US4035984A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wrapping method and apparatus
Assignee: FMC Corp
•
Filing: 1976-04-05
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Granted: 1977-07-19
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Expires: 1996-04-05
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for packaging a twin row of articles in a web of wrapping material by moving longitudinally and transversely spaced pairs of articles along two rows onto a moving web of wrapping material which is then folded over the articles to form two parallel tubes of articles with the longitudinal edge portions and a central portion of the web disposed between the tubes. The edge portions are longitudinally sealed to the central portion, the central portion may then be longitudinally severed, and if severed the tubes of articles are thereafter transversely sealed and severed between entubed articles to form article filled packages at a rate in excess of about 400 packaged articles per minute. The web of wrapping material may be light paper which is sealed when cold, may be a web of thermosealing material which is sealed by heat and pressure, may be a web which is sealed by gluing, or may be a web having pre-printed pattern of pressure sensitive sealant which are mated and pressure sealed when cold.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl J. Gerlach
- 👤 Jerome Vande Castle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:50
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D75/00; B65D75/40; B65D75/44; B65D75/46; B65B; B65B61/00; B65B61/04; B65B61/06; B65B61/08; B65B9/00; B65B9/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of packaging articles comprising the steps of moving a web of packaging material having a longitudinal intermediate portion and edge portions along a path, moving a pair of spaced articles along spaced parallel paths onto the web for movement therewith, folding the web around the articles with the longitudinal edge portions disposed between the articles, longitudinally sealing the edge portions to the intermediate portion for encompassing each article in a tube of packaging material, transversely sealing the tubes to confine the articles therein, a plurality of pairs of longitudinally and transversely spaced articles are moved onto the web to define two continuously moving rows of spaced articles, transversely severing article filled and sealed packages from the tubes, the material is longitudinally severed prior to being transversely sealed and severed, and additionally applying a tube holding and separating pressure, on the sealed and severed edge and intermediate portions of a web for maintaining the entubed articles in their spaced parallel paths.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of packaging articles comprising the steps of moving a web of packaging material having a longitudinal intermediate portion and edge portions along a path, moving a pair of spaced articles along spaced parallel paths onto the web for movement therewith, folding the web around the articles with the longitudinal edge portions disposed between the articles, longitudinally sealing the edge portions to the intermediate portion for encompassing each article in a tube of packaging material, transversely sealing the tubes to confine the articles therein, a plurality of pairs of longitudinally and transversely spaced articles are moved onto the web to define two continuously moving rows of spaced articles, transversely severing article filled and sealed packages from the tubes, the material is longitudinally severed prior to being transversely sealed and severed, and additionally applying a tube holding and separating pressure, on the sealed and severed edge and intermediate portions of a web for maintaining the entubed articles in their spaced parallel paths.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of packaging articles in a web of light paper packaging material that is longitudinally and transversely sealed by longitudinal and transverse sealers having toothed sealing surfaces comprising the steps of moving a web of packaging material having longitudinal edge portions along a path, moving articles into engagement with the web for movement therewith, folding the web around the articles with the longitudinal edge portions overlapping, longitudinally sealing the overlapping edge portions for encompassing each article in a tube of packaging material by squeezing the edge portions between the toothed sealing surface of the longitudinal sealer with sufficient pressure to break and interlock the fibers in the paper, and transversely sealing the ends of the tube to confine the articles therein by squeezing the tube between toothed sealing surfaces of the transverse sealer with sufficient force to break and interlock the end fibers in the paper.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of packaging articles in a web of light paper packaging material that is longitudinally and transversely sealed by longitudinal and transverse sealers having toothed sealing surfaces comprising the steps of moving a web of packaging material having longitudinal edge portions along a path, moving articles into engagement with the web for movement therewith, folding the web around the articles with the longitudinal edge portions overlapping, longitudinally sealing the overlapping edge portions for encompassing each article in a tube of packaging material by squeezing the edge portions between the toothed sealing surface of the longitudinal sealer with sufficient pressure to break and interlock the fibers in the paper, and transversely sealing the ends of the tube to confine the articles therein by squeezing the tube between toothed sealing surfaces of the transverse sealer with sufficient force to break and interlock the end fibers in the paper.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
167 words
A method of packaging articles in a web of light paper packaging material that is longitudinally and transversely sealed by rotary longitudinal and transverse sealers having toothed sealing surfaces comprising the steps of moving a web of packaging material having a longitudinal intermediate portion and edge portions along a path, moving a pair of spaced articles along spaced parallel paths onto the web for movement therewith, folding the web around the articles with the longitudinal edge portions disposed between the articles, longitudinally sealing the overlapping edge portions to the intermediate portion for encompassing each article in a tube of packaging material by squeezing the edge and intermediate portions between the toothed sealing surfaces of the longitudinal sealer with sufficient pressure to break and interlock the fibers in the paper, and transversely sealing the ends of each tube to confine the articles therein by squeezing the tubes between toothed sealing surfaces of the transverse sealer with sufficient force to break and interlock the end fibers in the paper.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
167 words
A method of packaging articles in a web of light paper packaging material that is longitudinally and transversely sealed by rotary longitudinal and transverse sealers having toothed sealing surfaces comprising the steps of moving a web of packaging material having a longitudinal intermediate portion and edge portions along a path, moving a pair of spaced articles along spaced parallel paths onto the web for movement therewith, folding the web around the articles with the longitudinal edge portions disposed between the articles, longitudinally sealing the overlapping edge portions to the intermediate portion for encompassing each article in a tube of packaging material by squeezing the edge and intermediate portions between the toothed sealing surfaces of the longitudinal sealer with sufficient pressure to break and interlock the fibers in the paper, and transversely sealing the ends of each tube to confine the articles therein by squeezing the tubes between toothed sealing surfaces of the transverse sealer with sufficient force to break and interlock the end fibers in the paper.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 3 and additionally comprising the step of longitudinally severing the material between each tube prior to sealing the ends of the tubes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein a plurality of pairs of longitudinally and transversely spaced articles are moved onto the web to define two continuously moving rows of spaced articles, and additionally including the step of transversely severing article filled and sealed packages from the tubes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the material is longitudinally severed prior to being transversely sealed and severed, and additionally applying a holding and tube separating force on the sealed and severed edge and intermediate portions of the web for maintaining the entubed articles in their spaced parallel paths.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 3 and additionally comprising the step of transversely severing the filled tubes to form dual compartmented package.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 4 and additionally comprising the step of transversely severing the filled tubes to form a pair of article filled packages.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the longitudinal sealing step applies a pair of spaced parallel strips of broken and interlocked fibers with an unsqueezed strip therebetween in the edge and intermediate portions of the web, and longitudinally severing the material between each tube in the unsqueezed strip to provide a tube edge that is less apt to be torn.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein said folding step folds the web around the articles with the longitudinal edge portions overlapping and disposed between the articles.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
159 words
An apparatus for packaging articles in a web of packaging materials having a longitudinal intermediate portion and longitudinal edge portions comprising; means for continuously moving the web along a path, means for moving pairs of spaced articles along two spaced parallel rows onto the web for movement therewith, folding means for receiving and folding the continuously moving web around the articles in each row of articles with the longitudinal edge portions disposed between the articles, said folding means comprises an elongated body having a first portion formed with parallel article receiving grooves of progressively greater peripheral dimension in order to gradually fold the web around the articles, and another portion centrally slotted to provide an opening, and driven rotary means for longitudinally sealing the edge portions to the intermediate portions of the web for encompassing each row of articles in a tube of packaging material, said longitudinal sealing means being located in said centrally slotted portions of said rail.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
159 words
An apparatus for packaging articles in a web of packaging materials having a longitudinal intermediate portion and longitudinal edge portions comprising; means for continuously moving the web along a path, means for moving pairs of spaced articles along two spaced parallel rows onto the web for movement therewith, folding means for receiving and folding the continuously moving web around the articles in each row of articles with the longitudinal edge portions disposed between the articles, said folding means comprises an elongated body having a first portion formed with parallel article receiving grooves of progressively greater peripheral dimension in order to gradually fold the web around the articles, and another portion centrally slotted to provide an opening, and driven rotary means for longitudinally sealing the edge portions to the intermediate portions of the web for encompassing each row of articles in a tube of packaging material, said longitudinal sealing means being located in said centrally slotted portions of said rail.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 11 and additionally comprising driven rotary severing means also located in said slotted portion for longitudinally severing the material between each tube prior to being transversely sealed.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
183 words
An apparatus for packaging articles in a web of packaging material having a longitudinal intermediate portion and longitudinal edge portions comprising; means for continuously moving the web along a path, means for moving pairs of spaced articles along two spaced parallel rows onto the web for movement therewith, folding means for receiving and folding the continuously moving web around the articles in each row with the longitudinal edge portions disposed between the articles, driven rotary means for longitudinally sealing the edge portions to the intermediate portion of the web for encompassing each row of articles in a tube of packaging material, and driven rotary transverse sealing means for thereafter transversely sealing the tubes with at least one article in each tube between adjacent transverse seals, said packaging material is a web of light paper, said rotary longitudinal sealing means comprising a pair of toothed sealing wheels disposed on opposite sides of the web and squeezing the edge and intermediate portions of the web with sufficient force to break and interlock and fibers in the paper between the tubes thereby providing a longitudinal seal.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
183 words
An apparatus for packaging articles in a web of packaging material having a longitudinal intermediate portion and longitudinal edge portions comprising; means for continuously moving the web along a path, means for moving pairs of spaced articles along two spaced parallel rows onto the web for movement therewith, folding means for receiving and folding the continuously moving web around the articles in each row with the longitudinal edge portions disposed between the articles, driven rotary means for longitudinally sealing the edge portions to the intermediate portion of the web for encompassing each row of articles in a tube of packaging material, and driven rotary transverse sealing means for thereafter transversely sealing the tubes with at least one article in each tube between adjacent transverse seals, said packaging material is a web of light paper, said rotary longitudinal sealing means comprising a pair of toothed sealing wheels disposed on opposite sides of the web and squeezing the edge and intermediate portions of the web with sufficient force to break and interlock and fibers in the paper between the tubes thereby providing a longitudinal seal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 and additionally comprising driven rotary severing means for longitudinally severing the material between each tube prior to being transversely sealed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said pair of toothed wheels are each circumferentially grooved to provide two spaced longitudinal seal strips with an undeformed portion therebetween.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said rotary longitudinal severing means severs the web in said undeformed portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said folding means causes said edge portion to overlap each other.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
86 words
An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said rotary severing means includes a rotary anvil wheel having wall means defining a blade receiving groove in its periphery, a rotary web severing blade, means mounting said rotary blade for movement between a web severing position in said groove against one wall thereof and a position spaced from the web, means for moving said blade axially away from said wall prior to moving the blade into said groove, and means for latching said blade in web severing position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2194451A
Cited
US3760559A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-18 | 1981-01-17 | 1981-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-18 | 1985-01-17 | 1985-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-18 | 1989-01-17 | 1989-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |