrap material being fed with said first supply roller with said plurality of rollers and clamps;   moving said shrink wrap material extending from said first supply roller toward said clamp roller;   contacting shrink wrap material extending from said first supply roller with shrink wrap material disposed on said clamp roller;   aligning at least one indicum on the shrink wrap material extending from said first supply roller with at least one indicum on shrink wrap material extending from said second supply roller disposed on said clamp roller;   welding shrink wrap material extending to said plurality of rollers and clamps to shrink wrap material extending from said second supply roller, while said at least one indicum on the shrink wrap material extending from said first supply roller is aligned with at least one indicum on shrink wrap material extending from said second supply roller, providing a continuous uninterrupted pattern on the shrink wrap material at the weld;   cutting away any overlapping not welded shrink wrap material, if necessary, from said second supply roller and said plurality of rollers and clamps and providing a continuous sheet of shrink wrap material extending from said second supply roller to said plurality of rollers and clamps;   applying tension to the welded shrink wrap material now being fed from said second supply roller with said plurality of rollers and clamps;   feeding shrink wrap material from said second supply roller; and   wrapping groups of containers with said second supply roller and disposing all portions of a continuous uninterrupted pattern, on the shrink wrap material, at a substantially predetermined location and orientation on each shrink wrapped group of containers, thus providing a substantially consistent aesthetic appearance of each wrapped group of containers, before and after a supply roller exchange.   
   
   
       5 . A shrink wrapping machine in a container filling plant configured to operate according to the method of  claim 4 , said shrink wrapping machine comprising:
 a first feeding arrangement configured to feed a continuous strip of patterned shrink wrap material for wrapping a group of containers on a corresponding flat with a first supply roller to a plurality of rollers and clamps;   a shrink wrapping arrangement configured to wrap groups of containers on corresponding flats with said first supply roller disposing all portions of the continuous uninterrupted pattern on the shrink wrap material at a predetermined location and orientation on each wrapped flat of containers;   a first sensor configured to at least one indicum on shrink wrap material being fed from said first supply roller with a first sensor;   a supply roller disposing arrangement configured to dispose the second supply roller placed into said shrink wrapping machine;   a clamp roller comprising a first and a second semi-cylindrical portion, said first and said second semi-cylindrical portions being configured moving apart at facing flat sides providing a vertically oriented slot in said clamp roller to receive a leading portion of shrink wrap material extending from said second supply;   said first and said second semi-cylindrical portions of said clamp also being configured to move together to hold said leading portion of shrink wrap material, extending from said second supply roller, between the facing flat sides of said first and said second semi-cylindrical portions of said clamp roller;   said clamp roller also being configured to move shrink wrap material held in said clamp roller and disposing shrink wrap material on a cylindrical surface of said clamp roller adjacent shrink wrap material being fed by said first supply roller to said plurality of rollers and clamps;   said plurality of rollers and clamps being configured to stop the feeding of continuous strip of shrink wrap material from said first supply roller upon the first sensor sensing at least one indicum on the shrink wrap material being fed from said first supply roller;   said plurality of rollers and clamps also being configured to hold the shrink wrap material extending from said first supply roller in place with said plurality of rollers and clamps;   said plurality of rollers and clamps also being configured to release tension of the shrink wrap material being fed with said first supply roller with said plurality of rollers and clamps;   a shrink wrap moving arrangement configured to move shrink wrap material extending from said first supply roller toward said clamp roller, and to contact shrink wrap material extending from said first supply roller with shrink wrap material disposed on said clamp roller;   said clamp roller also being configured to rotate to align at least one indicum on the shrink wrap material extending from said first supply roller with at least one indicum on shrink wrap material extending from said second supply roller disposed on said clamp roller;   a welding arrangement configured to weld shrink wrap material extending to said plurality of rollers and clamps to shrink wrap material extending from said second supply roller to provide a continuous uninterrupted pattern on the shrink wrap material at the weld;   a cutting arrangement configured to cut away any overlapping not welded shrink wrap material, if necessary, extending from said second supply roller and said plurality of rollers and clamps and providing a continuous sheet of shrink wrap material extending from said second supply roller to said plurality of rollers and clamps; and   said plurality of rollers and clamps also being configured to apply tension to the welded shrink wrap material now being fed from said second supply roller with said plurality of rollers and clamps.   
   
   
       6 . The method of operating a shrink wrapping machine in a container filling plant of  claim 4 , wherein said step of aligning at least one indicum on the shrink wrap material extending from said first supply roller with at least one indicum on shrink wrap material extending from said second supply roller, disposed on said clamp roller, disposes an over-lapping portion of shrink wrap material extending from said second supply roller on said clamp roller, said overlapping portion of said shrink wrap material extending from said second supply roller on said clamp roller overlaps with shrink wrap material extending from said first supply roller. 
   
   
       7 . The method of operating a shrink wrapping machine in a container filling plant of  claim 6 , wherein said step of cutting away any overlapping not welded shrink wrap material, if necessary, comprises cutting away a not welded portion of said overlapping portion of said shrink wrap material extending from said second supply roller. 
   
   
       8 . A method of exchanging a roller of wrapping material in a packaging machine comprising:
 feeding wrapping material from a first supply roller to said packaging machine and wrapping at least one object to be wrapped;   stopping the feeding of wrapping material from said first supply roller upon a predetermined amount of wrapping material being fed from said first supply roller;   inserting a leading portion of wrapping material extending from a second supply roller into a connecting station;   disposing wrapping material extending from said second supply roller, adjacent wrapping material extending from said first supply roller, within said connecting station;   moving wrapping material extending from said first supply roller toward said wrapping material extending from said second supply roller;   contacting wrapping material extending from said first supply roller with wrapping material extending from said second supply roller, within said connecting station;   aligning at least one indicum on wrapping material extending from said first supply roller with at least one indicum on wrapping material extending from said second supply roller, within said connecting station;   welding said leading portion of said wrapping material extending from said second supply roller to wrapping material extending from said first supply roller while said at least one indicum on wrapping material extending from said first supply roller is aligned with said at least one indicum on wrapping material extending from said second supply roller;   cutting the wrapping material extending from said first supply roller proximate the weld and detaching the wrapping material extending from said first supply roller from the wrapping material extending from said second supply roller;   feeding wrapping material from said second supply roller to at least one object to be wrapped; and   wrapping said at least one object to be wrapped with said material extending from said second supply roller.   
   
   
       9 . A wrapping machine configured to operate according to the method of  claim 8 , said wrapping machine comprising:
 means for feeding wrapping material from said first supply roller to said packaging machine and wrapping said at least one object to be wrapped;   means for stopping the feeding of wrapping material from said first supply roller upon a predetermined amount of wrapping material being fed from said first supply roller;   means for inserting a leading portion of wrapping material extending from a second supply roller into said connecting station;   means for disposing wrapping material extending from said second supply roller, adjacent wrapping material extending from said first supply roller, within said connecting station;   means for moving wrapping material extending from said first supply roller toward said wrapping material extending from said second supply roller;   means for contacting wrapping material extending from said first supply roller with wrapping material extending from said second supply roller, within said connecting station;   means for aligning said at least one indicum on wrapping material extending from said first supply roller with said at least one indicum on wrapping material extending from said second supply roller, within said connecting station;   means for welding said leading portion of said wrapping material extending from said second supply roller to wrapping material extending from said first supply roller while said at least one indicum on wrapping material extending from said first supply roller is aligned with said at least one indicum on wrapping material extending from said second supply roller;   means for cutting the wrapping material extending from said first supply roller proximate the weld and detaching the wrapping material extending from said first supply roller from the wrapping material extending from said second supply roller;   means for feeding wrapping material from said second supply roller to at least one object to be wrapped; and   means for wrapping said at least one object to be wrapped with said material extending from said second supply roller.   
   
