With Heat Sealing Of Wrapper Patents (Class 53/463)
  • Patent number: 5671590
    Abstract: A casing for a disc cartridge includes first and second halves and a pair of holding means. The first half includes a plate portion, a pair of sidewall sections formed parallel to the parallel sides of the plate portion and a wall section between the sidewall sections. The second half includes a plate portion, a pair of sidewall sections formed parallel to the parallel sides of the plate portion and a wall section between the sidewall sections. Each of the sidewall sections is formed with a protrusion and a groove. The first and second halves are connected together by having the protrusion engaged in the groove. A holding unit is provided in an inner portion of the second half.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takatsugu Funawatari, Masaei Fukaya, Hiroyuki Honma
  • Patent number: 5666788
    Abstract: A method for heat sealing a film with a smooth seam which extends the transverse width of a wrapped package utilizes a mechanism having a cool clamping portion and a hot sealing portion which are sequentially actuated. The clamping portion, with segments upstream and downstream of a sealing position, is activated to firmly hold the film. The sealing portion is located between the upstream and downstream segments of the clamping portion. The heated sealing portion is brought into very brief, instantaneous contact with the film and retracted, leaving the clamping portion in contact with the film for a comparatively long time to allow longitudinal film shrinkage and prevent transverse film shrinkage of the film. Lastly, the clamping portion separates and the next package in a succession of film-enclosed packages is moved downstream of the sealing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Ossid Corporation
    Inventor: Sidney S. Tolson
  • Patent number: 5657616
    Abstract: A roll wrapping machine includes a roll infeed conveyor; a roll wrapping station having a film curtain, sealing bars and a pusher for pushing the roll into the curtain and past the bars; and a roll orienter on the infeed conveyor. The orienter receives each roll fed down the conveyor, spins the roll and releases the roll with the roll tail in a known circumferential location so that the tail of the roll is in the six o'clock position when the roll is received at the wrapping station and is not caught between the plastic curtain film during sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Elsner Engineering Works, Inc.
    Inventor: John J. Schreiber, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5649409
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing flexible containers of the type comprising particulate material located between two flexible web members (16, 17), the apparatus comprising a first feed means suitably in the form of one or more drive roller assemblies (13, 43) for advancing a first flexible web member through the apparatus, a metering means suitably in the form of a metering roller (12) having recesses (84) on its peripheral face to accomodate the particulate material and to deposit the particulate material onto the first flexible web member, second feed means suitably in the form of a roller assembly (13, 43) to pass a second flexible web member over the first flexible web member containing the particulate material, and sealing means suitably comprising a roller assembly (13) having one of the rollers including heated zones (94) or portions along its external surface such that when the first and second web members pass between the rollers the web members are sealed together along areas corresponding to contact
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Thermarite Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Heinz Gujer, Branko Tintor
  • Patent number: 5649411
    Abstract: A stack of photographic sheets is arranged between two rectangular sheets of lighttight wrapping foil. The foil sheets are of a size larger than the stack so that their side margins project laterally exteriorly of the stack in sandwiched relation to form flaps on all sides of the stack. The flaps are initially lighttightly closed, e.g. sealed together, along their peripheral margins. The wrapped stack is lighttightly enclosed within a package having a base and a cover. The base has upstanding side walls arranged in a rectangle large enough to contain the wrapped stack and may include a solid bottom wall. The cover is light-impervious and has margins overlying the top edges of the base side walls in lighttight clamping contact therewith with inner regions of the projecting sheet flaps gripped therebetween to lighttightly close said flaps inwardly of their edges. The initial closure along the flap margins can now be removed to free edges of the flaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
    Inventor: Lieven Dirx
  • Patent number: 5640829
    Abstract: A method for wrapping a wrapper about a floral grouping wherein the wrapper is a sleeve or sheet of material having a cinching tab or strip of bonding material or both and a detaching means such as perforations for detaching a portion of the sleeve or sheet of material. The floral grouping is placed on the sheet of material which is wrapped thereabout, or the floral grouping is disposed in the interior space of the sleeve. The cinching tab is attached near one end of the sheet or sleeve. The cinching tab has a bonding material disposed thereon which, when the cinching tab is pulled tightly about the wrapper, causes the wrapper to be crimped and tightly bound about the stems of the floral grouping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, William F. Straeter
  • Patent number: 5641084
    Abstract: The present invention is a tamper evident container sealing system for sealing a cap to a container. The system includes a shrink band, shrinkable at a shrink temperature, positioned about the cap and container circumferentially, a colorant bonded to the shrink band and an adhesive bonded to the colorant. The adhesive is thermally activatable at the shrink temperature. The adhesive is in contact with the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: The Pillsbury Company
    Inventor: Michael J. Rice
  • Patent number: 5613601
    Abstract: A package for dispensing a substance that imparts a desirable property to a body of water. The dispensing package comprises a water permeable bag of non-woven fabric enclosing a predetermined quantity of particulated product, such as tea or coffee that releases a flavouring substance in steeping liquid. The non-woven fabric has a thermally activated bonding surface permitting to permanently close the bag by peripherally heat-sealing the bag walls to one another. The heat-sealing operation is performed by driving in the wall portions to be joined a multitude of heated projections that rapidly transfer heat to the thermally activated bonding layers in order to quickly effect the seal. The resulting joint area displays a plurality of perforations formed by the heated projections. The invention also extends to a method and apparatus for heat-sealing the dispensing package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Boulanger, Flavio Metta
  • Patent number: 5575135
    Abstract: A process and a machine for supplying paper to a machine for wrapping plastic wrap around workpieces. A glue is applied to the paper at a distance from the wrapping machine sufficient for the glue to dry before it is fed into the wrapping machine. Next, the wrapping machine wraps the paper around a workpiece such that the glue is located between at least two layers of the paper. Then heat sufficient to activate the glue is applied to one of the two layers of the paper. Then heat sufficient to activate the glue is applied to one of the two layers of the paper. The layers of the paper being held in place for a sufficient time to allow the glue to adhere to the layers of paper. The machine having a wrapping machine for wrapping a portion of the web around the workpieces to form a package and a glue application station for applying heat activated glue to an area of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Barbara A. Nordstrom
    Inventor: John E. Nordstrom
  • Patent number: 5566531
    Abstract: A machine and process for wrapping workpieces, typically napkins. The machine having an infeed conveyor from which workpieces are feed to a poly film supply apparatus, via a conveyor assembly, that distributes a predetermined portion of the poly film supply apparatus around the workpieces to form a horizontally disposed U having a first tail and a second tail of poly film wrap. The conveyor assembly has two conveyor belts that are arranged so that the end of the first conveyor belt meets an end of the second conveyor belt. The second conveyor belt is mounted on a pulley system that allows the end of the second conveyor belt to move away from the end of the first conveyor belt after the workpieces have transferred to the second conveyor belt so that a gap between the two belts is presented. A folder folds down the first tail of poly film wrap. A second folder and a sealer bar come up through the gap and fold up the second tail against the first and seal it in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignees: John E. Nordstrom, Barbara A. Nordstrom
    Inventors: John E. Nordstrom, Christopher J. Rusch
  • Patent number: 5467579
    Abstract: A method and device for laterally joining product wrappings, whereby the connection of two overlapping longitudinal portions of a tubular wrapping defined by a sheet of wrapping material wrapped about the product inside a wrapping seat is at least completed as the wrapped product is unloaded from the wrapping seat by a heated counterpusher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: G.D Societa' Per Azioni
    Inventors: Silvano Boriani, Antonio Gamberini
  • Patent number: 5457942
    Abstract: Layers (14, 15) of the envelope (12) of the packed product (11) overlapped accompanied by the interposing of an adhesive (16) form on one envelope side (13) a strip-like closing field (17) and which for the activation of the adhesive (16) is moved along a corresponding elongated, thermal emitter (9), whose width is roughly the same as the width of the closing field (17). As a result the adhesive (16) does not pass laterally out of the lateral boundaries of the overlap and is instead only activated within its lateral edges (18, 19) by liquefication. The packed product (11) is consequently also thermally treated in a careful manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Bielomatik Leuze GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Gianni Mantovani
