Process for seaming coated cellulose webs

Claim 2

In a process for seaming a cellulosic web wherein a cellulose containing film is overlapped and sealed by applying an aqueous zinc chloride solution between the overlapping film, the improvement comprising applying at least about 0.002 g of zinc chloride per cm 2 between said overlapping film, sealing said overlapping film, at a temperature of from about 0 °C to about 125 °C, by pressing together said overlapping film and retaining at least about 0.002 gjcm 2 of zinc chloride at the overlapping seam.

Claim 3

In a process for producing a cellulosic tubular structure suitable for stuffing to form a sausage wherein the longitudinal edges of a web of cellulose containing material are overlapped to form a tube and sealed by applying an aqueous zinc chloride solution between said overlapped edges, the improvement comprising applying at least about 0.002 g of zinc chloride per cm 2 of lapped seam between said overlapped edges, sealing said overlapping edges, at a temperature of from about 0 °C to about 125 °C, by pressing together said overlapped edges having aqueous zinc chloride solution between and retaining at least 0.002 gjcm 2 of zinc chloride at said overlapped seam of said casing.

Claim 4

In a process for producing a cellulosic tubular structure suitable for stuffing to form a sausage wherein the longitudinal edges of a web of cellulose containing material are overlapped to form a tube and sealed by applying an aqueous zinc chloride solution between said overlapped edges, the improvement comprising applying at least about 0.002 g of zinc chloride per cm 2 of lapped seam between said overlapped edges, sealing said overlapping edges, at a temperature of from about 0 °C to about 125 °C, by pressing together said overlapped edges having aqueous zinc chloride solution between and retaining at least 0.002 gjcm 2 of zinc chloride at said overlapped seam of said casing.

Claim 5

The process of one or more of the Claims 1 and 2 wherein the seam is allowed to cure at least about 30 sec, preferably at least about 1.0 min, after sealing prior to subjecting the seam to aqueous washing.

Claim 6

The process of one or more of the Claims 1 to 3 wherein said overlapped film or edges, respectively, are pressed together to an initial contact pressure of at least about 0.01 kg/cm 2 , preferably from about 0.05 kg/cm 2 to about 10 kg/cm 2 ,

Claim 7

The process of one or more of the Claims 1 to 4 wherein at least one contacting surface of the overlapped film or edges, respectively, has an appropriate functional coating thereon, especially only one or both contacting surfaces of the overlapped edges have a functional coating thereon.

Claim 8

The process of Claim 5 wherein said functional coating comprises at least one of long chain alkyl ketene dimer, polyamide-epichlorohydrin polymer, gelatin, carboxy methyl cellulose, alkyl carboxylic acid chrome complex, polyurethane, polyurea, silicone, polyoxyethylene ether surfactant, polyethylene imine, melamineformaldehyde resin, polyester latex, smoke tar, pigment, or dye particles.

Claim 9

The process of Claim 11 wherein said functional coating is less than about 5.0 microns thick.

Claim 10

The process of one or more of the Claims 1 to 7 wherein an amount of zinc chloride in the range of from about 0.002 g/cm 2 to about 0.1 g/cm 2 , preferably an amount from about 0.002 g/cm' to about 0.02 g/cm 2 is applied.

Claim 11

The process of one or more of the Claims 2 to 8 wherein said overlap is from about 3 % to about 20 % of the circumference of the tube being formed.

Claim 12

The process of one or more of the Claims 1 to 9 wherein said cellulose containing material is selected from cellulose, regenerated cellulose, reinforced cellulose and reinforced regenerated cellulose.

Claim 13

The process of one or more of the Claims 2 to 10 wherein said zinc chloride is retained at said overlapped seam until after stuffing of the casing.

Claim 14

The process of one or more of the Claims 2 to 11 wherein at least one contacting surface of the overlapped edges has an appropriate functional coating thereon having a thickness of up to about 5.0 microns.

Claim 15

The process of one or more of the Claims 8 to 12 wherein said zinc chloride is maintained at said overlapped seam for at least 24 hours.

Claim 16

14 . A fibrous reinforced cellulosic tubular sausage casing comprising a cellulose containing web, lap seamed in tubular form, containing an amount of zinc chloride at the overlapped seam comprising at least about 0.002 g/cm' of lapped seam material.

Claim 17

14 . A fibrous reinforced cellulosic tubular sausage casing comprising a cellulose containing web, lap seamed in tubular form, containing an amount of zinc chloride at the overlapped seam comprising at least about 0.002 g/cm' of lapped seam material.

Claim 18

The casing of Claim 14 having a functional coating between said lapped material.

Claim 19

The casing of one or more of the Claims 14 and 15 wherein said functional coating comprises at least one of long chain alkyl ketene dimer, polyamide-epichlorohydrin polymer, gelatin, carboxy methyl cellulose, alkyl carboxylic acid chrome complex, polyurethane, polyurea, silicone, polyoxyethylene ether surfactant, polyethylene imine, melomeneformaldehyde resin, polyester latex, smoke tar, pigment or dye particles.

Claim 20

The casing of one or more of the Claims 14 to 16 having up to about 10.0 microns of functional coating between said lapped material.

Claim 21

The casing of one or more of the Claims 14 to 17 dried to a moisture content of from about 2 % to about 20 %.