US3579949A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wrapping method and apparatus
Assignee: WRAPPING MACHINERY CO Inc
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Filing: 1967-08-23
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Granted: 1971-05-25
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Expires: 1987-08-23
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed herein is a wrapping method and apparatus in which an article is positioned on a table at one side of a film web withdrawal port. At the other side of the port there is a hotwire web-severing tool and a package rest or support in the form of a narrow, open-ended, outwardly projecting arm. A length of film web is drawn through the port upwardly and forwardly about the article to partially wrap it. The partially wrapped article is then drawn toward the operator to sweep it past the hot wire to cut the web. The article is deposited on the arm, and laterally extending film wings are folded downwardly and around the arm to the undersurface thereof. The article is then transferred to a sealing surface against which the underfolded wings are sealed.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles E Michels
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 19:28
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B67/00; B65B67/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of wrapping articles in film drawn from a supply roll, said film being wider than the article, said method comprising the steps of positioning the article on a table, withdrawing a length of film web from the roll into the space between the operator and the article thus positioned, looping the withdrawn length of film web away from the operator and over and partially about the article, thus to partially wrap the article in film with film wings extending laterally therefrom, drawing the article toward the operator, sweeping the web past a severing tool to cut the web, depositing the article on an open-ended support arm narrower than the article, folding said film wings downwardly toward the underside of said arm, and transferring said article to a sealing surface against which the underfolded wings are engaged to seal the package.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of wrapping articles in film drawn from a supply roll, said film being wider than the article, said method comprising the steps of positioning the article on a table, withdrawing a length of film web from the roll into the space between the operator and the article thus positioned, looping the withdrawn length of film web away from the operator and over and partially about the article, thus to partially wrap the article in film with film wings extending laterally therefrom, drawing the article toward the operator, sweeping the web past a severing tool to cut the web, depositing the article on an open-ended support arm narrower than the article, folding said film wings downwardly toward the underside of said arm, and transferring said article to a sealing surface against which the underfolded wings are engaged to seal the package.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 in which the operator draws the article toward himself by grasping the laterally extending film wings and uses these wings as handles for manipulating the article.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 in which the underfolded wings embrace the arm, said article being withdrawn endwise over the exposed end of the arm in the course of transferring it to said sealing surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 in which said sealing surface is moved away from the operator to convey the article during the course of forming said seal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 in which said article is propped up on said table to elevate its edge opposite the operator to facilitate looping the film web about the article.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 in which the film is tensioned laterally in the course of transferring the article from the table to the support arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 in which the film web is looped over the article without further withdrawing film web from the roll and in which drawing the article toward the operator withdraws an added length of web from the roll.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
232 words
Hand wrapping apparatus for wrapping an article with flexible, soft and thermoplastic wrapping material, said apparatus comprising, a frame having an upper end located at a height convenient for an operator standing at a rear side thereof; a first support adjacent said upper end and at a front side thereof which is opposite to that rear side at which said operator stands, said first support adapted to support an article while being overwrapped, a second support adjacent said upper end of said frame and located adjacent the rear side thereof, a heated severing device extending laterally across said upper end of said frame and located between said supports for severing said wrapping material on contact therewith, and passage means extending laterally across said upper end of said frame and located between said first support and said severing means whereby a leading edge of said wrapping material may be drawn by said operator upwardly through said passage means from said frame and overwrapping the article on said first support, said severing means adapted to sever material moved thereagainst after the overwrapped article is underwrapped by being moved over said severing means towards said second support, saId second support being of a lateral width less than said passage means and less than that of the article to be wrapped and mounted to provide clearance under the laterally opposite sides of an article resting thereon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
232 words
Hand wrapping apparatus for wrapping an article with flexible, soft and thermoplastic wrapping material, said apparatus comprising, a frame having an upper end located at a height convenient for an operator standing at a rear side thereof; a first support adjacent said upper end and at a front side thereof which is opposite to that rear side at which said operator stands, said first support adapted to support an article while being overwrapped, a second support adjacent said upper end of said frame and located adjacent the rear side thereof, a heated severing device extending laterally across said upper end of said frame and located between said supports for severing said wrapping material on contact therewith, and passage means extending laterally across said upper end of said frame and located between said first support and said severing means whereby a leading edge of said wrapping material may be drawn by said operator upwardly through said passage means from said frame and overwrapping the article on said first support, said severing means adapted to sever material moved thereagainst after the overwrapped article is underwrapped by being moved over said severing means towards said second support, saId second support being of a lateral width less than said passage means and less than that of the article to be wrapped and mounted to provide clearance under the laterally opposite sides of an article resting thereon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
309 words
Hand wrapping apparatus for wrapping an article with flexible, soft and thermoplastic wrapping material, said apparatus comprising; a frame having a front side, a rear side, laterally opposite sides, and also having an upper end located at a height convenient for an operator standing at said rear side thereof; a first support adjacent said upper end and front side of said frame, said first support being of a lateral width less than that of the article to be wrapped so that the lateral sides of the latter extend laterally beyond the sides of said first support, said first support also being positioned so that there is clearance beneath said laterally extending sides of said article when on said first support, a second support adjacent said upper end of said frame and located adjacent the rear side thereof, a heated severing device extending laterally across said upper end of said frame and located between said supports for severing said wrapping material on contact therewith, and passage means extending laterally across said upper end of said frame and located between said first support and said severing means whereby a leading edge of said wrapping material may be drawn by said operator upwardly through said passage means from said frame and over an article on said first support, and over the article front edge which is remote from said operator and then beneath said laterally extending sides of said article, said second support also being of a lateral width less than said passage means and also less than that of the article to be wrapped and mounted to provide clearance under the laterally opposite sides of the article resting thereon, said severing means adapted to sever the material extending from the partially wrapped article after the latter is underwrapped by being moved over said severing means and placed on said second support.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
309 words
Hand wrapping apparatus for wrapping an article with flexible, soft and thermoplastic wrapping material, said apparatus comprising; a frame having a front side, a rear side, laterally opposite sides, and also having an upper end located at a height convenient for an operator standing at said rear side thereof; a first support adjacent said upper end and front side of said frame, said first support being of a lateral width less than that of the article to be wrapped so that the lateral sides of the latter extend laterally beyond the sides of said first support, said first support also being positioned so that there is clearance beneath said laterally extending sides of said article when on said first support, a second support adjacent said upper end of said frame and located adjacent the rear side thereof, a heated severing device extending laterally across said upper end of said frame and located between said supports for severing said wrapping material on contact therewith, and passage means extending laterally across said upper end of said frame and located between said first support and said severing means whereby a leading edge of said wrapping material may be drawn by said operator upwardly through said passage means from said frame and over an article on said first support, and over the article front edge which is remote from said operator and then beneath said laterally extending sides of said article, said second support also being of a lateral width less than said passage means and also less than that of the article to be wrapped and mounted to provide clearance under the laterally opposite sides of the article resting thereon, said severing means adapted to sever the material extending from the partially wrapped article after the latter is underwrapped by being moved over said severing means and placed on said second support.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 further characterized in that said second support comprises an elevated pedestal located below the height of said severing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 further characterized in that said second support comprises an elevated pedestal located below the height of said severing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
163 words
A wrapping apparatus comprising, a package-supporting means for supporting an article to be wrapped in plastic wrapping material, said article including a flat tray support; passage means extending laterally across the rear end of said supporting means, means for storing a roll of plastic sheet material below said supporting means; the end of said plastic sheet material being adapted to be drawn upward through said passage means adjacent one edge of said supporting means and over the top of an article located on the supporting means; a severing device for severing the plastic sheet material moved thereagainst disposed adjacent the said one edge of the supporting means, below its upper surface; and a support pedestal disposed on the other side of said severing device; said support pedestal being of such size and location that a package placed on the pedestal can be tightly underwrapped in the wrapping paper, said pedestal also being of a lateral width less than that of said passage means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
163 words
A wrapping apparatus comprising, a package-supporting means for supporting an article to be wrapped in plastic wrapping material, said article including a flat tray support; passage means extending laterally across the rear end of said supporting means, means for storing a roll of plastic sheet material below said supporting means; the end of said plastic sheet material being adapted to be drawn upward through said passage means adjacent one edge of said supporting means and over the top of an article located on the supporting means; a severing device for severing the plastic sheet material moved thereagainst disposed adjacent the said one edge of the supporting means, below its upper surface; and a support pedestal disposed on the other side of said severing device; said support pedestal being of such size and location that a package placed on the pedestal can be tightly underwrapped in the wrapping paper, said pedestal also being of a lateral width less than that of said passage means.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of hand wrapping an article in a soft, flexible and thermoplastic material comprising, supporting the article to be wrapped; drawing said material from a supply and away from the operator and completely over the article and over the edge of the article located remote from the operator to thereby overwrap the article; moving the resulting overwrapped article toward the operator to thereby underwrap it and simultaneously pulling the material in laterally opposite directions to stretch the material smoothly across the bottom of the article; supporting the partially wrapped article on A second support in such a manner that the lateral sides of said article extend freely beyond said second support, and substantially simultaneously urging that material extending from the partially wrapped article against a heated severing means to sever said material from said supply, pressing the lateral ends of the wrapped material toward one another and smoothly along the bottom side of the package so formed, and then heat-sealing the bottom of the package.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of hand wrapping an article in a soft, flexible and thermoplastic material comprising, supporting the article to be wrapped; drawing said material from a supply and away from the operator and completely over the article and over the edge of the article located remote from the operator to thereby overwrap the article; moving the resulting overwrapped article toward the operator to thereby underwrap it and simultaneously pulling the material in laterally opposite directions to stretch the material smoothly across the bottom of the article; supporting the partially wrapped article on A second support in such a manner that the lateral sides of said article extend freely beyond said second support, and substantially simultaneously urging that material extending from the partially wrapped article against a heated severing means to sever said material from said supply, pressing the lateral ends of the wrapped material toward one another and smoothly along the bottom side of the package so formed, and then heat-sealing the bottom of the package.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
210 words
A method of hand wrapping an article in a soft, flexible and thermoplastic material and with one substantially continuous movement of the operator''s hands, said method comprising, supporting the article to be wrapped so that its lateral sides are unobstructed and have clearance thereunder for the operator''s fingers; drawing said material from a supply and upwardly between said operator and said article, then away from the operator and completely over the article, then downwardly over the edge of the article located remote from the operator and then toward the operator to thereby overwrap the article; lifting the partially wrapped package toward the operator and toward a second support and simultaneously pulling the material in laterally opposite directions to stretch the material smoothly across the bottom of the article which is thereby underwrapped; placing the partially wrapped article on said second support in such a manner that the lateral sides of said article extend freely beyond said support, and substantially simultaneously urging that material extending from the partially wrapped article against a heated severing means to sever said material from said supply, pressing the lateral ends of the wrapped material toward one another smoothly along the bottom side of the package so formed, and then heat-sealing the bottom of the package.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
210 words
A method of hand wrapping an article in a soft, flexible and thermoplastic material and with one substantially continuous movement of the operator''s hands, said method comprising, supporting the article to be wrapped so that its lateral sides are unobstructed and have clearance thereunder for the operator''s fingers; drawing said material from a supply and upwardly between said operator and said article, then away from the operator and completely over the article, then downwardly over the edge of the article located remote from the operator and then toward the operator to thereby overwrap the article; lifting the partially wrapped package toward the operator and toward a second support and simultaneously pulling the material in laterally opposite directions to stretch the material smoothly across the bottom of the article which is thereby underwrapped; placing the partially wrapped article on said second support in such a manner that the lateral sides of said article extend freely beyond said support, and substantially simultaneously urging that material extending from the partially wrapped article against a heated severing means to sever said material from said supply, pressing the lateral ends of the wrapped material toward one another smoothly along the bottom side of the package so formed, and then heat-sealing the bottom of the package.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of wrapping an article having a flat bottom in a soft film wrapping material using a table having in sequence an angled article support, a wrapping material feed slot, a hot wire cutter and a pedestal comprising the steps of placing an article to be wrapped on the angled support, grasping the corners of the free end of a roll of soft film and pulling the strip of soft film over the article far enough for the free end to underwrap the article; moving the article toward the pedestal to draw the film across the bottom of the article; placing the article on the pedestal with the trailing edge in close proximity to the wire to sever the soft film; pulling the ends of the material wrapped on the package outward to stretch the material; folding the ends under the article with the material drawn tightly across the bottom edges of the article in sealing engagement therewith; and placing the wrapped article on a hot belt to seal the bottom of the article.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of wrapping an article having a flat bottom in a soft film wrapping material using a table having in sequence an angled article support, a wrapping material feed slot, a hot wire cutter and a pedestal comprising the steps of placing an article to be wrapped on the angled support, grasping the corners of the free end of a roll of soft film and pulling the strip of soft film over the article far enough for the free end to underwrap the article; moving the article toward the pedestal to draw the film across the bottom of the article; placing the article on the pedestal with the trailing edge in close proximity to the wire to sever the soft film; pulling the ends of the material wrapped on the package outward to stretch the material; folding the ends under the article with the material drawn tightly across the bottom edges of the article in sealing engagement therewith; and placing the wrapped article on a hot belt to seal the bottom of the article.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
152 words
Wrapping apparatus comprising: a table to support an article during initial partial wrapping operations thereon, a film-severing tool at one side of the table, a support for a film roll, a film-web-withdrawing port between the table and tool and through which a web of film from the roll is drawn in the course of looping the web over the article on the table to leave laterally extending unfolded film wings at the sides of the article, and an open ended package rest at the side of the tool opposite the table and in the path of transfer of the partially wrapped article from the table, said package rest comprising a control reaction surface to support the partially wrapped article as said film wings are folded down around the edges of the package rest and up toward the underside of the package rest in the course of continuing the wrapping of the article.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
152 words
Wrapping apparatus comprising: a table to support an article during initial partial wrapping operations thereon, a film-severing tool at one side of the table, a support for a film roll, a film-web-withdrawing port between the table and tool and through which a web of film from the roll is drawn in the course of looping the web over the article on the table to leave laterally extending unfolded film wings at the sides of the article, and an open ended package rest at the side of the tool opposite the table and in the path of transfer of the partially wrapped article from the table, said package rest comprising a control reaction surface to support the partially wrapped article as said film wings are folded down around the edges of the package rest and up toward the underside of the package rest in the course of continuing the wrapping of the article.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
48 words
The wrapping apparatus of claim 16 in which the table has a prop to elevate that edge of an article on the table which is remote from the film-withdrawing port, thus to facilitate partial wrapping of the film beneath the article while it is supported on the prop.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-24 | 1974-11-23 | 1975-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-24 | 1978-11-23 | 1979-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-24 | 1982-11-23 | 1983-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |