Film Bundle Packaging

Abstract

A plastic film bundle, and apparatus and methods for forming the plastic film bundle are disclosed herein.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A plastic film bundle, comprising:
 a plurality of items placed in close proximity to each other;   the plurality of items bundled together with a plastic film to form a bundle;   wherein the plastic film is configured to maintain the bundle as a unit suitable for shipping; and   wherein a shipping label is applied directly to the plastic film.   
     
     
         2 . The plastic film bundle of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic film is at least partially opaque. 
     
     
         3 . The plastic film bundle of  claim 1 , further comprising a protective material interposed between the plastic film and the plurality of items. 
     
     
         4 . The plastic film bundle of  claim 3 , wherein the protective material is bubble wrap. 
     
     
         5 . The plastic film bundle of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic film is a stretch film. 
     
     
         6 . A system for forming a plastic film bundle for shipping, comprising:
 a plurality of items for bundling and shipping; and   a plastic film wrapping apparatus for wrapping the plurality of items in a plastic film;   wherein the plastic film wrapping apparatus forms a plastic film bundle with the plastic film around the outside of the plurality of items and holding the plurality of items in close proximity to each other for shipping, with a shipping label applied directly to the plastic film.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a first conveyor for conveying the plurality of items from a first location to the plastic film wrapping apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a second conveyor for conveying the plurality of items from the plastic film wrapping or bundling apparatus to a second location. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first conveyor is concave. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first conveyor is at least one of U-shaped and V-shaped. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the plastic film is a stretch film. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the plastic film is a shrink film. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the plastic film wrapping apparatus is an automated apparatus including a roll of plastic film for wrapping. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the plastic film wrapping apparatus is a hand operated apparatus including a roll of plastic film for wrapping. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising protective material interposed between the plastic film and the plurality of items. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a protective material wrapping apparatus for applying the protective material to the plurality of items. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the protective material is applied and the stretch film is wrapped around the plurality of items simultaneously. 
     
     
         18 . A method of providing a plastic film bundle, comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of items to be wrapped into a plastic film bundle;   wrapping the plurality of items with a plastic film to form the plastic film bundle;   applying a shipping label directly to the plastic film; and   shipping the stretch film bundle.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of conveying the plurality of items from a first location to a plastic film wrapping apparatus to be formed into the plastic film bundle. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of wrapping the plurality of items with a protective material.