U.S. patent application number 17/468015 was filed with the patent office on 2022-03-10 for packaging.
The applicant listed for this patent is Keymac USA LLC. Invention is credited to Michael BRADLEY.
Application Number | 20220073224 17/468015 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220073224 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BRADLEY; Michael |
March 10, 2022 |
PACKAGING
Abstract
A wraparound sleeving system is provided and comprises a
sleeving machine having a conveyor for transporting packaging
sleeves. The packaging sleeves comprise one or more apertures for
receiving a portion of one or more respective products. The
sleeving machine comprises a folder for folding the sleeve so as to
wrap a portion of said sleeve over or around a portion of said
product after said portion of said product is received in said
aperture.
Inventors: |
BRADLEY; Michael;
(Charlotte, NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Keymac USA LLC |
Charlotte |
NC |
US |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/468015 |
Filed: |
September 7, 2021 |
International
Class: |
B65B 11/00 20060101
B65B011/00; B65B 11/10 20060101 B65B011/10; B65B 41/06 20060101
B65B041/06; B65B 67/08 20060101 B65B067/08; B65B 35/16 20060101
B65B035/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 7, 2020 |
GB |
2014051.3 |
Claims
1. A wraparound sleeving system comprising a sleeving machine
having a conveyor for transporting packaging sleeves, said
packaging sleeves comprising one or more apertures for receiving a
portion of one or more respective products, the sleeving machine
comprising a folder for folding the sleeve so as to wrap a portion
of said sleeve over or around a portion of said product after said
portion of said product is received in said aperture.
2. A sleeving system as claimed in claim 1, in which individual
platens are provided to carry sleeves. A sleeving system as claimed
in claim 1, in which the sleeves are loaded onto the conveyor.
4. A sleeving system as claimed in claim 1, in which the product is
a tight or snug fit in the sleeve.
5. A sleeving system as claimed in claim 1, in which both the
sleeve and the product are handled in individual platens that are
custom made to fit the profile of the sleeve and accept the product
into a drop thru or neck thru hole or aperture.
6. A sleeving system as claimed in claim 1, in which the sleeve is
folded on the move.
7. A sleeving system as claimed in claim 1, in which the sleeve is
folded on the move with fixed guides that comb through grooves that
are cut into the platen.
8. A sleeving system as claimed in claim 1, in which sleeves are
provided as flat blanks.
9. A sleeving system as claimed in claim 1, in which individual
platens carry a paperboard sleeve, with product placement into an
aperture that is cut into the sleeve that also aligns with an
aperture cut into the platen.
10. A sleeving system as claimed in claim 1, in which product is
hand-placed into sleeves.
11. A sleeving system as claimed in claim 1, in which a robot is
used to collect product and place it into sleeves.
12. A sleeving system as claimed in claim 1, in which all
operations are carried out from above.
13. A sleeving system as claimed in claim 12, in which the
apparatus for performing operations is mounted overhead.
14. A sleeving system as claimed in claim 1, in which sleeves are
taken from a hopper by a rotary vacuum cup picker.
15. A sleeving system as claimed in claim 1, in which the product
is pre-wrapped,
16. A sleeving system as claimed in claim 1, in which the sleeve is
formed from paper or paper-board material.
17. A sleeving system as claimed in claim 1, in which the product
is a vacuum pack product.
18. A sleeving system as claimed in claim 1, in which guides are
provided to fold part of the sleeve blank over so that it can be
glued.
19. A sleeving system as claimed in claim 1, in which the sleeve is
glued.
20. A drop thru or neck thru wraparound sleeving machine.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application cites the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(a) of
United Kingdom Patent Application No. 2014051.3, filed on 7 Sep.
2020, which is currently pending, and which is incorporated herein
by reference in its entirety.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to packaging and
particularly, although not exclusively, to a packaging machine such
as a sleever, to a method of forming a package, and to packaging
formed using machines and/or methods provided by the present
invention.
[0003] An aspect of the present invention provides a wraparound
sleeving system comprising a sleeving machine having a conveyor for
transporting packaging sleeves, said packaging sleeves comprising
one or more apertures for receiving a portion of one or more
respective products, the sleeving machine comprising a folder for
folding the sleeve so as to wrap a portion of said sleeve over or
around a portion of said product after said portion of said product
is received in said aperture.
[0004] A sleeving machine based on the principles described herein
is also provided.
[0005] A method of packaging a product using the machine and/or
system described herein is also provided.
[0006] In some embodiments individual platens are provided to carry
sleeves.
[0007] In some embodiments sleeves are loaded (e.g. directly) onto
the conveyor.
[0008] The product may be a tight or snug fit in the sleeve.
[0009] In some embodiments both the sleeve and the product are
handled in individual platens that are custom made to fit the
profile of the sleeve and accept the product into a drop thru or
neck thru hole or aperture.
[0010] The sleeve may be folded on the move. Some machines are
provided with guides, surfaces or the like for causing a portion of
the sleeve to be folded
[0011] In some embodiments sleeves are folded on the move with
fixed guides that comb through grooves that are cut into
platens.
[0012] Sleeves may be provided as flat blanks.
[0013] Individual platens may carry a paperboard sleeve, with
product placement into an aperture that is cut into the sleeve that
also aligns with an aperture cut into the platen.
[0014] Product may be hand-placed into sleeves. Alternatively a
robot may used to collect product and/or place it into sleeves.
[0015] In some embodiments all operations are carried out from
above. For example the apparatus for performing operations is
mounted overhead.
[0016] In some embodiments sleeves are taken from a hopper by a
rotary vacuum cup picker.
[0017] In some systems the product is pre-wrapped.
[0018] The sleeve may, for example, be formed from paper or
paper-board material
[0019] In some systems the product is a vacuum pack product.
[0020] Guides may provided to fold part of a sleeve blank over so
that it can be glued.
[0021] The sleeve may be glued into place after folding.
[0022] The present invention also provides a drop-thru or neck-thru
wraparound sleeving machine.
[0023] Some aspects and embodiments relate to placing a product
into a pack e.g. placing packaging (such as a sleeve)
onto/into/around a product.
[0024] Some aspects and embodiments relate to the packaging of food
products such as meats and cheeses.
[0025] The product may be pre-wrapped, for example in a plastics
and/or paper-based material. The product may, for example be
provided as vacuum packed prior to sleeving.
[0026] The sleeve may, for example, be formed from paper or
paper-board material.
[0027] In some aspects and embodiments the present invention
provides or relates to a drop-through wrap-around sleever. Some
embodiments provide a machine for sleeving cup or vacuum pack style
products.
[0028] In some embodiments individual platens are provided that
carry a sleeve, with product placement into an aperture that is cut
into the sleeve that also aligns with an aperture provided in the
platen.
[0029] Guides may be provided to move parts of the sleeve e.g. fold
or bend.
[0030] Some aspects and embodiments allow for a tight/snug fit of
product in a sleeve, preventing it from moving significantly with
respect to the sleeve. This reduces the chance the product will
inadvertently fall out of the sleeve.
[0031] Different aspects and embodiments of the invention may be
used separately or together.
[0032] Further particular and preferred aspects of the present
invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent
claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with the
features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in
combination other than those explicitly set out in the claims. Each
aspect can be carried out independently of the other aspects or
combination with one or more of the other aspects.
[0033] The present invention will now be more particularly
described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0034] Example embodiments are shown and described in sufficient
detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and
implement the systems and processes herein described. It is
important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many
alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the
examples set forth herein.
[0035] Accordingly, while embodiments can be modified in various
ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments
thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as
examples. There is no intent to limit to the particular forms
disclosed. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and
alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should
be included. Elements of the example embodiments are consistently
denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and
detailed description where appropriate. The invention is not
limited in the design and shape of the structure shown in the
drawings.
[0036] The terminology used herein to describe embodiments is not
intended to limit the scope. The articles "a," "an," and "the" are
singular in that they have a single referent, however the use of
the singular form in the present document should not preclude the
presence of more than one referent. In other words, elements
referred to in the singular can number one or more, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise, It will be further understood
that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," and/or
"including," when used herein, specify the presence of stated
features, items, steps, operations, elements, and/or components,
but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other
features, items, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or
groups thereof.
[0037] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and
scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary
in the art. It will be further understood that terms in common
usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant
art and not in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly
so defined herein.
[0038] FIG. 1 illustrates part of a drop through wrap around
sleeving machine 10 formed in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention and the stages of a product drop thru and sleeve
wrap around process formed in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0039] A paperboard sleeve 15 is placed on a platen 20.
[0040] The platen 20 includes a groove 21 for receiving a conveyor
rail.
[0041] Individual platens 20 are provided to carry a sleeve/product
through the machine using a conveyor system.
[0042] The product 25 is loaded into an aperture 16 in the sleeve
15. The product 25 includes a flange 26 which is larger than the
aperture. The product does pass completely through the aperture and
becomes seated on the sleeve.
[0043] A back panel 17 of the sleeve is folded over. The sleeve
includes a panel 18 to receive a glue line 19 to which the back
panel is secured.
[0044] The finalised product is formed.
[0045] In this embodiment both the sleeve and the product are
handled in individual platens that are custom made to fit the
profile of the sleeve and accept the product into a drop thru hole
or aperture. The sleeve is then folded on the move with fixed
guides that comb through grooves that are cut into the platen.
[0046] FIGS. 2 to 6 illustrate various steps in the functioning of
a packaging machine formed in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0047] Sleeves 115 (which in this embodiment are provided as flat
blanks) are taken from a hopper by a rotary vacuum cup picker
130--FIG. 2.
[0048] The sleeves 15 are placed onto platens 20--FIG. 3.
[0049] Individual platens 20 are shown that carry a paperboard
sleeve 15, with product placement into an aperture that is cut into
the sleeve that also aligns with an aperture cut into the
platen--FIG. 4. Conveyor rails 140 are shown.
[0050] In the Figures the product is shown being hand-placed into
sleeves. In other embodiments, for example a robot may be used
automatically to collect product and place it into sleeves. The
product is "dropped through" the sleeve blank.
[0051] In this embodiment the platens cruise through the machine
continuously.
[0052] The sleeve 115 and product 125 then remain aligned as they
are conveyed forward and the sleeve is folded/glued over the top of
the product--FIGS. 5 and 6. Guides 150 are provided to fold part
117 of the sleeve blank over so that it can be glued. The sleeve
"wraps around" the product.
[0053] In some aspects and embodiments all/most operations may be
carried out from above; accordingly the apparatus for performing
operations may be mounted overhead e.g. things that manipulate the
sleeve.
[0054] FIGS. 7 and 8 show examples of final packaged product formed
using machines provided by the present invention.
[0055] FIG. 9 illustrates a drop thru/neck thru wrap around sleever
formed in accordance with a further embodiment of the present
invention.
[0056] FIG. 10 shows an example of final packaging formed using the
sleever of FIG. 9. In this embodiment three condiment bottles
425a-c are received in a sleeve. Bottle necks are loaded into
apertures 416a-c formed in a folded sleeve panel 435. A further
portion 440 of the sleeve is folded over onto a glue line panel
445.
[0057] Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been
disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the
precise embodiments shown and that various changes and
modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art
without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *