US3837138A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for compressing material and enclosing the same in a plastic film
Assignee: Johns Manville Corp
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Filing: 1973-02-23
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Granted: 1974-09-24
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Expires: 1993-02-23
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus, for individually packaging units of a compressible material, compress the material and then enclose the material within a plastic film. The unit of the compressible material, e.g., a batt of insulation, is introduced between a pair of converging conveyors whereby opposing surfaces of the conveyors apply compressive forces to major faces of the compressible material to compress the material to the desired degree. After the material is compressed to the desired degree, it is introduced between a pair of continuous sheets of plastic film. The material is located between the sheets so that lateral edge portions and transverse portions of the sheets extend beyond the peripheral edges of the compressed material. The lateral edge portions and transverse portions are then heat sealed together to enclose the units of compressed material. This operation successively packages a number of individual units with the heat sealing operation for the transverse portions of the sheets simultaneously sealing the trailing transverse portions of the sheets for one unit, sealing the leading transverse portions of the sheets for another unit and reducing the integrity of the sheets at the juncture between these transverse portions to such an extent that the sheets enclosing the units of material can be separated.
Inventors
- 👤 R Terry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:48
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B9/00; B65B9/02; B65B63/00; B65B63/02; B65B63/026
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of packaging compressible material comprising: a. compressing a compressible material by applying compressive forces to major faces of the compressible material; b. retaining the compressible material in a compressed state, c. interposing the compressible material in the compressed state between sheets of plastic film which extend over the major faces of the compressible material and have lateral edge portions, leading transverse portions and trailing transverse portions extending beyond peripheral edges of the compressible material, d. sealing the lateral edge portions and the leading transverse portions of the sheets together to partially enclose the compressible material within the sheets and leave the trailing transverse portions open; e. moving the partially enclosed material in a direction parallel to the lateral edge portions for a distance about the length of said lateral edge portions, and f. sealing the trailing transverse portions after the partially enclosed material has been moved to complete the enclosure of the material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of packaging compressible material comprising: a. compressing a compressible material by applying compressive forces to major faces of the compressible material; b. retaining the compressible material in a compressed state, c. interposing the compressible material in the compressed state between sheets of plastic film which extend over the major faces of the compressible material and have lateral edge portions, leading transverse portions and trailing transverse portions extending beyond peripheral edges of the compressible material, d. sealing the lateral edge portions and the leading transverse portions of the sheets together to partially enclose the compressible material within the sheets and leave the trailing transverse portions open; e. moving the partially enclosed material in a direction parallel to the lateral edge portions for a distance about the length of said lateral edge portions, and f. sealing the trailing transverse portions after the partially enclosed material has been moved to complete the enclosure of the material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of packaging compressible material as defined in claim 1 and further comprising: a. heat sealing the lateral edge portions and transverse portions of the sheets together.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of packaging compressible material comprising: a. successively compressing a plurality of units of a compressible material by applying compressive forces to major faces of the units; b. successively retaining the units of the compressible material in a compressed state; c. successively interposing the units of the compressible material between sheets of plastic film which extend over the major faces of the units and have lateral edge portions, a leading transverse portion and a trailing transverse portion extending beyond peripheral edges of the units and associated with individual units when the units are interposed between the sheets; and d. successively sealing the lateral edge portions while means is located between the lateral edge portions and lateral edges of the units to prevent the units from extending into the regions of the lateral edge portions and successively sealing transverse portions of the sheets about the individual units to enclose the units of the compressible material within the sheets.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of packaging compressible material comprising: a. successively compressing a plurality of units of a compressible material by applying compressive forces to major faces of the units; b. successively retaining the units of the compressible material in a compressed state; c. successively interposing the units of the compressible material between sheets of plastic film which extend over the major faces of the units and have lateral edge portions, a leading transverse portion and a trailing transverse portion extending beyond peripheral edges of the units and associated with individual units when the units are interposed between the sheets; and d. successively sealing the lateral edge portions while means is located between the lateral edge portions and lateral edges of the units to prevent the units from extending into the regions of the lateral edge portions and successively sealing transverse portions of the sheets about the individual units to enclose the units of the compressible material within the sheets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of packaging a compressible material as defined in claim 3 and further comprising: a. successively sealing the lateral edge portions and the leading transverse portion of the sheets associated with one of the units as the trailing transverse portion of the sheets associated with an immediately preceding unit is being sealed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of packaging a compressible material as defined in claim 4 and further comprising: a. heat sealing the edge portions and transVerse portions of the sheets associated with the units.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of packaging a compressible material as defined in claim 5 and further comprising: a. heating the leading transverse portion associated with the one unit and the trailing transverse portion associated with the immediately preceding unit to the extent that the integrity of the sheets along a line corresponding to the juncture of the leading and trailing transverse portions is greatly reduced, and b. effecting separation of the sheets at this juncture to separate the preceding unit which is packaged from the one unit which is partially packaged.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of packaging a compressible material as defined in claim 3 and further comprising: a. heat sealing the edge portions and the transverse portions of the sheets associated with the units.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for packaging units of a compressible material comprising: a. compressing means for compressing a unit of compressible material by applying compressive forces to major faces of the unit of compressible material and maintaining the unit of compressible material in a compressed state; b. interposing means for interposing the unit of compressible material while in the compressed state between sheets of plastic film and for locating the unit of compressible material between the sheets so that lateral edge portions and transverse portions of the sheets extend beyond peripheral edges of the unit of compressible material; c. sealing means for sealing lateral and transverse portions of the sheets together to enclose the compressible material within the sheets; and d. means located between the lateral sealing means and the compressible material to prevent the compressible material from extending into the regions of the lateral edge portions of the sheets as the lateral edge portions are sealed.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for packaging units of a compressible material comprising: a. compressing means for compressing a unit of compressible material by applying compressive forces to major faces of the unit of compressible material and maintaining the unit of compressible material in a compressed state; b. interposing means for interposing the unit of compressible material while in the compressed state between sheets of plastic film and for locating the unit of compressible material between the sheets so that lateral edge portions and transverse portions of the sheets extend beyond peripheral edges of the unit of compressible material; c. sealing means for sealing lateral and transverse portions of the sheets together to enclose the compressible material within the sheets; and d. means located between the lateral sealing means and the compressible material to prevent the compressible material from extending into the regions of the lateral edge portions of the sheets as the lateral edge portions are sealed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus for packaging units of a compressible material as defined in claim 8 wherein: a. said sealing means is heat sealing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus for packaging units of a compressible material as defined in claim 9 wherein: a cooling means is provided for cooling the lateral portions of the sheets after the lateral portions have been heat sealed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus for packaging units of a compressible material as defined in claim 9 wherein: a. the transverse heat sealing means heats the plastic sheets to a point where the integrity of the sheets is diminished along a transverse line where the transverse heat sealing is being effected, and b. parting means is provided for separating said sheets along the transverse line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus for packaging units of a compressible material as defined in claim 8 wherein: a. said compressing means includes a pair of converging conveyors, said conveyors having opposing surfaces which converge toward each other in the direction of movement of the conveyors from an inlet end to a discharge end of compressing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
109 words
The apparatus for packaging units of a compressible material as defined in claim 8 wherein: a. said interposing means includes a pair of parallel conveyors, said conveyors having opposing surfaces adapted to grip major faces of the unit of compressible material, said opposed surfaces being substantially parallel and moving in the same direction, and said interposing means having an inlet end adjacent a discharge end of the compressing means, and b. said interposing includes means for feeding a first sheet between said unit of material and one of the opposing surfaces and for feeding a second sheet between said unit of material and the other of the opposing surfaces.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of packaging compressible material as defined in claim 1 wherein: the lateral edge portions are sealed while means is located between the lateral edge portions and lateral edges of the material to prevent the material from extending into the regions of the lateral edge portions while the lateral edge portions are being sealeD.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of packaging compressible material as defined in claim 14 wherein the lateral edge portions and the transverse portions are heat sealed and air is directed onto the lateral edge portions to help speed solidification of the lateral edge portions after heat has been applied to the lateral edge portions during the heat sealing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of packaging compressible material as defined in claim 1 comprising: repeating steps (a) through (f) of claim 1 for successive units of the compressible material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of packaging compressible material as defined in claim 1 wherein: the sealing is effected for the major extent of the lateral edge portions and the transverse portions with the portions having unsealed sections to permit air to pass into and out of the package.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of packaging compressible material as defined in claim 3 wherein: the sealing is effected for the major extent o the lateral edge portions and the transverse portions leaving unsealed sections to permit air to pass into and out of the package.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus for packaging units of a compressible material as defined in claim 8 wherein: the sealing means comprises transverse sealing of means for simultaneously sealing leading transverse portions of the sheets which are associated with one unit and trailing transverse portions of the sheets which are associated with an immediately preceding unit and lateral sealing means for sealing the lateral portions of the sheets associated with the one unit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-23 | 1978-03-25 | 1978-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-23 | 1982-03-25 | 1982-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-23 | 1986-03-25 | 1986-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |