Stretch film and method of fabrication therefor

1. An apparatus for rolling a stretch film web comprising:

a plurality of drums for stretching the stretch film web, the drums being configured to rotate with different surface speeds to stretch the web;

a first roller positioned downstream from the plurality of drums, the first roller having a grooved surface for engaging the stretch film web, the grooved surface comprising a plurality of grooves with each groove being configured to form a respective plurality of continuous wrinkles in the stretch film web between edges of the groove, the wrinkles being oriented generally longitudinally with respect to the stretch film web;

a second roller for winding the wrinkled stretch film so as to trap air in the rolled film; and

an assembly for rotatably driving the second roller.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the wrinkles are distributed generally evenly across the width of the stretch film web.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the grooves is configured to independently form the respective plurality of continuous wrinkles.

4. A method for producing a roll of stretch film comprising the steps of:

stretching a stretch film web by passing the stretch film web through a plurality of drums rotating with different surface speeds;

forming wrinkles in the stretch film web by passing the stretch film web over a first roller positioned downstream of the plurality of drums, the first roller having a grooved surface comprising a plurality of grooves with each groove being configured to form a plurality of continuous wrinkles in the stretch film web between edges of the groove, the wrinkles being oriented generally longitudinally with respect to the stretch film web; and

winding the stretch film web in a wrinkled state around a second roller so as to trap air within the rolled film.

5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the wrinkles are distributed generally evenly across the width of the stretch film web.

6. A method according to claim 4 , wherein each of the grooves is configured to independently form the respective plurality of continuous wrinkles.

7. An apparatus for rolling a stretch film web comprising:

a plurality of drums for stretching the stretch film web, the drums being configured to rotate with different surface speeds to stretch the web;

a grooved surface for engaging the stretch film web downstream of the plurality of drums, the grooved surface comprising a plurality of grooves with each groove being configured to form a plurality of continuous wrinkles in the stretch film web between edges of the groove, the wrinkles being oriented generally longitudinally with respect to the stretch film web;

a roller for winding the wrinkled stretch film so as to trap air in the rolled film; and

an assembly for rotatably driving the roller.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein each of the grooves is parallel to the machine direction of the stretch film web.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein each of the grooves is configured to independently form the respective plurality of continuous wrinkles.

10. A method for producing a roll of stretch film comprising the steps of:

stretching a stretch film web by passing the stretch film web through a plurality of drums rotating with different surface speeds;

forming wrinkles in the stretch film web by passing the stretch film web over a grooved surface positioned downstream of the plurality of drums, the grooved surface comprising a plurality of grooves with each groove being configured to form a plurality of continuous wrinkles in the stretch film web between edges of the groove, the wrinkles being oriented generally longitudinally with respect to the stretch film web; and

winding the stretch film web in a wrinkled state around a roller so as to trap air within the roll of stretch film.

11. A method according to claim 10 , wherein each of the grooves is parallel to the machine direction of the stretch film web.

12. A method according to claim 10 , wherein each of the grooves is configured to independently form the respective plurality of continuous wrinkles.

13. A roll of stretch film, the stretch film being rolled in a wrinkled state so as to trap air within the roll, the wrinkled stretch film comprising wrinkles formed therein, the wrinkles being oriented generally longitudinally with respect to the stretch film web, the wrinkles being formed by a grooved surface of a roller downstream of a plurality of drums that rotate with different surface speeds to stretch the web, the grooved surface comprising a plurality of grooves with each groove being configured to form a plurality of continuous wrinkles in the stretch film web between edges of the groove.

14. A roll of stretch film according to claim 13 , wherein each of the grooves is configured to independently form the respective plurality of continuous wrinkles.

15. A roll of stretch film, the stretch film being wound against a grooved surface downstream of a plurality of drums that rotate with different speeds to stretch the stretch film web, the grooved surface comprising a plurality of grooves with each groove being configured to form a plurality of continuous wrinkles in the stretch film between edges of the groove, the wrinkles being oriented generally longitudinally with respect to the stretch film web, each wrinkle enabling the introduction of air into the roll of stretch film.

16. A roll of stretch film according to claim 15 , wherein the grooved surface is a roller surface.

17. A roll of stretch film according to claim 15 , wherein each of the grooves is configured to independently form the respective plurality of continuous wrinkles.

18. An apparatus for rolling a stretch film web comprising:

a plurality of drums for stretching the stretch film web, the drums being configured to rotate with different surface speeds to stretch the web;

a first roller positioned downstream from the plurality of drums, the first roller having a grooved surface for engaging the stretch film web;

a second roller for winding the stretch film web against the first roller, the grooved surface of the first roller comprising a plurality of grooves with each groove being configured to form a plurality of continuous wrinkles in the stretch film web between edges of the groove, the wrinkles being oriented generally longitudinally with respect to the stretch film web, each wrinkle enabling the introduction of air into the wound stretch film web; and

an assembly for rotatably driving the second roller.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein each of the grooves is configured to independently form the respective plurality of continuous wrinkles.

20. A method for producing a roll of stretch film comprising the steps of:

stretching a stretch film web by passing the stretch film web through a plurality of drums rotating with different surface speeds;

forming wrinkles in the stretch film web by passing the stretch film web over a first roller positioned downstream of the plurality of drums; and

winding the stretch film web around a second roller against the first roller, the first roller having a grooved surface comprising a plurality of grooves with each groove being configured to form a plurality of continuous wrinkles in the stretch film web between edges of the groove, the wrinkles being oriented generally longitudinally with respect to the stretch film web, each wrinkle enabling the introduction of air into the wound stretch film web.

21. A method according to claim 20 , wherein the wrinkles are formed by the grooved surface.

22. A method according to claim 20 , wherein each of the grooves is configured to independently form the respective plurality of continuous wrinkles.

23. An apparatus for rolling a stretch film web comprising:

a plurality of drums for stretching the stretch film web, the drums being configured to rotate with different surface speeds to stretch the web;

a grooved surface for engaging the stretch film web downstream of the plurality of drums;

a roller for winding the stretch film web against the grooved surface, the grooved surface comprising a plurality of grooves with each groove being configured to form a plurality of continuous wrinkles in the stretch film web between edges of the groove, the wrinkles being oriented generally longitudinally with respect to the stretch film web, each wrinkle enabling the introduction of air into the wound stretch film web; and

an assembly for rotatably driving the roller.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein each of the grooves is parallel to the machine direction of the stretch film web.

25. An apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein each of the grooves is configured to independently form the respective plurality of continuous wrinkles.

26. A method for producing a roll of stretch film comprising the steps of:

stretching a stretch film web by passing the stretch film web through a plurality of drums rotating with different surface speeds;

forming wrinkles in the stretch film web by passing the stretch film web over a grooved surface positioned downstream of the plurality of drums; and

winding the stretch film web around a roller against the grooved surface, the grooved surface comprising a plurality of grooves with each groove being configured to form a plurality of continuous wrinkles in the stretch film between edges of the groove, the wrinkles being oriented generally longitudinally with respect to the stretch film web, each wrinkle enabling the introduction of air into the wound stretch film web.

27. A method according to claim 26 , wherein each of the grooves is parallel to the machine direction of the stretch film web.

28. A method according to claim 26 , wherein the wrinkles are formed by the grooved surface.

29. A method according to claim 26 , wherein each of the grooves is configured to independently form the respective plurality of continuous wrinkles.