U.S. patent application number 14/701584 was filed with the patent office on 2016-11-03 for apparatus and method of using an apparatus for controlling a film.
The applicant listed for this patent is Sealed Air Corporation (US). Invention is credited to Russell T. Christman, Thomas P. Orsini, Robert J. Simonelli.
Application Number | 20160318638 14/701584 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55967437 |
Filed Date | 2016-11-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160318638 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Simonelli; Robert J. ; et
al. |
November 3, 2016 |
Apparatus and Method of Using an Apparatus for Controlling a
Film
Abstract
The presently disclosed subject matter relates generally to an
apparatus that controls a film to allow various sized products to
enter the film. The disclosed apparatus comprises a first arm, a
second arm, and an upper member positioned between the first arm
and the second arm. A system comprising the apparatus and
components to wrap a product in film, such as, an end sealer, a
conveyor, and a side sealer is also disclosed. Additionally
disclosed is a method for controlling a film during a sealing
process.
Inventors: |
Simonelli; Robert J.;
(Worcester, MA) ; Orsini; Thomas P.; (Sterling,
MA) ; Christman; Russell T.; (Dunstable, MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sealed Air Corporation (US) |
Duncan |
SC |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55967437 |
Appl. No.: |
14/701584 |
Filed: |
May 1, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 53/02 20130101;
B65B 51/26 20130101; B65B 9/067 20130101; B65B 39/06 20130101; B65B
39/007 20130101; B65B 2220/08 20130101; B65B 59/001 20190501 |
International
Class: |
B65B 11/06 20060101
B65B011/06 |
Claims
1. A system for controlling a film during a sealing process using a
film conveyance mechanism for conveying a film through the system
in a machine direction, the system comprising: an apparatus, the
apparatus comprising: a first arm; a second arm, wherein: the
second arm is positioned opposite of the first arm, and the first
arm and the second arm are arranged to spread the film; an upper
member positioned between the first arm and the second arm; an end
sealer downstream from the first arm and the second arm; a conveyor
upstream of the end sealer and positioned between the first arm and
the second arm; and a side sealer upstream from the end sealer and
positioned adjacent to the first arm.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first arm and the second arm
of the apparatus are configured to have a leading edge and a
trailing edge.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the trailing edge of the first
arm of the apparatus and the trailing edge of the second arm of the
apparatus are configured to have a tab coupled on a side of the
trailing edge having contact with the film.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the upper member of the apparatus
further comprises at least one friction-reducing opening to reduce
the friction between the film and the upper member as the film
slides over the upper member.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the upper member further
comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the leading
edge comprises a first portion and a second portion that are
continuous.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first portion of the leading
edge of the upper member is perpendicular to the machine direction
and the second portion is at an angle less than 90 degrees from the
machine direction.
7. The system of claim 5, wherein the first portion of the leading
edge of the upper membrane has a raised lip positioned wherein the
raised lip is extending away from the conveyor.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a
filler plate that is coupled to the upper portion horizontally.
9. An apparatus for controlling a film during a sealing process,
the apparatus comprising: a first arm; a second arm, wherein: the
second arm is positioned opposite of the first arm, and the first
arm and the second arm are arranged to spread the film; an upper
member horizontally positioned between the first arm and the second
arm.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the film is selected from the
group comprising a folded film, multiple layers of film,
tube-shaped film, a film-based cushioning material and combinations
thereof.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first arm and the second
arm are configured to have a leading edge and a trailing edge.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the trailing edge of the
first arm and the trailing edge of the second arm are configured to
have a tab coupled on a side of the trailing edge having contact
with the film.
13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the upper member further
comprises at least one friction-reducing opening to reduce the
friction between the film and the upper member as the film slides
over the upper member.
14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the upper member of the
apparatus further comprises a plurality of friction-reducing
openings.
15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the upper member of the
apparatus further comprises a friction-reducing component.
16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the upper member further
comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the leading
edge comprises a first portion and a second portion that are
continuous.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first portion of the
leading edge of the upper member is perpendicular to the machine
direction and the second portion is at an angle less than 90
degrees from the machine direction.
18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first portion of the
leading edge of the upper membrane has a raised lip.
19. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus further
comprises a filler plate that is coupled to the upper portion
horizontally.
20. A method of controlling a film during a sealing process,
comprising: feeding a film onto the system of claim 1, wherein the
film comes into contact with the leading edge of the first arm and
the leading edge of the second arm; transporting the film in a
horizontal direction over the apparatus, wherein the film covers
the apparatus; and creating an end seal on the film with the end
sealer.
21. The method of claim 20, further comprising creating a side seal
on the film with a side sealer.
22. The method of claim 20, further comprising transporting a
product on the conveyor, wherein the product is surrounded by the
film controlled by the system of claim 1.
23. The method of claim 20, wherein an end seal is made that is
substantially free of wrinkles and multiple layers at the seal.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The presently disclosed subject matter relates generally to
an apparatus that controls a film to allow various sized products
to enter the film during a sealing process.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Wrapping machines are designed to wrap products in flexible
sheets of plastic film, typically heat sealable thermoplastic
shrink film, fully automated at speeds that can approach 200 linear
feet per minute, depending upon the package and the application.
Briefly, products to be packaged are continuously fed into a
wrapping machine using an infeed such as a conveyor. A single sheet
of flat or folded film is delivered to an inverting head from a
film unwind. The size and shape of the inverting head depends upon
the size and profile of the product to be packaged. As the film is
drawn over the inverting head, it is inverted and forms a tube of
film inside the inverting head into which the product is conveyed.
The product enters this tube of film and the product itself serves
to maintain the shape of the tube of film as the product and film
then continues through the wrapping machine in unison. The two
edges of the single web of film are overlapped on the bottom, side,
or top of the product and are sealed together, such as with a
static sealing system or a thermal sealing system. Sealing systems
have an end sealer and a side sealer. The film is sealed on the
side, and then the product passes through an end sealer that seals
in between the products to create a package of a wrapped product
and concurrently severs individual packages from the tube of film.
The wrapped package then typically proceeds to a shrink tunnel
located at the discharge end of the wrapping machine, which shrinks
the thermal film tightly around the product. Occasionally, the
wrapping machines are used to perform containment bagging functions
only without the use of a shrink tunnel. Wrapping machines that
utilize two webs of material, one fed from above the product and
one fed from below, that automatically wrap around the product and
are sealed also are known.
[0003] A limitation of these wrapping machines is the ability to
feed various size products while using the same film. Products that
enter these wrapping machines are generally similar in size and
machine set-up limits the operator from feeding randomly sized
products. Usually the wrapping machine is setup to run a particular
sized product. It would therefore be desirable to have a wrapping
machine that accommodates a wide variety of product sizes to be
packaged and maintain end and side seals without any defects.
[0004] The presently disclosed matter is an apparatus designed to
improve a wrapping machine by controlling the film as it feeds
through the wrapping machine and will allow the wrapping machine to
handle the largest product the wrapping machine is designed to
wrap, but also handle much smaller products without machine
changeovers or adjustments. The apparatus maintains the shape of
the film instead of the product itself as described earlier using
the wrapping machines.
SUMMARY
[0005] The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to an
apparatus for controlling a film during a sealing process. The
apparatus controls a film to allow for various sized products to
enter a film that is in the shape of a tube. The apparatus controls
a single sheet of flat or folded film as it is fed onto the
wrapping machine using an inverting head and then onto the
apparatus as it is conveyed through the wrapping machine. The
tube-shaped film that is controlled by the apparatus allows for
different sized products to enter the film without displacing the
film. The tube-shaped film can accommodate various shapes and sizes
along with product configurations and multi-packs containing many
different items. An additional advantage is the end seal does not
have wrinkles or multiple layers of film, resulting in an end seal
with fewer defects.
[0006] In some embodiments, the presently disclosed subject matter
is directed to an apparatus for controlling a film during a sealing
process. The apparatus may have a first arm, a second arm and an
upper member. The second arm may be positioned opposite of the
first arm. The upper member may be positioned between the first arm
and the second arm. The first arm and the second arm may be
arranged to spread the film.
[0007] In some embodiments, the presently disclosed subject matter
is directed to a system for controlling a film during a sealing
process using a film conveyance mechanism for conveying a film
through the system in a machine direction. The system may have an
apparatus as described above, an end sealer downstream from the
first arm and the second arm of the apparatus; a conveyor upstream
of the end sealer and positioned between the first arm and the
second arm of the apparatus, and a side sealer upstream from the
end sealer and positioned adjacent to the first arm of the
apparatus.
[0008] In some embodiments, the presently disclosed subject matter
is directed to a method of controlling a film during a sealing
process. The method includes feeding a film onto the system
described above, wherein the film comes into contact with the
leading edge of the first arm and the leading edge of the second
arm of the apparatus described above, transporting the film in a
horizontal direction over the apparatus, wherein the film covers
the apparatus, and creating an end seal on the film with the end
sealer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an
apparatus for controlling a film during a sealing process.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an
apparatus for controlling a film during a sealing process with a
film wrapped around the apparatus and a product entering the
film.
[0011] FIG. 3 is an alternative embodiment of an apparatus for
controlling a film during a sealing process.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a top-down view of an embodiment of an apparatus
for controlling a film during a sealing process.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a system for controlling a
film during a sealing process.
[0014] FIG. 6A illustrates an end seal on a film that has a seal
with multiple layers and a wrinkled seal at the edge of the end
seal.
[0015] FIG. 6B illustrates an end seal on a film that has no
defects.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
I. General Considerations
[0016] The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to an
apparatus and a system with the apparatus for controlling a film
during a sealing process using a film conveyance mechanism for
conveying a film through the system in a machine direction.
Additionally disclosed is a method for controlling a film during a
sealing process.
II. Definitions
[0017] While the following terms are believed to be well understood
by one of ordinary skill in the art, the following definitions are
set forth to facilitate explanation of the presently disclosed
subject matter.
[0018] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms
used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of
ordinary skill in the art to which the presently disclosed subject
matter belongs.
[0019] Following long standing patent law convention, the terms
"a", "an", and "the" refer to "one or more" when used in the
subject application, including the claims. Thus, for example,
reference to "a composition" includes a plurality of such
compositions, and so forth.
[0020] Unless indicated otherwise, all numbers expressing
quantities of components, reaction conditions, and so forth used in
the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified
in all instances by the term "about." Accordingly, unless indicated
to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the instant
specification and attached claims are approximations that can vary
depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the
presently disclosed subject matter.
[0021] As used herein, the term "about", when referring to a value
or to an amount of mass, weight, time, volume, concentration,
percentage, and the like can encompass variations of, and in some
embodiments, .+-.20%, in some embodiments .+-.10%, in some
embodiments .+-.5%, in some embodiments .+-.1%, in some embodiments
.+-.0.5%, and in some embodiments .+-.0.1%, from the specified
amount, as such variations are appropriated in the disclosed
package and methods.
[0022] Although the majority of the above definitions are
substantially as understood by those of skill in the art, one or
more of the above definitions can be defined hereinabove in a
manner differing from the meaning as ordinarily understood by those
of skill in the art, due to the particular description herein of
the presently disclosed subject matter.
III. The Apparatus
[0023] A perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus for
controlling a film during a sealing process is shown in FIG. 1. In
some embodiments, the apparatus may be used in a system for
controlling a film during a sealing process using a film conveyance
mechanism for conveying a film through the system in a machine
direction. The apparatus may include three components as shown in
FIG. 1; the first arm 101, the second arm 103, and the upper member
107. The second arm 103 may be positioned opposite of the first arm
101. The upper member 107 may be positioned between the first arm
101 and the second arm 103. The first arm 101 and the second arm
103 may be longer than the upper member 107. The first arm 101 and
the second arm 103 may be arranged to spread a film.
[0024] The film may be a folded film, multiple layers of film, a
tube-shaped film, a film-based cushioning material, and
combinations thereof. The film may be any packaging medium well
known in the art. In some embodiments, the film may be flexible and
able to be sealed. In other embodiments, the film may be a heat
sealable thermoplastic shrink film.
[0025] The first arm 101 may have a leading edge 125 and a trailing
edge 105. The second arm 103 may have a leading edge 135 and a
trailing edge 115. In some embodiments, the upper member 107 may be
positioned near the leading edges 125, 135 of the first arm 101 and
the second arm 103, respectively. In other embodiments, the upper
member 107 may be positioned near the trailing edges 105, 115 of
the first arm 101 and the second arm 103, respectively. In further
embodiments, the upper member 107 may be positioned in the middle
of leading edges 125, 135 of the first arm 101 and the second arm
103, respectively, and the trailing edges 105, 115 of the first arm
101 and the second arm 103, respectively.
