US20190031382A1 - Cooling Holes for Film Wrapped Articles - Google Patents

Cooling Holes for Film Wrapped Articles Download PDF

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Publication number
US20190031382A1
US20190031382A1 US15/660,507 US201715660507A US2019031382A1 US 20190031382 A1 US20190031382 A1 US 20190031382A1 US 201715660507 A US201715660507 A US 201715660507A US 2019031382 A1 US2019031382 A1 US 2019031382A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
film
bundle
slit
heat
wrapped
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US15/660,507
Inventor
Alain Cerf
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US15/660,507 priority Critical patent/US20190031382A1/en
Priority to EP18185457.1A priority patent/EP3434607B1/en
Publication of US20190031382A1 publication Critical patent/US20190031382A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
    • B65B61/02—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for perforating, scoring, slitting, or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B53/00—Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging
    • B65B53/02—Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging by heat
    • B65B53/06—Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging by heat supplied by gases, e.g. hot-air jets
    • B65B53/063—Tunnels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B63/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged
    • B65B63/08—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged for heating or cooling articles or materials to facilitate packaging
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D71/06—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers
    • B65D71/08—Wrappers shrunk by heat or under tension, e.g. stretch films or films tensioned by compressed articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B2220/00—Specific aspects of the packaging operation
    • B65B2220/24—Cooling filled packages

Definitions

  • This invention relates to cooling or freezing an article or a bundle of articles after the article has been filmed wrapped and heat shrunk.
  • the term article refers to a bundle of articles such as bottles or a single article. These articles are perishable and require a cooled environment.
  • the prior art has placed articles in cartons, having holes in the carton, to allow cold air to circulate in the carton during the freezing or cooling of the articles.
  • This technique of cutting holes in the heat shrink film for air circulation of the article has been tried without success. Cutting the holes mechanically with an heated die or heat while the heat shrink material is moving resulted in hole sizes of less than about 3 ⁇ 8 inch.
  • the prior art was in need of a commercial viable way of creating openings large enough to allow sufficient air circulation to cool or freeze articles wrapped with a heat shrunk film.
  • FIG. 1 shows a film 1 moving between a set of rollers 2 and 3 .
  • Adjustable blade 7 on pivot 6 is lowered to cut a slit in the film.
  • the location and the length of the slit is formed so that when a bundle of articles are film wrapped the slit 4 is located on the vertical sides of the bundle.
  • FIG. 2 shows three vertical slits 4 and three vertical slits 5 to be located on opposing vertical sides of the bundle.
  • After film wrapping the bundle moves through a heat shrink tunnel on a conveyor where the film is heat shrunk. Within in the tunnel, the slits are opened by increasing the shrinkage of the film surrounding the slit. This can be accomplished by directing high speed jets of hot air on the slits. Openings in excess of 20-25 mm can be achieved.
  • FIG. 3 shows cups of yogurt 7 having opened slits using jets of hot air.
  • the wrapped article is transported to a freezer or cooler 7 to prevent spoilage of the contents within the bundle.
  • the heat shrunk bundle can be bundled or palletized prior to entering the freezer or cooler.

Abstract

Holes in the film can be formed after film wrapping the bundle. Slits are formed in the heat shrink film prior to film wrapping the bundle. While the bundle moves through a heat shrink tunnel on a conveyor, the slits can be opened by increasing the shrinkage of the film surrounding the slit. This can be accomplished by directing high speed jets of hot air on the slits. Although slits are preferred the hot air can be used on any opening to increase the size of the opening.

Description

    FIELD OF INVENTION
  • This invention relates to cooling or freezing an article or a bundle of articles after the article has been filmed wrapped and heat shrunk. The term article refers to a bundle of articles such as bottles or a single article. These articles are perishable and require a cooled environment.
    • BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
  • The prior art has placed articles in cartons, having holes in the carton, to allow cold air to circulate in the carton during the freezing or cooling of the articles. This technique of cutting holes in the heat shrink film for air circulation of the article has been tried without success. Cutting the holes mechanically with an heated die or heat while the heat shrink material is moving resulted in hole sizes of less than about ⅜ inch. The prior art was in need of a commercial viable way of creating openings large enough to allow sufficient air circulation to cool or freeze articles wrapped with a heat shrunk film.
  • The prior art, shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/972,078 filed on Aug. 21, 2013 by Alain Cerf titled, Cooling film Wrapped Articles, is incorporated by reference in the entirety. The application shows forming slits or slots in the longitudinal direction in a heat shrink film for allowing cooling air to circulate between the articles while maintaining the structural integrity of the heat shrunk film. This invention was not always able to achieve openings of sufficient size for allowing cooling air to circulate between the articles
    • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  • FIG. 1 shows a film 1 moving between a set of rollers 2 and 3. Adjustable blade 7 on pivot 6 is lowered to cut a slit in the film. The location and the length of the slit is formed so that when a bundle of articles are film wrapped the slit 4 is located on the vertical sides of the bundle. FIG. 2 shows three vertical slits 4 and three vertical slits 5 to be located on opposing vertical sides of the bundle. After film wrapping the bundle moves through a heat shrink tunnel on a conveyor where the film is heat shrunk. Within in the tunnel, the slits are opened by increasing the shrinkage of the film surrounding the slit. This can be accomplished by directing high speed jets of hot air on the slits. Openings in excess of 20-25 mm can be achieved. FIG. 3 shows cups of yogurt 7 having opened slits using jets of hot air.
  • After the film is heat shrunk, the wrapped article is transported to a freezer or cooler 7 to prevent spoilage of the contents within the bundle. The heat shrunk bundle can be bundled or palletized prior to entering the freezer or cooler.

Claims (11)

1. A process for arranging an article or a bundle of articles wrapped with heat shrink film so that cool air can circulate through the bundle comprising,
forming a slit in the film,
locating the slit so the slit is positioned on the vertical sides of the bundle during film wrapping, film wrapping the bundle,
transporting the wrapped bundle to a heat shrink tunnel, heat shrinking the bundle, and
increasing the opening of the slit during heat shrinking by increasing the heat shrinkage of the film surrounding the slit.
2. A process according to claim 1 including cooling the film wrapped article to prevent spoilage.
3. A process according to claim 1 including multiple vertical slits located on opposing vertical sides of the bundle.
4. A process according to claim 1 wherein high speed jets of hot air are directed on the slit during heat shrinking of the film.
5. An apparatus for arranging an article or a bundle of articles wrapped with heat shrink film so that cool air can circulate through the bundle comprising,
means for forming a slit in the film,
means for locating the slit so that the slit is positioned on the vertical sides of the bundle during film wrapping,
means for film wrapping the bundle,
means for transporting the wrapped bundle to a heat shrink tunnel,
means for heat shrinking the bundle, and
means for increasing the opening of the slit by increasing the heat shrinkage of the film surrounding the slit.
6. An apparatus according to claim 5 including means for cooling the film wrapped article to prevent spoilage.
7. An apparatus according to claim 5 including means for forming multiple vertical slits on opposing vertical sides of the bundle.
8. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein means for directing high speed jets of hot air on the slits during heat shrinking of the film.
9. A process for arranging an article or a bundle of articles wrapped with heat shrink film so that cool air can circulate through the bundle comprising,
forming an opening in the film,
film wrapping the bundle,
transporting the wrapped bundle to a heat shrink tunnel,
heat shrinking the bundle, and
increasing the size of the opening during heat shrinking by increasing the heat shrinkage of the film surrounding the opening.
10. A process according to claim 9 wherein the opening is a slit.
11. A process according to claim 9 wherein the heat shrinkage of the film is increased by directing high speed jets of hot air on the film surrounding the opening during heat shrinking of the film.
US15/660,507 2017-07-26 2017-07-26 Cooling Holes for Film Wrapped Articles Abandoned US20190031382A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US15/660,507 US20190031382A1 (en) 2017-07-26 2017-07-26 Cooling Holes for Film Wrapped Articles
EP18185457.1A EP3434607B1 (en) 2017-07-26 2018-07-25 Cooling holes for film wrapped articles

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US15/660,507 US20190031382A1 (en) 2017-07-26 2017-07-26 Cooling Holes for Film Wrapped Articles

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20190031382A1 true US20190031382A1 (en) 2019-01-31

Family

ID=63173935

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US15/660,507 Abandoned US20190031382A1 (en) 2017-07-26 2017-07-26 Cooling Holes for Film Wrapped Articles

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US20190031382A1 (en)
EP (1) EP3434607B1 (en)

Citations (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3131810A (en) * 1958-11-07 1964-05-05 Grace W R & Co Packaging
US3400810A (en) * 1966-09-28 1968-09-10 Alexander G. Makowski Package and packaging method
US3545165A (en) * 1968-12-30 1970-12-08 Du Pont Packaging method and apparatus
US3600871A (en) * 1969-09-09 1971-08-24 Reynolds Metals Co Method of making package construction for plurality of articles
GB1425302A (en) * 1973-06-22 1976-02-18 Hesser Ag Maschf Heat-shrinking apparatus
US3967993A (en) * 1973-03-23 1976-07-06 Sekisui Kaseihin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Protected container and a process for preparing same
US4011122A (en) * 1974-04-25 1977-03-08 Owens-Illinois, Inc. Method for producing plastic-covered containers
US4130201A (en) * 1976-10-19 1978-12-19 Ganz Brothers, Inc. Shrink wrap container package
GB2003015A (en) * 1977-08-25 1979-03-07 Union Carbide Corp Improvements in and relating to sticks of shirred casing
US5067612A (en) * 1989-01-26 1991-11-26 Honshu Sangyou Kabushiki Kaisha Shrink film package having perforated folded strip
US5240111A (en) * 1991-07-30 1993-08-31 Okura Industrial Co., Ltd. Thermally shrunk package
US5400570A (en) * 1993-05-17 1995-03-28 Bennett; Charles J. Method and apparatus for heat shrinking film around a product
US5771662A (en) * 1996-06-28 1998-06-30 Douglas Machine Limited Liability Company Apparatus and methods for producing shrink wrap packaging
US5797247A (en) * 1994-08-31 1998-08-25 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Photosensitive material package and packaging apparatus for the same
EP0933297A1 (en) * 1998-01-28 1999-08-04 Kurt Lachenmeier A/S Method and apparatus for packaging a load
CA2436202A1 (en) * 2000-11-01 2002-05-10 Kysters Kayat, Inc. Adaptable packaging machine heat shrink tunnel
US6820745B1 (en) * 1999-11-02 2004-11-23 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Package of cylindrical article and production method therefor
US7032360B2 (en) * 2003-10-29 2006-04-25 Douglas Machine, Inc. Apparatus and methods for producing shrink wrap packaging
EP1785357A1 (en) * 2005-11-09 2007-05-16 Sealed Air Limited Apparatus and method for the manufacture of easy-to-open shrink sleeve wrap packages
US7328550B2 (en) * 2003-05-23 2008-02-12 Douglas Machine Inc. Method for packaging articles using pre-perforated heat shrink film
US8333054B2 (en) * 2008-04-23 2012-12-18 Krones Ag Package with handle and device and method for the production thereof
US20150040520A1 (en) * 2012-02-07 2015-02-12 Stefan Landolt Apparatus for Heat Shrinking a Package and Method for Heat Shrinking a Package
US20150053698A1 (en) * 2013-08-21 2015-02-26 Alain Cerf Cooling Film Wrapped Articles
US20170174378A1 (en) * 2014-04-04 2017-06-22 Ocme S.R.L. Heat-shrinking furnace for the formation of bundles with improved film adhesion

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5992630A (en) * 1997-05-21 1999-11-30 Lever Brothers Company Shrink wrap package

Patent Citations (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3131810A (en) * 1958-11-07 1964-05-05 Grace W R & Co Packaging
US3400810A (en) * 1966-09-28 1968-09-10 Alexander G. Makowski Package and packaging method
US3545165A (en) * 1968-12-30 1970-12-08 Du Pont Packaging method and apparatus
US3600871A (en) * 1969-09-09 1971-08-24 Reynolds Metals Co Method of making package construction for plurality of articles
US3967993A (en) * 1973-03-23 1976-07-06 Sekisui Kaseihin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Protected container and a process for preparing same
GB1425302A (en) * 1973-06-22 1976-02-18 Hesser Ag Maschf Heat-shrinking apparatus
US4011122A (en) * 1974-04-25 1977-03-08 Owens-Illinois, Inc. Method for producing plastic-covered containers
US4130201A (en) * 1976-10-19 1978-12-19 Ganz Brothers, Inc. Shrink wrap container package
GB2003015A (en) * 1977-08-25 1979-03-07 Union Carbide Corp Improvements in and relating to sticks of shirred casing
US5067612A (en) * 1989-01-26 1991-11-26 Honshu Sangyou Kabushiki Kaisha Shrink film package having perforated folded strip
US5240111A (en) * 1991-07-30 1993-08-31 Okura Industrial Co., Ltd. Thermally shrunk package
US5400570A (en) * 1993-05-17 1995-03-28 Bennett; Charles J. Method and apparatus for heat shrinking film around a product
US5797247A (en) * 1994-08-31 1998-08-25 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Photosensitive material package and packaging apparatus for the same
US5771662A (en) * 1996-06-28 1998-06-30 Douglas Machine Limited Liability Company Apparatus and methods for producing shrink wrap packaging
EP0933297A1 (en) * 1998-01-28 1999-08-04 Kurt Lachenmeier A/S Method and apparatus for packaging a load
US6820745B1 (en) * 1999-11-02 2004-11-23 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Package of cylindrical article and production method therefor
CA2436202A1 (en) * 2000-11-01 2002-05-10 Kysters Kayat, Inc. Adaptable packaging machine heat shrink tunnel
US7328550B2 (en) * 2003-05-23 2008-02-12 Douglas Machine Inc. Method for packaging articles using pre-perforated heat shrink film
US7032360B2 (en) * 2003-10-29 2006-04-25 Douglas Machine, Inc. Apparatus and methods for producing shrink wrap packaging
EP1785357A1 (en) * 2005-11-09 2007-05-16 Sealed Air Limited Apparatus and method for the manufacture of easy-to-open shrink sleeve wrap packages
US8333054B2 (en) * 2008-04-23 2012-12-18 Krones Ag Package with handle and device and method for the production thereof
US20150040520A1 (en) * 2012-02-07 2015-02-12 Stefan Landolt Apparatus for Heat Shrinking a Package and Method for Heat Shrinking a Package
US20150053698A1 (en) * 2013-08-21 2015-02-26 Alain Cerf Cooling Film Wrapped Articles
US20170174378A1 (en) * 2014-04-04 2017-06-22 Ocme S.R.L. Heat-shrinking furnace for the formation of bundles with improved film adhesion

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Publication number Publication date
EP3434607A1 (en) 2019-01-30
EP3434607B1 (en) 2020-04-01

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