U.S. patent number 3,886,017 [Application Number 05/398,961] was granted by the patent office on 1975-05-27 for fiberboard carton product and method of manufacture.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Westvaco Corporation. Invention is credited to Latane D. Brugh, Jr., John W. Smith, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,886,017 |
Brugh, Jr. , et al. |
May 27, 1975 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Fiberboard carton product and method of manufacture
Abstract
A moisture vapor impermeable sheet for the fabrication of
hygroscopic particulate material container cartons having small
cross-machine direction curl propensity, said sheet being a
lamination of a thin film of thermoplastic material between
opposite laminae of high and low density cellulosic fiber sheets,
the low density sheet being permeated with water subsequent to
lamination and reeled in a straight line cross-direction
configuration for at least 20 minutes.
Inventors: |
Brugh, Jr.; Latane D.
(Covington, VA), Smith, Jr.; John W. (Covington, VA) |
Assignee: |
Westvaco Corporation (New York,
NY)
|
Family
ID: |
26902194 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/398,961 |
Filed: |
September 20, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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207376 |
Dec 13, 1971 |
3802984 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
156/184;
156/244.22; 428/507; 156/192; 156/244.27; 156/281; 229/5.85 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41M
7/0027 (20130101); B31F 5/00 (20130101); B41M
1/36 (20130101); D21H 19/18 (20130101); D21H
19/30 (20130101); D21H 19/20 (20130101); D21H
27/36 (20130101); D21H 19/22 (20130101); D21H
11/14 (20130101); D21H 23/58 (20130101); D21H
17/28 (20130101); D21H 11/04 (20130101); Y10T
428/3188 (20150401); D21H 23/48 (20130101); D21H
17/63 (20130101); D21H 17/68 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B31F
5/00 (20060101); B41M 1/36 (20060101); B41M
1/26 (20060101); B41M 7/00 (20060101); D21H
27/36 (20060101); D21H 27/30 (20060101); D21H
17/00 (20060101); D21H 17/28 (20060101); D21H
23/48 (20060101); D21H 17/68 (20060101); D21H
11/04 (20060101); D21H 17/63 (20060101); D21H
23/00 (20060101); D21H 23/58 (20060101); D21H
11/00 (20060101); D21H 11/14 (20060101); B65h
081/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;156/184,192,309,324
;161/235,250,156 ;229/3.1 ;162/118,119,124,136 ;242/1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Van Horn; Charles E.
Assistant Examiner: Simmons; David A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Marcontell; W. Allen Schmalz;
Richard L.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a division of application Ser. No. 207,376 filed Dec. 13,
1971 and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,984.
Claims
We claim:
1. The process of reducing the tendency of a laminated sheet
material to curl in the cross-machine direction, said process
comprising:
a. producing a laminated sheet by pressing a substantially 7.1 to
21.8 No./ream layer of viscous thermoplastic between a
substantially 10 to 16 caliper thickness of substantially 10.0 and
11.6 No./ream/caliper density cellulosic fiber sheet and a
substantially 8 to 27 caliper thickness of 8.5 to 9.0
No./ream/caliper density cellulosic fiber sheet formed from
unbleached sulphate pulp;
b. applying water substantially exclusively to the unbleached fiber
side of said laminated sheet at the rate of 0.9 to 2.5
No./ream;
c. winding successively juxtaposed layers of said sheet into a
configuration having straight line surface elements parallel with
the cross-machine axis of said sheet; and
d. retaining the configuration of step C for at least 15
minutes.
2. In combination with a process for producing laminated sheet of
high density cellulosic fiber material and low density cellulostic
fiber material:
the improvement comprising;
a. substantially exclusively applying with substantial uniformity
over the surface of said laminated sheet on the low density face
thereof 0.9 to 2.5 No./ream of water;
b. winding successively juxtaposed layers of said sheet into a
configuration having straight line surface elements; and
c. retaining said wound configuration for at least 15 minutes.
3. The improved process as described by claim 1 including the step
of forming said low density sheet from unbleached sulphate pulp
furnish, at least 40 to 60% of which is virgin hardwood fiber.
