Abstract The invention relates to a shrink film packaging method by which articles intended for shipment by common carrier or to be sent through the mail may be wrapped so as to be protected from the usual and normal effects of handling. Articles to be wrapped are loaded onto a cardboard or plastic tray which is placed between the folds of two layers of material. The inner layer of material surrounding the tray and articles thereon is a special cushioning material which comprises closely spaced air bubbles formed by two sheets of polyethylene with air pockets formed therebetween. The outer layer of material is a shrink film and a sealer is utilized to form sealed edges around the tray and articles to form a package. The excess wrapping material is trimmed simultaneously as it is being sealed and the package is directed to a heat tunnel where the heat causes shrinkage of the outer shrink film which in turn causes the air in at least some of the bubbles of the inner material to be compressed to a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.
A method for packaging articles comprising the steps of loading at least one of said articles onto a tray, providing a continuous two layer strip of material having a shrink film layer and a multiple air bubble layer, said air bubble layer comprising a base sheet and a tent sheet which forms with said base sheet a network of spaced apart air bubbles, said tent sheet being in contact with said shrink film layer, longitudinally folding said strip of material to form a center fold with the opposite halves of said base sheet being in adjacent relation to each other, placing said loaded tray between said opposite halves of said base sheet close to said center fold, forming sealed and trimmed edges to form a package, and placing said package in a heated shrink tunnel where the shrinkage of said shrink film compresses said air bubbles so that the air of at least some of said bubbles has a higher than atmospheric pressure.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
163 words
A method for packaging articles comprising the steps of loading at least one of said articles onto a tray, providing a continuous two layer strip of material having a shrink film layer and a multiple air bubble layer, said air bubble layer comprising a base sheet and a tent sheet which forms with said base sheet a network of spaced apart air bubbles, said tent sheet being in contact with said shrink film layer, longitudinally folding said strip of material to form a center fold with the opposite halves of said base sheet being in adjacent relation to each other, placing said loaded tray between said opposite halves of said base sheet close to said center fold, forming sealed and trimmed edges to form a package, and placing said package in a heated shrink tunnel where the shrinkage of said shrink film compresses said air bubbles so that the air of at least some of said bubbles has a higher than atmospheric pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein a mailing label or the like is inserted between said shrink film layer and said tent sheet prior to said forming of said sealed edges.