Package making – Methods – Enclosing contents within progressively formed web means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-29
2002-03-12
Vo, Peter (Department: 3721)
Package making
Methods
Enclosing contents within progressively formed web means
C053S148000, C053S236000, C053S550000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06354064
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a machine and a method for wrapping an elongated object, such as a drinking straw, with a plastic film, and to the wrapped object resulting therefrom. More specifically, the invention relates to a straw wrapping machine and method and a straw wrapped in a plastic film wrapper which seals the straw therein. The machine can also be retrofitted quite easily to convert to a paper straw wrapper.
BACKGROUND ART
Straws of all types are packaged in different manners whereby to protect the straw in a sanitary manner to prevent contamination thereof. It is also known to package thermometers in sterilized wrappers. It is still further known to attach short drinking straws on beverage packages or cans with shrink wrappers or other straw attaching films. However, the majority of straws are packaged individually in thin paper wrappers of the type commonly used to manufacture cigarettes. A disadvantage of such wrappers is that they cannot be used to sterilize the straws due to their absorbency. Furthermore, because these papers are highly absorbent, they are susceptible to contamination by liquids should liquid be splashed against the wrapped straw or the straw placed on a liquid spill which we often find on counter tops where drinks of all sorts are dispensed. Another disadvantage of using these thin paper wrappers is that it is difficult to print on these papers. Also, because the paper is highly absorbent, if the wrapped straw was in contact with liquid, the liquid could also dissolve the ink and contaminate the straw inside the wrapper. A further disadvantage is that because these straws are usually made of plastics material, it is difficult to recycle straws in their paper wrappers as the two materials need to be separated for recycling. Accordingly, they are destroyed and not recycled.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is a feature of the present invention to provide a machine, a method and a plastic film wrapped straw which substantially overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a machine for automatically wrapping straws with a thin plastic film strip which is contained in a roll and wherein the plastic film is a co-extruded film structure with a sealing layer permitting high line speed and a core providing the rigidity and mechanical properties required for good machinability and which permits a substantial increase in film length as compared to paper straw wrappers of the same diameter roll thereby resulting in less frequent machine stoppage for reloading of wrapper strip rolls.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a method of wrapping straws with thin plastic film strips which is substantially fully automatic and which can handle elongated tubular objects, such as straws, of different dimensions.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a straw sealed in a thin plastic film wrapper which is water-proof and on which wrapper there is provided printed matter and/or graphics.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a straw wrapped in a thin plastic film and wherein the straw and wrapper are completely recyclable by the manufacturer.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a thin plastic wrapper for elongated articles and wherein the wrapper is completely sealed and can be easily sterilized.
Another feature of the present invention is to pre-stretch the film strip to increase the yield of a supply roll and to weaken the film to facilitate the removal of a straw wrapped by said pre-stretched film.
A still further feature of the present invention is to provide a thin plastic film straw wrapping machine which can be easily and economically converted to a paper straw wrapping machine.
According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the present invention provides a machine for wrapping an elongated object with a plastic film. The machine comprises drive means for continuously advancing a narrow thin film strip from a supply means to a wrapper loading and forming means. The wrapper loading and forming means has a trough former for folding the advancing film strip into a film trough. Insert means is provided for positioning spaced-apart elongated objects into the film trough of the advancing film strip for engagement of the objects and conveyance by the film trough. Object dispensing means is provided for supplying pre-oriented elongated objects to the insert means. Sealing and severing means are provided for heat sealing the film trough about individual ones of the elongated objects and severing the film trough between adjacent ends of the elongated objects to form individually wrapped elongated objects.
According to a further broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of wrapping an elongated object, such as a straw, with a thin plastic film. The method comprises continuously advancing a narrow thin film strip from a supply roll to a wrapper loading and forming station by drive means. The narrow thin film strip is folded in a trough former to form a film trough having opposed spaced film side walls. Spaced-apart elongated objects are inserted into the advancing film trough whereby each object is frictionally engaged and conveyed by the film side walls of the film trough. A top end portion of the opposed film side walls is longitudinally sealed together with the object thereunder. The folded film trough is then transversely sealed and severed at opposed ends of the object therein and the plastic film wrapped objects are discharged.
According to a still further broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a straw held captive in a film wrapper formed by a narrow folded plastic film strip defining a trough having opposed side walls between which the straw is held captive between a longitudinal seal adjacent elongated end edges of the side walls and transverse seals spaced from opposed ends of the straw.
According to a further broad aspect of the present invention there is provided an elongated object wrapped in a thin film strip formed by the above described method and apparatus and wherein the elongated object may be a thermometer, stir sticks or any such objects capable of being automatically dispensed in a plastic film trough as formed hereinabove by the described machine and method.
According to a still further broad aspect of the invention the plastic film is a co-extruded polyolefin film structure comprising a sealing layer with a seal initiation temperature lower than 90° C. and a core comprising a mixture of low, medium and/or high density polyethylene and/or polypropylene with an approximate thickness of between 0.5 to 0.7 mil.
According to a still further broad aspect the film strip is stretched by a controlled driven roll unit to increase the yield of a supply thin film roll and to weaken the film to facilitate the removal of a straw wrapped with said weakened film.
According to a further broad aspect of the invention, the plastic film straw wrapping machine is retrofitted to provide a machine for wrapping an elongated drinking straw with a paper strip, said machine comprising drive means for continuously advancing a narrow paper strip from a supply means to a wrapper loading and forming means, said wrapper loading and forming means having a trough former for folding said advancing paper strip into a paper trough, insert means for positioning spaced-apart elongated drinking straws into said paper trough of said advancing paper strip for engagement and conveyance of said straws by said paper trough, straw dispensing means for supplying pre-oriented elongated straws to said insert means, crimping and severing means for crimping said paper trough about individual ones of said elongated straws and severing said paper trough between adjacent ends of said elongated straws to form individually wrapped straws, said trough former having a geometric forming plate with a tapered bottom wall having a flat inlet end and progressively merging opposed side walls tapering to a narrow f
Meetze Marion Michael
Quintin Yves
Setton Simon
Carter & Schnedler, P.A.
Desai Herman M.
Glopak Inc.
Vo Peter
LandOfFree
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