Packaging method and line for improved finished product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11225343-B2
Application number	US-201916674294-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2019
Priority date	Jan 22, 2019
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

An overwrap feed station wraps a product with an overwrap material by drawing the overwrap material around the product to form a tube around the product as the product moves through the feed station. The feed station is configurable in first, second, or third configurations based upon a desired location of a longitudinal seal to be formed on the tube around the product. A first former is configured to guide the overwrap material through the entrance of the feed station so that longitudinal edges of the overwrap material overlap on a first side of the tube during wrapping of the product. The second former is configured to guide the overwrap material through the entrance of the feed station so that longitudinal edges of the overwrap material overlap on a second side of the tube during wrapping of the product. The third former allows forming the seal on the corner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of wrapping a product in an overwrap feed station, wherein the overwrap feed station is adapted and configured for wrapping a product with an overwrap material, the overwrap feed station has an entrance and a discharge, the overwrap feed station entrance is adapted and configured to be arranged with first, second and third second formers, the overwrap feed station is adapted and configured to draw the overwrap material around the product and to form a tube of the overwrap material around the product as the product is being moved from the entrance to the discharge, each of the first, second and third formers has an opening, each of the first, second and third formers is adapted and configured to receive the overwrap material through the opening of the respective former and guide the overwrap material through the entrance of the overwrap feed station when the respective former is installed on the entrance of the overwrap feed station, the first former is adapted and configured to guide the overwrap material through the entrance of the overwrap feed station in a manner such that during wrapping of the product, longitudinal edges of the overwrap material overlap on, and are further sealed onto, a first longitudinal side of the tube, the second former is adapted and configured to guide the overwrap material through the entrance of the overwrap feed station in a manner such that during wrapping of the product, longitudinal edges of the overwrap material overlap on, and are further sealed onto, a second longitudinal side of the tube, wherein the second longitudinal side of the tube is transverse to the first longitudinal side of the tube, the third former is adapted and configured to guide the overwrap material through the entrance of the overwrap feed station in a manner such that during wrapping of the product, longitudinal edges of the overwrap material overlap on, and are further sealed onto, a longitudinal transitional corner of the tube, wherein the longitudinal transitional corner adjoins the first longitudinal side of the tube to the second longitudinal side of the tube, the method comprising:
configuring the overwrap feed station in one of a first configuration by installing the first former at the entrance of the overwrap feed station, a second configuration by installing the second former at the entrance of the overwrap feed station, and a third configuration by installing the third former at the entrance of the overwrap feed station based upon a desired location of a longitudinal seal to be formed on the tube of the overwrap material around the product.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the overwrap feed station comprises a longitudinal sealer, and the method further comprises:
when in the first configuration, arranging the longitudinal sealer adjacent to the first longitudinal side of the tube;
when in the second configuration, arranging the longitudinal sealer adjacent to the second longitudinal side of the tube; and
when in the third configuration, arranging the longitudinal sealer adjacent to the longitudinal transitional corner of the tube.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first second and third formers comprises a cap portion and a base portion; and the step of installing the respective former comprises:
when in the first configuration, installing the cap portion of the first former with the base portion of the first former wherein the base portion of the first former is one of different from and the same as the base portion of the second and third formers;
when in the second configuration, installing the cap portion of the second former with the base portion of the second former wherein the base portion of the second former is one of different from and the same as the base portion of the first and third formers; and
when in the third configuration, installing the cap portion of the third former with the base portion of the third former wherein the base portion of the third former is one of different from and the same as the base portion of the first and second formers.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
moving the product through the opening of the one of the first, second and third formers;
directing the overwrap material to the opening of the one of the first, second and third formers; and
sealing the overlapped longitudinal edges of the overwrap material with the product in a tube of the overwrap material.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of directing the overwrap material to the opening of the one of the first, second and third formers comprises directing the overwrap material to travel in a same direction for each of the first, second and third configurations.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of directing the overwrap material to the opening of the one of the first, second and third formers comprises:
when in the first configuration, aligning the overwrap material relative to the opening of the first former in a manner such that the longitudinal edges of the overwrap material overlap on the first longitudinal side of the tube during wrapping of the product;
when in the second configuration, aligning the overwrap material relative to the opening of the second former in a manner such that the longitudinal edges of the overwrap material overlap on the second longitudinal side of the tube during wrapping of the product; and
when in the third configuration, aligning the overwrap material relative to the opening of the third former in a manner such that the longitudinal edges of the overwrap material overlap at the longitudinal transitional corner of the tube during wrapping of the product.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of directing the overwrap material to the opening of the one of the first, second and third formers comprises:
unwinding a roll of the overwrap material about a same center axis for each of the first, second and third configurations.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of unwinding the roll of the overwrap material includes moving the roll of the overwrap material between first, second and third positions along the center axis, wherein in the first position of the roll of the overwrap material, the overwrap material is positioned relative to the opening of the first former in the first configuration such that the longitudinal edges of the overwrap material overlap on the first longitudinal side of the tube during wrapping of the product, wherein in the second position of the roll of overwrap material, the overwrap material is positioned relative to the opening of the second former in the second configuration such that the longitudinal edges of the overwrap material overlap on the second longitudinal side of the tube during wrapping of the product, and wherein in the third position of the roll of overwrap material, the overwrap material is positioned relative to the opening of the third former in the third configuration such that the longitudinal edges of the overwrap material overlap at the longitudinal transitional corner of the tube during wrapping of the product.

9. A method of wrapping a product with an overwrap material in a packaging line comprising an overwrap feed station, wherein the overwrap feed station has left and right vertical supports, and bottom and top horizontal supports defining an enclosure with a hollow interior for the overwrap feed station, the overwrap feed station has an entrance and a discharge, the overwrap feed station entrance is adapted and configured to be arranged with first, second and third second formers, each of the first, second and third formers has an opening, the overwrap feed station is adapted and configured to draw the overwrap material through the opening of the respectiv

Assignees

• Paper Converting Machine Co
• Paper Converting Maching Company

Inventors

• Hyska David J
• Odegard John C
• Dunstan Jr Robert J
• Christman Brian L

Classifications

• B65B2009/063

  Forming shoulders · CPC title

• B65B11/32 Primary

  and then to form closing folds of similar form at opposite ends of the tube · CPC title

• B65B25/14

  Packaging paper or like sheets, envelopes, or newspapers, in flat, folded, or rolled form · CPC title

• B65B25/146 Primary

  packaging rolled-up articles · CPC title

• B65B9/06

  Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it · CPC title