Process for bundling and/or fixing articles by use of an extensible plastic tape

A process for bundling and/or fixing of articles using an extensible plastic tape having a Young modulus of at least approximately 170 bars but less than 7,000 bars and an extensibility in longitudinal direction of at least approximately 150%, with a recovery of less than 50 percent after extension, at least portions of the length of the plastic tape being free of pressure sensitive adhesive. In the process a) the plastic tape is permanently stretched, the permanently stretched tape is arranged around the articles to be bundled and/or fixated, and the ends of the tape are bound together; or b) the plastic tape is permanently stretched, one of its ends is then fixed, and thereafter the permanently stretched plastic tape is arranged around the articles to be bundled and/or fixated, and the other of its ends is fixed; and/or c) one of the ends of the plastic tape is fixed, the plastic tape is permanently stretched and arranged around the articles to be bundled and/or fixated, and the other of its ends is fixed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is directed to a process for bundling and/or fixing of 
articles by use of an extensible plastic tape and to an extensible plastic 
tape having self-adhesive properties which may be used with particular 
advantage in the process according to the invention. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/731,341 suggests a means for securing 
articles during transport, storage and other occasions, wherein an 
extensible plastic tape is used which is completely coated with a pressure 
sensitive adhesive on one side, and is stretched in longitudinal direction 
thereby reducing its adhesive force. 
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/802,061 suggests a self-adhesive 
plastic tape which, while capable of being attached to articles, at the 
same time will not cause damage to the article when removed. This is 
accomplished by using a self-adhesive plastic tape which reduces its 
adhesive force due to stretching in longitudinal direction and thus, is 
readily removed from the respective article. Such plastic tape has a Young 
modulus of at least 2,500 psi but less than 72,500 psi. Furthermore, the 
sheet supporting the adhesive has high tensile strength, an elongation at 
break of at least 150% when measured in longitudinal direction, and low 
recovery. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The basic problem addressed by the present invention is to provide a 
process for improved fixing and/or bundling of articles and to create a 
means by use of which articles can be bundled and/or fixed. 
The technical problem is solved by the process having the features of claim 
1. The following subclaims relate to preferred embodiments of the process 
according to the invention. 
According to the invention, the means for bundling and/or fixing of 
articles is an extensible plastic tape having the features of claim 18. 
The following subclaims relate to preferred embodiments of the adhesive 
tape according to the invention. 
According to the process of the invention, bundling and/or fixing of 
articles in the simplest case is effected using an extensible plastic take 
having a Young modulus of approximately 170 bars but less than 7,000 bars 
and an extensibility in longitudinal direction of at least 150%, with low 
recovery. 
According to the invention, in one embodiment at least one plastic tape is 
stretched, and the stretched tape is arranged around the articles to be 
bundled and/or fixated. Thereafter, the loose ends of the stretched tape 
are bound together. In another embodiment, the stretched plastic tape 
preferably is fixed at one end and arranged around the articles to be 
bundled and/or fixated, whereafter the loose end is fixed. The first 
fixing position of the stretched plastic tape may be located at either the 
articles to be bundled and/or fixated themselves, or at a support whereon 
the articles are situated, or at any other position suitable in some other 
way. Fixation of the loose end after bundling and/or fixing the articles 
then may be effected using the plastic tape itself, or at an article of 
the articles to be bundled and/or fixated, or their package material, 
support (pallet), or another suitable position. In yet another embodiment 
of the process according to the invention, the plastic tape may be fixed 
first, then stretched and arranged around the articles to be bundled 
and/or fixated, whereafter the loose end is fixed. Fixation of the plastic 
tape in this embodiment may be effected in the same way as described above 
for the others. 
Preferably, stretching of the plastic tape is effected by applying force 
acting in longitudinal direction of the tape while arranging the plastic 
tape around the articles to be bundled and/or fixated. 
In the process of the invention, binding the loose ends together is 
preferably effected by knotting, cementing, clamping, clipping, sealing or 
combinations of these measures. 
In cases where fixation of at least one of the two loose ends of the 
stretched extensible plastic tape is effected first, the aforesaid is done 
particularly by knotting, cementing, clamping, clipping, sealing or 
combinations of these measures. And this measure represents the first step 
when the plastic tape is fixed first, and then is stretched only when 
being arranged around articles for bundling and/or fixation. Then, 
preferably, the respective ends left loose are likewise fixed by knotting, 
cementing, clamping, clipping, sealing or combinations of these measures. 
Preferably, the plastic tape is wound around the articles to be bundled 
and/or fixated in stretched form. However, other configurations of 
arranging are possible, particularly those as described in U.S. patent 
application Ser. No. 07/731,341. 
In fixing at least one loose end of the plastic tape, it is advantageous 
not to stretch the terminal region of the tape. This prevents a knot from 
coming loose. That end being widened in relation to the stretched tape due 
to non-stretching cannot be pulled through the knot which otherwise might 
result in the knot coming loose. 
In another embodiment of the process according to the invention, at least 
one article of the articles to be bundled and/or fixated is provided with 
an adhesive spot, and one end of the extensible plastic tape, starting 
from the adhesive spot, is led around the articles to be bundled and/or 
fixated, particularly with the use of force in longitudinal direction of 
the extensible plastic tape. 
Then, the other end of the extensible plastic tape is cemented at an 
adhesive spot which either may be identical with the first adhesive spot 
or also may be located at another position, with the material to be 
bundled and/or fixated being wound at least once by the extensible plastic 
tape. 
If the articles to be bundled and/or fixated are on a support such as a 
pallet, the adhesive spot also may be arranged on this support. Here, the 
extensible tape, starting from the adhesive spot arranged on the support, 
is led around the articles to be bundled and/or fixated, either to be 
cemented at the same adhesive spot or another adhesive spot, or to be 
bound with the stretched plastic tape itself after at least one wind 
around the articles to be bundled and/or fixated. Binding then may be 
effected as described above. 
If the articles or goods to be bundled and/or fixated have a corresponding 
package, the adhesive spot also may be arranged directly on the wrapping 
of the goods or articles with any type of adhesives being usable. Thus, in 
addition, hot melt adhesives, fast-setting adhesives such as close contact 
glue, adhesive tapes such as single or double-side adhesive tapes as well 
as transfer tapes (dry transferable adhesive films) are also possible. 
Preferably, quite aggressive adhesives also may be used which, 
particularly with demanding mechanical stress, ensure reliable bundling 
and/or fixing of the articles by means of the adhesive tape adhering on 
the adhesive spot. 
In another preferred embodiment of the process according to the invention, 
the adhesive spot may be formed on the articles to be fixated and/or 
bundled by a transfer tape or a double-side adhesive tape. For this 
purpose, a double-side adhesive tape or transfer tape is applied onto the 
material to be bundled and/or fixated. Here, the extensible plastic tape 
is bound to the transfer tape or double-side adhesive tape applied onto 
the articles, stretched, led around the articles to be bundled and/or 
fixated, and cemented at another, suitable position. Likewise, this may be 
effected on the free side of the transfer tape or double-side adhesive 
tape having been applied onto the articles to be bundled and/or fixated if 
there is sufficient space on this transfer tape or double-side adhesive 
tape. 
Another preferred embodiment of the process according to the invention is 
to either arrange the extensible plastic tape on the articles to be 
bundled and/or fixated, thereafter to attach it to at least one of said 
articles using a single side adhesive tape, or to attach a double-side 
adhesive tape or transfer tape to at least one of said articles as the 
fixation site. Then, the extensible plastic tape is bound to this fixation 
site, led around the articles to be bundled and/or fixated, starting from 
the fixation site, and subsequently, the loose end of the extensible 
plastic tape is also fixed. 
This type of fixing is advantageous because fixation of articles thereby is 
effected in a particularly reliable fashion. The stretched plastic tape 
having non-stretched and portions is hindered of detaching from the 
articles to be bundled end or fixated without pulling the stretched band 
at an angle as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/802,061. 
Preferably, stretching of the extensible plastic tape is effected by 
applying force in longitudinal direction of the plastic tape, for example, 
in bundling and/or fixing articles having an edge by winding the plastic 
tape over one of the edges and stretching by applying force. In 
particular, this procedure is described in U.S. patent application Ser. 
No. 07/731,341 
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the process according to the 
invention, the extensible plastic tape is wound from a roll. The 
extensible plastic tape is provided with areas of pressure sensitive 
adhesive which serve to attach the extensible plastic tape having 
self-adhesive properties onto one of the articles to be bundled and/or 
fixated, for example. Then, in the above-described fashion, the plastic 
tape wound from the roll is stretched, the articles are bundled and/or 
fixated, and the extensible plastic tape is cut at a second site having an 
area provided with pressure sensitive adhesive such that the separation 
approximately runs through the middle of the area with pressure sensitive 
adhesive. Then, using the pressure sensitive adhesive, the loose end of 
cut-off tape is attached to the articles to be bundled and/or fixated. 
This may be effected using the measures described above. Similarly, the 
extensible plastic tape having areas of pressure sensitive adhesive and 
being on the roll has in turn an area of pressure sensitive adhesive at 
its beginning. Thus, the plastic tape is available for another 
application. Cutting the plastic tape in the areas with pressure sensitive 
adhesive may be facilitated by, for instance, providing the support layer 
of the extensible plastic tape with a perforation. 
In a modified embodiment of the process according to the invention, the 
extensible plastic tape wound from the roll is provided with pressure 
sensitive adhesive only prior to use, e.g., by affixing a transfer tape or 
a double-side adhesive tape. This allows for flexible selection of length 
of the required plastic tape. In this embodiment, subsequent to selecting 
the length of the plastic tape and prior to cutting same, an area of 
pressure sensitive adhesive is arranged around the later separation site, 
so that after cutting the extensible plastic tape, areas with pressure 
sensitive adhesive are present at each end. 
The process according to the invention, particularly when using the plastic 
tape of the invention, permits binding together most various articles. 
Thus, for example, everyday requirement articles offered in supermarkets 
in loose form such as bottles, cans, cardboard boxes with the 
corresponding bulk goods may be bound together and carried away in a very 
simple fashion. This can be done both by the customer and by the dealer 
who, already in his offer, bundles a certain number of these articles and 
offers them as an ensemble such as, for instance, several beverage cans, 
bottles etc. combined together. Likewise, the process according to the 
invention for fixing and/or bundling of articles is suitable for 
transporting articles which may be combined to ensembles. Thus, instead of 
using steel ribbons, for example, loose goods may be fixed onto pallets, 
in which fixing particularly the plastic tape according to the invention 
is attached adherently to the bottom side of the pallet first, then the 
plastic tape according to the invention is stretched, preferably over an 
edge and over the pile of goods to be transported, to be fixed at the 
opposite side, again under the pallet, or to be led through under same to 
be bound with the stretched tape at a suitable position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
Preferably, the extensible plastic tape, as shown schematically in FIG. 2, 
has two areas with pressure sensitive adhesive 2, with the areas 2 having 
pressure sensitive adhesive separated from areas without pressure 
sensitive adhesive 3. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the 
extensible plastic tape 10 has areas with pressure sensitive adhesive 2 at 
each end. Preferably, the area without pressure sensitive adhesive 3, 
i.e., that of the support layer 1 itself, is substantially larger than the 
areas 2 of the extensible plastic tape 10 having pressure sensitive 
adhesive. Here, the areas with pressure sensitive adhesive 2 may be 
applied directly onto the extensible support layer 1. However, it is also 
possible to form the areas with pressure sensitive adhesive 2 by at least 
one adhesive tape coated with pressure sensitive adhesive. The double-side 
adhesive tape itself consists of a support sheet onto which pressure 
sensitive adhesive has been applied on both sides. In contrast, the 
transfer tape consists of only one layer of pressure sensitive adhesive. 
If the pressure sensitive adhesive is directly coated onto the extensible 
support layer 1, it is advantageous to previously subject the 
corresponding areas to a chemical or physical treatment to obtain improved 
adhesion between extensible support layer and pressure sensitive adhesive. 
As a chemical priming process, treatment of extensible support layer 1 
with adhesion promoters is preferred. As a physical method to improve 
adhesion between extensible support layer 1 and the pressure sensitive 
adhesive, corona discharge treatment, in particular, is possible. 
Preferably, the extensible plastic tape 10 consists of an extensible 
support layer 1 having a Young modulus of approximately 170 bars but less 
than 7,000 bars and an extensibility in longitudinal direction of at least 
150%, with low recovery. Preferably, the extensible support layer 1 has 
high tensile strength and an elongation at break in longitudinal direction 
of between 50 to 1,200%, preferably between 150 to 700%, particularly 
preferred of between 350 to 700%, and is substantially inelastic having an 
elasticity of less than 50% recovery after extension, preferably less than 
30% elastic recovery, and particularly preferred less than 20% elastic 
recovery. Preferably, the Young modulus is 200 bars to 3,500 bars, more 
preferably 340 bars to 2,000 bars. The magnitude of the Young modulus is 
substantially determined by workability; if the Young modulus is too high, 
it will be increasingly difficult to extend the plastic tape 10, but if it 
is too low, the plastic tape 10 loses its properties and becomes rubbery. 
As examples for the material suitable as the support layer, the following 
materials will be given: polyolefins such as polyethylene including HDPE 
(high density polyethylene), polyethylene of low density, linear 
polyethylene of low density and linear polyethylene of ultra-low density, 
polypropylene and polybutylene, vinyl copolymers such as plasticized and 
non-plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) and poly (vinyl acetate); olefinic 
copolymers such as ethylene/methacrylate copolymers, ethylene/vinyl 
acetate copolymer, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers and 
ethylene/propylene copolymers; acrylic polymers and copolymers and 
combinations of these materials. Mixtures or blends of any plastic or 
plastic and elastomeric material such as polypropylene/polyethylene, 
polyurethane/polyolefin, polyurethane/polycarbonate, 
polyurethane/polyester may also be used. The support layer may be present 
in the form of single or multilayered sheets, non-woven films, porous 
films, foam-like films and combinations thereof. 
The support material also may be prepared from materials containing fillers 
such as, e.g., sheets provided with filler such as polyolefins having 
calcium carbonate. 
Preferably, the extensible support layer of the plastic tape consists of 
polyethylene and polypropylene sheets which, particularly preferred, have 
materials which are linear polyethylene sheets having low and ultra-low 
density. 
As the extensible support layer of the plastic tape, in particular, a 
polyethylene sheet of low density, the so-called LLDPE (linear low density 
polyethylene) having a density of from 0.80 to 0.92 g/cm 3 especially 
having a density of from 0.90 to 0.93 g/cm 3 may be used. The polyethylene 
sheets preferably contain structural units consisting of units 
copolymerizable with ethylene, particularly lower monoalkenes having a 
length of 3 to 8 carbon atoms such as, for instance, octene. In 
particular, these lower alkenes are present in amounts of from 0.5 to 10% 
by weight. 
Processes for preparing the extensible support layer of the plastic tape 
according to the invention are described in U.S. patent application Ser. 
No. 07/802,061. The thickness of the support layer varies with the field 
of application. If the support tape is to be extended manually, low 
thickness is preferred as compared to extension which is possible using 
the respective efficient machines. In the latter case, the extensible 
support layer may have a thickness of up to 1 mm or more. By physical 
action such as raise of temperature, extension with correspondingly thick 
support layers might be correspondingly facilitated. For manual 
application fields, for purposes of everyday requirements, a thickness of 
the support layer 1 of from 10 to 250 .mu.m is preferable. 
If a pressure sensitive adhesive is used as the adhesive, it is preferred 
that it has the following adhesive properties: 0.5 N/dm to 800 N/dm, 
preferably 25 N/dm to 400 N/dm at a peeling angle of 180.degree., measured 
according to guidelines PSTC-1 and PSTC-3 and ASTM D 903-83 at a peeling 
rate of 12.7 cm/min. Adhesives which may be used can be selected from 
tackified rubber-based adhesives like natural gums, olefins, silicones, 
polyisoprenes, polybutadiene, polyurethane, styrene-isoprene-styrene and 
styrene-butadienestyrene block copolymers and other elastomers showing low 
recovery, as well as tackified or non-tackified acrylic adhesives such as 
copolymers of isooctyl acrylate and acrylic acid, which may be polymerized 
by radiation, solution suspension or emulsion processes. 
Cross-linked adhesives are preferably used, particularly such pressure 
sensitive adhesives that are cross-linked to give high peel strength. 
The thickness of the adhesive layer may vary in the range of from 5 .mu.m 
to 1,000 .mu.m. Preferably, a layer thickness of from 20 .mu.m to 250 
.mu.m is used. Depending on the application field of the plastic tape 
according to the invention, these values may greatly exceed the upper 
limit. In the field of industrial packaging for bundling and/or fixing of 
correspondingly heavy goods, stronger adherent adhesives may also be used. 
The extension of area 2 onto which the adhesive is coated onto the 
extensible support layer 1 substantially varies with the field of 
application. 
Preferably, the adhesive areas 2 of the extensible self-adhesive plastic 
tape 10 according to the invention are covered with a protective sheet 20 
if removal is one by one. Preferably, this protective sheet 20 has good 
stripping properties with respect to the pressure sensitive adhesive. 
In another preferred embodiment, the side of support layer 1 in opposition 
to the side to which the adherent areas 2 are arranged is already 
preformed as a layer having pressure sensitive adhesive-repellent 
properties. Thereby, it is possible to stack a multiplicity of extensible 
plastic tapes 10, particularly in such way that each adherent area is 
arranged over another, with each back of the plastic tape 10 lying 
underneath serving the one lying above as a "protective sheet", whereas 
the bottom side serves as the support layer 1 for the pressure sensitive 
adhesive. This situation is shown schematically in FIG. 4 (left area of 
FIG. 4) and FIG. 7. 
The intended use of the extensible plastic tape 10 having the pressure 
sensitive adhesive 2 arranged at the ends determines its length in the 
unextended state. The extensible adhesive tape 10 according to the 
invention may be arranged in stacks as described above (FIG. 4 and FIG. 
7). These multilayered stripe-shaped stacks also may be arranged besides 
one another resulting in a block-like object made of several multilayered 
stacks. 
The stacks of the extensible plastic tapes 10 of the invention are 
completed by an end sheet 50 towards the stack basis (FIG. 7). The end 
sheet 50 may consist of a similar material as the protective sheet 25. 
Preferably, the end sheet 50 is reinforced to protect the stack of plastic 
tapes according to the invention against destructive mechanical action. 
To facilitate workability of the plastic tape of the invention, at least 
one end of the stripe-shaped extensible adhesive plastic tape according to 
the invention may have an area with pressure sensitive adhesive, which 
area is at least partly masked by a cover tape 21, with the cover tape 21 
projecting beyond the edge of the stack formed by the plastic tapes lying 
over one another in stripe shape. Thereby, the grasp for each one of the 
plastic tapes is facilitated. This situation is shown schematically in 
FIG. 5. 
In a preferred embodiment, the pressure sensitive adhesive situated at the 
end side of the extensible support layer may be arranged such that the 
adhesive does not end flush with the end of the extensible support layer 
but is situated somewhat apart, whereby similarly, the stripe-shaped 
extensible adhesive tape can be grasped and removed from the stack more 
easily, as is illustrated in FIG. 6. 
The plastic tape 10 of the invention may also be arranged in multilayered, 
stripe-shaped stacks where several multilayered stacks also may be 
arranged besides one another, and where the areas with pressure sensitive 
adhesive 2 not covered with a protective sheet 20 or a cover tape 21 are 
arranged on the side of another extensible plastic tape 10' of same or 
different type of design which side is opposite to the corresponding side 
of the other extensible plastic tape 10' having areas with pressure 
sensitive adhesive, as is illustrated in FIG. 4. 
The extensible adhesive tape 10 has particularly preferred use in the 
process of the invention, especially if both ends of the extensible 
plastic tape have areas provided with pressure sensitive adhesive which 
may be considered as adhesive spots when operating the process according 
to the invention. 
The plastic tape 10 according to the invention also may be arranged in the 
form of rolls, as demonstrated schematically in FIG. 8. Each one of the 
adherent areas 2, preferably provided with pressure sensitive adhesive, is 
formed larger than required for use in the process according to the 
invention. The adherent area 2 is also arranged on the extensible support 
layer 1, as shown in FIG. 8. When the plastic tape of the invention is to 
be used, the required piece is unwound from the roll and is separated 
within the area of the pressure sensitive adhesive, for instance, along 
the line AA'. The plastic tape thus obtained may be employed as described 
in the process of the invention. Now, the other half of the separated 
plastic tape still being wound on the roll for the most part again has an 
area with pressure sensitive adhesive 2 at the beginning which may form 
the start for another application. Separation of the plastic tape as 
illustrated in FIG. 8 may be facilitated by providing the support layer 1 
with a perforation within the area of pressure sensitive adhesive 2. 
FIG. 9 shows a very simple embodiment of the process according to the 
invention, wherein the extensible plastic tape 10 of the invention is 
wound around a number of articles such as the boxes 12 placed upon one or 
more lines of articles as for instance, the boxes 14. This simple 
embodiment of the process according to the invention might, e.g., find use 
for simple tasks such as, for example, transport of a pallet for a short 
distance with low speed, such as in stores. 
Developing this embodiment as shown in FIG. 10, an extensible plastic tape 
60 is wound around a number of articles such as boxes 62 placed on one or 
more articles such as boxes 64, and similarly, a second line of articles 
such as boxes 64 may be wound with a second strip of extensible plastic 
tape 66. Additional strips of extensible plastic tape 68, 70, 72, 74 may 
serve to wind round additional lines of articles such as boxes 76, 78, 
80,82. 
FIGS. 11a and 11b show a complex embodiment of the process according to the 
invention. Here, an extensible plastic tape 90 may be wound in a 
cross-like pattern around a group of articles, e.g., the boxes 92 arranged 
in a plurality of lines. The pattern ensures equal and counteracting 
forces stabilizing the articles and prevents them from being shifted when 
subjected to vibrational force. This pattern of packaging may be chosen 
for mechanically demanding fields of application, e.g., transport of 
articles by trucks over wide distances with relatively high speed. 
Regarding the arrangement of articles as shown in FIGS. 11a and 11b, the 
extensible plastic tape 50 according to the invention may be affixed to a 
box 92 at point A. The free end of the extensible plastic tape should be 
stretched around a corner of box 92 so that subsequent stretching of the 
extensible plastic tape does not give rise to detachment of the plastic 
tape 90 from box 92, particularly, if the extensible plastic tape adheres 
to the box by virtue of a pressure sensitive adhesive. Then, tape 90 is 
stretched and, in the order indicated, is led around a second box at point 
B, then a third box 92 at point C, a fourth box at point D, the first box 
92 at point A, a fifth box 92 at point E, a sixth box 92 at point F, a 
seventh box 92 at point G, an eighth box 92 at point H, the fifth box 92 
at point E, a ninth box 92 at point J, the fourth box 92 at point D, a 
tenth box 92 at point K, an eleventh box 92 at point L, the third box 92 
at point C, the eighth box 92 at point G, the tenth box 92 at point K, the 
second box 92 at point B, the ninth box 92 at point J, a twelfth box 91 at 
point M, the eighth box 92 at point H, the eleventh 92 at point L, the 
sixth box 92 at point F, the twelfth box 92 at point M, and the first box 
92 at point A. Preferably, the extensible plastic tape is wound with 
tension around the articles situated on a pallet with the tape maintaining 
remainders any of its elastomeric properties. In a modified embodiment, 
the plastic tape according to the invention initially may be wound around 
a slat of the pallet and affixed to subsequently affix the articles in the 
above-described manner. 
The extensible plastic tape of the invention with self-adhesive properties 
is illustrated in more detail by the following examples. 
EXAMPLE 1 
Fixing the Transfer Tape at the End of the Support Layer 
A thin layer of pressure sensitive adhesive not arranged on a support (a 
transfer tape) and having a layer thickness of 50 .mu.m of acrylic 
pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to an article to be bundled and/or 
fixated. One end of the extensible sheet forming the extensible support 
layer is adhered to the adhesive side of the transfer tape. As the support 
layer, an LLDPE sheet having a thickness of 100 .mu.m and a density of 
0.920 may be used. Then, the applied extensible support layer is stretched 
over a corner approximately in the plane of the adherent bond as described 
in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/731,341. Stretching and winding of 
tape is continued until the articles to be bundled and/or fixated are 
secured on a pallet. Then, another section of transfer tape is arranged on 
the support. The stretched film is connected to this section of tape 
followed by cutting the plastic tape. 
EXAMPLE 2 
Fixing the Extensible Plastic Tape with a Double-Side Adhesive Strip 
A double-side adhesive tape with a polyester sheet of 50 .mu.m in thickness 
between the pressure sensitive adhesives is used. The pressure sensitive 
adhesive is a block copolymer-rubber resin pressure sensitive adhesive (3M 
Company). The double-side adhesive tape is applied to the article to be 
packaged as described in example 1. The double-side adhesive tape is 
arranged between the extensible plastic tape and the article to be 
fixated. 
