Patent US3581457A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3581457A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Wrapping method and apparatus
Assignee: FMC Corp
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Filing: 1969-04-30
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Granted: 1971-06-01
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Expires: 1989-04-30
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure concerns a wrapping machine, a wrapping method, and the package formed by the machine and method. The side edges of a single web are folded around two laterally aligned articles and edge sealed to the remaining web near a central tear line along the single thickness of web interconnecting the packages. By forming two packages from a single web, the web can be run about as fast as any single web used in the known single file wrapping method, whereby the output of the machine in finished packages is substantially doubled over the output of a machine producing packages with the single file method.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl J Gerlach
- 👤 Jerome J Vande Castle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:26
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B9/00; B65B9/06; B65B2220/00; B65B2220/22; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S206/00; Y10S206/82
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A wrapping machine comprising means for continuously feeding s single web, a web former for folding each free longitudinal edge portion of the moving web back on the remaining unfolded web portion, the free edges of the web being in confronting spaced relation and defining elongate side edges of two laterally adjacent packages, means for feeding a double file of transversely aligned articles under the web, said web former including a forming shoe adjacent each edge of the web for transversely curling the web downwardly around the articles so that the visible seams formed by said edges are on the underside of the package, longitudinal sealing means for continuously sealing each of said free longitudinal edge portions to the adjacent surface of the moving web, transverse sealing means for sealing the web at each end of the two adjacent packages to complete an individual peripherally sealed article compartment at each side of the confronting longitudinal edge portions, and means for transversely severing the web through the transverse sealed areas to complete an individual double compartment package.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A wrapping machine comprising means for continuously feeding s single web, a web former for folding each free longitudinal edge portion of the moving web back on the remaining unfolded web portion, the free edges of the web being in confronting spaced relation and defining elongate side edges of two laterally adjacent packages, means for feeding a double file of transversely aligned articles under the web, said web former including a forming shoe adjacent each edge of the web for transversely curling the web downwardly around the articles so that the visible seams formed by said edges are on the underside of the package, longitudinal sealing means for continuously sealing each of said free longitudinal edge portions to the adjacent surface of the moving web, transverse sealing means for sealing the web at each end of the two adjacent packages to complete an individual peripherally sealed article compartment at each side of the confronting longitudinal edge portions, and means for transversely severing the web through the transverse sealed areas to complete an individual double compartment package.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of forming dual compartment packages comprising the steps of continuously moving a single web along a predetermined path in indexed relation with two files of laterally spaced and laterally aligned moving articles, transversely and simultaneously curling the longitudinal edge portions of the web around two laterally aligned articles with the articles functioning as web-forming mandrels, sealing the edge portions of the web to the unfolded central portion of the web, and transversely sealing and severing the web at spaced intervals intermediate longitudinally adjacent pairs of articles to form individual dual compartment packages.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of forming dual compartment packages comprising the steps of continuously moving a single web along a predetermined path in indexed relation with two files of laterally spaced and laterally aligned moving articles, transversely and simultaneously curling the longitudinal edge portions of the web around two laterally aligned articles with the articles functioning as web-forming mandrels, sealing the edge portions of the web to the unfolded central portion of the web, and transversely sealing and severing the web at spaced intervals intermediate longitudinally adjacent pairs of articles to form individual dual compartment packages.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of packaging articles comprising the steps of advancing two articles along interspaced linear paths, advancing a single web in superposed relation with the articles, folding each free longitudinal edge of the web downward and inward to the longitudinal centerline of the web to envelop the adjacent article, sealing each of said free longitudinal edge portionS to the adjacent surface of the unfolded web, and transversely sealing the folded web at each end of the two laterally adjacent articles to complete an individual peripherally sealed article enclosure at each side of said centerline.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of packaging articles comprising the steps of advancing two articles along interspaced linear paths, advancing a single web in superposed relation with the articles, folding each free longitudinal edge of the web downward and inward to the longitudinal centerline of the web to envelop the adjacent article, sealing each of said free longitudinal edge portionS to the adjacent surface of the unfolded web, and transversely sealing the folded web at each end of the two laterally adjacent articles to complete an individual peripherally sealed article enclosure at each side of said centerline.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 and means for centrally perforating the web to form a tear line, said web former positioning the free edges of the web in straddling relation with the tear line so that the completed double-compartment package can be readily separated into two individual packages.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