  • Patent number: 5456059
    Abstract: An improved machine is disclosed for stacking a plurality of flat objects. The improved machine for stacking is suitable for use with a packaging machine such as a shrink wrap packaging machine for packaging the plurality of flat objects with a heat shrinkable film. An input conveyor individually conveys each of the plurality of flat objects to the stacker. The stacker forms a vertical stack of the flat objects from the plurality of flat objects. The stacker may be used in conjunction with a wrapper to form the heat shrinkable film into a film tube with the vertical stack of flat objects disposed therein. An input oven transport transfers the vertical stack of flat objects to a heat shrink oven to form a heat shrink package thereby. The invention is also incorporated into a shrink wrap package having an electrostatic seal enabling an operator to twist the heat shrink package to fracture the electrostatic seal for removing the stack of flat objects therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Automation Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Jean L. Limousin
  • Patent number: 5447014
    Abstract: A cigarette packing machine exit apparatus having a contoured heating surface and a pivoted heater retraction feature. The contoured surface preferably is in the form of diagonally oriented elongated narrow ridges that act as contact surfaces to concentrate heat on the seal of the cigarette packs being conveyed along the surface. The pivoted retraction feature serves to raise and then lower the heater when the packing machine is shut off so that the packs then on the heater surface are raised and are held spatially separated from the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: John M. Adams, Jeffrey M. S. Haskin
  • Patent number: 5425218
    Abstract: A sealed cigarette carton is formed by activating an adhesive pre-applied to a carton blank and then setting the adhesive. Cigarette packaging apparatus and method utilizing packaging stock comprising a pre-applied adhesive forms cigarette cartons that are sealed by heat-activating and then setting the pre-applied adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Philip Morris Management Corp.
    Inventors: John M. Adams, Angel Amendola, Frederick M. Della Crosse, Robert Gallino, Jeffrey M. S. Haskin, David Moir, Xuan M. Pham, Kenneth B. Shepard, Ronald R. Stewart
  • Patent number: 5421139
    Abstract: A method of producing a film wrapped package enables the package to have a bottom seam which is offset from the center-line of the tray and thus lends itself to pre-printing relatively large labels on the bottom of the package without interference from the bottom seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignees: Ossid Corporation, Ibaraki Seiki Machinery Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Sidney S. Tolson
  • Patent number: 5391108
    Abstract: The bundling together of shirred food casing sticks is accomplished by loosely supporting the sticks in a desired stack configuration, drawing a stretch film from below the stack, folding the film over the top of the stack and taping the film to itself, and then pulling the film downwardly to tighten it about the stack and heat sealing across the bottom of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond A. Feldt
  • Patent number: 5382190
    Abstract: A package or "caddie" of fifty (50) shirred tubular sticks of food casing is formed by stacking the sticks in seven rows one on another the lowermost row containing five side-by-side stack, each of the next four rows containing one stick more than the row below and each of the top two rows having one stick less than the row below. This forms a six sided caddie wherein all internal angles as formed by the sides of the stack are 120.degree. and the perimeter of the stack is formed by a continuous unbroken progression of side-by-side sticks. A stretch film disposed transversely about the stack bundles the sticks tightly together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventor: Robert P. Graves
  • Patent number: 5365721
    Abstract: Apparatus (packaging machine) for the packaging of articles of differing size. In packaging technology, it is often necessary to solve the problem of producing packs of differing size on one and the same packaging machine. As a rule, adapting this to the different pack formats requires considerable conversion work. This in turn involves lengthy standstill phases of the packaging machine. To make it easier for the packaging machine to be changed over to different pack formats, packaging members, especially folding members, critical for the packaging process are provided in the form of a plurality of, preferably two sets (40, 41). A particular set of packaging members is in the packaging position (43). A further (part) set is in an exchange position (44) for the exchange of individual or all packaging members for other formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Focke & Co (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventor: Heinz Focke
  • Patent number: 5341623
    Abstract: A form fill packaging and sealing apparatus comprises a film dispenser and a film forming plow which, together with a roller guide, forms the film to be sealed into a tube with the free edges at the side. The object to be packaged is inserted into the film tube. The free edges of the film are longitudinally sealed together at the side of the package by a rotary heat sealer and immediately cooled to approximate impulse sealing. The quality and width of the longitudinal seal can be adjusted by changing the amount that the film is preheated before sealing. A cross seal is made at the front and back of the object to be packaged. The excess gas in the package is pressed out by a presser before the back cross seal is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Weldotron of Delaware, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Siegel
  • Patent number: 5287679
    Abstract: In a machine for wrapping rolls of household paper in plastic film, the standard heat seal roller is modified by fitting an offset device in the form of a bar set forward of the revolving heated sector in relation to the path followed by the packs of rolls and in the direction of rotation of the roller; the bar projects radially from the roller, and impinges on the sheet of film wrapped around each pack of rolls directed into the heat seal station, causing the two overlapping edges to shift one in relation to the other such that the wrapping is slackened marginally before the edges are joined, affording space into which the rolls can expand once beyond the confines of the heat seal station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Wrapmatic S.p.A.
    Inventor: Davide Dall'Omo
  • Patent number: 5282349
    Abstract: A horizontal form fill packaging and sealing apparatus comprises a film dispenser and a film forming plow which, together with a roller guide, forms the film to be sealed into a tube with the free edges at the side. The object to be packaged is inserted into the film tube. The free edges of the film are longitudinally sealed together at the side of the package by a rotary heat sealer and immediately cooled to approximate impulse sealing, and a cross seal is made at the front and back of the object to be packaged. The excess gas in the package is pressed out by a presser before the back cross seal is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Weldotron of Delaware, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Siegel
  • Patent number: 5265399
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and assembly for wrapping paper rolls in a wrapping material (12). The method employs such wrapping material that incorporates a heat-meltable laminate layer (26). According to the method the paper roll (23) is rotated on support rolls (13), the wrapper (12) is guided about the roll (23) so that the laminate layer (26) comes against the roll, the wrapper (12) is adhered to the roll by applying energy onto the wrapper in order to attain the melting of the plastic film laminate, whereby the wrapper (12) adheres to the roll (23), and the roll (23) being rotated is wrapped into at least one turn of the wrapper. According to the invention the wrapper laminate layer is melted from the laminate side to adhere the wrapper to the roll being wrapped, and when necessary, the area and/or energy density of melting energy application onto the wrapper material is varied in the direction of the center axis of the roll in order to achieve a desired pattern of adherence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Valmet Paper Macinery, Incorporated
    Inventors: Tapio Niskanen, Hannu Nieminen
  • Patent number: 5249416
    Abstract: Cigarette packaging apparatus and method utilizing packaging stock comprising a pre-applied adhesive to form cigarette packages that are sealed by activating and then preferably setting the pre-applied adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Adams, Angel Amendola, Frederick M. Della Crosse, Robert Gallino, Jeffrey M. S. Haskins, David Moir, Xuan M. Pham, Kenneth B. Shepard, Ronald R. Stewart
  • Patent number: 5230430
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sterilizable bag including a large transparent, heat-sealable plastic sheet closed by a filter strip comprising a three ply laminate in which a central layer is a microporous plastic, a second layer provides strength and a third layer provides a heat-sealable surface for bonding to the transparent plastic sheet to close and seal the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Amycel, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Kidder
  • Patent number: 5203137
    Abstract: An annular article-wrapping member is includes a shrinkable wrapping material which is wound on the outer periphery of an annular article to be wrapped in such a manner that the direction of shrinkage of the shrinkable wrapping material coincides with a circumferential direction of the outer periphery of the annular article. The overlapped portions of the wrapping material subsequently are joined together. The shrinkable wrapping material is heated to be shrunk to provide an intermediate wrapping member having sleeve openings having a diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the annular article. Sleeve forming portions of the intermediate wrapping member together in a ring-shape along an inner periphery of the annular article. The portion of the shrinkable wrapping material disposed inwardly of the joined portion is removed by cutting, thereby obtaining the annular article-wrapping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Heisei Polymer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masamitsu Tsukada, Kiyoshi Murata, Yasushi Ota, Yoshihiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5175978
    Abstract: A wrapper paper for pressure sensitive products bearing on one of its flat surfaces a layer of polyethylene and on the opposite of its flat surfaces a layer of a primer selected from the polyalkyleneimine class, at least portions of the opposite flat coated surfaces facing one another in overlapping relationship when the paper is wrapped about a product, the overlying areas of the wrapper paper being sealed to one another by heat means and the application of very low pressure to the overlapping portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Gary H. Knauf
  • Patent number: 5163270
    Abstract: Manual wrap stations for handwrapping of trayed products in film are arranged in back-to-back fashion. They have a common wrap surface between them to provide a reduced-cost, space-saving tandem or dual hand wrap station. Two operators face each other during wrapping and alternately use the common wrap surface. In a preferred form, the wrap surface is either a weighing scale platter itself or the platter can be alongside a separate wrap surface. In either such form, the system enables weighing, computing, label printing and hand labeling of wrapped products without loss of productivity. The arrangement eliminates the need for an additional computing scale and label printer, such as would be necessary to obtain the same productivity with separate wrap stations using such equipment. An audible signal is provided to indicate that the scale has completed a weighing, enabling ease of the operators' pacing of their alternating manual functions, without each having to watch the other's actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Inventor: Fritz F. Treiber
  • Patent number: 5064132
    Abstract: In order to automatically form rolls from web sections with computer aided drawings, a cassette (12, 16, 17) is provided in the direction of transport of the web, adjacent to a cutting arrangement (13). The cassette comprises a first cassette part (12) mounted on a frame (10) and a second cassette part (16, 17) mounted on the frame (5) in such a way that it pivots about an axis. The second cassette part (16, 17) can pivot between a first position, in which the two parts of the cassette (12, 16, 17) delimit a generally cylindrical inner space (11) for forming the roll (40), and a second position, in which the inner space (11) is opened to release the roll (40). On the frame (10) are arranged at a distance one from another a first cassette roller (18, 19) and a second cassette roller (18, 21). The axis of the first cassette roller (18, 19) corresponds to the axis of the pivoting mounting of the second cassette part (16, 17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Inventor: Wolf D. Merz
  • Patent number: 5003755
    Abstract: A method and device for producing tubular wrappings for products of parallelepiped shape or similar; whereby the products are fed successively, and in a substantially radial direction, to a wrapping wheel turning at substantially constant speed and having a number of mobile elements, each defining a seat for a respective product. Each product is inserted inside a respective seat together with a sheet of wrapping material, which is folded in a U and presents two opposite portions projecting outwards of the seat. One of the portions is folded down on to the product by a first folding element, and the mobile element is moved on the wheel so as to fold and hold down the other portion by means of a second folding element mounted on the wheel, and so as to move the seat into a position facing a joining device for firmly joining the two folded opposite portions of the sheet of wrapping material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: G. D Societa' per Azioni
    Inventor: Fiorenzo Draghetti
  • Patent number: 4993209
    Abstract: In a process and apparatus for seaming and cutting off a wrapping film wrapped about a product, a wrapping film holder moves the wrapping film against the film already wrapped about the product. Then, hot air from within the film holder is blown against the wrapping film for seaming and cutting off the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Newtec International
    Inventor: Matti Haloila
  • Patent number: 4993213
    Abstract: A method of packaging a rectangular moulded chocolate bar having a predetermined thickness, an upper face and a bottom face and bevelled longitudinal and lateral side faces, with a single sheet of heat sealable, composite multilayer material, by forming a longitudinal tube of the material completely around a bar with one longitudinal edge of the sheet projecting over another longitudinal edge and forming a covering flap, sealing the other longitudinal edge against an inner surface of the base of the covering flap, forming lateral folds which are first applied against the bevelled lateral side walls and then bent and applied on the ends of the bottom face, the lateral folds being made at each end of the tube, and folding the covering flap down over the bottom face in overlying relation to the lateral folds. The covering slap is sealed at least partially along a line parallel to a longitudinal edge of the flap, to provide a sealed and inviolable package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: SAPAL, Societe Anonyme des Plieuses Automatiques
    Inventors: Erwin Kobler, Pierre Therond, Jacques Mury
  • Patent number: 4991376
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for wrapping a product, particularly a bundle of newspapers or magazines, especially an extra thick bundle or an extra thin bundle comprising a few or a single newspaper or magazine. The product is carried on a conveyor system through a plane towards a curtain of film formed by an upper and a lower sheet of film. The curtain thus accompanies the product and is auto-sealed behind the product, after which the sheets of film are separated in the middle of the sealing region, the curtain of film being re-established and the product being provided with a wrapper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Wamac AB
    Inventor: Ralf Backman
  • Patent number: 4949846
    Abstract: The continuously formed wrapping material tube traversing a horizontal wrapping machine, and containing articles to be wrapped therein, is sequentially passed between a first pair of opposed, counter-rotating heat sealing bar sets, and then between a second pair of opposed, counter-rotating combination heat sealing and cutting bar sets, to heat seal and cut spaced apart longitudinal sections of the tube, each positioned between an adjacent pair of articles, to form individual, article-containing packages. As each of these longitudinal tube sections passes through the first bar set, corrugated outer ends of two bars therein mesh to compress and heat seal the tube section along a corrugated heat seal area whose ridges and valleys extend transversely to the tube length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Inventor: Lawrence D. Lakey
  • Patent number: 4916884
    Abstract: Inner wrappings (20) for cigarette groups (21) or the like, as part of the pack, should be as effectively sealed against aroma and moisture losses as possible. For this purpose, side tabs (34, 35) for forming side walls (27, 28) are connected to one another in a sealed manner in the region of overlapping strips (37, 38), to form a bonding strip (36). The bonding strip (36) extends over part of the height or length of the inner wrapping (20), so that an opening flap (29) can be freed from the inner wrapping (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Kurt Liedtke
  • Patent number: 4914892
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for packaging an article with a thermoplastic resin film in which the film is rolled on the two rolls on both side so that an intermediate region thereof may be extended in tension condition between the rolls, and an article to be packaged is fed through a space between the rolls so as to push against the extended intermediate region of the film and be wrapped therewith, and overlapped portions of the wrapping film are set in parallel with the surface of the article and are fused together, and at the same time are cut so that there may be obtained such a fused adhesion line on the overlapped portions of the film that extends in the lateral width of the film and is longer in length than the width of the film, so that there is obtained the packaged article in which the fused overlapped portions of the packaging film is laid along on the surface of the article and, on the other hand, there is obtained an intermediate region of the film which is extended between the two rolls a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Fuji Seisakusho
    Inventors: Tsutomu Saito, Yukio Hosaka
  • Patent number: 4912906
    Abstract: An automatic bag system for supermarket check-out counters is disclosed. An open top loading compartment is provided adjacent to the check-out clerk and a roll of plastic material is mounted to feed sheet plastic over the open top of the loading compartment. The loading compartment is provided with transversely opposed vertical slots and guide rollers rotatively secured at the top of the slots. Upon loading purchased items into the loading compartment above the plastic material, the plastic material will be urged interiorly of the loading compartment and will assume the shape of the compartment interior configuration. The guide rollers and the vertical slots cooperate to form left and right vertical seams in the plastic material as the compartment is loaded. The left and right seams are heat sealed upon completion of the loading operations to form a finished plastic package with the purchased items contained therewithin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Inventor: Frank T. Toner
  • Patent number: 4909019
