Stretchable Shipping/Pallet Wrap and Method for Use

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for unitizing groups of individual packages into pallet loads, stabilizing the loads and facilitating general movement of the pallets, including the loading and unloading of pallets into and out of transport vehicles, includes wrapping the loads with stretchable crepe paper, rather than conventional plastic wrap material. Crepe paper can be produced and recycled with less environmental impact than plastic wrap. These methods involve a new use for crepe paper, and a new use for conventional plastic-wrapping equipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for unitizing one or more packages into a shipping unit, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing the one or more packages;   providing a crepe paper;   forming a supply of the crepe paper;   dispensing the crepe paper from the supply of the crepe paper, while longitudinally tensioning the crepe paper, thereby creating a stretched crepe paper;   wrapping the one or more packages with the stretched crepe paper a total of at least about one turn, thereby wrapping the shipping unit with overlapping layers of the stretched crepe paper; and   applying an adhesive either to: (i) at least one side of the crepe paper prior to forming the supply of the crepe paper, or (ii) at least one side of the stretched crepe paper that is in contact with and wrapped around the shipping unit.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is applied to both sides of the crepe paper. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is applied by brushing, painting, or spraying the adhesive. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of activating the adhesive by applying an activator to the stretched crepe paper. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the activator is applied by spraying the activator on to the stretched crepe paper. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of activating the adhesive by heating the stretched crepe paper. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a heat gun or infrared light source is used to heat the stretched crepe paper. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is applied either between layers of the stretched crepe paper or to an outer layer of the stretched crepe paper. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of allowing the adhesive to soak through one or more layers of the stretched crepe paper. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is applied by painting or spraying the adhesive to the at least one side of the crepe paper, and further comprising the step of drying the adhesive prior to forming the supply of crepe paper. 
     
     
         11 . A method of forming a supply of crepe paper for unitizing one or more packages into a shipping unit, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a paper;   creping the paper to form a creped paper;   applying an adhesive to the creped paper;   drying the adhesive to form a dried adhesive on the creped paper; and   forming a roll of the creped paper comprising the dried adhesive.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the adhesive is applied by spraying the adhesive on to the creped paper. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the adhesive is dried by fan-driven air. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the adhesive is applied to both sides of the creped paper, the adhesive is dried on both sides of the creped paper, and the dried adhesive is formed on both sides of the creped paper. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the crepe paper comprises a fire retardant. 
     
     
         16 . A supply of crepe paper for unitizing a plurality of individual packages into a single shipping unit, the supply of crepe paper comprising:
 a crepe paper, the crepe paper having a basis weight of about 15-50 GSM, prior to creping, and being capable of stretching at least about 10% without tearing;   an adhesive disposed and dried on at least a portion of the crepe paper to form a dried adhesive; and   a roll formed from the crepe paper comprising the dried adhesive.   
     
     
         17 . The supply of crepe paper of  claim 16 , wherein the adhesive comprises a wax or is a hot-melt adhesive. 
     
     
         18 . The supply of crepe paper of  claim 16 , wherein the crepe paper comprising the roll is at least approximately 10 inches wide and wherein the roll comprises at least approximately 300 linear feet of crepe paper. 
     
     
         19 . The supply of crepe paper of  claim 16 , wherein the crepe paper comprises a fire retardant. 
     
     
         20 . The supply of crepe paper of  claim 16 , wherein the adhesive is disposed and dried on at least a portion of both sides of the crepe paper to form the dried adhesive on both sides of the crepe paper.