[0026] In some embodiments, the trailing edge 105 of the first arm
101 may be configured to have a tab 110 coupled on a side of the
trailing edge 105 having contact with the film. Additionally, the
trailing edge 115 of the second arm 103 may be configured to have a
tab 120 coupled on a side of the trailing edge 115 having contact
with the film. The tabs 110, 120 may be smaller in size than the
arms 101, 103. The tabs 110, 120 may be coupled to the arms 101,
103, by any means know in the art. For example, the tabs 110, 120
may be welded, bolted, fastened or clamped to the arms 101,
103.
[0027] The upper member 107 may be positioned between the first arm
101 and the second arm 103. In some embodiments, the upper member
107 may be positioned horizontally between the first arm 101 and
the second arm 103. In other embodiments, the upper member 107 may
be positioned vertically between the first arm 101 and the second
arm 103. In some embodiments, the upper member 107 may have a
leading edge 102 and a trailing edge 108. The upper member 107 may
be one member. The upper member 107 may be one member with a
plurality of portions. In some embodiments, the upper member 107
may have a leading edge 102 with a plurality of portions. The
leading edge 102 of the upper member 107 may have a first portion
104 and a second portion 106. The first portion 104 and the second
portion 106 may be continuous. In some embodiments, the first
portion 104 and the second portion 106 may be non-continuous. In
other embodiments, the first portion 104 and the second portion 106
may be spaced apart. The first portion 104 may contact the film
before the second portion 106 contacts the film.
[0028] The first portion 104 and the second portion 106 may be in
any configuration. For example, the first portion 104 may be
adjacent to the second portion 106. The first portion 104 may be
perpendicular to the machine direction, may be parallel to the
machine direction, or may be at an angle less than 90 degrees from
the machine direction. The second portion 106 may be perpendicular
to the machine direction, may be parallel to the machine
directions, or may be at an angle less than 90 degrees from the
machine direction. In some embodiments, the first portion 104 may
be perpendicular to the machine direction and the second portion
106 may be at an angle less than 90 degrees from the machine
direction. In some embodiments, the first portion 104 may be
parallel to the machine direction and the second portion 106 may be
at an angle less than 90 degrees from the machine direction. In
other embodiments, the first portion 104 may be at an angle less
than 90 degrees from the machine direction and the second portion
106 may be perpendicular to the machine direction. In further
embodiments, the first portion 104 may be parallel to the machine
direction and the second portion 106 may be perpendicular to the
machine direction. In yet further embodiments, the first portion
104 may be perpendicular to the machine direction and the second
portion 106 may be parallel to the machine direction. In further
embodiments, the first portion 104 may be at an angle less than 90
degrees from the machine direction and the second portion 106 may
be at an angle less than 90 degrees from the machine direction.
[0029] The angle less than 90 degrees from the machine direction
may be about 85 degrees, about 80 degrees, about 75 degrees, about
70 degrees, about 65 degrees, about 60 degrees, about 55 degrees,
about 50 degrees, about 45 degrees, about 40 degrees, about 35
degrees, about 30 degrees, about 25 degrees, about 20 degrees,
about 15 degrees, about 10 degrees, about 5 degrees, or any range
between any of these values.
[0030] The first portion 104 of the leading edge 102 of the upper
member 107 may have a raised lip 114. The raised lip 114 may be
angled in an upward direction and away from the conveyor. In some
embodiments, the raised lip 114 may have rounded edges to prevent
catching the film and/or products as the film and/or products are
used with the apparatus. In some embodiments, the raised lip 114
may cover all of the leading edge 102 of the upper member 107. In
other embodiments, the raised lip 114 may cover a section of the
leading edge 102. The section may be about 90% of the leading edge
102, about 80% of the leading edge 102, about 70% of the leading
edge 102, about 60% of the leading edge 102, about 50% of the
leading edge 102, about 40% of the leading edge 102, about 30% of
the leading edge 102, about 20% of the leading edge 102, about 10%
of the leading edge 102 or any range between any of these
values.
[0031] The upper member 107 may also have at least one
friction-reducing opening 112 to reduce the friction between the
film and the upper member 107 as the film slides over the upper
member 107. In some embodiments, the upper member 107 may have a
plurality of friction-reducing openings 112. In some embodiments,
the upper member 107 may have about 20 friction-reducing openings,
about 15 friction-reducing openings, about 10 friction-reducing
openings, about 5 friction-reducing openings, about 2
friction-reducing openings, about 1 friction-reducing openings or
any range between any of these values. The friction-reducing
openings 112 may be of any shape. For example, the
friction-reducing opening 112 may be in the shape of a circle, a
diamond, an oval, a square, a rectangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, a
heptagon, an octagon or combinations thereof. In some embodiments,
the friction-reducing openings 112 may be located on the first
portion 104 of the upper member 107. In other embodiments, the
friction-reducing openings 112 may be located on the second portion
106 of the upper member 107. In further embodiments, the
friction-reducing openings 112 may be located on the first portion
104 of the upper member 107 and the second portion 106 of the upper
member 107.
[0032] In some embodiments, the upper member 107 may reduce
friction with a friction-reducing component. In some embodiments,
the upper member 107 may reduce friction with a friction reducing
component and at least one friction-reducing opening 112. The
friction-reducing component may be an additional component added to
the upper member 107. For example, the friction-reducing component
may be a flat sheet of plastic to place on the top of the upper
member 107. This friction-reducing component would provide a
barrier between the film and the apparatus to aid in reducing the
friction as the film is fed across the apparatus. In some
embodiments, the friction-reducing component may be an ultra-high
molecular weight plastic sheet, Teflon tape, moleskin tape, cotton
fabric tape, linen tape, or combinations thereof.
[0033] FIG. 2 shows the apparatus with a film 201 being fed to
cover the apparatus. The film 201 is fed onto the apparatus in a
machine direction 203 at the end of the apparatus where the leading
edge of the first arm 125 and the leading edge of the second arm
135 are located. As the film 201 is fed over the apparatus it forms
a tube-shaped film 201 into which a product 202 is conveyed. The
apparatus allows for the film 201 to maintain the tube shape so
that a plurality of products may be conveyed into the tube-shaped
film 201 to be wrapped and later sealed. The products may be of any
shape that may fit within the tube of film. Generally, the products
are similar in size during the wrapping and sealing process, but
this apparatus allows for various size products to use the same
film 201 during the process without any defects.
[0034] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of an apparatus for
controlling a film during a sealing process. With respect to the
embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the apparatus may also have a filler
plate 316 to increase the size of the apparatus. The filler plate
316 aids the apparatus to allow for a larger film and product to be
used during the sealing process. The filler plate 316 may be
coupled to the upper member 107 horizontally. The filler plate 316
may be coupled by any means well known in the art, such as, for
example by welding, bolting, fastening, or clamping the filler
plate 316 to the upper member 107. In some embodiments, the filler
plate 316 may be coupled to the upper member 107 at the first
portion 104. In other embodiments, the filler plate 316 may be
coupled to the upper member 107 at the second portion 106. In
further embodiments, the filler plate 316 may be coupled to the
upper member 107 at the first portion 104 and at the second portion
106.
[0035] The filler plate 316 may be shaped to start at the lower
section of the first portion 104 of the upper member 107 and may
extend to the first arm 101. The filler plate 316 may be coupled to
the first arm 101 by any means well known in the art, such as, for
example by welding, bolting, fastening, or clamping the filler
plate 316 to the first arm 101.
[0036] In some embodiments, the filler plate 316 may be angled
where there is an angle less than 90 degrees from the coupled
section starting at the first portion 104 of the upper member 107
to the first arm 101. In other embodiments, the filler plate 316
may have an angle about 85 degrees, about 80 degrees, about 75
degrees, about 70 degrees, about 65 degrees, about 60 degrees,
about 55 degrees, about 50 degrees, about 45 degrees, about 40
degrees, about 35 degrees, about 30 degrees, about 25 degrees,
about 20 degrees, about 15 degrees, about 10 degrees, about 5
degrees or any range between any of these values. The angle may
allow the film to relax and prevent or lessen film tension before
the film is sealed.
[0037] In some embodiments, the filler plate 316 may offer
additional support for the film as it conveys over the upper member
107 where the products may be of a larger size. Additionally, the
filler plate 316 may also have openings, raised edges,
friction-reducing components or combinations thereof.
[0038] FIG. 4 shows a top-down view of the apparatus with a filler
plate 316. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper member 107 and the filler
plate 316 may be positioned so that both the upper member 107 and
the filler plate 316 may be flat and may be adjacent to each other.
In some embodiments, the first arm 101 and the second arm 103 are
positioned to be perpendicular to the upper member 107 and the
filler plate 316 and may be coupled to the upper member 107 and the
filler plate 316 at the edges. The first arm 101 and the second arm
103 may be coupled by any means well known in the art, such as, for
example by welding, bolting, fastening, or clamping to the upper
member 107 and the filler plate 316.
IV. The System
[0039] Wrapping machines designed to wrap and seal products in
film, creating a package with a product wrapped in film, are well
known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,219,988, which is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety, describes an automatic
high-speed wrapping machine for wrapping packages in heat sealable
thermoplastic film. The film is sealed at the side and ends of the
packages at a high rate of speed as the packages travel through the
wrapping machine. The packages travel continuously in a straight
line through the wrapping machine and are delivered at the input
end of the wrapping machine by an infeed conveyor into an inverting
head where the packages are surrounded by the film. A film
conveyance mechanism for conveying a film through the system in a
machine direction may be a side sealer. The side sealer may have
nip rollers and internal belts that convey the film through the
wrapping machine. The side sealer forms a side seal while severing
the excess film from the packages, and then the packages are
conveyed into an end sealer where both ends of the packages are
sealed and the film connecting succeeding packages is severed. The
wrapping machine produces packages which have a sealed film wrap
around the entire product which is then in condition for subsequent
shrinking of the film if desired to provide a package having a
tight film overwrap.
[0040] FIG. 5 shows a typical side-sealing configuration with the
apparatus connected to a wrapping machine. The configuration in
FIG. 5 depicts a system for controlling a film during a sealing
process using a film conveyance mechanism for conveying a film
through the system in a machine direction.
[0041] The first arm 101 may be attached to a first attachment arm
520 of the wrapping machine and the second arm 103 may be attached
to a second attachment arm 525 of the wrapping machine. In some
embodiments, the first and second attachment arms 520, 525 may have
rails to slide the first and second arms 101, 103 of the apparatus
so that the first and second arms 101, 103 are supported by the
first and second attachment arms 520, 525. The first and second
arms 101, 103 may by partially attached to the wrapping machine by
having a portion of the first and second arms 101, 103 positioned
on the rails of the first and second attachment arms 520, 525. In
some embodiments, the first and second arms 101, 103 may be
mechanically attached to the wrapping machine.
[0042] In some embodiments, the upper member 107 of the apparatus
may be positioned so that it is adjacent to a side sealer 515. In
some embodiments, the trailing edge 105 of the first arm 101 and
the trailing edge 115 of the second arm 103 may end after a
conveyor 510 but before an end sealer 505. The end sealer 505 may
be downstream from the first arm 101 and the second arm 103. The
conveyor 510 may be upstream of the end sealer 505. The conveyor
510 may extend the entire length of the apparatus. In some
embodiments, the conveyor 510 may be shorter in length than the
apparatus. The conveyor 510 may be horizontally positioned between
the first arm 101 and the second arm 103. The side sealer 515 may
be upstream from the end sealer 505. Such embodiments allow for a
product 202 to convey through the entire apparatus while on the
conveyor 510 and as the product 202 leaves the conveyor 510, the
tabs 110, 120 will extend the film 201 even further than the
dimensions of the apparatus to allow for the end sealer 505 to seal
the film 201 surrounding the product with less defects. The tabs
110, 120 may also provide extension of the film to the widest width
by extending the film 201 even further than the dimensions of the
apparatus.
V. Methods of Using the Disclosed System
[0043] A film 201 may be controlled during a sealing process using
the previously disclosed system. In some embodiments, a film 201
may be fed onto the system. The film 201 may come into contact with
the leading edge 125 of the first arm 101 and the leading edge 135
of the second arm 103. In some embodiments, the film 201 may come
into contact with the leading edges 125, 135 at the location of
where a film dispenser 530 has been positioned on the wrapping
machine. The film dispenser 530 may be positioned at any location
on the wrapping machine downstream of the side sealer 515. In some
embodiments, the film dispenser 530 may be positioned adjacent to
the second arm 103, downstream of the upper member 107 and upstream
of the leading edge of the second arm 135.
[0044] A product 202 or set of products may be transported toward
the wrapping machine as a film 201 may be fed from a direction
which is preferably perpendicular to the direction of the conveyor
510. The direction may be in the machine direction 203 of the
system. In some embodiments, the film 201 may be a sheet of
center-folded plastic film with two layers. In some embodiments,
the two layers of the film are then separated such that the product
202 may be placed between the lower layer and the upper layer as
shown in FIG. 2. In some embodiments, the product may be
transported on a conveyor 510 and may be surrounded by the film 201
controlled by the previously disclosed system. On one side of the
product 202 may be the center-fold, while on the other side, there
may be an open edge where the two layers are not attached. In some
embodiments, the open edge where the two layers of the film are not
attached may be located opposite of the side of the system where
the film dispenser 530 may be located.
[0045] The film 201 may be transported in a direction over the
previously disclosed apparatus and the film 201 may then cover the
previously disclosed apparatus. In some embodiments, the film 201
may completely cover the apparatus as shown in FIG. 2. In other
embodiments, the film 201 may cover only a portion of the first arm
101 and the second arm 103. Such embodiments may only have film 201
covering the first arm 101 and the second arm 103 once the film 201
comes into contact with the first arm 101 and the second arm 103
after leaving the film dispenser 530 and may be fed onto the
system.
[0046] In some embodiments, a side seal may be created on the film
with a side sealer 515. A side sealer 515 may have several sets of
belts (belts not shown) to hold and guide the film, a
heating/sealing element that fuses or welds the two free layers of
the film together and a cutting element that removes the excess
film after the side seal has been created. The side sealer 515 may
have nip rollers 516 located before the main component of the side
sealer 515 to help guide the film 201 into the side sealer 515. In
some embodiments, the side sealer 515 is a film conveyance
mechanism to convey the film through the system in the machine
direction 203. In other embodiments, a film conveyance mechanism
may include the inverting head, the nip rollers 516, and the side
sealer 515. In further embodiments, a film conveyance mechanism is
any part of the system that moves, manipulates, and/or controls the
direction of the film. As the film 201 and product 202 is conveyed
by the side sealer 515, the open edge of the film 201 may be sealed
by welding the two layers together, the film 201 is cut and the
excess film is removed and discarded away from the system. In some
embodiments, the upper member 107 may have a filler plate 316 and
the filler plate 316 may have an angle to allow the film 201 to
relax at the side sealer 515 before the side seal is created. After
the side seal, the film 201 may resemble a tube with openings at
both the leading and trailing ends of the product 202.
[0047] An end seal may be created on the film 201 with an end
sealer 505. An end sealer may have several sets of belts (belts not
shown) to hold and guide the film 201 and a heating/sealing element
that fuses or welds the two free layers of the film together. In
some embodiments, the film 201 may be transported over the
apparatus and then the film 201 may be fed through an end sealer
505. As the film 201 travels through the end sealer 505, the film
201 may be sealed at the leading end of the product 202 and at the
trailing end of the product 202. Once the film 201 has been sealed
at the leading end and the trailing end of the product 202, the
result will be a package. The package may be the product 202
wrapped in the film 201. In some embodiments, the package may be a
plurality of products wrapped in the film 201 that is sealed at the
leading end of the plurality of products and the trailing end of
the plurality of products. In some embodiments, the end seal may be
substantially free of wrinkles and multiple layers at the seal.
Such embodiments may utilize the tab of the first arm 110 and the
tab of the second arm 120 to position the film 201 before the end
seal such that the end seal may be substantially free of wrinkles
and multiple layers at the seal.
[0048] These applications are for illustrative purposes only and
are not intended as a limitation on the scope of the presently
disclosed subject matter. The presently disclosed subject matter
has been described in connection with what is presently considered
to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be
understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed
embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various
modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the
spirit and the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *