Patent ID: 6915620

Claim:
A process for shrink wrapping an article with a polymeric shrink film, comprising: a.) conveying an article covered by a polymeric shrink film into a shrink tunnel assembly comprising: 1. a shrink tunnel having an interior wall defining a chamber, an inlet opening, an outlet opening spaced from said inlet opening, and a heating zone having an entrance side and an exit side spaced from said entrance side, 2. means for heating to an elevated temperature in the heating zone a polymeric shrink film covering an article, 3. first conveyor means located outside said heating zone for conveying to the entrance side of said heating zone an article covered by a polymeric shrink film, and 4. second conveyor means located outside said heating zone for conveying away from the exit side of said heating zone an article covered by polymeric shrink film, b.) heating said article with the hot air in said heating zone so that said film shrinks closer to said article, said article resisting contact with solid surfaces other than the article within said heating zone while in said heating zone, and c.) conveying said shrink-wrapped article on a conveyor means away from said heating zone.