4. The improved process as described by claim 2 wherein said
laminated sheet is a continuously traveling web of indefinite
length and said water is applied by passing said web over a water
film coated gravure cylinder.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the product and process for
manufacturing moisture vapor impermeable cartons predominately from
sheets of cellulosic fiber material that are suitable for packaging
hygroscopic particulate material.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
Due to an emerging public awareness of the cumulative detrimental
impact on the environment of certain industrial and consumer waste
compounds, the manufacture, shipment and marketing of some products
and commodities has been exhaustively reviewed. Among such reviewed
products are household detergents which historically have contained
phosphate compounds to enhance the cleaning and dispersion
properties thereof.
Since phosphate compounds originating from commercial detergent
blends are thought to contribute significantly to the nutrient
support of oxygen consuming organisms in natural streams and water
bodies, powdered detergent manufactures have sought more suitable,
nutrient free alternatives for phosphates. Although many such
alternatives have been found, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) for
example, most if not all of such available alternatives are
considerably more hygroscopic than the older phosphate compounds.
Moreover, said alternatives are more susceptible to congealing and
caking when subjected to water vapor. Accordingly, pressure has
been brought to bear on the fiber carton suppliers to provide a
more moisture vapor resistant package for the new, hygroscopic
detergents.
Although there are many ostensibly suitable moistureproof packaging
materials and techniques available to detergent manufacturers, the
criteria of cost, performance and attractiveness favor the
selection of bleached paper board for the carton material.
Accordingly, various laminated combinations of paper board, wax
and/or thermoplastics have been proposed and used in the past.
Functionally, prior art systems of carton stock as represented by
the U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,194,469 and 3,194,474 to George G. Rumberger
have generally performed the intended purpose satisfactorily. It is
the criteria of practicality and economics on which such prior art
systems have fallen short of acceptability. Basically, prior art
laminated carton stock is susceptible to severe warping and curling
in the cross-machine direction (CD): i.e., the product web of
uniform width and indefinite length curls about an axis parallel
with the length thereof. The mechanisms of such warping and curling
are present in the laminated composite as it emerges from the
laminating machine and even though subsequently reeled and stored
in a true cylindrical configuration with straight line surface
elements, no correction of the CD curl is provided. Moreover, the
undesirable curl condition is aggravated by passage through the
multiple color stations of a rotogravure printing press.
Such curling and warping is believed to be caused by stress
differentials between opposite face planes of the laminated sheet
stock. When a vapor impermeable strata of thermoplastic separates
face laminae of fiberboard, equalizing migration of moisture
between the respective porous laminae is precluded. If one laminae
is subject to more severe drying conditions than the other, an
internal stress differential is thereby created and results in a
bending or warping of the composite.
An example of such unequal drying conditions arises in a
rotogravure printer where heat is applied to the printed face to
drive out excess solvent deposited thereon as vehicle for the ink
pigment. On the printed side of the vapor barrier, the fiberous
laminae remains in moisture equilibrium. On the unprinted or liner
side of the vapor barrier, subject to transversely conducted
heating but without benefit solvent additions, a net drying occurs.
Accordingly, a moisture content and consequent stress differential
results.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore, an objective of the present invention to produce a
laminated, vapor-proof carton board with novel combinations of
characteristic properties which, when combined as a composite,
laminated sheet system, meet the rigid specifications set by
detergent manufacturers.
Another object of the present invention is to process the novel web
composite in such manner as to minimize curl and warp tendencies
thereof.
Another object of the subject invention is to provide a vapor
impermeable carton board having a high quality exterior printing
surface but at least equal in vapor transmissivity to wax coated
cartons.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a vapor
impermeable carton having a greater thermal strength capacity than
available from wax coated cartons.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a
vapor impermeable carton having a high degree of adhesive
flexibility and reliability.
These and other objects of the invention may be achieved by the
judicious combination of several, singularly subtle, but
collectively significant, discoveries. Such discoveries include the
finding that resistance to score cracking of a laminated composite
is enhanced by including a low strength, low density liner sheet in
the combination. Adhesive bonds to the printed laminae are
increased by using greater quantities of polyvinyl acetate resin
binders with the surface coating clays therefor. Curling and
warping are significantly reduced by the mechanical application of
water to the composite liner sheet subsequent to lamination but
prior to winding for storage/transport. Additional water may be
applied before or following gravure printing to further preclude
curling of the carton blanks after they are cut.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the laminated sheet
according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a laminating machine for
combining and final processing of the several laminae of the
invention.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional segment of a laminated sheet
storage reel showing two successive wraps of the sheet thereon.
FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of rotogravure printing and
die cutting machine constructed according to the teachings of the
invention.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-section of a laminated sheet segment
passing through the ink application nip of a gravure printer.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-section of a laminated sheet segment
passing the dryer section of a gravure printer.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring initially to FIG. 1 for a description of the basic
laminated system of the present invention there is shown two face
laminae of cellulosic fiber material P and L separated by a vapor
barrier film B of suitable thermoplastic material such as
polyethylene.
Layer P, which serves as the outer or printed face of a carton, is
of 10 to 16 caliper, 10.0 to 11.6 No./ream/caliper bleached paper
board, fourdrinier formed and treated with a conventional clay
surface coating comprising clay and polyvinyl acetate binder.
Unconventional, however, is the quantity of binder used in relation
to clay. A normal percentage of binder relative to a unit weight of
clay pigment applied to bleached board carton stock is 18% whereas
the present invention employs approximately 20-35%. This coating is
applied at the rate of 9 to 11 No./ream (3,000 square feet of
surface area per ream).
It has been found that the greater percentage of polyvinyl acetate
allows a stronger adhesive bond with resin glues also of a
polyvinyl acetate resin base. Moreover, adhesive strength of
dextrin glued joints is enhanced due to attenuation of chalk
failure at the joint interface. Chalk failure is used to describe
that form of glued joint separation caused by the failure of an
adhesive to penetrate beyond the clay surface coat and bond to the
fiber substrate leaving a joint of no greater strength than that
provided by the bond between the fiber and the clay surface
coat.
The liner sheet L of the FIG. 1 lamination is preferably of low
density (approximately 8.5 to 9.0 No./ream/caliper), 8 to 27
caliper fiber board, fourdrinier formed from unbleached hardwood
sulphate pulp. The desired low bond strength, 40 to 70 units on the
Scott Bond Scale, may be achieved from a mixture of pulp furnish
comprising 40 to 60 percent virgin hardwood sulphate pulp, with the
remainder comprising substantially equal percentages of recycled
news and kraft box stock.
These proportions may be varied widely, however, to take optimum
advantage of momentary economics.
Reference to U.S. Pat. No. 3,263,891 will provide additional
teaching on the composition and forming of a suitable low density
liner board.
Liner L of the present invention differs from the usual run of low
density stock in that the present liner is treated with an
application of clay-starch sizing mixture comprising approximately
5% starch solids and 7.5% clay expressed as a weight function of
the water vehicle. In terms of application rates, 2.4 No.
starch/ream and 3.6 No. clay/ream have been found sufficient.
Although sizing is conventionally applied to other types of paper,
cup stock for example, it is not customary to do so with box board
liner stock. It seems that the presence of clay improves the quick
tack characteristic: a highly desirable property for carton stock
to be mechanically assembled.
The vapor barrier B comprises a 0.5 to 1.5 mil thickness of 0.916
to 0.936 gm/cm.sup.3 polyethylene or similar vapor impermeable
thermoplastic polymer material extruded into a merging nip 50 (FIG.
2) between continuous webs of bleached board P and liner board L.
In terms of application rate, the thermoplastic vapor barrier may
be deposited between the two fiberous layers at the rate range of
7.1 to 21.8 No./ream. The rate of 14.4 No./ream of 0.918
gm/cm.sup.3 polyethylene has been found to be a satisfactory
economic compromise. This rate provides a barrier thickness of
approximately 1 mil.
Under pressure of the nip between rolls 14 and 24 the hot, viscous
polyethylene is fused into the respectively adjacent surfaces of
webs P and L to structurally unitize the two into a single,
laminated composite C.
It has been found that the aforedescribed laminated web has a
Moisture Vapor Transmission (MVT) value range of 1.2 to 1.8 gms/100
in.sup.2 /24 hrs. at 100.degree.F and 95% relative humidity when
tested with sodium chloride as the disiccant. Similar tests on wax
coated cartons yield MVT values of 0.15 to 0.20 gms/100 in.sup.2
/24 hrs. Surprisingly, however, when tested with NTA combined
detergents, a typical end use product, cartons fabricated according
to the present invention perform significantly better whereas wax
coated cartons perform significantly worse. In this case,
performance of the respective materials seems to merge at the 0.8
to 0.9 gms/100 in.sup.2 /24 hrs. level. When combined with the
superior machinability and esthetic quality of bleached board outer
laminae over wax coated materials, the MVT performance of the
present invention is alone sufficient to tip the competitive
balance in favor of the invention. In addition, however, the
invention is considerably less heat sensitive in the normal range
of exposure. Further superiority is claimed for the property of
score cracking. The low bond strength liner of our invention serves
to relieve destructive stresses within the outer laminae by
collapsing and compressing when the carton blank is folded along
the score lines. Moreover, the vapor barrier of wax coated cartons
is often broken along score lines whereas the barrier of the
present invention is protected from such damage and is more
elastic.
Although laminated composite board of this type tends to curl in
the machine direction (MD), i.e. about an axis transverse of the
web length, as well as the CD, such MD curl is more tolerable due
to the fact that it may be largely corrected mechanically by
decurling devices. Moreover, the mechanics of MD curl seem to
relate to the relative tensions of the two fiberous webs at the
point of lamination; a single, mechanically variable parameter.
Correction of CD curl is another matter entirely and is complicated
by the fact that CD web shrinkage may vary with humidity changes as
much as 4 times that of the MD variation. The presence of the vapor
barrier B between the two fiberous sheets, each of different
density, prevents the transverse migration of moisture between the
respective sheets to further compound the difficulty. Moreover,
undesirable CD curl may develop on the laminating machine or in
transit through a rotogravure printing machine. Accordingly, CD
curl preventative measures must be taken on both machines.
Process measures taken with the invention in the lamination
procedure are described relative to FIG. 2 where a web laminating
machine is shown schematically. Low density liner board L as
described above is drawn from a supply roll 10 and passed through
the nip between primer rolls 11 where an adhesive promoting
material is applied if necessary. Thereafter, the web L may be
exposed to the flame of a Flynn burner section 12 which preheats
the web and oxidizes the surface thereof preparatory to receipt of
the hot film polyethylene. Turning rolls 13 direct the web L into
the nip 50 between pressure rolls 14 and 24.
The bleached board carton exterior laminae P, supplied from roll
20, is directed by turning rolls 21 and 23 in front of the flame of
a second Flynn burner unit 22 and subsequently into the laminating
nip 50.
Continuous extruder unit 30 deposits the hot viscous film of
polyethylene or other thermoplastic material directly into the nip
50 to bond the respective board webs L and P together and erect a
vapor barrier therebetween.
Upon emerging from nip 50, the laminated composite web C is turned
around roll 41 for passage over gravure cylinder 40 for the uniform
deposit of water on and within web face L. Thereafter, web C is
turned about roll 42 onto winding roll 43 for building of spool
44.
If a laminated web is to develop a curl, it will do so within 15 or
20 minutes after spool winding. By rewetting the liner sheet L at
800-1000 feet per minute with a gravure cylinder 40 of 100 lines
per inch applying 1.7 No. water/ream, a 0.015 inch thickness of 8.8
No./ream/caliper sample of the specified liner board laminated by a
1 mil thickness of 0.918 gm/cm.sup.3 polyethylene to a 0.012 inch
thickness of 11.1 No./ream/caliper of specified bleached board took
no CD curl set after 30 minutes of resident time on a cylindrical
spool. In this example, the amount of water added to the liner was
0.5% of the laminated composite sheet weight to give a final total
moisture content of the composite of 6.5%.
Laboratory tests on the laminated composite of the invention have
also shown that if the liner of a laminated composite sheet with
curl tendency is moistened within a range of 0.9 to 2.5 No.
water/ream and then pressed, the sheet will retain the pressed
configuration. If the sheet is subsequently exposed to atmospheres
with varying degrees of relative humidity, it will not change curl
nearly so much as an unmoistened sheet.
It should be added that the upper limit of water application is
usually limited by the nature of subsequent process operations. If
the laminated composite is to be die cut, it would not be advisable
to exceed a total moisture content of 7% for the composite.
Although the mechanics of how and why CD curl occurs and how the
combined parameters and practices of this invention attenuate the
development thereof is largely a matter of conjecture, the
following analysis relates to the theoretical holding that if a
discrete quantity of excess moisture is applied to the liner
laminae, stress equalizing moisture migration occurs across the
interface between liner and bleached board laminae of successive
composite wraps on a spool. This sequence is illustrated by FIG. 3
where the composite C.sub.1 is wrapped such that bleached board
print laminae P lies on the outer periphery thereof. The next wrap,
C.sub.2 of the composite places the liner portion thereof in direct
juxtaposition against layer P of the previous wrap between vapor
barriers B.sub.1 and B.sub.2.
In terms of the foregoing theoretical analysis, the excess moisture
in layer L may transversely migrate only into the adjacent outer
elements of layer P due to the encapsulation effect of vapor
barriers B.sub.1 and B.sub.2 as indicated by the moisture vectors W
in FIG. 3. Greatest accommodation of said excess moisture by layer
P is given by the outer elements thereof nearest the interface with
layer L and diminishes with depth to the vapor barrier. Since the
strength modulus of both fiberous layers diminishes in inverse
proportion to the internal relative humidity, internal stresses
respective to the two layers causes yielding thereof beyond the
proportional limit to a stress stabilization point in the straight
cylindrical surface direction.
Said moisture remains encapsulated within the labyrinth between
vapor barriers thereby preserving the low yield property until the
laminated composite is reeled from the roll 44 whereupon the
relative internal stresses of the two cellulosic layers may by
statically stabilized in the flat configuration. Thereafter, the
excess moisture may escape the cellulosic system to a relatively
dryer atmosphere to leave the board with its original strength
modulus.
Although the moisture content of layer P may be raised mechanically
in a manner similar to the simple technique employed by the
invention with layer L, other considerations incident to a modern
production laminating machine web speed of 1000 feet per minute and
greater vastly complicate such an approach. The first of such other
considerations is the greater density of the layer P board. For
such dense board, time is the most significant factor in moisture
permeation; a precious commodity on such rapid production
equipment. Conversely, where the printing and cutting of cartons
takes place at a location physically remote from the laminating
site, permeation time is the most economical commodity.
Accordingly, the invention extends the laminating process time into
the product storage and transit realm. Experimentation has shown
that a minimum of 15 to 30 minutes storage time in the reeled
condition is sufficient to neutralize most CD curl.
For related reasons, curl or warp in the subject carton stock may
also develop in the printing process. Such a process is
schematically represented by FIG. 4 where the web of laminated
stock is drawn from reel 44 and passed through a series of
rotogravure printing presses and finally cut into carton blanks by
die 63. Within each printing unit 60, 61 and 62, ink I is applied
to the surface of layer P by gravure cylinder G to increase the
total liquid content thereof as shown in FIG. 5. The moisture
balance of layer L is uneffected by said liquid addition to layer P
due to the vapor barrier B. Subsequently, the wet printed surface
of layer P is dried by heaters H, FIG. 6, which are regulated to
transfer sufficient heat to the Layer P to evaporate as much
moisture and solvent therefrom as applied by the gravure cylinder G
in the exposure time alloted. Vapor barrier B is no obstacle to the
conductive transfer to heat however, which also serves to dry the
liner layer L. Moreover, the heating environment allows substantial
convective drying. Lacking the equalizing provision of the ink,
layer L becomes relatively drier than layer P thereby contracting
with increased rigidity. These conditions are shown by FIGS. 5 and
6 with moisture vectors W illustrating the liquid migration
patterns therein.
By rewetting layer L with a gravure cylinder 70 positioned between
the final printing unit 62 and the cutting die 63, the internal
stress equilibrium of the composite may be restored.
If necessary, other rewetting cylinders 70 may be positioned along
the composite web path C between printer 60, 61 and 62 to assist
the maintenance of registry therebetween.
It is to be understood that the foregoing description is of a
preferred embodiment and that the invention is not limited to the
specific property combinations, apparatus and incidental process
steps shown and described. Therefore, changes may be made in the
described preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of
the invention.
* * * * *