Process of and apparatus for packaging a stack of flat objects

Abstract

To package a stack of flat objects, such as bags provided with handles, the stack having a height exceeding widths of the objects, the stack is wrapped by a section of a web of paper or plastic. The marginal portions of the web section which overlap at one side face of the stack are adhesively bonded to each other to form a tubular wrapper around the stack. End portions of the wrapper, which protrude from the ends of the stack, are folded onto the end faces of the stack so as to form folded corner portions. The folded corner portions are folded onto and adhesively bonded to one side face of the stack. To permit simple packaging, one side portion of each protruding end portion of the tubular wrapper is first folded onto the adjacent open end face of the stack about the longer edge of the end face. The adjacent ends of each protruding end portion of the wrapper are pulled out and flattened into the plane of the folded inside portion so that the opposite side portion of the protruding end portion is folded about an opposite longer edge of the adjacent end face of the stack onto the end face. Folded corner portions, protruding from the stack, are thus formed. The folded corner portions are then folded onto and adhesively bonded to the wrapper on those side faces of the stack which adjoin the initially open side face of the stack.