Package making – With contents treating – Reshaping
Patent
1986-06-27
1988-06-07
Spruill, Robert L.
Package making
With contents treating
Reshaping
53528, B65B 6304
Patent
active
047487925
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to forming and packaging articles of compressible, actually resilient, foam or sponge material (hereinafter called "foam").
There are obvious advantages in packaging such articles in a compressed or partially compressed state as the resulting package will be smaller, thus more readily handled individually and transported in bulk, but, as such materials are usually of low density, without any problem arising from batch-load weights.
In putting this invention into practice, we are particularly concerned with pad-like articles, i.e. three-dimensional with one dimension (herein called "thickness") smaller than at least one usually both of the other two; and, for such an article, with presenting it rolled up, i.e. thickness-upon-thickness, within a wrapper, and preferably with a degree of volumetric compression in, usually throughout, its thickness.
The result is a package that is particularly easy to handle and is well suited to articles whose foam is of open-cell type, and which is preloaded with a useful substance, usually of liquid or otherwise injectable and retainable form, for some specific or general purpose, for example cleansing, sterilising, polishing etc. The extent of such preloading and the extent of volumetric compression can, of course, be correlated so as to give a satisfactory package relative to its size and load-retention.
Suitable apparatus comprises a roll-forming mechanism having confronted surfaces between which foam sheet or ribbon is fed, one of the surfaces being movable relative to the other in the desired feed direction so as to roll up and compress a prepared length of the foam sheet or ribbon accompanied by a label sheet whose opposite edges meet in making a tube about the rolled-up foam while translating the article between the surfaces from in-feed to exit positions. Such other surface may be stationary and will preferably present at least as much, usually similar, grip to the foam as does the one surface. Then the foam sheet or ribbon will be slowed if not stopped at one of its surfaces by said other surface of the roll-forming mechanism whose said one surface will continue to transport the other surface of the foam sheet or ribbon thereby forcing the prepared length thereof to roll up into a roll of a diameter equal to the exit spacing of the confronting surfaces, i.e. the original thickness of the foam at entry into the roll-forming mechanism if such confronting surfaces are basically parallel.
It is further envisaged herein that additional provision is made for compressing the foam prior to entry into the aforesaid roll-forming mechanism, thereby permitting yet further compression of its thickness in a yet more compact resulting article. This can be achieved where said one (relatively moving) of the confronting surfaces of the roll-forming mechanism extends beyond said other of those surfaces at the foam in-feed end and that other surface has an inclined extension that is substantially non-gripping for said foam which is thus compressed to reduce its thickness as it is drawn along by said one of the confronting surfaces. A practical alternative to such inclined extension is a roller or set of rollers appropriately sized and positioned to achieve the desired precompression of the foam material prior to entering the confronting surfaces. Another, and usually preferable, precompression provision comprises a driven belt suitably bearing on the foam and further preferably driven at substantially the same speed as the relatively moving surface of the roll-forming mechanism.
Any tendency for the preloading substance of the foam to become expressed and build up on the front edge and/or at least partially clog foam-gripping provision of the aforesaid other surface of the roll-forming mechanism can be avoided or at least reduced by particular temporary and localised extra compression of the foam at entry of the roll-forming mechanism and applied to the foam surface that will engage said other surface of the roll-forming mechanism, say by so-called doctor blade a
REFERENCES:
patent: 2613487 (1952-10-01), Vaughn
patent: 3097464 (1963-07-01), Reeves
patent: 3423901 (1969-01-01), Peppler
patent: 3429097 (1969-02-01), Jasper et al.
patent: 3546846 (1970-12-01), Sens
patent: 3927504 (1975-12-01), Forrister
patent: 4528794 (1985-07-01), Thierstein
patent: 4602471 (1986-07-01), Gray et al.
501 Rollsponge International Limited
Spruill Robert L.
Weihrouch Steven P.
LandOfFree
Forming and packaging articles of compressible foam material does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Forming and packaging articles of compressible foam material, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Forming and packaging articles of compressible foam material will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-837694