U.S. patent application number 12/202610 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-27 for method of operating a multiple container shrink wrapping machine having a printing arrangement to print on the shrink wrap material simultaneously while wrapping containers and a multiple container shrink wrapping machine therefor.
Invention is credited to Volker TILL.
Application Number | 20090211464 12/202610 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38068707 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090211464 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TILL; Volker |
August 27, 2009 |
METHOD OF OPERATING A MULTIPLE CONTAINER SHRINK WRAPPING MACHINE
HAVING A PRINTING ARRANGEMENT TO PRINT ON THE SHRINK WRAP MATERIAL
SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE WRAPPING CONTAINERS AND A MULTIPLE CONTAINER
SHRINK WRAPPING MACHINE THEREFOR
Abstract
A method for the formation of containers and device for the
performance of the method. The abstract of the disclosure is
submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. .sctn.1.72(b). As
stated in 37 C.F.R. .sctn.1.72(b): A brief abstract of the
technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a
separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading
"Abstract of the Disclosure." The purpose of the abstract is to
enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to
determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of
the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for
interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements
made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims
in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims
in any manner.
Inventors: |
TILL; Volker;
(Hofheim/Taunus, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NILS H. LJUNGMAN & ASSOCIATES
P. O. BOX 130
GREENSBURG
PA
15601-0130
US
|
Family ID: |
38068707 |
Appl. No.: |
12/202610 |
Filed: |
September 2, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/EP2007/000888 |
Feb 2, 2007 |
|
|
|
12202610 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
100/2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 53/00 20130101;
B65B 61/025 20130101; B65B 27/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
100/2 |
International
Class: |
B65B 13/02 20060101
B65B013/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 1, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 009 348.8 |
Claims
1. A method of operating a multiple container shrink wrapping
machine configured to shrink wrap multiple containers into a shrink
wrapped pack of containers, said multiple container shrink wrapping
machine comprising: a buffer line and a divider unit being
configured and disposed to form a pack comprising a plurality of
containers; an arrangement to store shrink wrap film material with
or without an imprint that has not yet been printed upon by said
machine; a shrink wrapping station being configured and disposed to
shrink wrap a plurality of containers with shrink wrap film
material into a shrink wrapped pack; a printing arrangement
configured to print on the shrink wrap film material simultaneously
with the wrapping of the containers into a pack of containers; said
printing arrangement comprising at least one printing unit disposed
a substantial distance away from said shrink wrapping station; said
at least one printing unit comprising at least one printhead; said
printing unit being configured to print in at least one color; a
supply arrangement configured to store the at least one color; a
supply of shrink wrap film material with or without an imprint; and
a control device being configured and disposed to control at least
said printing arrangement; said control device comprising at least
one of: printing templates and printing software stored
electronically; said method comprising: feeding said shrink wrap
film material from said supply to said printing arrangement; moving
said shrink wrap film material through said printing arrangement
while simultaneously printing at least one color on a predetermined
portion of said shrink wrap material with said at least one
printing unit to make a predetermined portion of printed shrink
wrap film material; forming a predetermined pack of a predetermined
plurality of containers; and wrapping said predetermined pack
comprising said predetermined plurality of containers with said
predetermined portion of printed shrink wrap film material to
identify said predetermined pack of containers.
2. A method of operating a multiple container shrink wrapping
machine configured to shrink wrap multiple containers into a shrink
wrapped pack of containers, said multiple container shrink wrapping
machine comprising: an arrangement being configured and disposed to
form a pack comprising a plurality of containers; an arrangement to
store shrink wrap film material with or without an imprint that has
not yet been printed upon by said machine; a shrink wrapping
station being configured and disposed to shrink wrap a plurality of
containers with shrink wrap film material into a shrink wrapped
pack; a printing arrangement configured to print on the shrink wrap
film material substantially simultaneously with the wrapping of a
pack of containers; said printing arrangement comprising at least
one printing unit disposed a distance away from said shrink
wrapping station; said at least one printing unit comprising at
least one printhead; said printing unit being configured to print
in at least one color; a supply arrangement configured to store the
at least one color; a supply of shrink wrap film material with or
without an imprint; and a control device being configured and
disposed to control at least said printing arrangement; said
control device comprising at least one of: printing templates and
printing software stored electronically; said method comprising:
feeding said shrink wrap film material from said supply to said
printing arrangement; moving said shrink wrap film material through
said printing arrangement; moving at least one of said shrink wrap
film material and said at least one printhead with respect to one
another while substantially simultaneously printing at least one
color on a predetermined portion of said shrink wrap film material
with said at least one printing unit to make a predetermined
portion of printed shrink wrap film material; forming a
predetermined pack of a predetermined plurality of containers; and
wrapping said predetermined pack comprising said predetermined
plurality of containers with said predetermined portion of printed
shrink wrap film material to identify said predetermined pack of
containers.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said step of moving at
least one of said shrink wrap film material and said at least one
printhead with respect to one another further comprises moving said
shrink wrap film material with respect to said at least one
printing unit.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said at least one
printhead comprises an electrostatic printhead; said electrostatic
printhead comprising a plurality of individually activatable
nozzles; said individually activatable nozzles: being configured to
control a dispensing of ink; and being disposed in at least one row
across the width of said shrink wrap film material.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein: said at least one row
is disposed: at a right angle with respect to at least one of: a
longitudinal dimension or length of said shrink wrap film material;
and a direction of transport of said shrink wrap film material;
over at least a substantial portion of the width of said shrink
wrap film material; and said printing on said predetermined portion
of said shrink wrap film material comprises printing in lines.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said moving at least
one of said shrink wrap film material and said at least one
printhead with respect to one another comprises moving at a right
angle to the height of said at least one printhead.
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said shrink wrap film
material is disposed essentially horizontally during said
printing.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said at least one
printhead is disposed above said shrink wrap film material.
9. The method according to claim 9, wherein said at least one
printing unit comprises one of (A) and (B): (A) at least two
printheads; and (B) at least three printheads.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein each printhead is
configured to print one color.
11. The method according to claim 10: wherein said method further
comprises drying and setting said predetermined portion of said
printed shrink wrap film material by applying at least one of:
energy, heat, and ultraviolet light to said predetermined portion
of said printed shrink wrap film material; wherein said method
further comprises at least one of (C) and (D): (C) heating said
shrink wrap film material before said printing; and (D) statically
charging said shrink wrap film material before said printing; said
multiple container shrink wrapping machine including a cutting
station, wherein said method further comprises cutting and
separating said predetermined portion of printed shrink wrap film
material from said shrink wrap film material; wherein said cutting
and separating taking place before said printing; wherein said
method further comprises: applying heat to said predetermined pack;
and shrinking said predetermined portion of said printed shrink
wrap film material; and wherein said predetermined portion of
printed shrink wrap film material is modified at least partially
during said wrapping of said predetermined pack.
12. A multiple container shrink wrapping machine configured to
shrink wrap multiple containers into a shrink wrapped pack of
containers, said multiple container shrink wrapping machine
comprising: a packing arrangement being configured and disposed to
form a pack comprising a plurality of containers; a storage
arrangement being configured to store shrink wrap film material
with or without an imprint that has not yet been printed upon by
said multiple container shrink wrapping machine; a shrink wrapping
station being configured and disposed to shrink wrap a plurality of
containers with shrink wrap film material into a shrink wrapped
pack; a printing arrangement being configured to print on the
shrink wrap film material substantially simultaneously with the
wrapping of packs of containers; said printing arrangement
comprising: at least one printing unit being disposed a distance
away from said shrink wrapping station; said at least one printing
unit: comprising at least one printhead; and being configured to
print in at least one color; a supply arrangement being configured
to store the at least one color; a control device being configured
and disposed to control at least said printing arrangement; said
control device comprising at least one of: printing templates; and
printing software stored electronically; and a moving arrangement
being configured and disposed to move at least one of the shrink
wrap film material and said at least one printhead with respect to
one another while substantially simultaneously printing at least
one color on a predetermined portion of the shrink wrap film
material with at least one printing unit to make a predetermined
portion of printed shrink wrap film material.
13. The multiple container shrink wrapping machine according to
claim 12, wherein said moving arrangement being configured and
disposed to move at least one of the shrink wrap film material and
said at least one printhead with respect to one another while
substantially simultaneously printing is configured to move said
shrink wrap film material with respect to said at least one
printing unit.
14. The multiple container shrink wrapping machine according to
claim 13, wherein said at least one printhead comprises an
electrostatic printhead; said electrostatic printhead comprising a
plurality of individually activatable nozzles; said individually
activatable nozzles: being configured and disposed to control a
dispensing of ink; and also being disposed in at least one row
across the width of the shrink wrap film material.
15. The multiple container shrink wrapping machine according to
claim 14, wherein: said at least one row is disposed: at a right
angle with respect to at least one of: a longitudinal dimension or
length of the shrink wrap film material; and a direction of
transport of the shrink wrap film material; and over at least a
substantial portion of the width of the shrink wrap film
material.
16. The multiple container shrink wrapping machine according to
claim 15, wherein: said at least one printhead comprises a height;
and said moving arrangement machine is configured to move the
shrink wrap film material and said at least one printhead with
respect to one another at a right angle to the height of said at
least one printhead.
17. The multiple container shrink wrapping machine according to
claim 16 including guiding elements configured to guide the shrink
wrap film material, said guiding elements being configured to
dispose the shrink wrap film material essentially horizontally
during printing.
18. The multiple container shrink wrapping machine according to
claim 17, wherein: said at least one printhead is configured to be
disposed above the shrink wrap film material during printing; and
said at least one printing unit comprises one of (A) and (B): (A)
at least two printheads; and (B) at least three printheads.
19. The multiple container shrink wrapping machine according to
claim 18, wherein each printhead is configured to print in one
color.
20. The multiple container shrink wrapping machine according to
claim 19, including a drying station being configured to dry and
set the predetermined portion of the printed shrink wrap film
material by being configured to apply at least one of: energy,
heat, and ultraviolet light to the predetermined portion of the
printed shrink wrap film material; including a heater being
configured to heat the shrink wrap film material before printing
and a static charging arrangement configured to statically charge
the shrink wrap film material before printing; including a cutting
station being configured to cut and separate a predetermined
portion of printed shrink wrap film material from the shrink wrap
film material and said cutting station is also configured to cut
the shrink wrap film material and separate the cut shrink wrap film
material before wrapping; including a pack heater being configured
to apply heat to a predetermined pack and shrink the predetermined
portion of printed shrink wrap film material; and a wrapping
modifier being configured to modify, at least partially, the
predetermined portion of printed shrink wrap film material while
wrapping a predetermined pack.
Description
CONTINUING APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part application of
International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2007/000888, filed on
Feb. 2, 2007, which claims priority from Federal Republic of
Germany Patent Application No. 10 2006 009 348.8, filed on Mar. 1,
2006. International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2007/000888 was
pending as of the filing date of this application. The United
States was an elected state in International Patent Application No.
PCT/EP2007/000888.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present application relates to a method for the
formation of bundles comprising a plurality of containers. The
present application also relates to a device for the performance of
this method.
[0004] 2. Background Information
[0005] Background information is for informational purposes only
and does not necessarily admit that subsequently mentioned
information and publications are prior art.
[0006] Devices for the formation of bundles consisting of a
plurality of containers by wrapping them with a shrinkable film
material that is extracted from a storage unit, i.e. from a roll,
and by shrinking the film material to form a shrink wrapping in the
form of a shrink-wrapped film that holds the bundles together are
known in a wide variety of realizations. The containers are thereby
filled with a product, for example, and closed packages such as
bottles, cans and packages of a single-ply or multi-ply flats,
etc.
[0007] For the formation of the bundles, a plurality of containers
are assembled into a pack and then wrapped with shrinkable film
material. The packs can be assembled, for example, in or on
pan-shaped or flat carriers (e.g. on trays) made of a suitable
material. Regardless of the type of containers and the type of
formation of the packs, conventional practice also includes the use
as the film material of a pre-printed material, the impression or
pattern on which, in terms of the pictorial and/or graphic and/or
color and/or textual features can be related to the product and/or
brand can be very different from one product or container to
another, so that it can be desired, among other things, to change
the film material when containers with different products are
packaged into bundles.
[0008] The prior art also describes a printhead which is intended
for the printing of flat print stock and with which a plurality of
printed dots can be produced in a line adjacent to one another or
at a very slight distance from one another, for example one hundred
fifty printed dots per inch on a surface of the print stock to be
printed, and namely by a plurality of individually controllable
nozzles. The active printing width of this printhead, which is also
known by the name "Tonejet," may be dependent on the capacity of
the computer power of a computer that controls the printhead. For
example, printheads with printing widths of 1.7-6.8 inches
(corresponding to a 256-hit control or a 1204-hit control) can be
used. With this printhead, a two-dimensional impression with a
significantly large surface area can be printed by a relative
movement between the surface to be printed and the printhead in
possibly one axial direction.
OBJECT OR OBJECTS
[0009] The object of the present application is to indicate a
method with which bundles, each consisting of a plurality of
containers and held together by a printed, shrunk film, can be
formed efficiently with different packaging or different printing.
This object can be accomplished by a method for the formation of
bundles, such as, in one possible embodiment, the bundles
comprising a plurality of containers are wrapped together by a
strip-format film material in a packaging station to which the film
material taken from a supply is fed. The film material is printed
at least partly in one or more colors at a printing unit, which is
upstream of the packaging station in the direction of transport of
the film. The film material pulled off the supply is a neutral film
with or without an imprint and is printed on using at least one
printing unit, which produces the print and/or the printed image as
a function of an electronic actuator device, by generating the
printed image as a function of templates that are stored
electronically or in the form of software in the control device.
The printing takes place during relative movement between the film
material and the printing unit or at least one printhead of the
printing unit. Another object of the present application is to
indicate a device for the performance of the method, such as, in
one possible embodiment, for the formation of bundles consisting of
a plurality of containers which wraps bundles with a film material
in a wrapping or packaging station to which film material pulled
from a supply is fed in a feed direction. Between the supply and
the packaging station, there is at least one printing unit for the
printing of the film material, in which the at least one printing
unit is realized for a single-color or multiple-color printing of
the film material and the image is produced as a function of an
electrical control unit. Means are provided to produce the relative
movement between the film material and the at least one printing
unit or at least one printhead of this printing unit during the
printing.
SUMMARY
[0010] One feature of a method according to one possible embodiment
is that not only information for the overall appearance of the
bundle in question, but also at least a significant portion of the
printing on the film that surrounds the containers and holds the
bundle together, and thus the packaging of the bundle, is printed
immediately or substantially immediately before the formation of
the respective bundle in a printing unit on the film material that
is extracted from a supply roller. It is thereby possible, using
one and the same primary or film material to modify the packaging
of the bundle by a corresponding adjustment or conversion.
[0011] In one possible embodiment of the present application, the
printing unit is realized so that it produces the respective image
on the film material as a function of its actuation by an
electronic control unit or a computer, and possibly on the basis of
a dataset formed electronically or by software and a template that
can be stored, for example in a memory of the control device or of
the computer. By modifying this template, it is easily possible to
modify and convert the packaging of the pack, and possibly in many
respects, i.e. in terms of text, graphics, color, image, etc., as
well as with respect to the size and shape of the respective
printed image. The present application also makes it possible,
among other things, to easily modify and/or update as desired the
respective packaging of the bundle, and possibly also as a function
of the respective product and/or of the respective brand. It is
also possible to select and to use the product packaging desired
for printing the film material, to adjust the size of the printing
to the size of the bundle and/or also to vary the printed image or
parts of the printed image during the process.
[0012] The printing unit may have at least one printhead, which is
possibly realized in the form of a "Tonejet" printhead and/or in
the form of a printhead that is equivalent to such a "Tonejet"
printhead. A print-head of this type has, in a printing area which,
during the printing of the area to be printed, is located facing
and at a slight distance from this surface, a plurality of
individual nozzles which are provided close after one another in a
longitudinal axis of the printhead, and each of which is formed by
a nozzle aperture and by an electrode that corresponds to each
nozzle aperture. The ink that is present in the printhead is
released from each individual nozzle or from the corresponding
nozzle aperture when, for the activation of an individual nozzle,
an electrical voltage is applied to the electrode corresponding to
said individual nozzle, the polarity and/or potential of which
differs from the polarity and/or potential of the printhead or of
the ink in the printhead, so that a certain quantity of ink is
ejected or expelled from the nozzle aperture of the activated
individual nozzle. A printhead of this type is referred to below as
an "electrostatic printhead".
[0013] Containers within the meaning of the present application are
in turn any packages that are filled with a product and closed,
including but not limited to bottles, cans, boxes, cartons, tubes
made of cardboard or another flat material, for example packages
manufactured from a multiple-ply flat material, etc.
[0014] Bundling units within the meaning of the present application
are a plurality of containers combined into a group with or without
a carrier that supports or partly comprises these containers.
[0015] Bundles within the meaning of the present application are
packs of the type described above which are held together or fixed
in position by a shrinkable film material by wrapping them with
this material and then shrinking this material, i.e. by shrink
wrap.
[0016] The above-discussed embodiments of the present invention
will be described further herein below. When the word "invention"
or "embodiment of the invention" is used in this specification, the
word "invention" or "embodiment of the invention" includes
"inventions" or "embodiments of the invention", that is the plural
of "invention" or "embodiment of the invention". By stating
"invention" or "embodiment of the invention", the Applicant does
not in any way admit that the present application does not include
more than one patentably and non-obviously distinct invention, and
maintains that this application may include more than one
patentably and non-obviously distinct invention. The Applicant
hereby asserts that the disclosure of this application may include
more than one invention, and, in the event that there is more than
one invention, that these inventions may be patentable and
non-obvious one with respect to the other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The present application is explained in greater detail below
with reference to one possible embodiment which is illustrated in
the accompanying figures, in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a device for the
manufacture of packs each comprising a plurality of containers;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration showing the printheads of
a printing unit which is realized in the form of electrostatic
printheads together with the film material to be printed; and
[0020] FIG. 3 shows one of the printheads of the printing unit
illustrated in FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OR EMBODIMENTS
[0021] In the figures, 1 is a device for the manufacture of bundles
by combining a plurality of bundling units by combining a plurality
of containers 2 into individual bundle arrangements and assembling
each bundle arrangement 3 into a bundle 4 by means of a shrunken
film 5 which surrounds the bundle arrangement 3.
[0022] The device 1 has, on an equipment frame 6, among other
things, a conveyor 7 which forms an internal horizontal conveyor
line with which the containers 2 are moved in a horizontal
transport direction A through the device, and possibly in a
multi-lane conveyor flow in which at least two containers 2 are
located next to each other at a right angle to the direction of
transport A.
[0023] As illustrated in detail in FIG. 1, the packs 2 are fed to
the device 1 at an inlet 8.1 as a multi-lane conveyor flow, and
then proceed to a buffer line 9 formed by the conveyor 7, in which
the containers 2 are also close together in the direction of
transport A. In a divider unit 10 that is downstream of the buffer
line 9, individual groups of containers are formed, which then
travel as a bundling unit 3 to a station 11, in which each bundling
unit 3 is wrapped with a length of film material that has been
separated from the film material 5.1, which then, by shrink
wrapping in a shrink tunnel 12, forms the shrink wrap 5 that holds
the respective bundle 4 together. The finished bundles 4 are fed to
another application via a conveyor that is not shown but is
adjacent to the outlet 8.2 of the device 1.
[0024] For the production of the individual packs 3, at the divider
station 10 there is an additional conveyor 13 which in the
illustrated embodiment comprises two conveyor belts 14, each of
which forms a closed loop and is driven in circulation. These
conveyor belts are oriented with the planes of their loops in the
vertical direction and are located on both sides of the conveyor
line formed by the conveyor 7. Between the conveyor belts 14, there
are a plurality of webs or bars or arms 15 at intervals which act
as pushers for the containers 2 and are separated from one another
at a distance such that with each web 15, one bundling unit 3 from
the buffer line 9 is driven in the direction of transport A.
[0025] The strip-format film material 5.1 is supplied in the form
of a roll 5.2 that is held on a mandrel or a bracket 5.3 and is
pulled off this roll in a direction of movement or transport B
during the operation of the device 1. From the roll 5.2, the film
material 5.1 is transported by means of a plurality of deflector
pulleys first through various devices 16 and 17, among others, to
define the correct length and/or to maintain a specified strip
tension opposite to the direction of transport A, to a printing
station 18, through which the strip-format film material 5.1, after
a deflection in the direction of transport A, is moved, in which
this material is printed in the manner described in greater detail
below. In the direction of travel B of the film material 5.1,
downstream of the printing station 18 is a cutting station 19, in
which the length of the printed film material 5.1 desired to wrap
one bundling unit 3 is separated and then transported by means of a
conveyor 20 to the wrapping station 11.
[0026] The supply roll 5.2, the units 16 and 17, the printing
station 19 and the conveyor element 20 are located inside the
equipment frame 6 below the conveyor line formed by the conveyor
7.
[0027] A first characteristic of the present application is that
the printing of the film material 5.1 in the device 1 takes place
immediately or substantially immediately before the use of this
material. It is thereby possible to use, as the film material 5.1,
a neutral film which is then provided with the printed impression
desired for the bundle 4.
[0028] In detail, the printing station 18 comprises, viewed
sequentially in the illustrated embodiment in the direction of
travel or transport B of the film material 5.1, a pre-heater unit
21, a printer unit 22 which is adjacent to the pre-heater unit 21,
a unit 23 that follows the printing unit 22 for the drying of the
individual impression or printed image, and possibly as a function
of the ink used for the printing by heating or heat treatment or UV
treatment, etc.
[0029] An additional feature of the device 1 is the realization of
the printing unit 22. The printing unit 22, as illustrated in FIGS.
2 and 3, comprises a plurality of printheads 24 which are oriented
at a right angle or virtually perpendicular to the direction of
travel B of the film material 5.1 at a short distance above this
material or above the printing plane formed by the film material
5.1. In the illustrated embodiment, this printing plane is a
horizontal plane.
[0030] To promote optimum printing performance (number of
impressions per unit of time) with the optimum possible printing
quality, in this embodiment the print heads 24 are realized in the
form of electrostatic printheads. For a multicolor printing there
may be at least three printheads, each of which is used to print
one color set of a multi-color printing. The printing heads thus
comprise, in their coloring, different colors of ink, e.g. red,
blue and yellow. Basically it is also possible to provide
additional print-heads 24 on the printing unit 22, for example a
fourth printhead 24 for black ink.
[0031] As also shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the printhead 24 comprises
of a housing 25 which forms, among other things, a closed interior
compartment 26 which holds the liquid or viscous ink. Each housing
25 is designed so that the interior compartment 26 tapers in a cone
or wedge shape toward a lower housing segment 25.1. On this housing
segment 25.1, which extends over the entire length of each
printhead 24 or its housing 25 and is oriented parallel or
virtually parallel to a longitudinal axis DL of the housing or
printhead and thus also parallel or virtually parallel to the
printing plane, there are a plurality of individually activated
nozzles 27 for the controlled dispensing of the ink, and possibly
in at least one row sequentially in the direction of the
longitudinal axis DL of the printhead and arranged close together,
so that, for example, one hundred and fifty individual nozzles 27
per inch or more are formed on the housing segment 25.1. With the
housing segment 25.1 that has the individual nozzles 27, each
printhead 24 is located at the above mentioned short distance above
the film material 5.1 to be printed or the printing plane. The film
material 5.1 is continuously or discontinuously moved forward past
the respective printhead 24 during the printing in the direction of
travel B. As a result of the above mentioned orientation of the
printheads 24, in at least one embodiment the direction of forward
movement or travel B is at a right angle, that is perpendicular or
virtually perpendicular to the printhead longitudinal axis DL of
the printheads 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the printheads 24
are arranged with their longitudinal axes DL of the printheads
parallel or virtually parallel to one another in the horizontal
direction, and in at least one embodiment in a common horizontal
plane.
[0032] Each individual nozzle 27 comprises an aperture 28 and a
needle-shaped electrode 29 that corresponds to this aperture 28.
The axis of the electrode 29 is oriented equi-axially with the axis
of the respective aperture 28 and ends at a slight distance from
this aperture 28 inside the housing interior compartment 26. Each
printhead 24 is also realized so that, at least during the printing
process, the ink that is in the housing interior compartment 26 is
pressed at a certain hydrostatic pressure toward the apertures 28
of the individual nozzles 27. The cross section of the openings 28,
however, is selected taking the viscosity and/or the surface
tension of the ink into consideration so that when the individual
nozzle 27 is not activated, ink does not exit the apertures 28 in
spite of the hydrostatic pressure.
[0033] The electrodes 29 can be actuated individually by means of a
control device 30, and possibly so that when the individual nozzle
27 is not activated, the corresponding electrode 29 is at the same
electrical potential as the ink in the interior 26 of the housing.
When an individual nozzle 27 is activated, the potential of the
corresponding electrode 29 is varied briefly or in a pulsed fashion
by a corresponding activation or actuation by the control device
30, so that ink is dispensed via the aperture 28 to produce a
printed dot 31 on the film material 5.1.
[0034] Because the printheads 24 are oriented with the longitudinal
axis DL of their printhead at a right angle or perpendicular or
virtually perpendicular to the direction B of forward travel of the
film material 5.1, the printing on the film material 5.1 is often
done in rows that run perpendicular or virtually perpendicular to
the longitudinal direction or direction of forward travel B of the
film material 5.2 over the entire width of the area to be printed,
e.g. over a large part of the width of the film material 5.1, and
possibly progressively in the direction of forward travel B of the
film material 5.1. The individual nozzles 27 can be activated at
high speed. For the printing, moreover, a single relative movement
between the film material 5.1 and the respective printhead 24,
namely only which movement, in at least one embodiment, comprises
the forward movement of the film material 5.1. For these reasons a
high print output can be achieved. The respective image is
generated digitally in the control device 30 by a corresponding
actuation of the individual nozzles 27 and is stored in the control
device 30 or in a memory of the control device in the form of a
digital dataset.
[0035] The film material 5.1 is printed in the printing unit 22 so
that the imprint and/or the graphic and/or color layout or
decoration of the film material 5.1 is produced completely by the
printing unit 22 on the neutral film material 5.1 and/or an imprint
that is already present on the film material 5.1 is supplemented in
a desired fashion with the printer unit 22, e.g. text, colors or
graphics can be added. Various advantageous capabilities, i.e.
among others the ability to rapidly convert the device 1 to
different products, to set and/or adjust the size of the current
printed impression to the size of the bundle 4, etc., become
possible because the film material is printed in the device 1, i.e.
immediately or essentially immediately before the use of this
material for the formation of the bundles 4, and as a result of the
activation of the printer unit 22 or of the printheads 24 located
in it by the electronic control unit 30 with the use of digital
print forms or templates stored in the printer unit. It is also
possible to easily modify the impression on the film material 5.1
simply by reprogramming or modifying a program in the electronic
control device 30. It is also possible, among other things, during
the printing process, to change the impression and thus the
packaging of the bundle 4, e.g. to reformat or redesign the printed
image for each bundle 4, often so that each printed image may be
then composed of a constant, unchanging component and variable text
and/or information. The components of the printed image that vary
can, for example, be numerical or alphanumerical information, e.g.
information relating to the manufacturing date, the use-by date or
information in the form of a numerical code, etc.
[0036] It goes without saying that the forward movement of the film
material 5.1, at least in the vicinity of the printheads 24, is
regulated by the electronic control device 30, and possibly in
synchronization with the actuation of the printheads 24, to thereby
achieve a clear, high-quality printed image. It further goes
without saying that centering and guide means for the film material
5.1 are provided in the vicinity of the printheads 24 to optimally
orient this material with reference to the printheads 24, and/or to
comply with the specified distance between the printheads 24 and
the film material 5.1.
[0037] In the pre-heater unit 21 that is upstream of the printing
unit 22 and the printheads 24 in it, the film material 5.1 is
preheated so that the ink of the ink sets produced by the
individual printheads 24 sets or bonds to the surface at least to
the extent that an undesirable mixing of the individual inks is
restricted. To improve the printed image in terms of contrast
and/or sharpness, the pre-heater device 21 can have additional
elements, for example a corona element (not shown), with which the
film material 5.1 is electrostatically charged before printing, at
least on the side that will be printed.
