Field of the Invention
[0001] This invention is related to film wrapping bundles of articles or articles with heat
shrink film by providing a film having better tear strength when lifting the bundle.
A bundle is defined to include an article or a collection of articles.
Background of the Invention.
[0002] After heat shrinking a film wrapped bundle moving on a conveyor, the sides of the
bundles are not covered with the film. This creates an opening on each side of the
bundle for manually lifting the bundle by gripping the film through the opening. British
Patent
GB 1,341,644 discloses that to reduce the risk of tearing during the manually lifting of the bundle,
the edges of the film can be folded, This reference does not describe an enabling
disclosure of an apparatus or a teaching how the folded edges can be achieved.
[0003] The objective of this invention is to provide a commercial process and apparatus
for folding the film edges of a thin film to create an overlap whereby the tear strength
of the openings is substantially increased.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0004]
Fig 1 shows an unshrunk film moving on a conveyor having a twisted plate to lift the
film and to fold the edges of the film.
Fig 2 shows a static seal and film folding rollers.
Figure 3 shows a heat shrunk film wrapped bundle having folded edges.
Figure 4 shows a film roller pressing against the film as the film moves on the twisted
plate.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0005] Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a heat shrink film 1 leaving film folding rollers 14 and
15 and moving on top of a film folding twisted plate 2, 4. Twisted plate 2, 4 lifts
and turns the edge of the moving film upward to establish a fold point for overlapping
the edge of the film. The twisted plate causes the edge of the film to fold from its
upward position to overlap the film. The overlapping of the film causes the folded
film to move underneath the twisted plate. Film folding rollers 3 and 5 press down
on film 1 to establish the desired width of the film overlap. A wider fold is formed
as the film formed roller 3 and 5 increases the distance the film 1 is lowered. The
location of film roller on the film with respect to the twisted plate point can be
anywhere adjacent the length of the twisted plate as long the width of the fold can
be adjusted by lowering the film. Preferably the location of the roller on the film
is adjacent the length of the twisted plate at its midpoint. Rollers 3 and 5 can be
substituted by a single roller running across the film. Afterward film 1 with folded
edges 9 is moved over roller 6 to an electrostatic sealer 7 where the fold is sealed.
The film with the sealed folds is used to film wrap a bundle 16 of containers at film
wrapping station 11. After film wrapping, the bundle 16 is conveyed to a heat shrink
tunnel 12 where the folded edges 9 of the film form an opening 10 where the folded
edges provide a tear resistant opening after heat shrinking. Fig 4 shows a film folding
roller support rod 8 supporting film folding rollers 3 and 5 while pressing against
film 1.
[0006] Usually a one inch fold is sufficient to achieve a desired tear strength Other sealing
devices can be used such as heat or glue to maintain the fold. The heat shrink film
with the folded edges can be substituted for any film used for film wrapping bundles
or articles with a heat shrink film.
US Patent 9,216,832 issued on December 22, 2015,
US Patent 7,836,670 issued on November 23, 2010 and
US Patent 6,761,014 issued on July 13, 2004 invented by Alain Cerf are incorporated by reference in their entirety. These patents show various conventional
film wrapping bundle technologies such as film wrapping and heat shrinking. During
heat shrinking the folded edges can bond together to further increase the tear resistance
when manually lifting the product.
1. A process for increasing the tear resistance of a heat shrunk film at an opening at
the sides of a film wrapped bundle, the process comprising,
forming an edge folded heat shrink film while the film is moving by lifting the edges
of the film upward to establish a fold point and then folding the lifted edges to
overlap the film;
pressing the film to lower the position of the film to establish a desired width of
the overlap;
film wrapping the bundle, and
heat shrinking the film wrapping the bundle.
2. A process according to claim 1 including sealing of the folded edges to maintain the
fold in a proper position.
3. A process according to claim 2 wherein the sealing of the folded edges comprises electrostatic
sealing of the folded edges.
4. A process according to claim 1 where the bundle is film wrapped.
5. A process according to claim 4 wherein the film wrapped bundle is conveyed to a heat
shrink tunnel where the film is heat shrunk.
6. A process for increasing the tear resistance of a heat shrunk film at an opening located
at sides of a film wrapped article or a bundle of articles, the process comprising,
forming an edge folded heat shrink film while the film is moving on a twisted plate
that lifts the edges of the film upward to establish a fold point and then folds the
lifted edges to overlap the film;
film wrapping the bundle; and
heat shrinking the film wrapping the bundle.
7. A process according to claim 6 including pressing the film to lower the position of
the film to change the width of the overlap.
8. An apparatus for increasing the tear resistance of heat shrunk film wrapped around
bundle by creating a folded edge, the apparatus comprising,
means for moving a heat shrink film;
means for lifting the edges of the moving film and folding the edge;
means for establishing the width of the fold by lowering the position of the film
while it is being lifted and folded;
means for film wrapping the bundle with the heat shrink film having folded edges;
and means for heat shrinking the film wrapping the bundle.
9. An apparatus according to claim 8 having means to maintain the fold in its proper
position.
10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein a static seal is used to maintain the fold
in its proper position.
11. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein a twisted plate is used for lifting the
edges of the moving film.
12. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein a film folding roller establishes the width
of the fold by lowering the position of the film while it is being lifted and folded.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein a heat shrink tunnel heat shrinks the film.
14. An apparatus for increasing the tear resistance of heat shrunk film wrapped around
bundle by creating a folded edge, the apparatus comprising,
means for moving a heat shrink film;
means for lifting the edges of the moving film and folding the edges;
means for film wrapping the bundle with the heat shrink film having folded edges;
and means for heat shrinking the film wrapping the bundle.
15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the means for lifting the edges of the
moving film and folding the edges is a twisted plate.