US3736723A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Film wrapping machine
Assignee: Newfrey LLC
•
Filing: 1971-05-19
•
Granted: 1973-06-05
•
Expires: 1991-05-19
Abstract
Abstract A film wrapping machine is disclosed for enveloping articles in a transparent, shrinkable film. The articles are translated serially onto a conveyor while a first film is fed between the articles and the conveyor and a second film is laid over the articles. A flight bar carrier folds or tucks the second film between the articles and presses the second film into contact with the first film. Heat is applied to the areas of contact between the two films so that the films become welded together in one or more seams as the articles and films are transported along the conveyor. A cutting mechanism severs the films between articles along or adjacent the welded seams. The separated articles enveloped by the films are then accelerated to a shrink tunnel which heats the films and causes them to shrink tightly against the article.
Inventors
- 👤 H Lattke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:10
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B9/00; B65B9/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
In a film wrapping machine, the improvement cOmprising: first conveying means having a receiving end and a discharging end and including a conveyor belt extending between the ends for transporting articles in spaced relationship serially in a given direction from the receiving end to the discharging end; a first film supply means positioned adjacent the receiving end of the first conveying means for supplying a first continuous film of shrinkable wrapping material in the given direction onto the conveying means between the articles and the conveyor belt; second film supply means positioned adjacent the receiving end of the first conveying means for supplying a second continuous film of shrinkable wrapping material in the given direction over the transported articles and the conveying means; folding means overlying at least one portion of the conveyor belt of the conveying means for tucking the second film between serially adjacent articles on the conveying means and pressing the second film into contact with first film on the conveyor belt; and heating means comprising a heating plate located in close proximity to the one portion of the conveyor belt over which the folding means lies for welding the first and second films together at the contact points generated by the folding means between serially adjacent articles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
In a film wrapping machine, the improvement cOmprising: first conveying means having a receiving end and a discharging end and including a conveyor belt extending between the ends for transporting articles in spaced relationship serially in a given direction from the receiving end to the discharging end; a first film supply means positioned adjacent the receiving end of the first conveying means for supplying a first continuous film of shrinkable wrapping material in the given direction onto the conveying means between the articles and the conveyor belt; second film supply means positioned adjacent the receiving end of the first conveying means for supplying a second continuous film of shrinkable wrapping material in the given direction over the transported articles and the conveying means; folding means overlying at least one portion of the conveyor belt of the conveying means for tucking the second film between serially adjacent articles on the conveying means and pressing the second film into contact with first film on the conveyor belt; and heating means comprising a heating plate located in close proximity to the one portion of the conveyor belt over which the folding means lies for welding the first and second films together at the contact points generated by the folding means between serially adjacent articles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
In a film wrapping machine, the improvement of claim 1 wherein the folding means comprises a flight bar carrier having a plurality of flight bars oriented transversely of the conveyor belt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a film wrapping machine, the improvement as defined in claim 2 wherein the flight bar carrier includes a pair of endless carrier chains and each of the plurality of flight bars includes a floating shoe extending between the carrier chains.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
In a film wrapping machine, the improvement defined in claim 2 further including common drive means connected to the first conveying means and the flight bar carrier for driving the flight bars and the articles at the same speed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein cutting means is provided adjacent to the discharging end of the first conveying means for severing the first and second films between serially adjacent packages.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
In a film wrapping machine, the improvement of claim 1 further including second conveying means positioned adjacent the receiving end of the first conveying means for delivering articles to the first conveying means between the first and second films.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
184 words
A shrink film wrapping machine comprising: an article conveyor having an article receiving end and an article discharging end and including an endless belt on which articles are carried between the receiving and discharging ends; a flight bar carrier extending parallel to the conveyor in closed proximity to the endless belt and having a series of flight bars extending transversely of the belt and suspended between a pair of endless chains; drive means connected to the conveyor and the carrier for driving the endless belt and the flight bars adjacent the belt in the same direction at the same speed; article feeding means for delivering articles serially onto the endless belt at the receiving end of the conveyor; first film feeding means for feeding a first shrinkable film between the articles and the belt at the receiving end of the conveyor; second film feeding means for feeding a second shrinkable film between the articles and the flight bars at the receiving end of the conveyor; and means for joining the first and second films together in a seam between the articles on the conveyor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
184 words
A shrink film wrapping machine comprising: an article conveyor having an article receiving end and an article discharging end and including an endless belt on which articles are carried between the receiving and discharging ends; a flight bar carrier extending parallel to the conveyor in closed proximity to the endless belt and having a series of flight bars extending transversely of the belt and suspended between a pair of endless chains; drive means connected to the conveyor and the carrier for driving the endless belt and the flight bars adjacent the belt in the same direction at the same speed; article feeding means for delivering articles serially onto the endless belt at the receiving end of the conveyor; first film feeding means for feeding a first shrinkable film between the articles and the belt at the receiving end of the conveyor; second film feeding means for feeding a second shrinkable film between the articles and the flight bars at the receiving end of the conveyor; and means for joining the first and second films together in a seam between the articles on the conveyor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The shrink film wrapping machine of claim 7 wherein the endless belt comprises a glass fiber belt and the means for joining comprises a heating plate mounted between the ends of the conveyor and within the endless belt on which the articles are carried.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
The shrink film wrapping machine of claim 7 wherein the article conveyor is a horizontal conveyor comprised of an adjustable conveyor beam supporting the endless belt under the flight bar carrier and a stationary horizontal support beam extendiNg laterally adjacent the endless belt and under the flight bar carrier parallel to the carrier, the adjustable beam being adjustable to drop the endless belt away from the flight bar carrier and below the horizontal support beam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The shrink film wrapping machine of claim 9 wherein the article conveyor includes a pair of endless belts located respectively at opposite sides of the stationary horizontal support beam, and the support beam includes a cooling fluid conduit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The shrink film wrapping machine of claim 9 wherein the means for joining comprises a heating plate mounted to the adjustable conveyor beam and located closely adjacent to the segment of the endless belt on which the articles rest between the receiving and discharging ends of the article conveyor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A shrink film wrapping machine as defined in claim 7 further including means for separating adjacent articles enveloped by the first and second films at the seam formed by the means for joining the films.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A shrink film wrapping machine as defined in claim 12 wherein the means for joining and the means for separating comprise heating elements mounted in the flight bars.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
A shrink film wrapping machine as defined in claim 7 wherein each of the flight bars comprises a pair of film engaging shoes extending in parallel relationship between the endless chains; and means are provided for severing the first and second films between the pair of shoes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
A shrink film wrapping machine as defined in claim 14 wherein the means for severing comprises a resistance wire stretched parallel to the flight bars and means for rotating the wire about an axis parallel to the flight bars to bring the resistance wire in mesh with the parallel shoes of each flight bar.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
A shrink film wrapping machine as defined in claim 7 further including a shrink tunnel positioned downstream in the direction of article movement from the discharging end of the article conveyor and means for transferring the articles from the discharging end of the conveyor into the shrink tunnel.
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) | 1976-06-04 | 1976-12-04 | 1977-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-04 | 1980-12-04 | 1981-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-04 | 1984-12-04 | 1985-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |