GB2281731A

GB2281731A - Heat-shrink sleeve packaging

Info

Publication number: GB2281731A
Application number: GB9421646A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew William Wilkey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-10-27
Filing date: 1994-10-27
Publication date: 1995-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 2014-10-27
Also published as: HK116197A; GB2281731B; GB9421646D0

Abstract

Two or more products e.g. 10, 12 are packaged together by wrapping a wrapper of heat-shrinkable plastics sheet material around them, the wrapper having contact adhesive on one or more surface area e.g. 21: the wrapper is applied so that its opposite edges either overlap and bond together via the contact adhesive, or both bond to one of the products e.g. 12. Then heat is applied to shrink the wrapper so that the products become firmly held together by the wrapper. It is an easy matter for the consumer to remove the wrapper, by peeling apart the areas which are held by the contact adhesive. <IMAGE>

Description

Sleeved Packaqinq The present invention relates to packaging and more particularly to packaging products together in heat-shrink sleeves.

Often consumer products are marketed in a pack consisting of a pair of packaged products held together by a heat-shrunk sleeve: the sleeve is preformed from a sheet or strip of typically transparent material with opposite edges bonded together, and the sleeve is slipped by hand over the pair of products, after which heat is applied to shrink the sleeve so that the products become firmly embraced by the sleeve. Typically products which are marketed in this manner include, but are not limited to, cosmetic products and haircare products.

With products packaged as described above, it is often a difficult task for the consumer to remove the sleeve in order to separate the products for use.

We have now devised a method of packaging two or more products together, which enables the products to be separated easily by the consumer.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a method of packaging two or more products together, the method comprising the steps of providing a wrapper of heat-shrinkable plastics sheet material with contact adhesive applied to one or more surface areas of the wrapper, then wrapping the wrapper about the products which are to be packed together so that opposite edges of the wrapper either overlap and bond together via the applied contact adhesive, or bond to one of the products, and then applying heat to shrink the wrapper so that the products become firmly held together by the wrapper.

Because the wrapper is held in position by contact adhesive only, it is easy for the consumer to remove the wrapper by peeling apart the areas which are held by the contact adhesive.

For example, a continuous or discontinuous stripe of contact adhesive may be applied to one edge of the wrapped arranged to bond the two opposite edges of the wrapper together once the latter has been wrapped around the products and overlapped.

Alternatively, the wrapper may be arranged that it does not wrap fully around the products: a continuous or discontinuous stripe of contact adhesive is applied to both opposite edges of the wrapper, arranged to bond to one of the products at circumferentially spaced-apart positions once the wrapper has been passed partly around the two (or more) products together.

Preferably areas of the inner surface of the wrapper also have contact adhesive applied to them, so as to bond to the products themselves (or to packaging of those products) when the wrapper is wrapped around them. In this way, the products become more firmly held together and avoid the problem (which has occurred in the past) of the products slipping or separating from each other.

The packaging method of this invention lends itself to automation. Preferably the products to be wrapped are brought together and advanced on a conveyor, whilst a wrapper is cut from a roll of sheet material, advanced to a station at which the contact adhesive is applied to it over the desired areas, and then advanced to and wrapped around the products.

Thereafter, the wrapped products are advanced to a station at which heat is applied to shrink the wrapper.

Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a schematic view showing a pair of products to be wrapped and a wrapper to be applied to them; FIGURE 2 is a similar view showing the wrapper being applied around the products; FIGURE 3 is a similar view showing the products when wrapped; and FIGURE 4 shows another pair of products wrapped by an alternative wrapper.

Referring to Figure 1, a pair of products 10,12 are shown which are to be wrapped and then marketed together. In the example shown, the two products comprise cylindrical or tubular containers or dispensers and are shown of the same heights and diameters, but the invention is equally applicable for products of alternative shapes and where the two products are different in size and/or shape from each other. In accordance with this invention, the pair of products 10,12 are brought together in appropriate orientation and advanced along a conveyor. At the same time, a wrapper 20 is cut from a roll of heat-shrinkable plastics sheet material, and a contact adhesive is applied as a stripe 21 adjacent an edge of the wrapper 20.As shown in Figure 2, the wrapper 20 is advanced and brought up to the pair of products 10,12 then wrapped around the pair of products until finally (as shown in Figure 3) the two opposite edges of the wrapper overlap and adhere together by means of the stripe 21 of contact adhesive. The wrapped pair of products then advances to a station at which heat is applied to shrink the sleeve, resulting in the two products being firmly held together by the sleeve. The above described procedures are carried out automatically by a machine adapted for the purpose, the details of the machine being omitted from the drawings.

The consumer who purchases the pair of wrapped products is able to unwrap and separate the products easily, by peeling the opposite edges of the wrapper apart along the contact adhesive stripe 21.

The wrapper 20 may have additional stripes of contact adhesive applied to it, for adhering the inner surface of the wrapper to either or both of the products 10,12. For example a stripe 22 of contact adhesive may be applied down a central position of the wrapper, so as to contact the product 10. A further stripe 23 of contact adhesive may be applied adjacent one of the edges of the wrapper, to contact the product 12 at or adjacent the overlap of the two opposite edges of the wrapper. The contact adhesive stripes 22,23 adhere the inner surface of the wrapper to the products 10,12 themselves (or to any external wrapping preapplied to these products), so that the pair of products become firmly held together in the final package. However, the consumer can still peel the wrapper easily from the products.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the wrapper need not extend the full height of the products 10,12 being wrapped, because a wrapper of relatively short height will still hold the products firmly together.

As shown in Figure 4, the wrapper need not be wrapped fully around the two products, i.e. its two opposite edges do not have to overlap. In the example shown in Figure 4, one product 30 comprises a cylindrical container or dispenser, and the other product 32 comprises a cellophane-wrapped carton.

A wrapper 40 has been wrapped around the product 30 and its opposite edges (to which contact adhesive stripes have been applied) overlap onto the edges of opposite sides of the carton. The wrapper 40 has been heat-shrunk so that the products are held together firmly: however because the wrapper 40 comes into contact with the cellophane packaging does not become significantly distorted. The consumer can again remove the wrapper 40 easily by peeling its edges from the carton 32.

Instead of (or in addition to) being provided with continuous or discontinuous vertical stripes of contact adhesive, the wrappers may be provided with horizontallyextending stripes, again which may be continuous or discontinuous.

In a modification, the wrappers may be preformed, complete with the required areas of contact adhesive. For example, the wrappers may be carried on a roll of backing paper, to which they are adhered by means of the areas of contact adhesive, then peeled from this backing paper and applied around products to be packaged, as described above.

It will be appreciated that the heat-shrink wrappers may be preprinted if desired. Also, the wrappers may be preformed with cut-outs or cut to predetermined shapes if desired.

Claims

1) A method of packaging two or more products together, the method comprising the steps of providing a wrapper of heatshrinkable plastics sheet material with contact adhesive applied to one or more surface areas of the wrapper, then wrapping the wrapper about the products which are to be packaged together so that opposite edges of the wrapper either overlap and bond together via the applied contact adhesive, or bond to one of the products, and then applying heat to shrink the wrapper so that the products become firmly held together by the wrapper.

2) A method as claimed in claim 1, in which said contact adhesive is applied to an edge of the wrapper, so that the two opposite edges of the wrapper bond together once the latter is wrapped around said products and its opposite edges overlapped.

3) A method as claimed in claim 1, in which said contact adhesive is applied to said opposite edges of the wrapper and said wrapper is passed partly around said products and its edges are bonded to one of said products at circumferentially spaced-apart positions thereof.

4) A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said contact adhesive is applied to one or more areas of the wrapper intermediate its said opposite edges, so as to bond to at least one of the products around which the wrapper is wrapped.

5) A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said wrapper is cut from a roll of sheet material, then said contact adhesive is applied to that wrapper, and then that wrapper is wrapped around its said products.

6) A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which said wrapper is a preformed wrapper and the method comprises peeling said wrapper from a roll of backing paper which carried a plurality of said wrappers, and then that wrapper is wrapped around its said products.

7) An apparatus for packing two or more products together, the apparatus comprising means for wrapping a wrapper about products which are to packaged together so that opposite edges of the wrapper either overlap and bond together via contact adhesive carried in one or more surface areas of the wrapper or bond to one of the products via said contact adhesive, and means for applying heat to shrink the wrapper so that said products become firmly held together by the wrapper.