A package forming method comprising the steps of moving an elongate web endwise in substantially planar condition, advancing a double file of articles in contact with the web, progressively curling the free edge portions of the web inward to engage and wrap around the articles until the edge portions lie flat over the planar median portion of the web and are closely adjacent at the centerline of the web, continuously sealing said edge portions to the planar portion of the web to provide continuous and interspaced longitudinal seal lines straddling the centerline, and transversely sealing the thus folded web between longitudinally adjacent pairs of articles to provide a flat strip of interconnected double-compartment packages.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
114 words
A package forming method comprising the steps of moving an elongate web endwise in substantially planar condition, advancing a double file of articles in contact with the web, progressively curling the free edge portions of the web inward to engage and wrap around the articles until the edge portions lie flat over the planar median portion of the web and are closely adjacent at the centerline of the web, continuously sealing said edge portions to the planar portion of the web to provide continuous and interspaced longitudinal seal lines straddling the centerline, and transversely sealing the thus folded web between longitudinally adjacent pairs of articles to provide a flat strip of interconnected double-compartment packages.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
117 words
A package forming method comprising the steps of moving an elongate web endwise in substantially planar condition, advancing a double file of articles at web speed in contact with the web, progressively curling the free edge portions of the web inward to engage and wrap the web around and under the articles until the edge portions lie flat against the planar median portion of the web and are closely spaced from each other and the centerline of the web, continuously sealing said edge portions to the planar portion of the web to provide continuous and interspaced longitudinal seal lines straddling the centerline, and transversely sealing and severing the thus folded web between longitudinally adjacent pairs of articles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
117 words
A package forming method comprising the steps of moving an elongate web endwise in substantially planar condition, advancing a double file of articles at web speed in contact with the web, progressively curling the free edge portions of the web inward to engage and wrap the web around and under the articles until the edge portions lie flat against the planar median portion of the web and are closely spaced from each other and the centerline of the web, continuously sealing said edge portions to the planar portion of the web to provide continuous and interspaced longitudinal seal lines straddling the centerline, and transversely sealing and severing the thus folded web between longitudinally adjacent pairs of articles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
122 words
A package forming method comprising the steps of moving an elongate planar web endwise, longitudinally perforating the moving web along its longitudinal centerline to form a tear line, advancing a double file of laterally aligned articles at web speed underneath and in contact with the web, progressively folding the free edge portions of the web inward into contact with and around the articles until the edge portions lie flat against the planar median portion of the web and are closely adjacent at the centerline of the web, continuously sealing said edge portions to the web to provide continuous and interspaced longitudinal seal lines straddling the tear line, and transversely sealing and severing the thus folded web between longitudinally adjacent pairs of articles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
122 words
A package forming method comprising the steps of moving an elongate planar web endwise, longitudinally perforating the moving web along its longitudinal centerline to form a tear line, advancing a double file of laterally aligned articles at web speed underneath and in contact with the web, progressively folding the free edge portions of the web inward into contact with and around the articles until the edge portions lie flat against the planar median portion of the web and are closely adjacent at the centerline of the web, continuously sealing said edge portions to the web to provide continuous and interspaced longitudinal seal lines straddling the tear line, and transversely sealing and severing the thus folded web between longitudinally adjacent pairs of articles.
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) | 1974-05-31 | 1974-11-30 | 1975-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-31 | 1978-11-30 | 1979-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-31 | 1982-11-30 | 1983-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |