Patent Application
20210339902
The present disclosure is in the technical field of object packaging. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to providing opening features on heat-shrunk packaging.
In many cases, objects are packaged for shipment in packaging that prevents the objects from been seen by third parties during shipment. For example, objects can be packaged in cardboard boxes, and the cardboard boxes are taped closed so that the boxes stay closed during shipment. The cardboard boxes protect the objects during shipment, such as protecting the objects from physical and cosmetic damage and protecting the objects from being viewed. Other forms of packaging are suitable for packaging objects and protecting them during shipment, such as rigid plastic containers, paper envelopes and mailers, plastic film bags (e.g., polyethylene-based film bags), and the like.
Some drawbacks to the use of packaging materials include the amount of waste created by these materials and the cost associated with these materials. For example, once a box has been used to ship an object, the box is often discarded. In addition, packaging often contains void fill material, such as crumpled paper dunnage, inflated air pouches, sheets of inflated cellular chambers, and the like. This void fill material is also typically discarded after a single shipment. In addition to creating waste, packaging materials and void fill materials have costs that add to the costs associated with shipping the objects.
One way to address some of these drawbacks is to use heat-shrinkable film to replace packaging materials and, possibly, to eliminate void fill materials. Many objects that are shipped include retail packaging that provides some measure of protection, such as boxes or plastic casing in which the objects are normally placed for display in retail environments. These objects, with their retail packaging, can be packaged in heat-shrinkable film and subjected to heat-shrink environments. In the heat-shrink environment, the heat-shrinkable film shrinks for form heat-shrunk film around the objects. The objects can be shipped with the heat-shrunk film providing protection for the object and, in the case of opaque heat-shrunk film, protection from being viewed during shipment. In this way, the use of heat-shrunk film may eliminate the need for shipping containers and void fill materials beyond those already included with the object (e.g., its retail packaging).
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In one embodiment, a method is used to package an object. The method includes forming a package of heat-shrinkable film around an object, where the heat-shrinkable film including a weakened portion. The method further includes coupling a protective film to the heat-shrinkable film, where the protective film is positioned to cover the weakened portion in the heat-shrinkable film. The method further includes exposing the package of heat-shrinkable film and the protective film to a heat-shrink environment configured to cause the package of heat-shrinkable film to shrink and form a package of heat-shrunk film around the object. The protective film is positioned to cover the weakened portion in the heat-shrunk film after exposing to package of heat-shrinkable film and the protective film to the heat-shrink environment.
In one example, the heat-shrunk film is substantially opaque. In another example, the heat-shrinkable film and the protective film are formed from substantially the same material. In another example, the protective film is made from a material that shrinks less than the shrinkage of the heat-shrinkable film during exposure to the heat-shrink environment. In another example, forming the package of heat-shrinkable film around the object includes feeding the heat-shrinkable film in a Z-folded state having a major fold and a minor fold and forming a longitudinal seal between a first end of the heat-shrinkable film and the minor fold to form a tunnel of the heat-shrinkable film. In another example, the protective film is formed from the heat-shrinkable film between the minor fold and a second end of the heat-shrinkable film. In another example, the weakened portion is located in the heat-shrinkable film between the minor fold and the major fold under the protective film. In another example, the method further includes forming a transverse leading seal and a transverse trailing seal on opposite sides of the object, where each of the transverse leading seal and the transverse trailing seal seals a portion of the heat-shrinkable film between the first end and the major fold, a portion of the heat-shrinkable film between the major fold and the minor fold, and a portion of the heat-shrinkable film between the minor fold and the second end.
In another example, coupling the protective film to the heat-shrinkable film includes feeding the protective film along the heat-shrinkable film so that the protective film covers the weakened portion in the heat-shrinkable film before forming the package of heat-shrinkable film. In another example, forming the package of heat-shrinkable film around the object includes forming a transverse leading seal and a transverse trailing seal on opposite sides of the object, where the transverse leading seal seals a first end of the protective film to the heat-shrinkable film and wherein the transverse trailing seal seals a second end of the protective film to the heat-shrinkable film. In another example, the heat-shrinkable film and the protective film are formed from substantially the same material. In another example, the protective film is made from a material that shrinks less than the shrinkage of the heat-shrinkable film during exposure to the heat-shrink environment.
In another embodiment, a package includes an object, a heat-shrinkable package, and a protective film. The heat-shrinkable package is formed from heat-shrinkable film around the object and the heat-shrinkable film includes a weakened portion. The protective film is coupled to the heat-shrinkable film and positioned to cover the weakened portion in the heat-shrinkable film. The heat-shrinkable package is configured to shrink and form a package of heat-shrunk film around the object in response to being exposed to a heat-shrink environment. The protective film is positioned to cover the weakened portion in the heat-shrunk film after exposing to package of heat-shrinkable film and the protective film to the heat-shrink environment.
In one example, the heat-shrunk film is substantially opaque. In another example, the heat-shrinkable film and the protective film are formed from substantially the same material.
In another example, the protective film is made from a material that shrinks less than the shrinkage of the heat-shrinkable film during exposure to the heat-shrink environment. In another example, the package of heat-shrinkable film and the protective film are formed from a Z-folded film having a major fold and a minor fold, where the package of heat-shrinkable film is formed from a first portion of the Z-folded film between a first end of the Z-folded film and the major fold and a second portion of the Z folded film between the major fold and the minor fold, and wherein the protective film is formed from a third portion of the Z-folded film between the minor fold and a second end of the Z-folded film. In another example, the package of heat-shrinkable film is formed from a first film, the protective film is formed from a second film, and the first and second films are coupled to each other at transverse seals located on opposite sides of the object.
In another example, a package includes a package and an adhesive backing. The package is formed from a heat-shrunk film and the package surrounds an object. The adhesive backing is adhered to an inner side of the package. The adhesive backing includes a film substrate, a first adhesive section, and a second adhesive section. The first adhesive section is applied longitudinally along the film substrate. The first adhesive section is adhered to the heat-shrunk film such that removal of the first adhesive section from the heat-shrunk film deforms the heat-shrunk film. The second adhesive section is applied longitudinally along the film substrate and transversely spaced apart from the first adhesive. The second adhesive section is adhered to heat-shrunk film such that removal of the second adhesive section from the heat-shrunk film does not substantially deform the heat-shrunk film.
In one example, the package further includes a removable liner applied longitudinally along the second adhesive section and located between the second adhesive section and the inner side of the heat-shrunk package, where the removable liner is narrower in a transverse direction than the second adhesive section. In another example, the package further includes a pull tab longitudinally applied to the film substrate between the first adhesive section and the second adhesive section, where the pull tab is configured to aid in breaking the heat-shrunk film when it is pulled from the film substrate. In another example, the package further includes a weakened portion in the heat-shrunk film, where the weakened portion is located in the heat-shrunk film longitudinally between a location where the first adhesive section is adhered to the heat-shrunk film and a location where the second adhesive section is adhered to the heat-shrunk film. In another example, the weakened portion includes at least one of a perforation, a score, or a slit. In another example, the heat-shrunk film and the film substrate are made from substantially the same material.
In another example a method of packaging an object includes feeding a supply of heat-shrinkable film and adhering an adhesive backing to the package. The adhesive backing includes a film substrate, a first adhesive section applied longitudinally along the film substrate, and a second adhesive section applied longitudinally along the film substrate and transversely spaced apart from the first adhesive. The method further includes forming the heat-shrinkable film into a tube with the adhesive backing on an inner side of the heat-shrinkable film, inserting an object into the tube of the heat-shrinkable film, and forming one or more seals in the tube of the heat-shrinkable film to form a heat-shrinkable package around the object.
In one example, the first adhesive section is adhered to the heat-shrunk film such that removal of the first adhesive section from the heat-shrunk film deforms the heat-shrunk film, and the second adhesive section is adhered to heat-shrunk film such that removal of the second adhesive section from the heat-shrunk film does not substantially deform the heat-shrunk film. In another example, the method further includes forming a weakened portion in the heat-shrinkable film, where adhering the adhesive backing to the package includes adhering the adhesive backing at a position where the first adhesive section and the second adhesive section are adhered to the heat-shrinkable film on opposite sides of the weakened portion in the heat-shrinkable film. In another example, the method further includes exposing the heat-shrinkable package to a heat-shrink environment configured to cause the heat-shrinkable package to shrink and form a heat-shrunk package around the object. In another example, the film substrate is configured to shrink at a shrinkage rate when exposed to the heat-shrink environment, and wherein the heat-shrinkable film in the heat-shrinkable package is configured to shrink substantially at the shrinkage rate.
In another embodiment, a package includes an object, a heat-shrunk package, and a notch. The heat-shrunk package is formed from heat-shrunk film around the object. The heat-shrunk film includes at least a first seal and a second seal that seal portions of the heat-shrunk film, wherein the first seal is wider than the second seal. The notch is formed in one the first and second seals. The notch is configured to permit the one the first and second seals to be broken to open the heat-shrunk package and to initiate propagation of a tear in the heat-shrunk film in response to the notch being pulled.
In one example, the notch extends from the one the first and second seals seal onto an unsealed portion of the heat-shrunk film. In another example, the notch includes a feature in the unsealed portion of the heat-shrunk film, and wherein the feature of the notch encourages propagation of the tear in the heat-shrunk film along the one the first and second seals. In another example, the notch has a triangular shape and the feature has a rectangular shape. In another example, the first seal is a longitudinal seal in the heat-shrunk package, and the notch is formed in the first seal. In another example, the first seal is a transverse seal in the heat-shrunk package, and wherein the notch is formed in the second seal. In another example, the notch is formed in the second seal, and the notch is configured to initiate propagation of the tear in the heat-shrunk film in a direction along the first seal in response to the notch being pulled from the first seal.
In another embodiment, a method of packaging an object includes feeding a supply of heat-shrinkable film, forming the heat-shrinkable film into a tube, inserting an object into the tube of the heat-shrinkable film, and forming the heat-shrinkable film into a heat-shrinkable package around the object. The heat-shrinkable package includes at least a first seal and a second seal and the first seal is wider than the second seal. The method further includes forming a notch in one of the first and second seals and exposing the heat-shrinkable package to a heat-shrink environment configured to cause the heat-shrinkable package to shrink and form a heat-shrunk package around the object. The notch remains in the one of the first and second seals after the heat-shrinkable package is formed into the heat-shrunk package. The notch is configured to permit the one of the first and second seals to be broken to initiate propagation of a tear in the heat-shrunk package in response to the notch being pulled.
In one example, forming the heat-shrinkable film into the tube includes forming a longitudinal seal in the heat-shrinkable film, and the longitudinal seal is the one of the first and second seals. In another example, forming the heat-shrinkable film into a heat-shrinkable package includes forming a transverse seal in the heat-shrinkable film, and the transverse seal is the one of the first and second seals. In another example, forming the notch in the first seal includes punching the notch in the one of the first and second seals. In another example, the notch is punched in the one of the first and second seals after the tube is formed and before the heat-shrinkable package is formed into the heat-shrunk package.
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of the disclosed subject matter will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present disclosure describes embodiments of opening features on heat-shrunk packaging. More specifically, the opening features on heat-shrunk packaging may provide an easy method of opening the heat-shrunk packaging.
As noted above, an object can be packaged in heat-shrunk film for shipment. One drawback to shipping an object in heat-shrunk film packaging that has easy-to-open features is that the easy-to-open features may be inadvertently opened during shipping and/or handling. If the heat-shrunk film packaging opens during shipping, the heat-shrunk film packaging no longer provides some of the protections it is intended to provide. However, when the heat-shrunk film packaging has no opening feature, it is difficult for a shipping recipient to remove the heat-shrunk film without the use of cutting tools. There is a need for easy-to-open features in heat-shrunk film that are not likely to open during shipment.
In addition to providing easy-to-open features in heat-shrunk film that are not likely to open during shipment, it may also be beneficial to make the heat-shrunk film reusable. For example, a retail customer who receives an object in a shipment may want to return the object to the retailer. In these cases, it would be helpful if the heat-shrunk film packaging could be reused to ship the object back to the retailer for return. There is a need for packaging that can be opened and then reclosed and reused as a shipping container.
The shrink film dispenser 18 supplies a web of heat-shrinkable film 30 from roll 32. Systems for supplying webs of film are known in art and may include unwind mechanisms and other features. Heat-shrinkable films have the ability, upon being exposed to a certain temperature, to shrink or to generate shrink tension when used in a packaging application. Once a product is enclosed in the heat-shrinkable film, the packaged product is subjected to an elevated temperature, such as by subjecting the packaged object to a hot fluid, such as hot air or hot water. This causes the film to shrink and form a tight wrap surrounding the enclosed packaged product. In some embodiments, heat-shrinkable film may be opaque. Embodiments of opaque shrink films are described in U.S. Application No. 62/370,258, entitled “Opaque, Heat Shrinkable Microlayer Film” (Attorney Docket No. D-45391), the contents of which are hereby incorporated by references in their entirety.
As used herein, the term “opaque” may be defined in terms of one or more of total luminous transmittance, opacity, or contrast ratio opacity. Total luminous transmittance may be defined as the percentage of luminous flux that passes through a film when visible light is transmitted at the film. In some embodiments, a film is opaque if the film has a total luminous transmittance that is at or below any one of the following values: 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, and 90%, measured in accordance with ASTM D1003. Opacity may be defined as the percentage of luminous flux that does not pass through a film when visible light is transmitted at the film. Opacity may be defined according to the formula 100%−total transmittance=opacity. In some embodiments, a film is opaque if the film has a total luminous transmittance that is at or above any one of the following values: 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, and 90%. Contrast ratio opacity measurement characterizes how opaque a film sample is using two readings: a Y (luminance or brightness) value measured with the film sample backed by a black background and a Y value measured with the film sample backed by a white background. The resulting fraction is expressed as Y%, calculated as follows:
In some embodiments, a film is opaque if the contrast ratio opacity for the film is at least, and/or at most, any one of the following values: 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, and 90%, calculated per above with base values measured in accordance with ASTM D1746.
In some embodiments, the heat-shrinkable film 30 on the roll 32 is a center-folded film. In other embodiments, the heat-shrinkable film 30 on roll 32 is a flat wound film. In some embodiments, the heat-shrinkable film 30 includes any sheet or film material suitable for packaging objects 36, in particular for heat-shrinkable packages 34 for use as packaging for an object. Suitable materials include polymers, for example thermoplastic polymers (e.g., polyethylene), that are suitable for heat sealing and/or heat shrinking. In some embodiments, the heat-shrinkable film 30 has a thickness of any of at least 3, 5, 7, 10, and 15 mils; and/or at most any of 25, 20, 16, 12, 10, 8, 6 and 5 mils. In some embodiments, the heat-shrinkable film 30 is multilayered, and has an outer layer adapted for heat sealing the heat-shrinkable film to itself to form a seal.
The transfer head 20 of the packaging system 10 receives the web of heat-shrinkable film 30 from the shrink film dispenser 18. The transfer head 20 is adapted to manage (e.g., form) the web of heat-shrinkable film 30 into a configuration for eventual sealing into a tube. In the depicted embodiment, the transfer head 20 is an inverting head 22 of continuous flow wrap that receives the web of heat-shrinkable film 30. The heat-shrinkable film 30 is center-folded from the shrink film dispenser 18 and redirects the web of film over the top and bottom inverting head arms 40 and 42 to travel in a conveyance direction 38 by turning the web of heat-shrinkable film 30 inside out. In this manner, the transfer head 20 is adapted to manage the heat-shrinkable film 30 to provide an interior space 44 bounded by the heat-shrinkable film 30.
In some embodiments, the transfer head 20 in the configuration of a forming box receives the lay flat web of heat-shrinkable film 30 from the shrink film dispenser 18 and redirects the web of film over the forming head to travel in the conveyance direction 38 by turning the web of heat-shrinkable film 30 inside out. In this manner, the transfer head 20 is adapted to manage the web of heat-shrinkable film 30 to provide an interior space 44 bounded by heat-shrinkable film 30.
The infeed conveyor 24 of the packaging system 10 is adapted to transport a series of objects 36 and sequentially deliver them in the conveyance direction 38. In some embodiments, the infeed conveyor 24 is adapted to convey a series of objects 36. In the embodiment depicted in
An “object,” as used herein, may comprise a single item for packaging, or may comprise a grouping of several distinct items where the grouping is to be in a single package. Further, an object may include an accompanying informational item, such as a packing slip, tracking code, a manifest, an invoice, or printed sheet comprising machine-readable information (e.g., a bar code) for sensing by an object reader (e.g., a bar code scanner).
Downstream from the infeed conveyor 24 is an object conveyor 48, which is adapted to support and transport the web of heat-shrinkable film 30 and the object 36 downstream together to the end sealer 28. A first discharge conveyor 50 transports the series of packages 34 from the end sealer 28.
As each object 36 of the series of objects sequentially travels through the packaging system 10, its position within the machine is tracked. This is accomplished by ways known in the art. For example, an infeed eye system (horizontal or vertical) determines the location of the front edge 52 of each object and the location of the rear edge 54 of each object as the object travels along the conveyor. This location information is communicated to a controller (i.e., a programmable logic controller or “PLC”). A system of encoders and counters, also in communication with the PLC, determines the amount of travel of the conveyor on which the object is positioned. In this manner, the position of the object 36 itself is determined and known by the PLC. The PLC is also in communication with the end sealer 28 to provide the object position information for a particular object to these unit operations.
In the depicted embodiment, the longitudinal sealer 26 is adapted to continuously seal the open side of the heat-shrinkable film 30 together in a longitudinal seal 59 to form a tube 56 enveloping one of the objects 36. In the depicted embodiment, the longitudinal sealer 26 is located at side of the tube 56, where the longitudinal sealer 26 forms a side seal between two edge portions of the heat-shrinkable film 30. In other embodiments, the longitudinal sealer 26 may be located beneath the tube 56, where the sealer may form, for example, a center fin seal between two edge portions of the web of the heat-shrinkable film 30. As two edge portions of the heat-shrinkable film 30 are brought together at the longitudinal sealer 26 to form the tube 56, they are sealed together, for example, by a combination of heat and pressure, to form a continuous fin or a longitudinal seal 59. Appropriate longitudinal sealers are known in the art, and include, for example, heat sealers.
The end sealer 28 is adapted to provide or perform in repeating fashion, while the tube 56 is traveling: (i) a trailing end seal 58 that is transverse to the tube 56 and upstream from a preceding object to create a heat-shrinkable package 34 and (ii) a leading end seal 60 transverse to the tube 56 and downstream from a following object. Further, the end sealer 28 is adapted to sever the heat-shrinkable package 34 from the tube 56 by cutting between the trailing end seal 58 and the leading end seal 60. Generally, the end sealer 28 uses temperature and/or pressure to make two seals (trailing end seal 58 and leading end seal 60) and cuts between them, thus creating the final, trailing seal of one finished, preceding package and the first, leading end seal of the following package. Advantageously, the end sealer 28 may be adapted to simultaneously sever the heat-shrinkable package 34 from the tube 56 while providing the trailing end seal 58 and leading end seal 60.
Useful end sealer units are known in the art. These include, for example, rotary type of end sealer units, having matched heated bars mounted on rotating shafts. As the film tube passes through the rotary type, the rotation is timed so it coincides with the gap between objects. A double seal is produced and the gap between the two seals is cut by an integral blade to separate individual packs. Another type of end seal unit is the box motion type, having a motion that describes a “box” shape so that its horizontal movement increases the contact time between the seal bars and the film. Still another type of end sealer unit is the continuous type, which includes a sealing bar that moves down with the tube 56 while sealing.
The first discharge conveyor 50 transports the series of packages 34 from the end sealer 28 to a heat-shrink system 80. The heat-shrink system 80 is configured to raise the temperature of the packages to cause the heat-shrinkable film 30 of the packages 34 to shrink around the objects 36 to form heat-shrunk packages 34′ of heat-shrunk film 30′. In some embodiments, the heat-shrink system 80 is configured to subject the packages 34 to a hot fluid, such as hot air or hot water, in order to cause the heat-shrinkable wrap of the packages 34 to shrink around the objects 36. The packaging system 10 further includes a second discharge conveyor 62 configured to transport the heat-shrunk packages 34′ from the heat-shrink system 80.