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging an article such as, for example, a chocolate bar or other food product. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a conveyor system including a portion which leads the articles to a rotary inverter subsequent to an apparatus which folds a wrapper partially around the article. The inverter turns the article over to have the lower surface of the article face upwardly for having the final folds of the wrapper to be folded against the lower surface. The wrapper is preferably made from thermosealable material. Around the periphery of the inverter are workstations which preheat the thermosealable wrapper; apply pressure to cool the wrapper thereby sealing it; and fold the wrapper to create an extra flap with lateral folds projecting from the article. Downstream of the inverter is a workstation which seals the lateral folds, by heating, applying pressure to them, and cooling them. The lateral folds are supported from above during sealing by a support and guidance device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: SAPAL Societe Anonyme des Plieuses Automatiques
    Inventors: Rene Delacretaz, Serge Schor
  • Patent number: 4887408
    Abstract: Groups of cigarettes are inserted in succession into the peripheral pockets of an indexed wrapping wheel, each together with a relative sheet of heat-sealable wrapping material that incorporates a tear-open strip to facilitate the operation of breaking open the pack; the sheet is folded initially to create a sheath, enveloping the group of cigarettes lengthwise, the overlapping flaps of which are fused together by heat-seal elements that operate each time the wheel pauses; the projecting ends of the sheet are then folded down over the top and bottom of the pack by an assembly of mechanisms, and fused together by further heat-seal elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: G.D. Societa Per Azioni
    Inventors: Riccardo Mattei, Gastone Dall'Osso
  • Patent number: 4864802
    Abstract: Packaging of series of relatively small articles between long webs of wide packaging laminates having faces of resilient heat sealable foam. One web is fed foam-face-up across a table, the articles to be packaged placed on it in spaced locations, heated melting shoes applied to web edges to melt the foam surfaces there, and a second web applied foam-face-down over the spaced articles and heat sealed to the lower web at its melted edges. Melting shoes can have their surfaces treated to make them essentially non-wetable by the melted foam. Transverse heat sealing and severings are effected between successive articles. The heat sealings can be set by cold pressings. Web backings can be made relatively non-porous to minimize bleed-through of melted foam. Before sealing, sandwiched articles and be pressed between upper and lower resilient fingers to urge articles to level at which they project up as much as they project down, from plane of web edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: The Crowell Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph J. D'Angelo
  • Patent number: 4858416
    Abstract: A packaging machine is provided for packaging bundles, optionally under compression, with tensionless cross-seals. One problem of conventional devices is that movable sealing bars tend to rupture film as it is pulled together around materials to be packaged, particularly if the materials are relatively high or heavy. Packaging products under compression is an additional challenge. In this instance, packages are generally fed substantially at a predetermined speed between upper and lower webs of film, which are then sealed at their sides. Compression of the products being packaged may be optionally practiced during such side seal formation, and later during cross seal formation. Subsequently, the products enclosed in the side-sealed web of films move into a cross seal area, optionally including a reciprocatable carriage, operation of which in effect causes the product being sealed to move backwards relative to seal bars forming a cross seal therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Siempelkamp Corporation
    Inventor: Alfred C. Monaghan
  • Patent number: 4790433
    Abstract: Integrated circuit with leads extending essentially in one direction is packaged by pushing it against layer of crisp foam that can be electrically conductive, to cause the leads to penetrate into the foam. The integrated circuit is then covered with a plastic film that is adhered to the foam around the integrated circuit. Anti-stat coatings are applied on the various surfaces, and plastic film can be metallized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: The Crowell Corporation
    Inventor: Lewis R. Raszewsi
  • Patent number: 4783950
    Abstract: A machine for the automatic protective wrapping of baggage items having different dimensions comprising conveyor belts for moving successive single baggage to an automatic bundling machine with two sealing bars disposed at right angles to each other, to adapt every individual baggage item in a heat-shrinkable plastic film in such a way to form a wrapper sealed on three sides, the fourth being contact-sealed after passage of the wrapper containing the baggage item through a tunnel-type hot-air oven in which the heat-shrinkage of the plastic film takes place with perfect adherence of it to the baggage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Baggage Pack Italia S.p.A.
    Inventor: Umberto Santagati
  • Patent number: 4773202
    Abstract: Method and apparatus, to be utilized by a newspaper carrier on a "vehicle route," for mechanically folding and bagging newspapers and like articles. A continuous length of heat-sealable polymeric film, wider than the newspaper or other article, is arranged along a generally horizontal feed path to form a folding station. The newspaper or like article is fed to the folding station of apparatus in parallel overlying relation to the film. A vertically reciprocal, motorized folder bar extends transversely across and above the film at a point substantially centrally located in the folding station. The folder bar is movable between an upper position above the feed path and a lower position below the feed path where there is formed a pouch of film surrounding the folded newspaper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: IPI Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney D. Felts, James R. Hartsoe, Wayne C. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4722167
    Abstract: Smearing of fat by fat-containing trayed food products on the interior surface of a thermoplastic overwrap is substantially reduced or eliminated by applying loading forces during a sealing step to the longitudinal edges of the tray containing food product. A tray with a convex bottom is preferred to enhance the quality of the seal. A convex heating plate can be used in conjunction with conventional trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co., Cryovac Div.
    Inventor: Robert E. Jahn
  • Patent number: 4716709
    Abstract: The specification discloses an apparatus and method for wrapping paper rolls with a paper coated with a thermoplastic material. The leading edge of the wrapper is adhered to the roll by softening the thermoplastic. After the wrapper is wrapped about the roll, the trailing edge of the wrapper is adhered to the wrapped roll by softening the thermoplastic. The wrapping apparatus includes a heatable transport bar for heating the desired portions of the wrapper and contacting the heated portions to the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Howard City Paper Company
    Inventors: Vernon L. Lamb, Sr., Stanley A. Helmer
  • Patent number: 4704843
    Abstract: Conventional horizontal form-fill-seal equipment for packaging articles such as cheese can be improved by the use of shrink barrier films. In conjunction with the use of such films, the improvement includes means for supporting the film prior to longitudinally sealing to form a tube, and means for heating sealing elements of transverse impulse type sealing dies for a limited duration, to effect sealing of the tube formed from the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co., Cryovac Div.
    Inventors: Dave L. Owen, David K. Domnitz
  • Patent number: 4693056
    Abstract: Sealing of elongated packaging laminates of backed antistatic foam around spaced articles being packaged, using edge seals made by first applying heated melting shoes against foam edges of both laminates, then joining the melted foam edges and subjecting the assembly to rollers that press together the joined laminates. Preferably the backing has aluminum layer secured to the foam by pressure-sensitive adhesive. Edge seals can be further subjected to pressure sustained for at least about a second, as while similar pressure is used to apply transverse heat seals to the edge-jointed laminates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: The Crowell Corporation
    Inventor: Lewis R. Raszewski
  • Patent number: 4690865
    Abstract: A heat-shrinkable barrier film comprised of an oriented polyolefin film coated on one side with a vinylidene chloride copolymer are disclosed. The films have excellent gas and vapor barrier properties, can surprisingly be made using conventional dispersion coating techniques, and retain acceptable optical properties even on shrinking up to as high as 35% in either transverse or machine directions or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Dan S. C. Fong
  • Patent number: RE32946
    Abstract: A device is provided for enclosing fish bait in a permeable mesh bag using a base with a well therein into which the central portion of such mesh may be depressed and wherein the bait may be placed in the mesh. A pair of metal plates are provided which act to close over the bait the mesh protruding from the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Inventors: Nori Nakata, Joseph Melanson