EXAMPLE 3 
Fixing the Extensible Plastic Tare With a Single Side Adhesive Strip 
A commercially available adhesive tape for parcels (3M Company) having a 
thickness of 40 .mu.m and comprising, a BOPP sheet and a block copolymer 
resin pressure sensitive adhesive is used to affix the ends of the 
stretched plastic tape. The one end of the extensible tape is held on the 
surface of the article to be packaged and secured by applying a section of 
parcel adhesive tape. The parcel adhesive tape is situated partly on the 
stretched tape and partly on the article to be packaged. If the stretched 
plastic tape is secured on the article in non-stretched state, it may be 
stretched subsequent to adherent fixing and led around the article to be 
fixated and bundled as described in the previous examples. Once the 
articles are wound round, the extensible tape is separated from the roll 
and the free end thus formed then is affixed to the article to be bundled 
and fixated by another section of parcel adhesive tape. 
EXAMPLE 4 
Fixing the Ends of the Extensible Tape With Hot Melt Adhesive 
The hot melt adhesive is applied to the articles to be bundled and/or 
fixated by means of a hot melt adhesive gun in an amount leaving a spot of 
about 2 cm in diameter, with the extensible plastic tape covering the 
spot. As soon as the connection is sufficiently stable, the extensible 
tape is stretched and wound around the articles to be bundled and/or 
fixated. The stretched extensible plastic tape is fixed at a second 
position with hot melt adhesive followed by separating the roll behind the 
second point of adherent fixing. 
EXAMPLE 5 
Fixing the Plastic Tape With a Two-Component Adhesive 
The extensible plastic tape is affixed to the articles to be bundled and/or 
fixated using a two-component adhesive. The two-component adhesive is 
applied to one of the articles to be bundled or fixated using an 
appropriate applicator. The extensible plastic tape is fixed as described 
in the preceding example. 
EXAMPLE 6 
Fixing the Extensible Tare With Clamps 
One end of the extensible plastic tape is affixed to the pallet on which 
the articles to be fixated are arranged by using a stapler. Then, the 
extensible tape is stretched and laid around the articles to be fixated as 
described in the preceding examples, and then is clamped or stapled again 
at a second point. Thereafter, the tape is separated from the roll. 
EXAMPLE 7 
In order to effect bundling and/or fixing of articles without affixing the 
ends of the extensible tape to one of the articles, a certain length of 
extensible plastic tape is wound from the roll, led around the articles to 
be bundled or fixated with stretching, followed by connecting the loose 
ends using knots. Care should be taken that the terminal areas of the 
stretched tape each have a non-stretched area so that the knot formed 
cannot come loose by further stretching of the tape. 
EXAMPLE 8 
Initially, a certain length of extensible tape is laid around the articles 
to be bundled and/or fixated as described in example 7. The free ends are 
connected to each other using staples or clamps. Instead of using clamps, 
the free ends also may be sealed or glued together. 
EXAMPLE 9 
Initially, a certain length of extensible tape is wound around the articles 
to be bundled and/or fixated as described in the preceding examples. The 
free ends are put into provided gaps which form on bundling the articles, 
and are clamped or stapled. 
EXAMPLE 10 
One end of the extensible tape is tied with a knot around the edge of a 
slat of a package pallet. Thereafter, the tape is stretched and wound 
round the articles to be bundled and/or fixated. Similarly, the free end 
of the stretched tape may be affixed to a pallet slat by knotting tightly. 
EXAMPLE 11 
A tape made of LLDPE as described in example 1 is provided on one side with 
a usual layer of release agent from which the pressure sensitive adhesive 
can be removed easily. At the opposite side of this support layer, to 
receive the pressure sensitive adhesive, a corona treatment in ionizing 
atmosphere is carried out over the total area or in areas serving to 
receive pressure sensitive adhesive. Perpendicular to its longitudinal 
direction, the tape is cut into strips of 13 cm. The tape width is 2.5 cm. 
A square piece of 2.5 cm.times.2.5 cm of an adherent transfer tape is 
fixed onto the corona-treated surface of the support layer in the vicinity 
of each end of the strips. 
Then, the strips with adhesive are arranged over one another so that in 
vertical direction, the adherent areas are arranged over one another, with 
the tacky areas of one strip adhering to the surface of the next strip, 
the surface of which being provided with pressure sensitive adhesive 
releasing properties.