[0038] The ink is dried or set in the unit 23 that is downstream of
the printing unit 22 in the direction of forward travel B, namely
by heating or in another suitable manner, e.g. by setting under UV
light, etc.
[0039] The present application was described above on the basis of
one possible embodiment. It goes without saying that numerous
variations and modifications are possible without thereby going
beyond the teaching of the present application.
[0040] In a method for the formation of bundles consisting of a
plurality of containers by wrapping with a film material, the film
material is printed immediately or essentially immediately before
the wrapping by at least one printing unit which is provided in the
direction of travel of the film material between the supply and the
packaging station.
[0041] One feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the
time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside
broadly in a method for the formation of bundles 4 consisting of a
plurality of containers 2 by wrapping with a printed, strip-format
film material 5.1 in a packaging station 11 to which the film
material taken from a supply 5.2 is fed, whereby the film material
5.1 is printed at least partly in one or more colors at a printing
unit 22 which is upstream of the packaging station 11 in the
direction of transport B of the film 5 and the film material 5.2
pulled off the supply 5.2 is a neutral film with or without an
imprint is done using at least one printing unit 22 which produces
the print and/or the printed image as a function of an electronic
actuator device 30, by generating the printed image as a function
of templates that are stored electronically or in the form of
software in the control device 30, wherein the printing takes place
during relative movement between the film material 5.1 and the
printing unit 22 or at least one printhead 24 of the printing unit
22.
[0042] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method, wherein the film material 5.1 is
moved relative to the printing unit 22 and to the at least one
printhead 24 located on the printing unit.
[0043] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method as, wherein the at least one printing
unit 22 has at least one electrostatic printhead 24 with a
plurality of individually activatable individual nozzles 27 for the
controlled dispensing of ink, and the individual nozzles 27 are
arranged in at least one row one after another in a longitudinal
axis DL of the printhead.
[0044] Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method, wherein the printed image is modified
at least partly during the formation of the bundle 4.
[0045] A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method, wherein the film material 5.1 is
printed in lines at a right angle to a longitudinal direction of
the film material or at a right angle to the direction of transport
B of the film material 5.1, and possibly, for example, over the
entire width or a major portion of the width of the film material
5.1.
[0046] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method, wherein the relative movement between
the at least one printhead 24 and the film material 5.1 takes place
at a right angle or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis DL of
the printhead.
[0047] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method, wherein the film material 5.1 is
oriented horizontally or essentially horizontally during the
printing.
[0048] Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method, wherein the at least one printhead 24
is located above the film material 5.1 to be printed.
[0049] A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method, characterized by at least two and
preferably at least three printheads 24.
[0050] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method, wherein for the production of a
multi-color impression, one color set of this impression is
produced with each printhead 24.
[0051] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method, wherein the ink, after it has been
applied to the film material 5.1, it is dried and/or set by the
application of energy, e.g. by heating and/or UV light.
[0052] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method, wherein the film material 5.1 is
heated and/or statically charged before printing.
[0053] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method, wherein the individual length of film
material for the formation of a bundle 4 is separated in a cutting
station 19 from the film material 5.1, and the printing of the film
material takes place before the separation.
[0054] Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method, wherein the individual length of film
material for the formation of a bundle 4 is separated in a cutting
station 19 from the film material 5.1, and the printing of the film
material takes place after the separation.
[0055] A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method, wherein the film material 5.1, after
the winding for the formation of a shrunk film or wrapping 5 that
surrounds the containers 2 is shrunk by the application of
heat.
[0056] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in a device for the formation of bundles 4
consisting of a plurality of containers 2 by wrapping with a film
material in a wrapping or packaging station 11, to which film
material pulled from a supply 5.2 is fed in a feed direction B,
whereby between the supply 5.2 and the packaging station 11 there
is at least one printing unit 22 for the printing of the film
material 5.1, in which the at least one printing unit 22 is
realized for a single-color or multiple-color printing of the film
material 5.1 and the image is produced as a function of an
electrical control unit, wherein means are provided to produce the
relative movement between the film material and the at least one
printing unit 22 or at least one printhead 24 of this printing unit
22 during the printing.
[0057] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the device, characterized by feed means, with
which the film material 5.1 is moved relative to the at least one
printing unit 2 or to the at least one printhead 24 located in
it.
[0058] Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the device, wherein the at least one printing
unit 22 has at least one electrostatic printhead 24 with a
plurality of individually activated individual nozzles 27 for the
controlled dispensing of ink, and the individual nozzles 27 are
arranged in at least one row one after another in a longitudinal
axis DL of the a printhead.
[0059] A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the device, wherein the at least one printhead 24
is oriented with a printhead longitudinal axis DL at a right angle
or perpendicular to the feed direction B of the film material
5.1.
[0060] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the device, wherein the at least one printing
unit 22 produces the image as a function of templates that are
stored electronically or in the form of software in the control
device 30.
[0061] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the device, wherein the printing unit 22 or at
least one printhead 24 of this unit prints the strip-format film
material 5.1 by rows at a right angle to the longitudinal direction
of the strip, and possibly over the entire width or a major portion
of this width.
[0062] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the device, wherein the film material 5.1 is
oriented horizontally or essentially horizontally during
printing.
[0063] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the device, wherein the at least one print head
24 is located above the film material 5.1.
[0064] Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the device, characterized by at least two and
preferably by at least three printheads 24.
[0065] A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the device, wherein for the production of a
multi-color impression, each printhead 24 corresponds to one color
set of the impression.
[0066] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the device, characterized by means 23 for the
drying of the ink after the application to the film material 5.1 by
the action of energy, for example by heating and/or by UV
light.
[0067] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the device, characterized by means 21 for the
heading and/or electrostatic charging of the film material 5.1
before printing.
[0068] Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the device, characterized by a cutting station 19
for the separation of a length of the film material 5.1 that is fed
to the packaging station 11 for the production of a bundle, whereby
the at least one printing unit 22 is provide upstream of the
cutting station 19 or downstream of the cutting station 19 in the
direction of transport B of the film material 5.1.
[0069] A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the device, characterized by a conveyor line
formed by at least one conveyor 7, on which the containers 2 that
are fed to the device at an inlet 8.1 are combined into a pack 3,
which is then wrapped in the packaging station 11 with the film
material 5.1, and the at least one printing unit 22 is located
underneath the conveyor line, and in particular preferably together
with the supply of the film material 5.1 formed by a supply roller
5.2 and/or a holder 5.3 for this supply.
[0070] At least one feature or aspect of an embodiment of the
German application No. 10 2006 009 348.8 was believed at the time
of the filing of the German application to possibly reside broadly
in a method for the formation of bundles 4 consisting of a
plurality of containers 2 by wrapping with a printed, strip-format
film material 5.1 in a packaging station 11 to which the film
material taken from a supply 5.2 is fed, wherein the film material
5.1 is at least partly printed in a printing unit 22 that is
upstream of the packaging station 11 in the direction of transport
B of the film 5.1.
[0071] At least one feature or aspect of an embodiment of the
German application was believed at the time of the filing of the
German application to possibly reside broadly in the method,
wherein the film material 5.1 pulled off the supply 5.2 is a
neutral film without printing.
[0072] At least one feature or aspect of an embodiment of the
German application No. 10 2006 009 348.8 was believed at the time
of the filing of the German application to possibly reside broadly
in the method, wherein the film material pulled off the supply 5.2
is preprinted, and the printing of the film material 5.1 is an
addition to the printed image that is already present on this
material.
[0073] At least one feature or aspect of an embodiment of the
German application No. 10 2006 009 348.8 was believed at the time
of the filing of the German application to possibly reside broadly
in the method, wherein the film material 5.1 is printed in multiple
colors.
[0074] At least one feature or aspect of an embodiment of the
German application No. 10 2006 009 348.8 was believed at the time
of the filing of the German application to possibly reside broadly
in the method, wherein the film material 5.1 is printed using at
least one printing unit 22 which generates the print or the printed
image as a function of an electronic actuation unit 30.
[0075] At least one feature or aspect of an embodiment of the
German application No. 10 2006 009 348.8 was believed at the time
of the filing of the German application to possibly reside broadly
in the method, wherein the printing unit 22 generates the printed
image as a function of templates stored electronically in the
control device 30 or by means of software.
[0076] At least one feature or aspect of an embodiment of the
German application No. 10 2006 009 348.8 was believed at the time
of the filing of the German application to possibly reside broadly
in a device for the formation of bundles 4 consisting of a
plurality of containers 2 by wrapping with a film material in a
wrapping or packaging station 11, to which film material pulled
from a supply 5.2 is fed in a feed direction B wherein, between the
supply 5.2 and the packaging station 11 there is at least one
printing unit 22 for the printing of the film material 5.1.
[0077] At least one feature or aspect of an embodiment of the
German application No. 10 2006 009 348.8 was believed at the time
of the filing of the German application to possibly reside broadly
in the device, wherein the at least one printing unit 22 is
realized for a multi-color printing of the film material 5.1.
[0078] At least one feature or aspect of an embodiment of the
German application No. 10 2006 009 348.8 was believed at the time
of the filing of the German application to possibly reside broadly
in the device, characterized by means for the production of the
relative movement between the film material 5.1 and the at least
one printing unit 22 or at least one printhead 24 of this printing
unit 22 during printing.
[0079] At least one feature or aspect of an embodiment of the
German application No. 10 2006 009 348.8 was believed at the time
of the filing of the German application to possibly reside broadly
in the device, characterized by feed means, with which the film
material 5.1 is moved relative to the at least one printing unit 2
or to the at least one printhead 24 located in it.
[0080] The components disclosed in the various publications,
disclosed or incorporated by reference herein, may possibly be used
in possible embodiments of the present invention, as well as
equivalents thereof.
[0081] The purpose of the statements about the technical field is
generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public
to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this
patent application. The description of the technical field is
believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to
adequately describe the technical field of this patent application.
However, the description of the technical field may not be
completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this
patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent
application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from
this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to
the technical field are not intended to limit the claims in any
manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any
manner.
[0082] The appended drawings in their entirety, including all
dimensions, proportions and/or shapes in at least one embodiment of
the invention, are accurate and are hereby included by reference
into this specification.
[0083] The background information is believed, at the time of the
filing of this patent application, to adequately provide background
information for this patent application. However, the background
information may not be completely applicable to the claims as
originally filed in this patent application, as amended during
prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed
in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any
statements made relating to the background information are not
intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be
interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
[0084] All, or substantially all, of the components and methods of
the various embodiments may be used with at least one embodiment or
all of the embodiments, if more than one embodiment is described
herein.
[0085] The purpose of the statements about the object or objects is
generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public
to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this
patent application. The description of the object or objects is
believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to
adequately describe the object or objects of this patent
application. However, the description of the object or objects may
not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in
this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this
patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing
from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made
relating to the object or objects are not intended to limit the
claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the
claims in any manner.
[0086] All of the patents, patent applications and publications
recited herein, and in the Declaration attached hereto, are hereby
incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety
herein.
[0087] The summary is believed, at the time of the filing of this
patent application, to adequately summarize this patent
application. However, portions or all of the information contained
in the summary may not be completely applicable to the claims as
originally filed in this patent application, as amended during
prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed
in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any
statements made relating to the summary are not intended to limit
the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting
the claims in any manner.
[0088] It will be understood that the examples of patents,
published patent applications, and other documents which are
included in this application and which are referred to in
paragraphs which state "Some examples of . . . which may possibly
be used in at least one possible embodiment of the present
application . . . " may possibly not be used or useable in any one
or more embodiments of the application.
[0089] The sentence immediately above relates to patents, published
patent applications and other documents either incorporated by
reference or not incorporated by reference.
[0090] All of the patents, patent applications or patent
publications, which were cited in the International Search Report
dated Oct. 24, 2007, and/or cited elsewhere are hereby incorporated
by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein as follows:
EP 1717151 issued on Nov. 2, 2006, entitled "Wrapping with
Decorative Foil;" EP 1038780 issued Sep. 27, 2000, entitled "Method
and Apparatus for Printing Blanks;" DE 10212889 issued Aug. 5,
2004, entitled "Blister Pack Manufacturing Device Has Markings
Provided by Underlying Foil Detected for Providing Activation
Signals for Printer Used for Printing Overlying Foil."
[0091] The purpose of incorporating U.S. patents, Foreign patents,
publications, etc. is solely to provide additional information
relating to features of one or more embodiments, which information
may not be completely disclosed in the wording in the pages of this
application. Words relating to the opinions and judgments of the
author and not directly relating to the technical details of the
description of the embodiments therein are not incorporated by
reference. The words all, always, absolutely, consistently,
preferably, guarantee, particularly, constantly, ensure,
necessarily, immediately, endlessly, avoid, exactly, continually,
expediently, need, must, only, perpetual, precise, perfect,
require, requisite, simultaneous, total, unavoidable, and
unnecessary, or words substantially equivalent to the
above-mentioned words in this sentence, are not considered to be
incorporated by reference.
[0092] The following U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,403, issued Feb. 3, 1998,
to Clusserath, is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth
in its entirety herein.
[0093] The corresponding foreign and international patent
publication applications, namely, Federal Republic of Germany
Patent Application No. 10 2006 009 348.8, filed on Mar. 1, 2006,
having inventor Volker TILL, and DE-OS 10 2006 009 348.8 and DE-PS
10 2006 009 348.8, and International Application No.
PCT/EP2007/000888, filed on Feb. 2, 2007, having WIPO Publication
No. WO2007/101517 and inventor Volker TILL, are hereby incorporated
by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein for the
purpose of correcting and explaining any possible
misinterpretations of the English translation thereof. In addition,
the published equivalents of the above corresponding foreign and
international patent publication applications, and other
equivalents or corresponding applications, if any, in corresponding
cases in the Federal Republic of Germany and elsewhere, and the
references and documents cited in any of the documents cited
herein, such as the patents, patent applications and publications,
are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their
entirety herein.
[0094] The purpose of incorporating the Foreign equivalent patent
application PCT/2007/000888 and Federal Republic of Germany Patent
Application 10 2006 009 348.8 is solely for the purpose of
providing a basis of correction of any wording in the pages of the
present application, which may have been mistranslated or
misinterpreted by the translator. Words relating to opinions and
judgments of the author and not directly relating to the technical
details of the description of the embodiments therein are not to be
incorporated by reference. The words all, always, absolutely,
consistently, preferably, guarantee, particularly, constantly,
ensure, necessarily, immediately, endlessly, avoid, exactly,
continually, expediently, need, must, only, perpetual, precise,
perfect, require, requisite, simultaneous, total, unavoidable, and
unnecessary, or words substantially equivalent to the
above-mentioned word in this sentence, are not generally considered
to be incorporated by reference.
[0095] Statements made in the original foreign patent applications
PCT/2007/000888 and DE 10 2006 009 348.8 from which this patent
application claims priority which do not have to do with the
correction of the translation in this patent application are not to
be included in this patent application in the incorporation by
reference.
[0096] All of the references and documents, cited in any of the
documents cited herein, are hereby incorporated by reference as if
set forth in their entirety herein. All of the documents cited
herein, referred to in the immediately preceding sentence, include
all of the patents, patent applications and publications cited
anywhere in the present application.
[0097] The description of the embodiment or embodiments is
believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to
adequately describe the embodiment or embodiments of this patent
application. However, portions of the description of the embodiment
or embodiments may not be completely applicable to the claims as
originally filed in this patent application, as amended during
prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed
in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any
statements made relating to the embodiment or embodiments are not
intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be
interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
[0098] The details in the patents, patent applications and
publications may be considered to be incorporable, at applicant's
option, into the claims during prosecution as further limitations
in the claims to patentably distinguish any amended claims from any
applied prior art.
[0099] The purpose of the title of this patent application is
generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public
to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this
patent application. The title is believed, at the time of the
filing of this patent application, to adequately reflect the
general nature of this patent application. However, the title may
not be completely applicable to the technical field, the object or
objects, the summary, the description of the embodiment or
embodiments, and the claims as originally filed in this patent
application, as amended during prosecution of this patent
application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from
this patent application. Therefore, the title is not intended to
limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as
limiting the claims in any manner.
[0100] The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as
required by 37 C.F.R. .sctn.1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R.
.sctn.1.72(b): [0101] A brief abstract of the technical disclosure
in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably
following the claims, under the heading "Abstract of the
Disclosure." The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent
and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly
from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical
disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the
scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the
abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and
should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
[0102] The Innopack packaging machine, manufactured by KHS
Maschinen und Anlagenbau AG, is an example of a packaging machine
which may possibly be utilized or adapted for use in at least one
possible embodiment. Some other examples of packaging machines
which may possibly be utilized or adapted for use in at least one
possible embodiment may possibly be found in the following U.S.
Pat. No. 4,964,260, entitled "Packaging machine for cardboard boxes
and process for packaging articles in cardboard boxes;" No.
4,785,610, entitled "Automatic machine for packaging products of
different kinds in boxes;" No. 5,265,398, entitled "Automatic
counting and boxing machine;" No. 5,943,847, entitled "Packaging
machine for multi-packs;" No. 5,937,620, entitled "Packaging
machine for multi-packs;" No. 5,711,137, entitled "Packaging
machine and method of packaging articles;" and No. 5,706,633,
entitled "Packaging machine and method of packaging articles."
[0103] The purpose of incorporating U.S. patents, Foreign patents,
publications, etc. is solely to provide additional information
relating to features of one or more embodiments, which information
may not be completely disclosed in the wording in the pages of this
application. Words relating to the opinions and judgments of the
author and not directly relating to the technical details of the
description of the embodiments therein are not incorporated by
reference. The words all, always, absolutely, consistently,
preferably, guarantee, particularly, constantly, ensure,
necessarily, immediately, endlessly, avoid, exactly, continually,
expediently, need, must, only, perpetual, precise, perfect,
require, requisite, simultaneous, total, unavoidable, and
unnecessary, or words substantially equivalent to the
above-mentioned words in this sentence, are not considered to be
incorporated by reference.
[0104] Some examples of shrink wrapping machines or machines for
wrapping items in plastic film which may possibly be utilized or
adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment may possibly be
found in the following U.S. Pat. No. 6,826,893, entitled "Apparatus
for wrapping products with plastic film;" No. 6,739,115, entitled
"Equipment for wrapping groups of products in plastic film;" No.
5,878,555, entitled "Apparatus for wrapping articles in plastic
film;" No. 5,787,691, entitled "Apparatus for wrapping articles in
plastic film;" No. 5,519,983, entitled "Shrink wrap packaging
system with an ultrasonic side sealer;" No. 4,956,963, entitled
"Method of sealing a shrink wrap package;" No. 4,873,814, entitled
"Method of making a shrink wrap package;" No. 4,214,419, entitled
"Collating and shrink wrap packaging apparatus;" No. 6,484,475,
entitled "Modular packaging machine;" No. 4,694,633, entitled "Film
wrapping machine;" No. 4,118,916, entitled "Thermoplastic wrapping
machine;" No. 4,118,916, entitled "Thermoplastic wrapping machine;"
No. 5,371,999, entitled "Shrink film wrapping machine;" No.
4,748,795, entitled "Film wrapping machine;" and No. 5,115,620,
entitled "Wrapping machine."
[0105] The purpose of incorporating U.S. patents, Foreign patents,
publications, etc. is solely to provide additional information
relating to features of one or more embodiments, which information
may not be completely disclosed in the wording in the pages of this
application. Words relating to the opinions and judgments of the
author and not directly relating to the technical details of the
description of the embodiments therein are not incorporated by
reference. The words all, always, absolutely, consistently,
preferably, guarantee, particularly, constantly, ensure,
necessarily, immediately, endlessly, avoid, exactly, continually,
expediently, need, must, only, perpetual, precise, perfect,
require, requisite, simultaneous, total, unavoidable, and
unnecessary, or words substantially equivalent to the
above-mentioned words in this sentence, are not considered to be
incorporated by reference.
[0106] The Innopack Kisters ST shrink tunnels, manufactured by KHS
Maschinen und Anlagenbau AG, is an example of a shrink tunnel which
may possibly be utilized or adapted for use in at least one
possible embodiment. Some other examples of shrink tunnels which
may possibly be utilized or adapted for use in at least one
possible embodiment may possibly be found in the following U.S.
Pat. No. 7,363,728, issued Apr. 29, 2008, entitled "Shrink Wrap
Tunnel with Variable Set Points;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,041, issued
May 5, 1998, entitled "Shrinking Selected Portions of Film Wrapped
Around a Product;" No. 5,740,659, issued Apr. 21, 1998, entitled
"Shrink Tunnel and Methods Relating Thereto;" and No. 5,546,677,
issued Aug. 20, 1996, entitled "Apparatus and Method for Shrinking
Film Wrapped Around a Product."
[0107] The purpose of incorporating U.S. patents, Foreign patents,
publications, etc. is solely to provide additional information
relating to features of one or more embodiments, which information
may not be completely disclosed in the wording in the pages of this
application. Words relating to the opinions and judgments of the
author and not directly relating to the technical details of the
description of the embodiments therein are not incorporated by
reference. The words all, always, absolutely, consistently,
preferably, guarantee, particularly, constantly, ensure,
necessarily, immediately, endlessly, avoid, exactly, continually,
expediently, need, must, only, perpetual, precise, perfect,
require, requisite, simultaneous, total, unavoidable, and
unnecessary, or words substantially equivalent to the
above-mentioned words in this sentence, are not considered to be
incorporated by reference.
[0108] Some examples of shrink film that may possibly be utilized
or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment may possibly
be found in the following U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,237, issued Feb. 25,
1992, entitled "Transparent Shrink Film Based on Polypropylene,
Process for Its Manufacture, and Its Use for Shrink Labels;" No.
5,480,945, issued Jan. 2, 1996, entitled "Amorphous Nylon Copolymer
and Copolyamide Films and Blends;" No. 6,479,138, issued Nov. 12,
2002, entitled "Low Shrink Tension Film;" and No. 6,344,250, issued
Feb. 5, 2002, entitled "Multi-layered Polyolefin High Shrinkage,
Low Shrink Force Shrink Film."
[0109] The purpose of incorporating U.S. patents, Foreign patents,
publications, etc. is solely to provide additional information
relating to features of one or more embodiments, which information
may not be completely disclosed in the wording in the pages of this
application. Words relating to the opinions and judgments of the
author and not directly relating to the technical details of the
description of the embodiments therein are not incorporated by
reference. The words all, always, absolutely, consistently,
preferably, guarantee, particularly, constantly, ensure,
necessarily, immediately, endlessly, avoid, exactly, continually,
expediently, need, must, only, perpetual, precise, perfect,
require, requisite, simultaneous, total, unavoidable, and
unnecessary, or words substantially equivalent to the
above-mentioned words in this sentence, are not considered to be
incorporated by reference.
[0110] The "Tonejet" printhead, developed by The Technology
Partnership plc, is an example of a printhead which may possibly be
utilized or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment.
Some examples of printheads that may possibly be utilized or
adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment may possibly be
found in the following U.S. Pat. No. 7,387,366, issued Jun. 17,
2008, entitled "Printhead;" No. 6,820,965, issued Nov. 23, 2004,
entitled "Drop-on-Demand Printer;" No. 7,407,271, issued Aug. 5,
2008, entitled "Self-Cooling Thermal Ink Jet Printhead;" and No.
7,380,906, issued Jun. 3, 2008, entitled "Printhead."
[0111] The purpose of incorporating U.S. patents, Foreign patents,
publications, etc. is solely to provide additional information
relating to features of one or more embodiments, which information
may not be completely disclosed in the wording in the pages of this
application. Words relating to the opinions and judgments of the
author and not directly relating to the technical details of the
description of the embodiments therein are not incorporated by
reference. The words all, always, absolutely, consistently,
preferably, guarantee, particularly, constantly, ensure,
necessarily, immediately, endlessly, avoid, exactly, continually,
expediently, need, must, only, perpetual, precise, perfect,
require, requisite, simultaneous, total, unavoidable, and
unnecessary, or words substantially equivalent to the
above-mentioned words in this sentence, are not considered to be
incorporated by reference.
[0112] Some examples of drying units that may possibly be utilized
or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment may possibly
be found in the following U.S. Pat. No. 7,416,294, issued Aug. 26,
2008, entitled "Image Forming Apparatus and Liquid Control Method;"
No. 7,413,278, issued Aug. 19, 2008, entitled "Image Forming
Apparatus and Ejection Determining Method;" and No. 7,357,473,
issued Apr. 15, 2008, entitled "Inkjet Recording Apparatus and
Method."
[0113] The purpose of incorporating U.S. patents, Foreign patents,
publications, etc. is solely to provide additional information
relating to features of one or more embodiments, which information
may not be completely disclosed in the wording in the pages of this
application. Words relating to the opinions and judgments of the
author and not directly relating to the technical details of the
description of the embodiments therein are not incorporated by
reference. The words all, always, absolutely, consistently,
preferably, guarantee, particularly, constantly, ensure,
necessarily, immediately, endlessly, avoid, exactly, continually,
expediently, need, must, only, perpetual, precise, perfect,
require, requisite, simultaneous, total, unavoidable, and
unnecessary, or words substantially equivalent to the
above-mentioned words in this sentence, are not considered to be
incorporated by reference.
[0114] Some examples of computer systems that may possibly be
utilized or possibly adapted for use in at least one possible
embodiment of the present application may possibly be found in the
following U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,480 issued to Roach et al. on May 16,
1995; No. 5,479,355 issued to Hyduke on Dec. 26, 1995; No.
5,481,730 issued to Brown et al. on Jan. 2, 1996; No. 5,805,094
issued to Roach et al. on Sep. 8, 1998; No. 5,881,227 issued to
Atkinson et al. on Mar. 9, 1999; and No. 6,072,462 issued to
Moshovich on Jun. 6, 2000.
[0115] The purpose of incorporating U.S. patents, Foreign patents,
publications, etc. is solely to provide additional information
relating to features of one or more embodiments, which information
may not be completely disclosed in the wording in the pages of this
application. Words relating to the opinions and judgments of the
author and not directly relating to the technical details of the
description of the embodiments therein are not incorporated by
reference. The words all, always, absolutely, consistently,
preferably, guarantee, particularly, constantly, ensure,
necessarily, immediately, endlessly, avoid, exactly, continually,
expediently, need, must, only, perpetual, precise, perfect,
require, requisite, simultaneous, total, unavoidable, and
unnecessary, or words substantially equivalent to the
above-mentioned words in this sentence, are not considered to be
incorporated by reference.
[0116] The embodiments of the invention described herein above in
the context of the preferred embodiments are not to be taken as
limiting the embodiments of the invention to all of the provided
details thereof, since modifications and variations thereof may be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments
of the invention.
NOMENCLATURE
[0117] 1 Packaging device [0118] 2 Container [0119] 3 Group of
containers or bundling [0120] 4 Bundle [0121] 5 Shrunk shrink-wrap
[0122] 5.1 Film material [0123] 5.2 Supply roll [0124] 5.3 Mandrel
or bracket [0125] 6 Equipment frame [0126] 7 Internal conveyor
[0127] 8.1 Inlet [0128] 8.2 Outlet [0129] 9 Buffer section [0130]
10 Divider unit [0131] 11 Unit for wrapping the container [0132] 12
Shrink wrap tunnel [0133] 13 Additional conveyor [0134] 14 Conveyor
belt [0135] 15 Web [0136] 16, 17 Device for regulating strip
tension [0137] 18 Printing station [0138] 19 Cutting station [0139]
20 Feed device [0140] 21 Pre-heater unit [0141] 22 Printer unit
[0142] 23 Unit for drying ink [0143] 24 Printhead [0144] 25 Housing
[0145] 25.1 Housing section [0146] 26 Interior compartment [0147]
27 Individual nozzle [0148] 28 Aperture [0149] 29 Electrode [0150]
30 Electronic control device [0151] 31 Printed dot [0152] A
Direction of transport of the [0153] B Direction of forward motion
of the film
* * * * *