GB2437359A

GB2437359A - Wrapping an article with patterned film

Info

Publication number: GB2437359A
Application number: GB0607548A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy H Fearnley
Original assignee: ALPHA PACKAGING FILMS Ltd
Current assignee: Fearnley Roy H
Priority date: 2006-04-18
Filing date: 2006-04-18
Publication date: 2007-10-24
Also published as: GB0607548D0

Abstract

An article is wrapped with film carrying regularly repeated indicia or patterning 11, the film being applied so that successive layers at least partially overlap. Thus, a substantially regular pattern is provided on the exterior of the wrapped article which will be visibly disturbed if tampering occurs. The film may be of polyethylene and may be drawn or fed from a reel. Adhesive 4, 8 and a release coating 6, 9 may be provided on edge portions of the film as shown.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WRAPPiNG AN ARTICLE The present invention

relates to a method and apparatus for wrapping an article, and a film for use in wrapping an article.

Goods requiring transportation and/or storage are normally provided with some form of protective covering, which can also function to stabilise the goods when they consist of a plurality of individual items.

The protective coverings employed typically consist of a thin polymer film which is wrapped around the article either manually or by some form of automated process.

Since the film is quite thin, many overlapping layers of the film are usually required to provide an acceptable degree of protection. Moreover, the layers of film are usually wrapped in a relatively irregular manner as the wrapping process needs to be performed quickly to minimise the time taken to cover the article.

While current protective coverings provide a degree of resistance to water damage and the like, the coverings, even when consisting of several overlapping layers of film, can still be quite easy to cut open to allow unauthorised access to the goods. A further significant problem relates to the irregular wrapping of the film around the article, which often provides the covering with a non-uniform outward appearance.

Consequently, any tampering with the covering can be hidden simply by applying one or more further layers of a similar film around the article so as to mask the hole through which the goods have been accessed. Tampering of this kind can therefore go undetected until the goods are delivered.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate the aforementioned problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a method for wrapping an article comprising wrapping a film provided with indicia around the periphery of the article such that successive layers of the film at least partially overlap one another and the indicia on the film provide a substantially regular pattern on an exterior of the wrapped article.

In this way, the wrapping provided around the periphery, i.e. the outermost boundary, of the article forms a tamper-evident covering enveloping the article because any cutting or puncturing of the wrapping will disrupt the substantially regular pattern on the exterior of the article and will be difficult, if not impossible, to hide by applying a further layer of wrapping over the cut/hole.

It will be appreciated that where the article as a whole possesses a substantially continuous outermost surface which does not incorporate any significant surface apertures (e.g. a uniform stack of 27 boxes provided in a 3 x 3 x 3 arrangement), the periphery of the article to be wrapped will be clearly defined by the exposed continuous outer surface of the article (e.g. the exposed outer surfaces of the outer 26 boxes, the central 27th box being wholly contained within the stack). Where the article as a whole does not present a substantially continuous outer surface, but rather incorporates at least one significant surface aperture (e.g. a coil of wire incorporating a central aperture) which exposes an inner surface of the article (e.g. the single continuous surface of the coil which faces radially inwards towards the centre of the coil), the periphery of such an article is the outermost boundary of the article, not including the exposed inner surface(s). Thus, wrapping film around the periphery of such an article would not include passing the film through the surface aperture(s) of the article (e.g. the film would not be passed through the central aperture of the coil of wire).

A second aspect of the present invention provides a film provided with indicia arranged so as to provide a substantially regular pattern on an exterior of a wrapped article when the film is wrapped around the periphery of the article such that successive layers of the film at least partially overlap one another.

A third aspect of the present invention provides apparatus for wrapping an article, the apparatus comprising means for wrapping a film provided with indicia around the periphery of the article such that successive layers of the film at least partially overlap one another and the indicia on the film provide a substantially regular pattern on an exterior of the wrapped article.

Preferably during wrapping of the article, the article is rotated so as to draw film from a reel supporting the film. Alternatively, or additionally, during wrapping of the article, a reel supporting the film may be moved around the article so as to draw film from the reel.

During wrapping of the article, the reel supporting the film is preferably displaced relative to the article parallel to the axis of rotation of the reel. It will be appreciated that combining this linear displacement with the rotation of the film reel andlor movement of the reel around the article results in the film being wrapped around the article in a substantially helical manner.

Various parameters involved in the wrapping process, such as, for example the speed of rotation of the article and the rate of displacement of the film reel relative to the article, require control to ensure that the indicia provided on the film afford the desired substantially regular pattern to the exterior of the wrapped article.

It is preferred that the film is wrapped around the article under tension. This can help to stabilise goods comprising a plurality of individual items which might otherwise be at risk of toppling during transit or storage.

Conveniently the article may be supported on a pallet during wrapping.

When the appropriate number of strips of film have been wrapped around the article to provide the exterior of the article with the desired substantially regular pattern, a tail end of the film is released from the reel and affixed to the wrapped article andlor the pallet supporting the article (if the pallet is present) in such a way as to ensure the indicia provided adjacent the tail end of the film conform to the substantially regular pattern produced by the indicia provided on the film already wrapped around the article. The tail end of the film may be affixed to the article/pallet in any appropriate fashion, for example the tail end of the film may be glued, labelled andlor sealed to the article or pallet. In this way, the tail end of the film contributes to the tamper-evident nature of the film wrapping covering the article and (where present) the pallet.

In a preferred embodiment overlapping regions of the film comprise contacting surfaces provided with adhesive, preferably a cold seal adhesive, which may be provided on the film by printing. The adhesive ensures the overlapping regions of the film adhere to one another so as to increase the integrity of the wrapping. It is preferred that one of the contacting surfaces is on one face of the film adjacent to a first longitudinal edge of the film and the other contacting surface is on the opposite face of the film adjacent to a second longitudinal edge of the film opposite to said first edge. By providing the film with this arrangement of adhesive, the film may be wound around the article in a helical manner to bring the adhesive layers provided on opposite sides of the film in to contact with one another. A strip of the film may be wound around the article to expose a first band of adhesive adjacent to one edge of the film. A further strip of the film may then be wound around the article such that an inward facing band of adhesive adjacent to the opposite edge of the further strip of the film overlaps and thereby contacts the exposed band of adhesive on the inner strip of film.

The contacting surfaces may take any appropriate width to suit the desired application. For example, the film may be provided with wider contacting surfaces where it is required to provide a stronger bond between adjacent layers of the film.

Conversely, a film having narrower contacting surfaces may be used where the degree of overlap between layers of the film is to be minimised to save cost -using narrower contacting surfaces reduces both the amount of adhesive provided on the film and the total amount of film required to cover the article. It is preferred that at least one of the contacting surfaces provided with adhesive extends across less than a full width of the film. More preferably at least one of the contacting surfaces extends across less than half, yet more preferably less than a quarter of a width of the film. A preferred width of at least one of the contacting surfaces is up to around 250 mm.

More preferably at least one of the contacting surfaces has a width in the range 10 mm to 200 mm, and most preferably the width of at least one of the contacting surfaces lies in the range 20 mm to 150 mm.

The film may be provided in any appropriate width. Preferably the film has a width of up to around 1000 mm, more preferably in the range 50 mm to 750 mm, and most preferably a width in the range 150 mm to 500 mm.

It is preferred that a release coating is applied to the film adjacent to at least one of the first and second longitudinal edges of the film on the opposite face of the film to the face on which adhesive is provided. In doing so, the adhesive layers can be prevented from adhering to the film during storage, for example when wound on to a reel. Preferably the release coating is printed on to the film.

In certain applications is may be desirable to provide a layer of a volatile corrosion inhibitor on one face of the film. The corrosion inhibitor may cover the full width of the face of the film, or less than the full width of the film. For example, the corrosion inhibitor may be provided on the inwardly directed face of the film but not the contacting surface on that face of the film. In this way, the corrosion inhibitor is only provided on the non-overlapped portion of the face of the film which will be exposed to the goods, thereby minimising costs associated with the corrosion inhibitor. The corrosion inhibitor may be provided on one face of the film but not including the contacting surface and the portion of that face of the film provided with the release coating. While any appropriate corrosion inhibitor may be used, it is preferred that the corrosion inhibitor comprises a naturally occurring fatty acid or derivative thereof and a polyunsaturated fat or derivative thereof.

To make the film suitable for covering goods that may be stored in sunlight for extended periods of time the film may be treated with a UV light absorbing substance. The goods covered by the film would thereby be protected from damage by UV light.

In a preferred embodiment the indicia are printed on to at least one face of the film.

The film may be pre-printed, or may be printed as the film is drawn from a reel supporting the film. The indicia may take any desirable form, such as a brand logo, a company name or a product name. The indicia are preferably provided in a regularly repeating arrangement on the film. The indicia may comprise more than one type of marking. The indicia may be of any appropriate colour or combination of colours and may be of any desirable size. Preferably the indicia have a dimension which is less than a full width of the film. More preferably the indicia have a dimension which is less than half a width of the film, and most preferably the indicia have a dimension which is less than a quarter of a width of the film. The indicia may have a dimension of up to around 500 mm, more preferably up to around 250 mm. Most preferably the indicia have a dimension in the range 25 mm to 100 mm.

The film forming the second aspect of the present invention is provided with indicia arranged so as to provide a substantially regular pattern when wrapped around an article using a method according to the first of the present invention. It will be appreciated that the film that is the subject of the second aspect of the present invention may be employed in the method forming the first aspect of the present invention and/or with the apparatus forming the third aspect of the present invention.

Preferably the film is a multilayer co-extruded polyethylene film. It is preferred that the film is a three layer blown coextruded polymer blend. Such a film is inherently strong and puncture resistant, which may be significant where the goods are of high value and so security of the goods is important. If it is desired to provide a coloured transparent or non-transparent film then the colouration may be applied during extrusion of the polymer film.

The film is preferably stretchable longitudinally and/or transversely to the direction in which it is wound around the article. The film may be stretched locally by up to around 60 %, more preferably around 45 % of its original length/width.

The film may contain up to around 10 % by weight, more preferably up to around 7 % by weight of at least one of an antioxidant and a stabiliser. Where the film contains an additive, i.e. an antioxidant or a stabiliser, it is preferred that the film contains at least around 0.7 % by weight, more preferably at least around 2 % by weight of the additive.

Where the film is coloured with a pigment, it is preferred that the film contains up to around 15 % by weight, more preferably up to around 10 % by weight of a pigment.

Preferably the pigment coloured film contains at least 1 % by weight, more preferably at least 5 % by weight of the pigment.

The thickness and density of the film may be chosen to suit the intended application.

For example, in high security applications a thicker and/or more dense film may be used which would be stronger and more difficult to cut or puncture. Alternatively, where a lower level of protection is required or where the cost of the film covering is of prime importance, a thinner and/or lower density film may be used.

Preferably the film has a thickness of up to around 300 tim, more preferably a thickness of up to around 250 m. It is preferred that the thickness of the film lies in the range 10 jm to 220 tim, more preferably in the range 25 m to 200 Iim.

It is preferred that the film has a density of up to around 1300 kg!m3, more preferably up to around 1200 kg/rn3. Preferably the density of the film is at least 750 kg/rn3, more preferably at least 900 kg/m3. Most preferably the film has a density which lies in the range 920 kg/rn3 to 1100 kg/rn3.

The third aspect of the present invention provides apparatus for wrapping an article.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus that is the subject of the third aspect of the present invention may be employed in the method fonning the first aspect of the present invention and/or with the film forming the second aspect of the present invention.

The apparatus preferably comprises means for rotating the article so as to draw film from a reel supporting the film. Alternatively, or additionally the apparatus may comprise means for moving a reel supporting the film around the article so as to draw film from the reel.

Preferably the apparatus comprises means for displacing the reel supporting the film relative to the article parallel to the axis of rotation of the reel. As described above, combining linear displacement of the reel relative to the article with rotational movement of the article relative to the film reel provides the required helical movement which winds the film around the article in the desired fashion to make proper use of the bands of adhesive provided on opposite faces and along opposite edges of the film.

It is preferred that the apparatus comprises means to wrap the film around the article under tension.

The apparatus may comprise means to affix a tail end of the film to the wrapped article. Where the article is supported by a pallet, the apparatus may comprise means to affix a tail end of the film to the pallet andlor the wrapped article. As mentioned above, the tail end of the film is preferably affixed to the article andlor pallet so as to conform to the substantially regular patterning afforded to the exterior of the wrapped article by the indicia provided on the film.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of wrapping film according to an aspect of the present invention suitable to be employed in a wrapping method / with wrapping apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic representation of wrapping apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows the construction of a flexible 3-layer polyethylene film I having inwardly and outwardly directed faces 2, 3 respectively. The inwardly directed face 2 of the film I is provided with a band of cold seal adhesive 4 extending longitudinally along the film 1 and adjacent to an upper edge 5 of the film 1. A band of a release coating 6 to which the cold seal adhesive does not adhere extends longitudinally along the film 1 adjacent to the upper edge 5 of the film on the opposite outwardly directed face 3 of the film 1.

The reverse arrangement of cold seal adhesive and release coating is provided adjacent the lower edge 7 of the film 1, i.e. a band of cold seal adhesive 8 is provided on the outwardly directed face 3 of the film 1 adjacent to the lower edge 7 and a band of release coating 9 is provided on the inwardly directed face 2 of the film 1 adjacent the lower edge 7 of the film I. Providing bands of adhesive and release coating in this way ensures that overlapping layers of the film 1 do not adhere to one another when wound on to a reel 10 such that successive turns of the film 1 completely overlie one another, but facilitates adherence between successive turns of the film I when offset so as to partially overlie one another.

Triangular indicia 11 are printed on to a central portion 12 of the outwardly directed face 3 of the film I which is clear of release coating and adhesive. A central portion 13 of the inwardly directed face 2 of the film 1 is provided with a coating of a volatile corrosion inhibitor to protect articles wrapped with the film 1 from corrosion.

Referring to Figure 2, an article 14 supported on a palette 15 is shown being wrapped with the film I from Figure 1. The triangular indicia 11 printed on to the film 1 face away from the article 14 when wrapped around the article 14.

The palletised article 14 is rotatably supported by a base member 16 so as to be rotatable in the direction of arrow A about upright axis B. The reel 10 of film I is slideably mounted on an upright guide 17 such that the reel is linearly displaceable in the direction of arrow C along the guide 17.

The article 14 is wrapped as follows. A terminal end 18 of the film 1 is first fixed to the article 14. The article 14 is then rotated by base member 16 in an anticlockwise direction (arrow A) so as to draw the film I from the reel 10 while bringing the film 1 in to contact with each exterior surface 19 of the article 1. During rotation of the article 14 the reel 10 is displaced linearly upwards along guide 17 such that the film 1 is wrapped in a helical manner around the periphery of the article 14.

Winding of the film 1 around the article 14 in a helical manner offsets the bands of adhesive 4, 8 and release coating 6, 9 between successive layers of the film 1 such that the exposed outwardly directed band of adhesive 8 of the strip of film 1 already wound around the article 14 is overlapped by (and brought in to contact with) the band of adhesive 4 on the inwardly directed face 2 of a subsequent strip of the film 1.

Bringing the two bands of adhesive 4, 8 into contact in this way ensures a secure connection between successive overlapping strips of the film 1.

When a sufficient number of strips of the film I have been wound around the article 14 SO as to provide the desired covering, the film I is cut at an appropriate location to release a tail end (not shown) of the film 1 which is then glued to the pallet 15 which supports the wrapped article 14.

The arrangement of the triangular indicia 11 on the film 1 affords a regular repeating pattern to the exterior of the wrapped article 14. If the film 1 is subsequent broken this will disrupt the regular repeating pattern provided by the indicia 11 which will be quickly and easily identified. The patterned film 1, when wrapped around the article 14 thereby provides a simple and convenient tamper-evident covering. Care is taken to ensure that the tail end of the film 1 is affixed to the pallet 15 so as to ensure that the indicia 11 provided adjacent the tail end of the film 1 conform to the overall substantially regular pattern conferred to the exterior of the article I by the strips of film 1 wrapped around the article 14.

It will be understood that numerous modifications can be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the underlying inventive concept and that these modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention. For example the film can be wrapped around the article by moving the guide and reel around the article whilst keeping the article rotationally stationary.

The guide andlor article can then be displaced linearly with respect to one another to ensure that the film is dispensed from the reel in the correct helical manner.

Moreover, the release coating and adhesive may extend in from the edge of the film to any desirable extent, and the printed area free of release coating and adhesive may be significantly narrower or wider with respect to the width of the film than the arrangement shown in Figure 1. Furthermore, the film does not have to be provided with the volatile corrosion inhibitor coating as shown in Figure 1. The film may be transparent or opaque, and may be provided with a UV-absorbing substance to act as a filter for potentially harmful UV light.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A method for wrapping an article comprising wrapping a film provided with indicia around the periphery of the article such that successive layers of the film at least partially overlap one another and the indicia on the film provide a substantially regular pattern on an exterior of the wrapped article.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein during wrapping of the article, the article is rotated so as to draw film from a reel supporting the film.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein during wrapping of the article, a reel supporting the film is moved around the article so as to draw film from the reel.

4. A method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein during wrapping of the article, the reel supporting the film is displaced relative to the article parallel to the axis of rotation of the reel.

5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the film is wrapped around the article under tension.

6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein a tail end of the film is affixed to the article after wrapping.

7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the article is supported on a pallet during wrapping.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein a tail end of the film is affixed to the pallet after wrapping.

9. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein overlapping regions of the film comprise contacting surfaces provided with adhesive.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein one of the contacting surfaces is on one face of the film adjacent to a first longitudinal edge of the film and the other contacting surface is on the opposite face of the film adjacent to a second longitudinal edge of the film opposite to said first edge.

11. A method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein at least one of the contacting surfaces extends across less than a full width of the film.

12. A method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein at least one of the contacting surfaces extends across less than haifa width of the film.

13. A method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein at least one of the contacting surfaces extends across less than a quarter of a width of the film.

14. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the adhesive is a cold seal adhesive.

15. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein a release coating is applied to the film adjacent to at least one of the first and second longitudinal edges of the film on the opposite face of the film to the face on which adhesive is provided.

16. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein a layer of a volatile corrosion inhibitor is provided on one face of the film.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the corrosion inhibitor comprises a naturally occurring fatty acid or derivative thereof and a polyunsaturated fat or derivative thereof.

18. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the indicia are printed on to at least one face of the film.

19. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the indicia have a dimension which is less than a full width of the film.

20. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the indicia have a dimension which is less than haifa width of the film.

21. A method according to any one of claims I to 18, wherein the indicia have a dimension which is less than a quarter of a width of the film.

22. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the indicia are provided in a regularly repeating arrangement on the film.

23. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the indicia comprise more than one type of marking.

24. A film provided with indicia arranged so as to provide a substantially regular pattern on an exterior of a wrapped article when the film is wrapped around the periphery of the article such that successive layers of the film at least partially overlap one another.

25. A film according to claim 24, wherein the film is a multilayer co-extruded polyethylene film.

26. A film according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the film contains up to around 7 % by weight of at least one of an antioxidant and a stabiliser.

27. A film according to claim 24, 25 or 26, wherein the film contains up to around 10 % by weight of a pigment.

28. A film according to any one of claims 24 to 27, wherein the film has a thickness in the range 25 jim to 200 jim.

29. A film according to any one of claims 24 to 28, wherein the film has a width in the range 150 mm to 500 mm.

30. A film according to any one of claims 24 to 29, wherein the film has a density in the range 920 kg/rn3 to 1100 kg/rn3.

31. A film provided with indicia arranged so as to provide a substantially regular pattern when wrapped around an article substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures.

32. Apparatus for wrapping an article, the apparatus comprising means for wrapping a film provided with indicia around the periphery of the article such that successive layers of the film at least partially overlap one another and the indicia on the film provide a substantially regular pattern on an exterior of the wrapped article.

33. Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the apparatus comprises means for rotating the article so as to draw film from a reel supporting the film.

34. Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the apparatus comprises means for moving a reel supporting the film around the article so as to draw film from the reel.

35. Apparatus according to claim 33 or 34, wherein the apparatus comprises means for displacing the reel supporting the film relative to the article parallel to the axis of rotation of the reel.

36. Apparatus according to any one of claims 32 to 35, wherein the apparatus comprises means to wrap the film around the article under tension.

37. Apparatus for wrapping an article substantially as hereinbefore descnbed with reference to the accompanying figures.