   
       10 . A wrapping machine configured to operate according to the method of  claim 8 , said wrapping machine comprising:
 an apparatus configured to feed wrapping material from said first supply roller to said packaging machine and wrapping said at least one object to be wrapped;   an apparatus configured to stop the feeding of wrapping material from said first supply roller upon a predetermined amount of wrapping material being fed from said first supply roller;   an apparatus configured to insert said leading portion of wrapping material extending from said second supply roller into said connecting station;   an apparatus configured to dispose wrapping material extending from said second supply roller, adjacent wrapping material extending from said first supply roller, within said connecting station;   an apparatus configured to move wrapping material extending from said first supply roller toward said wrapping material extending from said second supply roller;   an apparatus configured to contact wrapping material extending from said first supply roller with wrapping material extending from said second supply roller, within said connecting station;   an apparatus configured to align said at least one indicum on wrapping material extending from said first supply roller with said at least one indicum on wrapping material extending from said second supply roller, within said connecting station;   an apparatus configured to weld said leading portion of said wrapping material extending from said second supply roller to wrapping material extending from said first supply roller while said at least one indicum on wrapping material extending from said first supply roller is aligned with said at least one indicum on wrapping material extending from said second supply roller;   an apparatus configured to cut the wrapping material extending from said first supply roller proximate the weld and detaching the wrapping material extending from said first supply roller from the wrapping material extending from said second supply roller;   an apparatus configured to feed wrapping material from said second supply roller to said at least one object to be wrapped; and   an apparatus configured to wrap said at least one object to be wrapped with said material extending from said second supply roller.   
   
   
       11 . The method of exchanging a roller of wrapping material in a packaging machine of  claim 8 , wherein said step of inserting a leading portion of wrapping material extending from a second supply roller into a connecting station further comprises clamping said leading portion within a gap in a clamp roller in said connecting station. 
   
   
       12 . The method of exchanging a roller of wrapping material in a packaging machine of  claim 11 , wherein said step of disposing wrapping material extending from said second supply roller comprising rotating said clamp roller by an amount sufficient to dispose said wrapping material, extending from said second clamp roller, on an outer surface of said clamp roller adjacent wrapping material extending from said first supply roller. 
   
   
       13 . The method of exchanging a roller of wrapping material in a packaging machine of  claim 12 , wherein the outer surface of said clamp roller adjacent wrapping material being fed from said first supply roller, is moved in a direction opposite the direction of the wrapping material being fed from said first supply roller. 
   
   
       14 . The method of exchanging a roller of wrapping material in a packaging machine of  claim 13 , wherein said step of aligning at least one indicum on wrapping material extending from said first supply roller with at least one indicum on wrapping material extending from said second supply roller further comprises rotating said clamp roller and said material extending from said second supply roller, disposed on the outer surface of said clamp roller. 
   
   
       15 . The method of exchanging a roller of wrapping material in a packaging machine of  claim 14 , wherein said step of rotating said clamp roller and said material extending from said second supply roller, disposed on the outer surface of said clamp roller, disposes an overlapping not welded portion of wrapping material extending from said second supply roller on said clamp roller, said overlapping not welded portion of said material extending from said second supply roller on said clamp roller overlaps with wrapping material extending from said first supply roller. 
   
   
       16 . The method of exchanging a roller of wrapping material in a packaging machine of  claim 15 , wherein said method further comprises cutting away said overlapping not welded wrapping material extending from said second supply roller and providing a continuous sheet of wrapping material extending from said second supply roller. 
   
   
       17 . The method of exchanging a roller of wrapping material in a packaging machine of  claim 18 , wherein said method further comprises disposing all portions of a continuous uninterrupted pattern, on the continuous sheet of wrapping material extending from said second supply roller, at a substantially predetermined location and orientation on each wrapped at least one object to be wrapped, thus providing a substantially consistent aesthetic appearance of each wrapped at least one object to be wrapped, before and after the change of supply of wrapping material from said first supply roller to said second supply roller. 
   
   
       18 . The method of exchanging a roller of wrapping material in a packaging machine of  claim 17 , wherein said wrapping material extending from said first and said second supply rollers is shrink wrap material. 
   
   
       19 . The method of exchanging a roller of wrapping material in a packaging machine of  claim 18 , wherein:
 said at least one object to be wrapped comprises a group of containers to be wrapped; and   said method further comprises placing each group of containers to be wrapped in a corresponding flat prior to wrapping.   
   
   
       20 . A shrink wrapping machine configured to operate according to the method of  claim 19 , said shrink wrapping machine comprising:
 an apparatus configured to feed shrink wrapping material from said first supply roller to said packaging machine and shrink wrapping said at least one object to be shrink wrapped;   an apparatus configured to stop the feeding of shrink wrapping material from said first supply roller upon a predetermined amount of shrink wrapping material being fed from said first supply roller;   an apparatus configured to insert said leading portion of shrink wrapping material extending from said second supply roller into said connecting station and clamping said leading portion within a gap in a clamp roller in said connecting station;   an apparatus configured to dispose shrink wrapping material extending from said second supply roller, adjacent shrink wrapping material extending from said first supply roller, within said connecting station, said apparatus also being configured to rotate said clamp roller by an amount sufficient to dispose said shrink wrapping material, extending from said second clamp roller, on an outer surface of said clamp roller adjacent shrink wrapping material extending from said first supply roller, wherein the outer surface of said clamp roller adjacent shrink wrapping material being fed from said first supply roller, is configured to be moved in a direction opposite the direction of the shrink wrapping material being fed from said first supply roller;   an apparatus configured to move shrink wrapping material extending from said first supply roller toward said shrink wrapping material extending from said second supply roller;   an apparatus configured to contact shrink wrapping material extending from said first supply roller with shrink wrapping material extending from said second supply roller, within said connecting station;   an apparatus configured to align said at least one indicum on shrink wrapping material extending from said first supply roller with said at least one indicum on shrink wrapping material extending from said second supply roller, within said connecting station, said apparatus also being configured to rotate said clamp roller and said material extending from said second supply roller, disposed on the outer surface of said clamp roller, and dispose an overlapping not welded portion of shrink wrapping material extending from said second supply roller on said clamp roller, said overlapping not welded portion of said material extending from said second supply roller on said clamp roller overlaps with shrink wrapping material extending from said first supply roller;   an apparatus configured to weld said leading portion of said shrink wrapping material extending from said second supply roller to shrink wrapping material extending from said first supply roller while said at least one indicum on shrink wrapping material extending from said first supply roller is aligned with said at least one indicum on shrink wrapping material extending from said second supply roller;   an apparatus configured to cut the shrink wrapping material extending from said first supply roller proximate the weld and detaching the shrink wrapping material extending from said first supply roller from the shrink wrapping material extending from said second supply roller;   an apparatus configured to cut away said overlapping not welded shrink wrapping material extending from said second supply roller and providing a continuous sheet of shrink wrapping material extending from said second supply roller;   an apparatus configured to feed shrink wrapping material from said second supply roller to said at least one object to be shrink wrapped;   an apparatus configured to wrap with shrink wrap said at least one object to be shrink wrapped with said material extending from said second supply roller and dispose all portions of a continuous uninterrupted pattern, on the continuous sheet of shrink wrapping material extending from said second supply roller, at a substantially predetermined location and orientation on each shrink wrapped at least one object to be shrink wrapped, thus providing a substantially consistent aesthetic appearance of each shrink wrapped at least one object to be shrink wrapped, before and after the change of supply of shrink wrapping material from said first supply roller to said second supply roller, said at least one object to be wrapped comprising a group of containers to be wrapped; and   said apparatus configured to wrap with shrink wrap said at least one object to be shrink wrapped being configured to place each of said group of containers to be wrapped in a corresponding flat prior to wrapping.