One benefit to the use of opaque heat-shrink films is the ability to minimize the amount of packaging material used to package the objects 36. For example, one of the objects 36 can be packaged into the heat-shrunk package 34′ and the object 36 can be shipped in the heat-shrunk package 34′ without any further protective packaging (e.g., foam cushioning, exterior cardboard boxes, etc.). This is especially the case where the object includes its own packaging (e.g., the object includes a product packaged with cushioning inside a container). One of the difficulties with shipping the object 36 in the heat-shrunk package 34′ is opening the heat-shrunk package 34′ after it has been shipped. Examples of opening the heat-shrunk package 34′ are depicted in
In
In
In both of the examples shown in
The packaging system 110 includes a weakening element 164 that forms a weakened portion 166 in the heat-shrinkable film 130. In some examples, the weakened portion 166 includes one or more of a perforated line (i.e., a line of periodic slits), a continuous slit, a score line (i.e., a line that is cut partially through the film), an area the heat-shrinkable film 130 with reduced strength from exposure to a particular form of electromagnetic radiation, or any other form of weakening of the heat-shrinkable film 130. In some embodiments, the heat-shrinkable film 130 is more likely to break or tear at that location of the weakened portion 166 than at other locations. This is particularly the case when pulling forces are applied on either side of the weakened portion 166 in directions away from the weakened portion 166. In the depicted embodiment, the heat-shrinkable film 130 is center-folded and the weakened portion 166 in the top side of the center-folded heat-shrinkable film 130.
The packaging system 110 also includes a tape dispenser 168 that supplies a web of adhesive tape 170 from a roll 172. In the depicted embodiment, the adhesive tape 170 has adhesive on one side of the adhesive tape 170. In some embodiments, the adhesive is exposed on at least a portion of the one side or on the entirety of the one side. In the depicted embodiment, the heat-shrinkable film 130 is center-folded and the adhesive tape 170 is adhered to the lower surface of the top side of the center-folded heat-shrinkable film 130 along the weakened portion 166. In some embodiments, the adhesive tape 170 is adhered across the weakened portion 166 or adhered on one side of the weakened portion 166. In some embodiment, the adhesive tape 170 is configured to aid in breaking or tearing the weakened portion 166 when the adhesive tape 170 is pulled.
The heat-shrinkable film 130 is inverted at the transfer head 20. The longitudinal sealer 26 creates a longitudinal seal 159 to form a tube 156. The adhesive tape 170 is located on top of the tube 56 of the heat-shrinkable film 130 and the adhesive tape 170 is located over the weakened portion 166. The adhesive tape 170 remains on top of the heat-shrinkable film 130 over the weakened portion 166 when a package 134 is formed. The formation of the leading end seal 60 and the trailing end seal 58 in the heat-shrinkable film 130 by the end sealer 28 also causes the adhesive tape 170 to be cut. This leaves a strip of the adhesive tape 170 covering the weakened portion 166 on the package 134. As the package 134 passes through the heat-shrink system 80, the heat-shrink environment within the heat-shrink system 80 causes the heat-shrinkable film 130 of the packages 134 to shrink around the objects 136 to form heat-shrunk packages 134′ of heat-shrunk film 130′. In some embodiments, the adhesive tape 170 does not shrink as much as the heat-shrinkable film 130 shrinks when exposed to the heat-shrink environment. This difference in shrinkage rates may cause rippling of the adhesive tape 170 when the heat-shrunk packages 134′ are formed, but the adhesive tape 170 can still be used to tear or break the weakened portion 166 when it is pulled even if it is rippled. In this way, the combination of the weakened portion 166 and the adhesive tape 170 forms an opening feature that may make it easier for recipients of the heat-shrunk packages 134′ to open them.
Depicted in
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiments shown in
The combination of the weakened portion 166 and the adhesive tape 170 forms an opening feature for the heat-shrunk package 134′ that may permit a recipient of the heat-shrunk package 134′ to open the heat-shrunk package 134′ without the use of tools, such as scissors or box cutters. One difficulty with the combination of the weakened portion 166 and the adhesive tape 170 on the heat-shrunk package 134′ is that the ease with which the adhesive tape 170 can be pulled to break or tear the weakened portion 166. This easy-open ability may result in the heat-shrunk package 134′ being opened inadvertently. For example, during handling in a shipping facility (e.g., sorting) or during shipment to a recipient, the adhesive tape 170 may inadvertently be caught (e.g., in sorting machinery) and pulled sufficiently to cause the weakened portion 166 to tear or break. Described herein are embodiments of heat-shrunk packages with opening features that are covered by a protective film to hinder inadvertent opening of the opening features.
The heat-shrinkable film 230 includes a weakened portion 266. In some examples, the weakened portion 266 is formed by a weakening element as the heat-shrinkable film 230 is fed. In some examples, the weakened portion 266 includes one or more of a perforated line (i.e., a line of periodic slits), a continuous slit, a score line (i.e., a line that is cut partially through the film), an area the heat-shrinkable film 230 with reduced strength from exposure to a particular form of electromagnetic radiation, or any other form of weakening of the heat-shrinkable film 230. In some embodiments, the heat-shrinkable film 230 is more likely to break or tear at that location of the weakened portion 266 than at other locations.
In the depicted embodiment, the heat-shrinkable film 230 also includes an adhesive tape 270. The adhesive tape 270 has adhesive on one side. In some embodiments, the adhesive is exposed on at least a portion of the one side or on the entirety of the one side. In the depicted embodiment, the heat-shrinkable film 230 has a first end 272 and a second end 274. The heat-shrinkable film 230 is Z-folded having a major fold 276 and a minor fold 278 between the first end 272 and the second end 274. The adhesive tape 270 is adhered along the weakened portion 266 on the portion of the heat-shrinkable film 230 between the major fold 276 and the minor fold 278. In some embodiments, the adhesive tape 270 is adhered across the weakened portion 266 or adhered on one side of the weakened portion 266. While adhesive tape may be used with some embodiments of weakened portions, including the embodiment shown in
The longitudinal sealer 26 creates a longitudinal seal 259 between the first end 272 and the minor fold 278. A tube 258 of the heat-shrinkable film 230 is formed between the major fold 276 and the longitudinal seal 259. A portion of the heat-shrinkable film 230 between the minor fold 278 and the second end 274 forms a protective film 280. As the heat-shrinkable film 230 is being fed to the transfer head 20, the protective film 280 is located under the portion of the heat-shrinkable film 230 between the major fold 276 and the minor fold 278. A partial cross-sectional view of the heat-shrinkable film 230 after it has been inverted at the transfer head 20 is shown in
The tube 256 of the heat-shrinkable film 230 is formed into packages 234 by the creation of the leading end seal 260 and the trailing end seal 258 in the heat-shrinkable film 230 by the end sealer 28. The formation of the leading end seal 260 and the trailing end seal 258 causes the adhesive tape 270 and the protective film 280 to be cut. Each of the leading end seal 260 and the trailing end seal 258 seals the portion of the heat-shrinkable film 230 between the first end 272 and the major fold 276, the portion of the heat-shrinkable film 230 between the major fold 276 and the minor fold 278, and the portion of the heat-shrinkable film 230 between the minor fold 278 and the second end 274. This leaves the protective film 280 covering the weakened portion 266 with the protective film 280 coupled to the packages 234 at the leading end seal 260, the trailing end seal 258, and the longitudinal seal 259.
As the package 234 passes through the heat-shrink system 80, the heat-shrink environment within the heat-shrink system 80 causes the heat-shrinkable film 230 of the heat-shrinkable packages 234 to shrink around the objects 36 to form heat-shrunk packages 234′ of heat-shrunk film 230′. Because the protective film 280 and the heat-shrinkable packages 234 are formed from substantially the same material (i.e., the heat-shrinkable film 230), the protective film 280 and the heat-shrinkable packages 234 tend to shrink at substantially similar shrinkage rates when exposed to the heat-shrink environment within the heat-shrink system 80. However, because of the protective film 280 is coupled to the packages 234 only on some of the sides of the protective film 280 (e.g., at the leading end seal 260, the trailing end seal 258, and the longitudinal seal 259), some rippling of the protective film 280 may occur during the heat-shrink process in the heat-shrink system 80.
As can be seen in the heat-shrunk packages 234′ in
In the embodiment shown in
The recipient may pull back the protective film 280 from instance shown in
The recipient may then open the heat-shrunk package 234′ from the instance shown in
The reclosed heat-shrunk package 234′ is depicted in
Depicted in
The packaging system 310 includes a weakening element 364 that forms a weakened portion 366 in the heat-shrinkable film 330. In some examples, the weakened portion 366 includes one or more of a perforated line (i.e., a line of periodic slits), a continuous slit, a score line (i.e., a line that is cut partially through the film), an area the heat-shrinkable film 330 with reduced strength from exposure to a particular form of electromagnetic radiation, or any other form of weakening of the heat-shrinkable film 330. In some embodiments, the heat-shrinkable film 330 is more likely to break or tear at that location of the weakened portion 366 than at other locations, particularly when pulling forces are applied on either side of the weakened portion 366 in directions away from the weakened portion 366. In the depicted embodiment, the heat-shrinkable film 330 is center-folded and the weakened portion 366 in the top side of the center-folded heat-shrinkable film 330.
The packaging system 310 also includes a tape dispenser 388 that supplies a web of adhesive tape 370 from a roll 372. In the depicted embodiment, the adhesive tape 370 has adhesive on one side. In some embodiments, the adhesive is exposed on at least a portion of the one side or on the entirety of the one side. In the depicted embodiment, the heat-shrinkable film 330 is center-folded and the adhesive tape 370 is adhered to the lower surface of the top side of the center-folded heat-shrinkable film 330 along the weakened portion 366. In some embodiments, the adhesive tape 370 is adhered across the weakened portion 366 or adhered on one side of the weakened portion 366. In some embodiments, the adhesive tape 370 is configured to aid in breaking or tearing the weakened portion 366 when the adhesive tape 370 is pulled. As the heat-shrinkable film 330 is inverted at the transfer head 20, the adhesive tape 370 is located on top of the tube 356 of the heat-shrinkable film 330 and the adhesive tape 370 is located over the weakened portion 366. While the adhesive tape may be used in some embodiments, including the embodiment shown in
The packaging system 310 includes a protective film dispenser 378 that supplies a web of protective film 380 from roll 382. In the depicted embodiment, the protective film 380 on the roll 382 is unfolded. The protective film dispenser 378 is arranged to feed the protective film 380 so that it covers the weakened portion 366 in the tube 356 of the heat-shrinkable film 330. In some embodiments, the protective film 380 is made from a material that shrinks less than the shrinkage of the heat-shrinkable film during exposure to the heat-shrink environment of the heat-shrink system 80. In other embodiments, the heat-shrinkable film 330 and the protective film 380 have substantially the same shrinkage rate when exposed to the heat-shrink environment.
As shown in
The tube 356 of the heat-shrinkable film 330 is formed into packages 334 by the creation of the leading end seal 360 and the trailing end seal 358 in the heat-shrinkable film 330 by the end sealer 28. The formation of the leading end seal 360 and the trailing end seal 358 causes the adhesive tape 370 and the protective film 380 to be cut. Each of the leading end seal 360 and the trailing end seal 358 seals portions of the heat-shrinkable film 330 and the protective film 380 to each other. This leaves the protective film 380 covering the weakened portion 366 with the protective film 380 coupled to the packages 334 at the leading end seal 360 and the trailing end seal 358.
As the package 334 passes through the heat-shrink system 80, the heat-shrink environment within the heat-shrink system 80 causes the heat-shrinkable film 330 of the packages 334 to shrink around the objects 336 to form heat-shrunk packages 334′ of heat-shrunk film 330′. Some rippling of the protective film 380 may occur during the heat-shrink process in the heat-shrink system 80 due to differences in the materials of the heat-shrinkable film 330 and the protective film 380. Some rippling of the protective film 380 may also occur due to the protective film 380 not being coupled to the heat-shrinkable film 330 on all sides of the protective film 380.
As can be seen in the heat-shrunk packages 334′ in
In the embodiments described above, a protective film covers a weakened portion in a heat-shrunk package to protect the weakened portion from unintentional opening. In other embodiments, a weakened portion may be protected by an adhesive backing that is located inside of the heat-shrunk package. Such an adhesive backing may reduce the probability of the weakened portion from unintentional opening and/or be reclosable to permit the heat-shrunk package to be easily reclosed in the event of an unintentional opening.
Depicted in
In some embodiments, the first and second adhesive sections 474 and 476 are double-sided adhesive tapes with an adhesive one side (e.g., the bottom side in
As is depicted in
Depicted in
In some embodiments, the heat-shrinkable film 430 and the film substrate 472 are made from substantially the same material. In this way, the heat-shrinkable film 430 and the film substrate 472 will shrink at substantially similar heat shrinkage rates when exposed to a heat-shrink environment. In some cases, the film substrate 472 and/or the heat-shrinkable film 430 will exhibit rippling after being exposed to a heat-shrink environment. This rippling can be due, in part, to differences in heat-shrinkage rates of materials that are coupled to each other, such as a different in heat shrinkage rate of the heat-shrinkable film 430 and the heat-shrinkage rates of the first and second adhesive sections 474 and 476. In some embodiments, the rippling effect can be reduced by forming the heat-shrinkable film 430 and the film substrate 472 from substantially the same material so that they have substantially similar heat shrinkage rates.
The adhesive backing 470 can be used with the heat-shrinkable film 430 to form heat-shrunk packages around objects.
The packaging system 410 includes a weakening element 464 that forms the weakened portion 466 in the heat-shrinkable film 430. In the depicted embodiment, the heat-shrinkable film 430 is center-folded and the weakened portion 466 is in the top side of the center-folded heat-shrinkable film 430. The packaging system 410 also includes a tape dispenser 468 that supplies a web of the adhesive backing 470 from a roll 462. In the depicted embodiment, the adhesive backing 470 includes the film substrate 472, the first adhesive section 474, and the second adhesive section 476. Each of the first and second adhesive sections 474 and 476 is adhered longitudinally to the film substrate 472 and has exposed adhesive on the outer side of the roll 462. In some embodiments, the removable liner 478 is applied longitudinally along the second adhesive section 476.
In the depicted embodiment, the heat-shrinkable film 430 is center-folded and the adhesive backing 470 is adhered to the upper surface of the top side of the center-folded heat-shrinkable film 430 across the weakened portion 466. In some embodiments, the adhesive backing 470 is adhered to the heat-shrinkable film 430 with the first and second adhesive sections 474 and 476 adhered to locations of the heat-shrinkable film 430 on different sides of the weakened portion 466. After the heat-shrinkable film 430 is inverted at the transfer head 20, the adhesive backing 470 is then located on the inner side of the tube 456 of the heat-shrinkable film 430 and the weakened portion 466 is visible on the top of the tube 456. The adhesive backing 470 remains on the inner side of the heat-shrinkable film 430 when a heat-shrinkable package 434 is formed. The formation of the leading end seal 460 and the trailing end seal 458 in the heat-shrinkable film 430 by the end sealer 28 also causes the adhesive backing 470 to be cut. This leaves a strip of the adhesive backing 470 along the weakened portion 466 on the inner side of the heat-shrinkable package 434.
As the heat-shrinkable package 434 passes through the heat-shrink system 80, the heat-shrink environment within the heat-shrink system 80 causes the heat-shrinkable film 430 of the packages 434 to shrink around the objects 436 to form heat-shrunk packages 434′ of heat-shrunk film 430′. In some embodiments, the film substrate 472 of the adhesive backing 470 does not shrink as much as the heat-shrinkable film 430 shrinks when exposed to the heat-shrink environment within the heat-shrink system 80. This difference in shrinkage rate may cause rippling of the heat-shrunk film 430′ and/or the adhesive backing 470 when the heat-shrunk packages 434′ are formed, but the adhesive backing 470 will still be adhered to the inner side of the heat-shrunk packages 434′ if rippling occurs. In some embodiments, the heat-shrinkable film 430 and the film substrate 472 have substantially similar shrinkage rates (e.g., they are made from the same material) to reduce the occurrence of rippling during the heat-shrink process.
An embodiment of opening the heat-shrunk package 434′ and repackaging it after it has been opened is depicted in a series of instances in
In
From the instance depicted in
From the instance depicted in
In some embodiments, the process of removing the flap of the heat-shrunk film 430′ from the second adhesive section 476 and re-adhering the flap of the heat-shrunk film 430′ to the second adhesive section 476 has occurred multiple times before the object 436 is inserted back into the heat-shrunk package 434′. This repeated process may result in contamination of the exposed portion of the second adhesive section 476, and therefore the adhesive strength of the exposed portion of the second adhesive section 476 would be reduced. For example, dirt, dust, or other particles may have adhered to the exposed portion of the second adhesive section 476, resulting in a lower adhesive strength of the exposed second adhesive section 476. In the instance shown in
As shown in the instance depicted in
Depicted in
Depicted in
In some embodiments, the first and second adhesive sections 574 and 576 are double-sided adhesives with an adhesive one side (e.g., the bottom side in
In the depicted embodiment, the adhesive backing 570 also includes a pull tab 580 longitudinally applied to the film substrate 572 between the first adhesive section 574 and the second adhesive section 576. As will be discussed below, the pull tab 580 is configured to aid in breaking the heat-shrink film and/or heat-shrink film when the pull tab 580 is pulled from the film substrate 572. Pull tabs are known in art and may include flexible polypropylene, other polymers, yarns, filaments, any other suitable material, or any combination thereof.
As is depicted in
Depicted in
In some embodiments, the the heat-shrinkable film 530 and the film substrate 572 are made from substantially the same material. In this way, the heat-shrinkable film 530 and the film substrate 572 will have substantially similar heat shrinkage rates when exposed to a heat-shrink environment. In some cases, the film substrate 572 and/or the heat-shrinkable film 530 will exhibit rippling after being exposed to a heat-shrink environment. This rippling can be due, in part, to differences in heat shrinkage rates of materials that are coupled to each other, such as a difference in heat shrinkage rate of the heat-shrinkable film 530 and the heat-shrinkage rates of the first and second adhesive sections 574 and 576. In some embodiments, the rippling effect can be reduced by forming the heat-shrinkable film 530 and the film substrate 572 from substantially the same material so that they have substantially similar heat shrinkage rates.
The adhesive backing 570 can be adhered to the heat-shrinkable film 530 in the manner shown in the packaging system 410 depicted in
In other embodiments, a heat-shrinkable package can have seals of different widths and a notch in one of the seals to provide an opening feature.
Unlike some embodiments disclosed herein, the packaging system 610 includes does not form a weakened portion in the heat-shrinkable film 630, couple a protective film to the heat-shrinkable film 630, or use an adhesive backing on the heat-shrinkable film 630. After the heat-shrinkable film 630 is inverted at the transfer head 20, the longitudinal sealer 26 creates a longitudinal seal 659 to form a tube 656 of the heat-shrinkable film 630. In the depicted embodiment, the longitudinal seal 659 is wider that the other longitudinal seals described herein (e.g., the longitudinal seal 59). While traditional seal design attempts to make seals as thin as possible, the longitudinal seal 659 is intentionally wider than a typical seal.
The packaging system 610 includes a punch 664 configured to form a notch 670 in the longitudinal seal 659. The punch 664 and the notch 670 are depicted in greater detail in the sectional view shown in
The tube 656 of the heat-shrinkable film 630 is formed into a heat-shrinkable package 634 by the end sealer 28 forming a leading end seal 660 and a trailing end seal 658 on opposite sides of the object 636. In the depicted embodiment, the longitudinal seal 659 includes one notch 670, though it could include more than one notch in other embodiments. In the depicted embodiment, the longitudinal seal 659 is wider than either of the transverse seals (i.e., the end seal 660 or the trailing end seal 658). However, in other embodiments, the end sealer 28 could be configured to form one or both of the of the trailing and leading end seals 658 and 660 wider than the longitudinal seal 259. In such a case, the punch 664 may be integrated with the end sealer 28 so that the end sealer 28 is configured to cut the heat-shrinkable film 630, form the trailing and leading end seals 658 and 660, and punch the notch 670 in one of the trailing and leading end seals 658 and 660 at substantially the same time.
As the heat-shrinkable packages 634 passes through the heat-shrink system 80, the heat-shrink environment within the heat-shrink system 80 causes the heat-shrinkable film 630 of the heat-shrinkable packages 634 to shrink around the objects 636 to form heat-shrunk packages 634′ of heat-shrunk film 630′. The notch 670 remains in the longitudinal seal 659 after the heat-shrinkable package 634 is formed into the heat-shrunk package 634′, as depicted in greater detail in
Many different embodiments exist of the location, shape, and mode of operation of a notch in a heat-shrunk package. Depicted in
Depicted in
Depicted in
Depicted in
For purposes of this disclosure, terminology such as “upper,” “lower,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “inwardly,” “outwardly,” “inner,” “outer,” “front,” “rear,” and the like, should be construed as descriptive and not limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. Further, the use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. Unless stated otherwise, the terms “substantially,” “approximately,” and the like are used to mean within 5% of a target value.
The principles, representative embodiments, and modes of operation of the present disclosure have been described in the foregoing description. However, aspects of the present disclosure which are intended to be protected are not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. It will be appreciated that variations and changes may be made by others, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations, changes, and equivalents fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, as claimed.
The present application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/493,477, filed Sep. 12, 2019, which is a national stage entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/US2018/022648, filed Mar. 15, 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/472,059, filed Mar. 16, 2017, the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62472059 | Mar 2017 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16493477 | Sep 2019 | US |
| Child | 17375067 | US |
