US3557947A - Multiple container package - Google Patents

Multiple container package Download PDF

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Publication number
US3557947A
US3557947A US722662A US3557947DA US3557947A US 3557947 A US3557947 A US 3557947A US 722662 A US722662 A US 722662A US 3557947D A US3557947D A US 3557947DA US 3557947 A US3557947 A US 3557947A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
package
web
cans
band
overwrap
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US722662A
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English (en)
Inventor
Joseph D Greenwell
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.)
EIDP Inc
Original Assignee
EI Du Pont de Nemours and Co
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 EI Du Pont de Nemours and Co filed Critical EI Du Pont de Nemours and Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3557947A publication Critical patent/US3557947A/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • 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
    • B65D2571/00—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, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00006—Palletisable loads, i.e. loads intended to be transported by means of a fork-lift truck
    • B65D2571/00012—Bundles surrounded by a film
    • B65D2571/00018—Bundles surrounded by a film under tension
    • B65D2571/00024—Mechanical characteristics of the shrink film

Definitions

  • This invention is related to packaging and more particularly to the packaging of a plurality of cans in a heat-shrinkable, thermoplastic film overwrap.
  • overwraps commonly are formed of two webs which are side sealed together to form a tube prior to the heat shrinking of the overwrap.
  • a l mil thick web of heat shrinkable polyethylene is employed for use on the sides and the bottom of the package.
  • a I 1% mil thick web of heat shrinkable polyethylene is employed on the top, finger-hole side with both webs sealed one to the other to form a tube. This procedure insures a stronger web on the package top where most of the handling stresses on the overwrap take place but requires the use of the two webs of material to form the overwrap.
  • Another design of a similar type of package employs a tubular sleeve of heat shrinkable thermoplastic film on which is bonded a separate reinforcing strip in the area of the finger receiving holes.
  • This package design provides for a strengthened top portion of the overwrap but also requires that a separate web be used in the fabrication of the package to achieve the reinforcement of the package's finger-hole area.
  • a package comprising a plurality of containers arranged in a substantial wall-abutting relationship with one another whereby void spaces are formed within container groupings and an overwrap of heat shrunken thermoplastic tubular film whose tubular axis is perpendicular to the direction of the axes of the containers, the overwrap arranged in a contour conforming configuration with the containers wherein the improved overwrap comprises:
  • thermoplastic film formed into a sleeve
  • a band on the top of the package formed by at least two overlapping layers of the web the band having at least one finger hole substantially aligned with the void space formed within the container groupings
  • the package of the present invention can be fabricated more readily than can the existing packages of comparable design since the only packaging material required is a single web of heat-shrinkable thermoplastic film.
  • the cost of the packaging materials required is significantly lower than is the cost for existing packages of comparable design.
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the overwrap of the package taken across one of the finger holes of the package of FIG. I at Section 2-2.
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of another embodiment of the overwrap of the package taken across one of the finger holes otthe package.
  • FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of still another embodiment of the overwrap of the package taken across one of the finger holes of the package.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a three layered reinforcing band.
  • FIG. 6a and 6b are schematic illustrationsof four layered reinforcing bands.
  • the package shown in FIG. I comprises a grouping of cans I and a thermoplastic, heat'shrinkable overwrap 2.
  • the cans I may have cylindrical walls, as shown, or flat walls forming a polyhedron.
  • the construction of the cans I can be of the three-piece type or of the two-piece type having an upper recessed chime.
  • the cans 1 can be fabricated from metal. paper or combinations of metal and paper products.
  • the only limitation in reference to the cans used in the package of this invention is in their arrangement.
  • the cans are arranged as shown in FIG. I with their axes parallel with one another and arranged in abutting linear groups so that void spaces are formed within the grouping of any four grouped cans.
  • the overwrap 2 is a 1% mil heatshrinkable polyethylene web such as 240 EH Clysan' (produced by E. l. du Pont de Nemours and Co.). This particular film is a balanced. biaxially oriented. heat-shrinkable polyethylene but the practice of this invention is equally accomplished using uniaxially oriented film with the stretch axis running normal to the flow path of the cans being overwrapped. Other types of heat-shrinkable films useful in forming the package shown in FIG.
  • I are those manufactured by commercial methods from polymers such as polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene.
  • the heat-shrinkable web employed must have sufficient shrinkage capability to tightly envelop the grouping of cans into a rigid structure that can be handled conveniently.
  • the required degree of orientation of the film employed for the overwrap 2 is dependent on the configuration of the cans l and the type of apparatus used to fabricate the package.
  • the overwrap 2 is formed from a single web of film. It preferably is formed into a tubular sleeve by overlapping the edges 2a and 2b of the web on the top of the package being formed and sealing the overlapped web layers by use of a single or preferably parallel, double, continuous seals 3 and 4 which are separated from each other to form a band 5 comprising two layers of the web used to form the overwrap 2.
  • the edges can be folded a number of times yielding e.g. three or four overlapped film layers, as shown on FIG. 5 (2g, 2g, 21, 21'), respectively.
  • Finger holes 6 and 7 as shown in FIG. I are melted into the band 5 directly above the void spaces formed within the grouping of any four grouped cans. It is preferred that these holes be formed by a shaped heated element so that a polymeric bead is formed around the periphery of each hole for reinforcement of the overwrap 2 at each finger hole.
  • FIG. 2 shows a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the overwrap 2 taken across Section 2-2 of FIG. 1 to further illustrate the structure of the reinforced finger holes.
  • the overlapping edges 20 and 2b of the overwrap 2 are sealed by heat or adhesive seals 3 and 4 to form the band 5 shown in FIG. 1.
  • Finger hole 6 is formed in the double layered band 5 between seals 3 and 4.
  • a reinforcing finger hole bead 8 bounds the finger hole 6 and joins the two layers of the web in this region. It is not necessary that a finger hole be formed in the overwrap above each void space within every grouping of four cans since the provision of one finger hole per package provides an adequate carrying means for the package.
  • the person handling the package uses the one finger hole while placing his thumb in the region 9, shown in FIG. I, of the overwrap. Six-pack and eight-pack packages can be carried comfortably in this manner for extended periods of time.
  • H68. 3 and 4 show fragmentary sectional views of other embodiments of the overwrap taken across a finger hole to illustrate the structure of the overlapped web layers adjacent to the reinforced finger holes.
  • FIG. 3 the overlapping web layers 20 and 2d are bonded together in the wide seal area and the finger hole 60 lies within the seal area 10 of the bonded web layers and 2d.
  • the web layers 2c and M can be bonded by use of a heated laminating roll similar to the rolls employed to form the heat seals 3 and 4 shown in FIGv 2.
  • the web layers 2c and 2d can also be adhesively bonded e.g. by applying a vinyl acetate copolymer or latex adhesive between the web layers prior to the passage of the overlapping web layers through a laminating device.
  • the web layers 22 and 2f are joined together by a series of heat seals such as seals ll, 12, 13 and 14. These seals can be continuous as are those shown in FIG. 1 or they can be discontinuous. Sealed areas such as obtained by use of heated knurled rolls or of heated waffle-grid surfaced rolls also provide joined web layers of this same type wherein the web layers are joined in a bonded pattern as determined by the surface of the heated sealing roll employed to effect the seal between the web layers.
  • the heat-shrinkable, thermoplastic web is fed from a continuous length supply roll into a tube forming section where the tubular sleeve is formed around preselected groups of containers.
  • the two top seals are made as the sleeve is closed around the container groupings.
  • the desired number of finger holes are then melted through the double-web layer on top of the container groupings.
  • the thermoplastic sleeve is formed around the groupings of containers it is severed between groupings to permit an excess of the prefonned sleeve to extend beyond the longitudinal confines of the individual container groupings.
  • thermoplastic sleeve Each package consisting of the grouped containers and the surrounding thermoplastic sleeve is then passed through a heat shrinking chamber.
  • Typical heat shrinking temperatures employed while packaging at the rate of l20 packages per minute using 240 EH Clysan' film (heat shrinkable polyethylene produced by E. l. du Pont dc Nemours and Co.) were 330 F. for preshrinking and 280 F. for total shrinking.
  • the overwrap during this operation shrinks in all directions yielding a package as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the shrinking forces exerted by the thermoplastic film causes the overwrap to tightly enclose the containers on six sides so that relative container-to-container movement is restricted under normal handling conditions.
  • the heat required to shrink the overwrap is normally transmitted by use of circulated hot air currents or by radiant heat transfer such as emitted from infrared light sources or from electrically energized resistance heating ele ments.
  • a package comprising a plurality of containers arranged in a substantial wall-abutting relationship with one another whereby void spaces are formed within container groupings and an overwrap of heat shrunken thermoplastic tubular film whose tubular axis is perpendicular to the direction of the axes of the containers, said overwrap arranged in a contour conforming configuration with the containers wherein the improved overwrap comprises:
  • thermoplastic film formed into a sleeve
  • said band having at least one finger hole substantially aligned with the void space formed within the container groupings;
  • thermoplastic film is heat-shrinkable polyethylene.
  • a package comprising a grouping of cans arranged in two adjacent linear rows each consisting of at least two cans and an overwrap formed from a web of thermoplastic film enclosing said grouping 'of cans, said web being formed into a tubular sleeve whose tubular axis is perpendicular to the direction of the axes of the cans and said web having its overlapping edges sealed together to form a band comprising at least two layers of film, said cans being arranged in abutting relationship with each other and forming a void space within a grouping of any four grouped cans and said band being positioned between said rows of cans and having means defining at least one finger hole therein substantially aligned with a said void space within a said grouping of four grouped cans.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
US722662A 1968-04-19 1968-04-19 Multiple container package Expired - Lifetime US3557947A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US72266268A 1968-04-19 1968-04-19

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3557947A true US3557947A (en) 1971-01-26

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US722662A Expired - Lifetime US3557947A (en) 1968-04-19 1968-04-19 Multiple container package

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US (1) US3557947A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE731724A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE6915631U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2006547A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1268506A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3804235A (en) * 1969-07-29 1974-04-16 A Anderson Wrapper sheet with openings and method of production
US4050216A (en) * 1972-03-27 1977-09-27 Iwema Forpacknings Ab Method of providing a package with a handle
US4130201A (en) * 1976-10-19 1978-12-19 Ganz Brothers, Inc. Shrink wrap container package
USD302661S (en) 1988-09-02 1989-08-08 Victor Calcerano Container for batteries
USD302662S (en) 1988-09-02 1989-08-08 Victor Calcerano Container for batteries
USD320158S (en) 1989-08-18 1991-09-24 Newell Co. Shipping and display package for beverageware
US20050158492A1 (en) * 2003-02-06 2005-07-21 Plastic Suppliers, Inc. Longitudinal shrink films
US20060045940A1 (en) * 2004-08-30 2006-03-02 Plastic Suppliers, Inc. Polylactic acid blown film and method of manufacturing same
US20070003774A1 (en) * 2005-04-19 2007-01-04 Plastic Suppliers, Inc. Polylactic acid shrink films and methods of manufacturing same
US20070116909A1 (en) * 2005-11-21 2007-05-24 Plastic Suppliers, Inc. Polylactic acid shrink films and methods of casting same
US20070215504A1 (en) * 2006-03-17 2007-09-20 Walker Terry D Shrink-wrap packaging incorporating reinforced integral handle
USD563240S1 (en) * 2006-08-23 2008-03-04 The Procter & Gamble Company Pattern for a paper product package
USD574721S1 (en) * 2006-10-23 2008-08-12 The Procter & Gamble Company Package for rolls of paper towels
US20230190465A1 (en) * 2020-08-24 2023-06-22 Edwards Lifesciences Corporation Balloon cover for a delivery apparatus for an expandable prosthetic heart valve

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4348438A (en) * 1980-12-31 1982-09-07 Mobil Oil Corporation Process for preparation of improved shrink wrap
JPS6228354A (ja) * 1985-07-19 1987-02-06 本州製紙株式会社 易開封性シユリンク包装体ならびにその製造法

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3140039A (en) * 1960-08-03 1964-07-07 Fmc Corp Flexible wall container
US3388788A (en) * 1965-09-17 1968-06-18 Nat Dairy Prod Corp Package
US3447675A (en) * 1967-07-13 1969-06-03 Reynolds Metals Co Package construction and method of making the same or the like

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3140039A (en) * 1960-08-03 1964-07-07 Fmc Corp Flexible wall container
US3388788A (en) * 1965-09-17 1968-06-18 Nat Dairy Prod Corp Package
US3447675A (en) * 1967-07-13 1969-06-03 Reynolds Metals Co Package construction and method of making the same or the like

Cited By (29)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3804235A (en) * 1969-07-29 1974-04-16 A Anderson Wrapper sheet with openings and method of production
US4050216A (en) * 1972-03-27 1977-09-27 Iwema Forpacknings Ab Method of providing a package with a handle
US4130201A (en) * 1976-10-19 1978-12-19 Ganz Brothers, Inc. Shrink wrap container package
USD302661S (en) 1988-09-02 1989-08-08 Victor Calcerano Container for batteries
USD302662S (en) 1988-09-02 1989-08-08 Victor Calcerano Container for batteries
USD320158S (en) 1989-08-18 1991-09-24 Newell Co. Shipping and display package for beverageware
US20050158492A1 (en) * 2003-02-06 2005-07-21 Plastic Suppliers, Inc. Longitudinal shrink films
US7615183B2 (en) 2004-08-30 2009-11-10 Plastic Suppliers, Inc. Polylactic acid blown film and method of manufacturing same
US20060045940A1 (en) * 2004-08-30 2006-03-02 Plastic Suppliers, Inc. Polylactic acid blown film and method of manufacturing same
US20070054073A1 (en) * 2004-08-30 2007-03-08 Plastic Suppliers, Inc. Polylactic acid blown film and method of manufacturing same
US8133558B2 (en) 2004-08-30 2012-03-13 Plastics Suppliers, Inc. Polylactic acid blown film and method of manufacturing same
US20100056689A1 (en) * 2004-08-30 2010-03-04 Plastic Suppliers, Inc. Polylactic acid blown film and method of manufacturing same
US8496868B2 (en) 2005-04-19 2013-07-30 Plastic Suppliers, Inc. Polylactic acid shrink films and methods of manufacturing same
US7846517B2 (en) 2005-04-19 2010-12-07 Plastic Suppliers, Inc. Polylactic acid shrink films and methods of manufacturing same
US20070003774A1 (en) * 2005-04-19 2007-01-04 Plastic Suppliers, Inc. Polylactic acid shrink films and methods of manufacturing same
US20110123763A1 (en) * 2005-04-19 2011-05-26 Plastic Suppliers, Inc. Polylactic acid shrink films and methods of manufacturing same
US20070116909A1 (en) * 2005-11-21 2007-05-24 Plastic Suppliers, Inc. Polylactic acid shrink films and methods of casting same
US20100213202A1 (en) * 2005-11-21 2010-08-26 Plastic Suppliers, Inc. Polylactic acid shrink films and methods of casting same
US7713601B2 (en) 2005-11-21 2010-05-11 Plastic Suppliers, Inc. Polylactic acid shrink films and methods of casting same
US7998545B2 (en) 2005-11-21 2011-08-16 Plastic Suppliers, Inc. Polylactic acid shrink films and methods of casting same
US8263197B2 (en) 2005-11-21 2012-09-11 Plastic Suppliers, Inc. Polylactic acid shrink films and methods of casting same
US8551586B2 (en) 2005-11-21 2013-10-08 Plastic Suppliers, Inc. Polylactic acid shrink films and methods of casting same
US20070215504A1 (en) * 2006-03-17 2007-09-20 Walker Terry D Shrink-wrap packaging incorporating reinforced integral handle
USD563240S1 (en) * 2006-08-23 2008-03-04 The Procter & Gamble Company Pattern for a paper product package
USD574721S1 (en) * 2006-10-23 2008-08-12 The Procter & Gamble Company Package for rolls of paper towels
US20230190465A1 (en) * 2020-08-24 2023-06-22 Edwards Lifesciences Corporation Balloon cover for a delivery apparatus for an expandable prosthetic heart valve
US12167961B2 (en) 2020-08-24 2024-12-17 Edwards Lifesciences Corporation Methods and systems for aligning a commissure of a prosthetic heart valve with a commissure of a native valve
US12186181B2 (en) 2020-08-24 2025-01-07 Edwards Lifesciences Corporation Balloon cover for a delivery apparatus for an expandable prosthetic heart valve
US12310843B2 (en) * 2020-08-24 2025-05-27 Edwards Lifesciences Corporation Balloon cover for a delivery apparatus for an expandable prosthetic heart valve

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE6915631U (de) 1970-01-15
BE731724A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1969-10-01
FR2006547A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1969-12-26
GB1268506A (en) 1972-03-29

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