Tear device for cutting shrink-wrap plastic films

Abstract

 Tear device for cutting shrink-wrap plastic films comprising a length of cutting thread (4) located under the film (1) and protruding thereof through appropriate holes (3,3′) wherein the external thread sheath is made of material compatible with the heat-sealing of the material constituting the film and the thread core is made of non-stretchable fibers.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device capable of tearing packaging film currently widely used for packaging of various products, in particular food products in stand-alone, stacked packages.

[0002] This shrink-wrap plastic film is employed especially for the purpose of tightly wrapping products so as to facilitate handling and transportation.

[0003] As is well known, personnel in charge of unpacking products wrapped in such a manner encounter conside­rable difficulty in cutting the film which, given its consistency, requires sharp cutting tools which represent an additional risk factor for operators as well as a danger for the integrity of the product. This is especially tbe case with foodstuffs, which can be damaged by the cutting tool and thus lose their organoleptic properties so that the product cannot be sold.

[0004] A common example is given by vacuum-packed coffee and by liquid-containing paper and soft plastic packs in general.

[0005] The invention which is described here is designed to overcome these disadvantages. The device according to this invention consists of a cutting thread placed under the plastic packaging film with ends protruding from holes on the left and right-hand side of the film along its width.

[0006] The device is extremely simple to operate by a human agent with a simple upwards tearing movement of the protruding thread, which thus cuts across the plastic packaging film without damaging pack content.

[0007] One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Table 1, figure 1 is a front view of the invention before wrapping of the plastic film around the package.

Table 1, figure 2 is a view of the invention applied on a package.

Table 1, figure 3 is a detail view of the thread itself.

[0008] Referring now in detail to the drawings, reference numeral 1 shows the film, 2 is the plastic film supply roll, 3 and 3′ are the thread entry and exit holes in the plastic film, 4 is the cutting thread, 5 are the points of attachment of the thread to the plastic film (the thread sheath will be constructed in material capable of being properly attached to the film and a sufficient number of attachment points will be provided), 6 is the finished package wrapped in the shrink-wrap plastic film 1′, 4′ is the thread which forms a tighter spiral as compared to its initial configuration owing to the contraction of the film, and 7 is the internal fiber of the thread which, unlike the sheath, is made of non-­stretching material so as to facilitate film cutting which would otherwise be less practicable if the internal fiber were made of a material stretchable under stress.

[0009] Having thus described the invention, it is not intended that it be so limited as changes in dimensions, materials and shapes may be readily made therein without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the description and accompanying drawings be interpreted as illu­strative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A tear device for cutting shrink-wrap plastic films comprising a measure of cutting thread located beneath the film surface, wherein said thread protrudes from two holes on two opposite sides of the film width.

2. A tear device for cutting shrink-wrap plastic films as claimed in Claim 1, in which the thread is laid with an almost sinusoidal configuration and is attached to the film by means of a number of attachment points sufficient to keep said thread in place.

3. A tear device for cutting shrink-wrap plastic film as claimed in Claim 1, in which the length of thread protruding from the appropriate holes is sufficient to be grasped by a human hand.

4. A tear device for cutting shrink-wrap plastic films as claimed in Claim 1, in which the thread consists of an external sheath made of material which can be attached to the film.

5. A tear device for cutting shrink-wrap plastic films as claimed in Claim 1, suitable for mounting in various positions of the package, either in packages stacked on pallets or not.

6. A tear device for cutting shrink-wrap plastic films as claimed in Claims 1,2,3,4, and 5 above, which is essentially as described and/or illu­strated herein for the specified purposes.

Drawing