Method for packaging fiber material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9598184-B2
Application number	US-201414167847-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2014
Priority date	Feb 14, 2003
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method of baling a fiber material, comprising:
(a) placing a mass of fiber material on a bottom sheet comprising a multi-layer packaging material;
(b) placing a top sheet comprising a multi-layer packaging material on the mass of fiber material;
(c) compressing the mass of fiber material between the top sheet and the bottom sheet;
(d) sealing edges of the bottom sheet to edges of the top sheet to obtain a sealed bale of fiber material;
(e) evacuating air from the sealed bale of fiber material to obtain an internal pressure of less than 101 kilo PASCALs using a vacuum-producing device; and
(f) releasing the evacuated, sealed bale of fiber material from the compression to obtain a finished bale, and

wherein the finished bale has a width of 80 cm to 120 cm, a length of 100 cm to 150 cm, and a height of 105 cm to 155 cm;
wherein a difference in height between an edge of the top sheet and a center point of the top sheet on the finished bale is less than 3 cm; and
wherein the finished bale has a density of 0.48 to 0.82 grams per cubic centimeter.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the fiber material comprises cellulose acetate fibers.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the top sheet and the bottom sheet comprise a polymeric film.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the top sheet and the bottom sheet comprise a metal foil.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the top sheet or the bottom sheet comprises an evacuator for evacuating air from the sealed bale.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the evacuator comprises a vacuum check valve.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the evacuating step is carried out using a plurality of evacuators.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the internal pressure is from 40 kilo PASCALs to 92 kilo PASCALs.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the top sheet or the bottom sheet comprises a sealing layer.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the sealing layer comprises a heat sealable polymer.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the top sheet or the bottom sheet comprises a pull tape designed to be pulled to open the finished bale.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the finished bale has a cuboidal shape.

Assignees

• Eastman Chem Co

Inventors

• Mclaughlin Michael Ray
• Mullins Charles Duane
• Sanders Charles Clifton
• Smithers Iii Hillard Birdell
• Nelson Gregory Kyle

Classifications

• B65D81/2023

  in a flexible container (B65D81/2038 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65B1/24 Primary

  by mechanical compression · CPC title

• B65B27/125

  and wrapping or bagging · CPC title

• B65B31/047

  the nozzles co-operating with a check valve in the opening of the container or wrapper · CPC title

• B65B61/182

  by applying tear-strips or tear-tapes · CPC title