Abstract: Automatic skin packaging apparatus are provided and comprise concomitantly operable substrate feeder means, film heater means, film pressure forming means, film cooling means, film and substrate die cutting means, and skin packaged article-substrate finishing and collection means. Conveyor and film supply means are intermittently operable, from constantly operable drive motor means, to intermittently advance article-bearing substrates to the above specified components, in turn, and to intermittently supply film thereover at said film heater means. Stop means insure precise conveyor means operation, and interrelated control means are provided to precisely control the time and duration of operation of all apparatus components.

Abstract: A skin packaging machine having a vacuum box, an oven spaced above the vacuum box, a film frame movable between the vacuum box and the oven, and a source of film. The film frame is hollow and is connected to a source of vacuum. Holes are formed around the upper surface of the film frame to hold the film to the frame during the packaging operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for packaging articles in two portions of film which are fed between outer and inner annular film clamping mechanisms with the outer clamping mechanism firmly clamping the film portions while stretching the film over the article. The inner annular clamping mechanism then clamps the periphery of the film portions together immediately inward of the seal area, and the outer clamps release the film allowing an annular hot knife to seal and sever the film portions in a relaxed area. A low inertia film drive system is also provided with the film supply rolls on one side of the clamping mechanisms being continuously driven while brush rolls on the other side of the clamping mechanisms are intermittently driven. The low inertia film drive system also includes components for assuring that the film is stressed longitudinally and transversely to remove wrinkles therefrom, and to assure that the film portions are sealed and severed in a completely relaxed area.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of vacuum packing by defining a "dummy product" 17 alongside a product article 14 on a support sheet so that any "webbing" 18 is to the side of that projection 17 which faces away from the adjacent product article 14. That projection 17 can subsequently be trimmed to leave a webbing-free pack. Cutting down webbing reduces the risk of leakage of the pack. Preferably the height of the projection 17 is adjusted in response to the height of a product article 14 so that the extent of such webbing 18 is at a minimum.

Abstract: A skin packaging machine for the vacuum application of a film over goods to be packaged including a microprocessor-based control. The skin packaging machine includes a film supply, an oven, a film-bearing frame, a base having a platen with a perforated surface, a blower or turbine for drawing a vacuum at the surface, and a variable speed motor for moving the frame from a position adjacent the oven to a position adjacent the perforated surface in order to apply the film to a package on the surface. The microprocessor-based control cooperates with an alphanumeric display to provide a sequential display of machine function parameters which may be individually set, such as the time duration of a particular function. The control arrangement further includes, in a test mode, means for sequentially displaying on the alphanumeric display the condition of sensors and switches.

Abstract: A skin packaging machine having a base, an inclined oven above the base, and a film frame pivoted to swing between the base and the inclined oven. The oven has transverse elongated heating elements closely spaced at the lower end and widely spaced at the upper end to provide uniform heat across the surface of the oven. The frame has a pneumatic system for swinging it between its upper and lower positions in order to minimize the possibility of injury.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for simultaneously loading and unloading food packages into and from a package-forming machine. A pusher and puller are mounted on opposite directions, toward and away from the machine, whereby packages can be inserted into the machine at the same time packages are withdrawn. In a preferred embodiment, the pusher and puller include package gripping jaws slidably mounted for reciprocal movement. A shuttle which mounts the jaws may also include a bellcrank and latch system for controlling opening and closing of the jaws.

Abstract: Articles (16, 18) are shrink mounted onto a stiff carrier or backing (10) and simultaneously selectively masked for paint spraying of the interiors of the articles (16, 18). The articles (16, 18) are secured to the backing (10) by a thin gauge plastic film (20) drawn under heat to shrink its dimensions while a vacuumizing head (50, 51) forms portions of the film to effect masking of selected edges (26, 28, 29) of the articles (16, 18). The interiors of the articles may be spray painted through openings (30, 31) in the backing (10), with the masked edges (17, 19, 26, 28, 29) of the articles (16, 18) protected from the paint (38).

Abstract: A vacuum packaging apparatus has two lower chambers with open upper face in side-by-side arrangement in a base box and a single upper chamber with an open bottom face in an upper head which is supported by a plurality of links on the base box and can be shifted alternately from atop one lower chamber to atop the other thereby to form alternatively two vacuum chambers for vacuum packaging. Moving parts of the apparatus are actuated by an electric and vacuum control system including some valves, some switches for controlling the valves, fluid passages formed in the base box and the upper and lower heads and a vacuum pump. While vacuum packaging is being carried out in the vacuum chamber formed on one side, preparation of a commodity to be packaged and packaging materials can be carried out in the other lower chamber.

Abstract: A control arrangement for terminating the film-heating segment of a sequence of operations for a skin packaging machine. A skin packaging machine having a film supply, a film-bearing frame, an oven for heating the film in the frame, a base having a perforated surface with means for drawing a vacuum at the surface, and means for moving the frame from a position adjacent the oven to a position adjacent the perforated surface of the base further includes a control arrangement for terminating the heating of the film in the frame by the oven substantially responsive to the temperature of the film. The control arrangement includes a temperature sensor positioned adjacent the film in the frame when the frame is adjacent the oven. The temperature sensor cooperates with a temperature comparison circuit in the control arrangement to provide a comparison between the sensor temperature and a reference temperature to produce a comparison signal.

Abstract: A film packaging machine 20 has a vacuum platen 28 with a slidable air-permeable discharge plate 72 that is driven by air cylinders 112, 114 within the platen to eject a finished package by moving a leading edge of the package off the platen and into pinch rolls 62. A small plenum 96 beneath the platen surface at the discharge end, extending across the width of the platen, is supplied with air under pressure to relieve the vacuum beneath the leading portion of the package to facilitate ejection.

Abstract: In a skin packaging machine, a mechanism for raising and lowering the film frame. The mechanism includes a single vertical post, a vertical shaft alongside the post, a carriage assembly slidably mounted on the vertical shaft. A laterally projecting arm and slide block cooperate with a slide rail on the vertical post to prevent the swiveling or rotating of the assembly as it rides up and down the shaft. A chain passing around upper and lower sprockets is driven by a reversible alternating current motor. The chain is connected to the carriage assembly through two series connected springs. The springs serve as chain tensioners as well as shock absorbers in the event that the assembly, including the frame, engages an object during its upward or downward excursion.

Abstract: In a skin packaging machine, a method and apparatus for maintaining a film heating oven at a low temperature wherein during a very short repeating duty cycle, e.g., less than a minute, the power to the oven heaters is applied for a short period and is shut down for the remainder of the period through solid state relay switching.

Abstract: A film heating oven for a skin packaging machine. The oven has a metallic housing in which are supported a plurality of elongated heaters in spaced parallel relationship. The heaters are energized by a control system which raises their temperature for heating the film and lowers the temperature during other operations of the machine. The housing includes a reflector for each tube to direct the heat downwardly onto the film and further includes an outer covering of insulation to minimize the escape of heat.

Abstract: In a skin packaging machine, a method and apparatus for maintaining a film heating oven at a low temperature wherein during a very short repeating duty cycle, e.g., less than a minute, the power to the oven heaters is applied for a short period and is shut down for the remainder of the period through solid state relay switching.

Abstract: A skin packaging substrate which includes a corrugated paper member made of a medium member sandwiched between first and second liner members is glued to a first chipboard member on one side thereof and is glued to a second chipboard member on the other side thereof. A plastic film is applied to the exposed surface of each of the chipboard members. Perforations are provided in each of the chipboard paper members which perforations extend into the interior of the corrugated paper member. An apparatus is disclosed for skin packaging products to both sides of the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for withdrawing a continuous band of multi-article skin packages from a skin packing machine includes a clamping device for periodically grasping the band and stepwise withdrawing it from the skin packing machine in a direction of band feed; a first cutter for severing the band parallel to the direction of band feed; and a second cutter for severing the band transversely to the direction of band feed. The two cutters can divide each multi-article skin package into smaller, single-article packages. The apparatus further has a punch for providing hanger holes in the packages simultaneously with the severing operation of the second cutter; a sled carrying the clamping device, the second cutter and the punch back and forth parallel to the direction of band feed. A control intermittently and simultaneously actuates the second cutter and the punch at predeterminable locations when the sled travels against the direction of band feed.

Abstract: Articles to be packaged are brought by a conveyor above a vacuum chamber and a preheated plastic film is sucked toward a cardboard sheet supporting the articles and resting on the conveyor.

Abstract: While thermoforming an article skin-wrap packaging, the article being disposed on an air-tight supporting plate firmly applied on an evacuated chamber and a plastic film displaced parallel to the supporting plate to firmly engage the article and the supporting plate, vacuum is provided in the wrapping by means of at least one suction tube or nozzle temporarily placed between the supporting plate and the film.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pressure packaging of articles between a heated thermoplastic film and a substrate utilizes apparatus providing a bed platen, means for heating a thermoplastic film, means for supporting the film above the bed platen and a pressure platen having a recess in the lower surface thereof adapted to receive the article being packaged. The pressure platen and bed platen are moved relative to each other so as to deform the heated thermoplastic film into a sheath about the article and to press the heated film against the substrate outwardly of the article to effect bonding therebetween. The pressure platen desirably has a release coating thereon to prevent adhesion of the heated film thereto. Vacuum may be drawn through the bed platen and the substrate to enhance bonding of the film to the substrate.