Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for quick and easy rubber sleeve exchanges on chill rolls, such as are used in film extrusion processes. The apparatus includes chill roll or mandrel, a rubber sleeve covering the exterior face of the mandrel, an automated cantilever system, and an air booster. The rubber sleeve is easily removed by tilting the mandrel and inserting a layer of air between the rubber sleeve and the mandrel, thereby allowing the sleeve to slip off the mandrel and allowing for a new rubber sleeve to be placed onto the mandrel.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for forming a laminate for use as a flexible packaging wrapper for confections and other food bars. An outer clear film usually oriented polyolefin is printed, preferably reverse printed, with graphics. In a tandem extrusion lamination with registered cold seal process a molten, polyolefin extrudate is applied to bond the outer printed film to an inner film. The inner film is preferably oriented polyolefin and may have a metallized coating of aluminum buried against the extrudate. Finally, a pattern of cold seal adhesive is applied to the inner film surface. The flexible package made with the extrusion lamination process offers improved stiffness, puncture resistance, abrasion resistance and durability over a similar structure produced with adhesive lamination.

Abstract: The present development is a process for coating a substrate with a microlayered extrusion coating, or for producing a laminate from a first substrate, a microlayered extrudate and a second substrate. The present development also includes a microlayered extrusion coating used for laminating two or more plastic extrudates. The microlayered extrusion coating comprises a microlayer core comprising a plurality of layers of gas barrier material having a thickness of less than five microns per layer with alternating tie layers. The microlayer core is sandwiched between polymeric boundary layers which are further sandwiched between polymeric skin layers. The present microlayered extrudate surprisingly exhibits a gas barrier significantly better than conventional thicker single barrier layers and increased opacity in the extrudate using white pigmented LDPE enhances the printed graphics in a laminate structure using a printed substrate.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method for forming a packaging film. According to the method, a packaging film base layer is provided having a first side and a second side and formed from polymeric materials. At least one additional layer of polymeric material is extrusion coated onto the first side of the base layer. A heat sealable layer is applied onto the second side of the base layer. The method also includes providing a packaging film outer layer having a first side and a second side and formed from polymeric materials. At least one of the outer layer first and second sides is capable of being printed thereon and selected packaging information is printed onto at least one side of the outer layer. Preferably, the outer layer is reverse printed on its second side. Finally, the method includes thermally laminating the base layer and outer layer to one another using a combination of heat and pressure. A packaging film and a method for packaging food products with the film are also disclosed.

Abstract: A printing sleeve mandrel assembly for use in a rotary printing press is disclosed. The printing sleeve mandrel assembly includes a mandrel having an outer circumference and a plurality of printing sleeves each operable to be removeably disposed along the outer circumference of the mandrel. Each of the plurality of printing sleeves includes a first end and a second end wherein at least one of the first end and the second end includes an engagement mechanism, each engagement mechanism for removeably coupling with the engagement mechanism of an adjacent printing sleeve so that each of the plurality of printing sleeves are operable to rotate in conjunction with the other printing sleeves.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method for forming a packaging film. According to the method, a packaging film base layer is provided having a first side and a second side and formed from polymeric materials. At least one additional layer of polymeric material is extrusion coated onto the first side of the base layer. A heat sealable layer is applied onto the second side of the base layer. The method also includes providing a packaging film outer layer having a first side and a second side and formed from polymeric materials. At least one of the outer layer first and second sides is capable of being printed thereon and selected packaging information is printed onto at least one side of the outer layer. Preferably, the outer layer is reverse printed on its second side. Finally, the method includes thermally laminating the base layer and outer layer to one another using a combination of heat and pressure. A packaging film and a method for packaging food products with the film are also disclosed.

Abstract: A plastic packaging material which, when formed as a package having seams, will provide a predictable line of failure along a seam when the package is opened to prevent the package from tearing down the side. The predictable failure path is provided through a lamination process involving specific resins or blends of resins laminated in three (or more) layers in which an extruded inner layer forms a weak inner bond wholly within that inner layer to create the predictable line of failure and in which the process of forming the material does not inhibit processing speed, efficiency, and economics of materials used to provide this reliable openability.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating a strip of liquid material such as a polymer adhesive onto the surface of a traveling web at adjustable cross-directional locations which includes a transfer roll secured to a drive shaft coupled hub by an asymmetric rim plate. A carrier sleeve is secured to the hub by anti-friction bearings for independent rotation about the axis of the drive shaft. A fountain housing is secured to the carrier sleeve. The fountain housing supports a fountain nozzle for pressurized discharge of a fluid onto the perimeter surface of the transfer roll within an evacuated cavity. The cavity perimeter around the fountain nozzle has a close, sealing proximity with the transfer roll surface. An adjustable doctor blade screeds excess liquid on the transfer roll surface into the evacuated cavity for removal by a vacuum system. The apparatus significantly reduces the emissions of volatile fluids to the atmosphere during the coating process.

Abstract: A plastic packaging material which, when formed as a package having seams, will provide a predictable line of failure along a seam when the package is opened to prevent the package from tearing down the side. The predictable failure path is provided through a lamination process involving specific resins or blends of resins laminated in three (or more) layers in which an extruded inner layer forms a weak inner bond wholly within that inner layer to create the predictable line of failure and in which the process of forming the material does not inhibit processing speed, efficiency, and economics of materials used to provide this reliable openability.

Abstract: A plastic packaging material which, when formed as a package having seams, will provide a predictable line of failure along a seam when the package is opened to prevent the package from tearing down the side. The predictable failure path is provided through a lamination process involving specific resins or blends of resins laminated in three (or more) layers in which an extruded inner layer forms a weak inner bond wholly within that inner layer to create the predictable line of failure and in which the process of forming the material does not inhibit processing speed, efficiency, and economics of materials used to provide this reliable openability.

Abstract: A printing cylinder assembly comprises a cylinder shell with opposite open ends. Cylinder heads are received into the opposite open ends of the shell and include stub axle shafts which project outwardly in opposite directions. The shell open ends are reinforced by collet rings having an internally tapered collet face matched to receive a correspondingly tapered face on the cylinder heads. The opposite axle shafts are both bored coaxially to receive an end-to-end drawbolt. Internally, the cylinder heads have a sleeved socket to receive one end of respective graphite fiber tubes. At opposite ends, the graphite tubes are terminated into respective pin and socket joints. In assembly, the cylinder heads are faced to the sleeve collets with the graphite tube pin and socket joints meshed. The drawbolt is inserted along the axis length of the assembly and drawn tight by washer-nut fasteners.