By Heating Patents (Class 53/442)
  • Publication number: 20140053509
    Abstract: The present subject matter provides a shrink film free of silicon-containing material, fluorine-containing material, and solvent-formed seams. The shrink film utilizes a water soluble layer covering an adhesive layer. The water soluble layer is in dry form and non-tacky, allowing processing of the shrink film subsequent to adhesive application to the shrink film. When the water soluble layer is dissolved, the adhesive layer is exposed and is capable of forming a permanent bond. The adhesive can be used to form a seam in the film and/or can be used to form a bond between the film and a substrate. The water soluble layer facilitates removal of an optional release liner from the adhesive. A substrate with the shrink film attached thereto and a related method of attaching a heat shrinkable film to a substrate are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: AVERY DENNISON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin O. HENDERSON, Hoang T. PHAM
  • Publication number: 20140041341
    Abstract: An apparatus for heat shrinking a film wrapping an object includes a housing having a heat treatment chamber, a transport device for supporting and moving the object through the heat treatment chamber. Steam, supplied from at least one supply is led to at least a first and a second fluid outlet device and directed at the transported object using one or more outlets. The fluid outlet devices are disposed on opposite sides of the transport device. According to the invention the apparatus and method further include generating a downward directed fluid flow in an area extending between the fluid outlet devices having a lower temperature than the steam supplied from the outlets. This results in improved sleeving results and higher efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: FUJI SEAL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Ernst Christiaan Koolhaas, Martinus Hubertus Maria Van Der Linden
  • Publication number: 20130283735
    Abstract: Apparatus and a process for dividing heat-shrinkable plastic film into different temperature regions within a shrink wrap oven including a movable platform; a cylindrical tube immovably mounted within the oven in the direction of movement of the platform and including a platform for supporting a portion of the heat-shrinkable plastic film and a slit running the length of said cylindrical tube; a package covered with heat shrinkable plastic film and including that portion of the heat-shrinkable plastic film resting on the platform adjacent the cylindrical tube; an electric fan mounted at the opposite end of the cylindrical tube containing the platform and sucking ambient air through the cylindrical tube to cool that portion of the heat-shrinkable plastic film as the heat-shrinkable plastic film is tightly shrunk around the package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Timothy M. Copp, G. Taylor Richey
  • Publication number: 20130276409
    Abstract: The objective of the invention is to provide an alternative way of wrapping a product with cardboard at faster speed and maintain stacking strength. This accomplished by bending two strips of cardboard into the shape of a U channel where the sides of the U form an angle smaller than 90 degrees. The sides of the U channel cardboard will be open by a guide that will allow each U channel cardboard piece to slide around each end of the product without requiring glue to hold the U Channel in position. By maintaining an angle of less than 90 degrees the U channel cardboard acts like a spring clamp around the product and maintains its position on the conveyor belt while the product is film wrapped and the film is heat shrunk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: Alain Cerf
  • Publication number: 20130270136
    Abstract: A method of packaging a product includes heating a film of plastic material to a forming temperature until it is thermoformable. At least one of the heated film and at least one product to be packaged are moved in relation to each other until the at least one product deforms the heated film and forms at least one pocket in the heated film that at least partially encapsulates the at least one product. The deformed film with the at least one product at least partially encapsulated in the at least one pocket is then cured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventor: Melvin A. Pendergraph
  • Patent number: 8549823
    Abstract: Methods and machines are provided for forming a five-sided carton of packages of smoking articles. A piece of film material is applied to a plurality of packages of smoking articles such that five sides of the plurality of packages are at least partially covered by the film material, but the sixth side remains uncovered. The film material is applied such that the group of packages is sufficiently tightly bound so that none of the packages may slip free from the carton. The sixth side of the plurality of packages in the carton remains exposed so that tax stamps may be easily applied. The film of material may be applied so that a gap is formed relative to the sixth side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Copmany
    Inventors: Jerry Wayne Pipes, Mark Shane Hatcher, Wesley Steven Jones
  • Patent number: 8453421
    Abstract: The method for packaging together a plurality of record rolls of cover tape according to the present invention comprises wrapping a stack obtained by roughly coaxially stacking said record rolls in a heat-shrink film; and heat-shrinking said heat-shrink film, so that a pressure of at least 0.8 mN/mm2 and at most 1.2 mN/mm2 is applied between the record rolls. This method will not deform the rolled state after packaging, while suppressing the occurring of roll collapse when exposed to a high-temperature environment or a low-temperature environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Denki Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisatsugu Tokunaga, Yusuke Tanazawa
  • Patent number: 8424272
    Abstract: The objective of this invention is to provide a handle for carrying an article or a bundle of bottles that is more resistant to tearing and delaminating and has the ability to carry heavy loads. This is accomplished by placing a strip on the inside of the wrapping material and wrapping an article, so that the strip that forms the handle is enclosed within the wrapping material. By placing the handle inside the wrapping material so that the strip overlaps when the wrapping material covers the article, the handle is capable of carrying heavy loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Inventor: Alain Cerf
  • Patent number: 8424273
    Abstract: Sealable, thermoformable, heat-shrinkable multi-layer film having a symmetrical construction around a two-ply inner layer, and having a heat shrinkability in machine direction and in cross direction of in each case at least 20% at 93° C., the heat-shrinkability being substantially unaffected by thermoforming, and use thereof with specially equipped packaging machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: CFS Kempten GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Bernig, Phillip Hartmann, Bernard Dujardin
  • Publication number: 20130086873
    Abstract: A heat shrink apparatus for heat shrinking a shrink film to a bladder. The heat shrink apparatus may include a support structure, a bladder support system, and a heat chamber. The bladder support system for supporting the bladder thereon may have two spaced apart parallel rows of a plurality of resilient members pivotally and/or resiliently attached to the support structure. The heat chamber may be hollow with opposing end openings and may have one or more heating elements therein. The heat chamber may translate over the shrink film and the bladder along the support structure between the two spaced apart parallel rows, shrinking the shrink film to the bladder. As the heat chamber translates, it may contact ends of the resilient members, thereby pivoting or deflecting the resilient members from a first position to a second position such that the heat chamber can pass between the two parallel rows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney Eugene Bahr, Ryan Craig Harris
  • Patent number: 8402723
    Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a vacuum skin package where the lower support member is formed in a suitably selected shape which process comprises feeding a flat lower web (3) of thermoplastic material with the product (6) to be packaged loaded thereon and an upper thermoplastic web (27), to a vacuum chamber (8) for skin packaging that comprises an upper element (9) comprising a heated upper concavity (11) and a lower element (10) comprising a female vacuum forming mould (16) suitably shaped to match the desired shape for the support member of the end package, closing the vacuum chamber (8) and drawing the upper web (27) toward the upper concavity (11) by differential pressure; evacuating air or gases from the space between the lower web (3) and the upper web (27), in the closed vacuum chamber (8), while maintaining the vacuum from above the upper web and from below the lower supporting web; and reintroducing air from above the upper film, thus moving the heated upper web (27) against the product (6) and the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrea Granili
  • Publication number: 20130000256
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a shrink tunnel for use in a production system for the production of packaging units from packaging materials filled with a product and having shrink film shrunk thereon, the shrink tunnel comprising a tunnel zone, heating means for application of heat to shrink the shrink film onto packaging units moved through the tunnel zone, the tunnel zone being maintained at a tunnel temperature equal to a target operating temperature, wherein the tunnel has an operating mode and a standby mode, wherein heat output during the standby mode is less than heat output during the operating mode, and wherein the standby mode is triggered by at least one of a time control and a signal control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: KHS GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Schilling
  • Patent number: 8276347
    Abstract: A transportable container for flowable bulk goods is formed by disposing an outer wrap around a bottom support and a portion of a vertically spaced slip frame former. One of the slip frame former and the bottom support moves vertically relative to other in response to the fill level of the bulk goods. As bulk goods are added to the transportable container, the position of the slip frame former is radially adjusted to modify the shape of the transportable container. As the fill level increases in the transportable container, previously disposed portions of outer wrap are disengaged from the slip frame former to squeeze the filled portions of the transportable container. Additional portions of outer wrap are disposed around a portion of the slip frame former to maintain the transportable container for receiving bulk goods as the previously disposed portions of outer wrap are disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Kellogg Company
    Inventors: Dave Ours, Sharon Juntunen
  • Publication number: 20120240525
    Abstract: A shrink band application machine includes a conveyor system for packaging to apply a heat shrinkable band that can provide evidence of tampering. The machine allows the placement of shrink bands on randomly spaced and randomly shaped containers in the same run. In one embodiment, the invention utilizes single wound film for form the shrink band and avoids the need stock and setup the system for different shapes or sizes of shrink bands to accommodate different sizes and shapes of containers. Some embodiments of the invention can utilize single wound film and create a shrink film band buy fusing or sealing together two webs of single wound film around the container. This eliminates the need to change from one shrink tube size to another when changing the size of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Wayne C. Summerford
  • Patent number: 8266875
    Abstract: A hot water shrink tunnel includes a heat chamber that has no flue or vent into the heat chamber, an inlet opening and spaced therefrom an outlet opening. Each opening is closed by an end closing device, such as a curtain. A conveyor carries a product through the heat chamber from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. A duct is mounted adjacent each end opening, where the duct includes a shroud of a size and design to capture hot water vapor that issues from the heat chamber when a product passes through the end closing device of the non-flued/unvented tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Christopher Hugh Caudwell
  • Patent number: 8256192
    Abstract: This invention is directed to film wrapped and heat shrunk bundles of gabled containers to form bundles that can be stacked on pallets and not be constrained by the gables in determining the size of the bundles. This is accomplished by nesting the gable containers on a conveyor on their side. The nesting of the gable containers on their side provides a stable structure that can be moved on a conveyor to be film wrapped. After film wrapping, the containers are conveyed to a heat shrink tunnel to form bundles of gable containers that can be placed on a pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Inventor: Alain Cerf
  • Patent number: 8247047
    Abstract: A deep drawn container with a top film made of a first heat shrinkable multilayer film, and a bottom film made of a second heat shrinkable multilayer film. The deep drawn container having a drawing ratio (D1) of the top film and a drawing ratio (D2) of the bottom film satisfying conditions: D1=1.1 to 4.0; D2=1.5 to 5.0; and (D2/D1)=1.05 to 4.55. A hot-water shrinkability of the first heat shrinkable multilayer film in a longitudinal direction (SM1) and in a transverse direction (ST1), and a hot-water shrinkability of the second heat shrinkable multilayer film in a longitudinal direction (SM2) and in a transverse direction (ST2) satisfy conditions: SM1=5 to 40%; ST1=5 to 40%; SM2=2 to 25%; ST2=2 to 25%; (SM1/SM2)=1.2 to 12; and (ST1/ST2)=1.2 to 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Kureha Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ishii, Seiichi Ibe
  • Patent number: 8205418
    Abstract: A device (10) for thermally treating packaged goods by means of a hot air or gas stream (28), particularly for the shrink treatment of film-wrapped goods, such as packs or the like, is disclosed. The device includes a hot gas generator (12) having a gas burner (14) whose combustion products (16) pass into a mixing device (18) via at least one supply opening (38). The mixing device (18) is formed by a channel portion (20) arranged between a conduit portion (22) formed as an inflow area (23) and an outflow area (25), wherein the mixing device (18) comprises at least one opening (32) for supplying the combustion products (16) and for mixing them with the gas stream (26) of the channel portion (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Christian Napravnik
  • Patent number: 8196376
    Abstract: A heat shrinking apparatus for a shrink film, which can uniformly heat shrink a shrink film covering a part of a whole of an article and can prevent adherence of water droplets on the surface of the article and the shrink film. The heat shrinking apparatus may include a heat treatment chamber installed so as to surround a transfer conveyor for transferring a bottle on which cylindrical label has been fitted, and heating means that heats the cylindrical label fitted on the bottle passing through the heat treatment chamber. The heat treatment chamber may include an external tunnel and an internal tunnel installed in a preheating zone, and an external tunnel and an internal tunnel installed in a main heating zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Seal International, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Uetsuki, Koji Arima
  • Patent number: 8191341
    Abstract: A transportable container for flowable bulk goods is formed by vertically spacing a slip frame former from a bottom support. An outer wrap is disposed around the bottom support and a portion of at least one former wall to initially form the transportable container prior to the addition of the bulk goods into the transportable container. At least one of the slip frame former and the bottom support moves vertically relative to other in response to the fill level of the bulk goods. As the fill level increases in the transportable container, previously disposed portions of outer wrap are disengaged from the slip frame former to squeeze the filled portions of the transportable container and lock together the bulk goods disposed in the transportable container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Kellogg Company
    Inventors: Dave Ours, Sharon Juntunen
  • Patent number: 8181815
    Abstract: A shrink-film seal (101, 201, 301, 401) is described having at least one stamped portion (102, 402, 602, 702) which is arranged along the circumference of a container (203, 303) which is to be sealed. The regions which are defined by the stamping lines are designed in such a way that at least one contiguous window is produced by a shrinking process. This achieves a situation where the opening of the sealed container can be immediately detected simply, without aids or expert knowledge and therefore a considerable increase in the product security is ensured. A method is also described for sealing containers with a shrink-film seal (101, 201, 301, 401).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Schreiner Group GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ulrich Moosheimer, Florian Carl
  • Publication number: 20120110955
    Abstract: The method of supplying non-twisted cable from a non-rotating container comprising supplying a cable to a first spool in a first position by supplying the cable to the first spool in a direction generally parallel to the centerline of the first spool and wrapping the cable around the first spool so that one twist will be applied to the cable with every circumferential wrap, transferring the first spool to a second position without cutting the cable, transferring a second spool to the first position, supplying the cable to a the second spool in the first position by supplying the cable to the second spool in a direction generally parallel to the centerline of the second spool and wrapping the cable around the second spool so that one twist will be applied to the cable with every circumferential wrap, transferring the first spool to a third position and transferring the second spool to the second position, cutting the cable between the second and the third positions, delivering the cable from the third position
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Christopher David Rekieta, Michael Leroy Spence, Benton F. Baugh
  • Patent number: 8171704
    Abstract: A method and device for finishing packets having respective overwrappings of heat-shrink material, whereby the overwrappings are sealed about the respective packets and then heated to shrink and adapt to the configuration of the packets; after being heated, the overwrappings are cooled to set and so reduce the risk of damage to the overwrappings at subsequent processing stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: G. D. Societa' per Azioni
    Inventors: Silvano Boriani, Stefano Negrini
  • Patent number: 8136331
    Abstract: This invention provides a bottle that allows for easy and efficient application of shrink sleeves. The ease of application is partly a result of the invention's wall thickness along its body-forming portion. The body-forming portion of the invention has thick walls and thus exhibits negligible expansion during a hot-filling process. This permits a shrink sleeve to be placed onto the body-forming portion of the resistant bottle prior to filling. If the resistant bottle is hot-filled, the sleeve shrinks as a result of radiant heat emanating outwardly from the high temperature product, without the aid of an external heat source, such as a heat tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Protica, Inc.
    Inventor: James F. Duffy
  • Publication number: 20120058046
    Abstract: Provided is a packaged hydrogen-generating agent, the hydrogen-generating reaction of which is highly stable and repeatable, and which preferably is resistant to influence from changes in the environmental temperature. Also provided are a method for manufacturing said package, and a hydrogen generation method. The packaged hydrogen-generating agent is provided with: a hydrogen-generating agent (1); a covering material (2) which encloses the hydrogen-generating agent (1) and allows deformation; and a water-absorbing body (3), part of which is in contact with the hydrogen-generating agent (1). The covering material (2) preferably covers at least the area around the contact part (3a) where the water-absorbing body (3) and the hydrogen-generating agent (1) are in contact, so as to create a firm attachment at the contact part (3a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: AQUAFAIRY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu Sugimoto, Masaya Yano
  • Patent number: 8129006
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a multilayer heat shrinkable film characterized by a combination of desirable properties, such as high shrinkage, good optical properties, excellent sealability and stack sealability. The invention further is directed to a method of producing said film. The invention is further directed to the use of said film or bags and pouches made therefrom for packaging goods as for example food products. The invention also refers to tubes made with the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Flexopack S.A.
    Inventor: Dimitrios Ginossatis
  • Patent number: 8096096
    Abstract: In a packaging machine, typically a cellophaner for overwrapping packets of cigarettes, each of the packets is enveloped by a wrapping unit in a heat shrinkable wrapper presenting at least two opposite faces disposed parallel one with another. The machine also comprises a unit by which heat is applied to the wrappers, equipped with a pair of belt conveyors that present two branches, facing one another and set in motion in such a way as to transport the packets by gripping the two opposite faces of each wrapper, and at least one heating head associated with each transport branch; the heating heads are faced with a leaf of lamellar graphite bonded to the head on one side and offered in direct contact on the other to the respective branch of the corresponding belt conveyor, so as to minimize friction between the belt and the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: G.D. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mario Spatafora, Salvatore Carboni
  • Publication number: 20110284558
    Abstract: This invention is to replace the need for a corrugated carton by wrapping an article with a heat shrinkable bubble wrap film. Heat shrinking the bubble wrap will allow the bubble wrap to shrink sufficiently to conform to an article such as a group of containers, e.g. bottles. Because of the inability of the bubble wrap film to tightly shrink around the containers, the containers can move and bump each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Alain Cerf
  • Patent number: 8051630
    Abstract: A device is provided for shrinking shrinkable packages by heating by utilizing a liquid and/or gaseous heating medium, which reduces the amount of energy required. The novel device and method achieves its advantages by recovering heat by a recirculation apparatus (8, 9) for recovering heating medium which has evaporated from the liquid heating medium. The method relates to an operational process utilizing such a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Multivac Sepp Haggenmueller GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Elmar Eugen Ehrmann
  • Patent number: 8051629
    Abstract: A heat tunnel for applying heated air to articles enclosed in shrink-wrap film includes at least one air supply unit; a conveyor; and a heat shroud spaced from the conveyor. The air supply unit includes a source of heated air, a fan, a heated air plenum, air ducts, and a return air plenum. Multiple air supply units can be provided along the conveyor to create a heat tunnel of desired length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Douglas Machine Inc.
    Inventors: Irvan Leo Pazdernik, Bruce Malcolm Peterson, Paul Howard Wagner, Bradley Jon VanderTuin, Richard Jerome Schoeneck
  • Publication number: 20110215021
    Abstract: Containers and methods for disposing unused pharmaceutical product are disclosed. Each container (100, 200, 300) may include a container body (104, 204, 304) with an internal chamber (116, 216, 316) for storing pharmaceutical product, along with a cover (124, 224, 324) for selectively limiting access to the chamber (116, 216, 316). An encapsulation component (128, 228, 328) may be selectively disposable within the chamber (116, 216, 316), and may be operable to encapsulate the pharmaceutical product within the container (100, 200, 300). For instance, the encapsulation component (128, 228, 328) may melt and/or flow into contact with the pharmaceutical product and thereafter solidify to encapsulate the pharmaceutical product. The encapsulation component (128, 228, 328) may melt and thereafter solidify between the cover (124, 224, 324) and shell (104, 204, 304) to limit removal of the cover (124, 224, 324) from the shell (104, 204, 304).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: MALLINCKRODT INC.
    Inventor: Robert J. Ziemba
  • Publication number: 20110132800
    Abstract: This invention is directed to film wrapped and heat shrunk bundles of gabled containers to form bundles that can be stacked on pallets and not be constrained by the gables in determining the size of the bundles. This is accomplished by nesting the gable containers on a conveyor on their side. The nesting of the gable containers on their side provides a stable structure that can be moved on a conveyor to be film wrapped. After film wrapping, the containers are conveyed to a heat shrink tunnel to form bundles of gable containers that can be placed on a pallet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventor: Alain Cerf
  • Patent number: 7946100
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shrinking process for producing solid, transportable and printable containers by wrapping the articles to be packaged with a film in such a manner as to produce an overlapping section of the film ends on the base area, heating by heat exchange or convection in order to seal the free ends in the area of overlap, and finally heating in a shrinking oven, the container so produced being stabilized by the shrinking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Heinrich Justen, Markus Dumon, Andre Miszewski, Kurt Jansen
  • Publication number: 20110099949
    Abstract: A heat-shrinkable holder is disclosed for securing a plurality of articles. The holder may include a first sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material, and a second sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material and joined to the first sheet. The first sheet and the second sheet each have a substantially equal pre-shrinking length, and are joined so as to create at least two openings therebetween. Each of the openings is sized larger than one of the articles. The first and second sheets are heat-shrinkable to an extent to shrink the openings sufficiently to secure two of the articles together into a unit. Various modifications and additions are possible, including use of more than three sheets, providing for the reading of printed indicia on the articles or holder, providing a handle. Numerous orientations and collections of articles are possible. Related packages including a holder and articles are also disclosed, as well as related methods of manufacture of the holder and package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hartness, William R. Hartness, III, Mark W. Davidson, Ernst Van Wickeren
  • Publication number: 20110088354
    Abstract: Systems and processes for packaging a product. In one implementation a process involves transporting the product in a first direction, printing information on a film by use of a first printer prior to the film being applied to the product, the film having a width that is less than a width of the product and shrinkable only in a longitudinal direction. In one implementation the film is then applied to the product to produce at least a partial film sleeve around at least a first portion of the product as the product is advanced in the first direction. In one implementation heat is then conveyed to at least a section of the film applied to the product to cause the film to shrink in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicants: ULMA PACKAGING TECHNOLOGICAL CENTER, S.COOP., TERAOKA SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Aritz Murgia Mendizabal, Ion Sanchez Mugica, Ryota Iida, Takashi Katayama
  • Patent number: 7921624
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a transportable container for bulk goods. A bag is placed through a former opening of a slip frame former which surrounds a portion of the bag. The bag receives the bulk goods from a feed source. A stretch wrap is disposed radially about a bottom support and a portion of the slip frame former to initially form the transportable container. At least one of the slip frame former and the bottom support moves relative to other in response to the fill level of the bulk goods in the bag. During filling, the slip frame former is maintained at a position surrounding the fill level of the bulk goods in the bag. As the fill level increases in the bag, previously disposed portions of stretch wrap are disengaged from the slip frame former to squeeze the filled portions of the bag and lock together the bulk goods as additional portions of stretch wrap are disposed around the slip frame former.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Kellogg Company
    Inventors: Dave Ours, Sharon Juntunen
  • Patent number: 7908825
    Abstract: Cigarette packs of the hinge-lid-box type with an outer wrapping of shrinkable film are transported through a shrinkage station (22) in two pack rows (26, 27), in each case comprising individual packs. In the region of said shrinkage station, shrinkage elements, namely heating plates (24, 25; 45, 46), subject the upper side and/or lower side of the packs (10), during a standstill phase of the same, to (contact) heat. The packs (10) are transported such that the lower side and the upper side are simultaneously or consecutively exposed for contact by the heating plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & CO. KG)
    Inventors: Martin Stiller, Burkard Roesler, Jens Schmidt, Jürgen Schwecke
  • Publication number: 20110056175
    Abstract: A heat-shrinkable holder for securing articles, a package securing such articles using heat-shrinkable sheets, a shrinkable sleeve, and a method and device for securing such articles using heat-shrinkable sheets and sleeves are disclosed. The holder is constructed so that it is separable when desired, and may comprise the labeling or the like for an article to be packaged. Releasable fasteners such as adhesives, heat seals, and/or perforations may be employed on the sheets. If desired, articles may be individually sleeved with a heat shrinkable film blank portion, which may function as labeling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: HARTNESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Harness, Mark W. Davidson, John M. Loughlin
  • Patent number: 7891157
    Abstract: A machine and method for shrink-fitting shrink film onto packaged goods, in particular for packaging packing units, having a conveyor for transporting the packaged goods. In order to reduce the energy consumption and simultaneously to improve the shrinking result, the machine has hood type shrink devices which are moved along at least a part of the path with the packaged goods moved on the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Stefan Elsperger
  • Patent number: 7861490
    Abstract: A heat-shrinkable holder is disclosed for securing a plurality of articles. The holder may include a first sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material, and a second sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material and joined to the first sheet. The first sheet and the second sheet each have a substantially equal pre-shrinking length, and are joined so as to create at least two openings therebetween. Each of the openings is sized larger than one of the articles. The first and second sheets are heat-shrinkable to an extent to shrink the openings sufficiently to secure two of the articles together into a unit. Various modifications and additions are possible, including use of more than three sheets, providing for the reading of printed indicia on the articles or holder, providing a handle. Numerous orientations and collections of articles are possible. Related packages including a holder and articles are also disclosed, as well as related methods of manufacture of the holder and package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hartness, William R. Hartness, III, Mark W. Davidson, Ernst Van Wickeren
  • Publication number: 20100307948
    Abstract: A product package includes a product receiving cavity formed from a first, heat shrinkable film and a second, non-heat shrinkable film sealed to the first, heat shrinkable film. The second film can be provided with indicia which remains intact following completion of the product packaging. In accordance with a method aspect of the invention, the package is produced utilizing a form, fill and seal system. In one embodiment, a soft, deformable refrigerated dough is packaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: David J. Domingues, David A. Kirk, Scott Kackman, Susan Hall
  • Patent number: 7837818
    Abstract: A wrapper for packaging one or more articles, is constituted by a sleeve of heat-shrink plastics material for shrinking onto the article(s) for packaging, said sleeve being made from a film that is folded in half and whose corresponding end zones are united. The wall of the sleeve is embossed at least in part with a predetermined pattern so that said pattern appears in relief on the outside face and/or the inside face of the sleeve and remains after said sleeve has been shrunk onto the article(s) to be packaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Sleever International Company
    Inventor: Eric Fresnel
  • Publication number: 20100281827
    Abstract: The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) relates to methods for providing decorative covers, decorative collars and decorative cover-collar combinations for covering a flower pot. The decorative covers and/or collars are formed from a variety of configurations of heat shrinkable sheet of material placed over all or a portion of a peripheral surface of the flower pot and then heated to shrink the sheet of material into a pressing engagement against the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 7823366
    Abstract: Apparatus selectively processes a substrate using radiant energy. The substrate can consist of any target material having a portion to be processed using the radiant energy and a larger portion to be unprocessed. The apparatus includes a source of radiant energy (preferably a quantum cascade laser) that has a customizable spectrum that can be configured to be specifically absorbed only by the portion to be processed, and a control system for targeting the radiant energy only at the portion to be processed. Specific examples of the use of the apparatus and method are in the technologies of heat-shrinking polyethylene film, fusing toner to paper in a laser printer, heating reaction vessels in DNA testing, and temperature profiling bottle pre-forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Douglas Machine, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Jerome Schoeneck
  • Patent number: 7811084
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a pre-shrink oven and a shrink oven are located at positions where a conveyer belt travels according to a labeling process of bottles. The pre-shrink oven has adjustable steam ejection ducts at two sides thereof. The shrink oven has steam nozzles at two sides. The steam generators are located at the periphery of the shrink oven to generate and deliver steam of different pressures through pipes to the adjustable steam ejection ducts of the pre-shrink oven and the steam nozzles of the shrink oven. When the steam is delivered to the pre-shrink oven heated air passes through apertures of the steam tube to partially preheat and shrink a shrink film without dropping before a final shrinking process is finished. Steam delivered through the steam nozzles can shrink the shrink film securely on bottle bodies of the bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Fu-Chuan Huang
  • Publication number: 20100236196
    Abstract: A heat tunnel for applying heated air to articles enclosed in shrink-wrap film includes at least one air supply unit; a conveyor; and a heat shroud spaced from the conveyor. The air supply unit includes a source of heated air, a fan, a heated air plenum, air ducts, and a return air plenum. Multiple air supply units can be provided along the conveyor to create a heat tunnel of desired length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Irvan Leo Pazdernik, Bruce Malcolm Peterson, Paul Howard Wagner, Bradley Jon VanderTuin, Richard Jerome Schoeneck
  • Publication number: 20100223889
    Abstract: A device (10) for thermally treating packaged goods by means of a hot air or gas stream (28), particularly for the shrink treatment of film-wrapped goods, such as packs or the like, is disclosed. The device includes a hot gas generator (12) having a gas burner (14) whose combustion products (16) pass into a mixing device (18) via at least one supply opening (38). The mixing device (18) is formed by a channel portion (20) arranged between a conduit portion (22) formed as an inflow area (23) and an outflow area (25), wherein the mixing device (18) comprises at least one opening (32) for supplying the combustion products (16) and for mixing them with the gas stream (26) of the channel portion (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Christian Napravnik
  • Patent number: 7752827
    Abstract: A method for applying a heat shrinkable film to a carton for forming a shape of the carton is provided. The carton includes a top panel, a bottom panel, at least one side panel extending between the top panel and the bottom panel, and a movable section that is movable between a first position and a second position. The method includes providing a heat-shrinkable but unshrunken film, wrapping the film in an unheated condition around at least a portion of the carton including at least a portion of the movable section of the carton, and moving the movable section from the first position to the second position to form a shape of the carton by heating the heat-shrinkable film to shrink the heat-shrinkable film into contact with at least a portion of the movable section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Angela E. Learn, Michael D. Ryan
  • Publication number: 20100160953
    Abstract: Introducer sheaths for use with embolic coil devices and methods for making and using the same. An example introducer sheath assembly may include an introducer sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a body portion defined therebetween. The body portion may include two or more bends formed therein. An embolic coil device may be disposed within the introducer sheath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: TRA HUONG NGO, MICHAEL WILLIAMS
  • Patent number: 7703263
    Abstract: A method using heat for shrinking a heat shrink film wrapping placed around a stack of items. The heat shrink film wrapping protrudes on the upper side of the stack of items at least beyond the upper edge of the stack of items to a top sheet film, which is welded to the heat shrink film wrapping. In the method hot gases rising up along the sides of the stack of items are diverted inward, in a direction parallel to the upper side of the stack of items, by a heat diverting and pressing apparatus, which is arranged above the stack of items. The heat diverting and pressing apparatus is for preheating and inwardly folding over the overhang of the heat shrink film wrapping and for preheating the top sheet film in the region of the upper side. The layers of the overhang are joined, by pressing the layers of the heat shrink film onto one another by the heat diverting and pressing apparatus. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: MSK-Verpackungs-Systeme Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventor: Hannen Reiner