Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVE~TIO~
I 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
I This invention relates to th~ art of making tubular
¦ sleeves suitable for application to an assembled group of con-
I tainers, such as glass bottles and the like. ~he tubular sleeve
¦ constitutes novel banding material and structure especially
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1 I desirable for assemblying and heat-shrinking around the grouped
containers so that the major exposed surfaces o~ such similar
containers are held in tightly-constrained tangential relation.
2. DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE PRIOR ARq:
5 1 I~ is common practice to merchandise many items such
as containers for soft drinks, beer and the like, in packages
containing a number of containers with the package normally
including a handle or other hand holding means to facilitate
¦ carrying the package. A most common package consists of a
10 ¦ relatively-rigid paperboard blank formed around a group of con- j
tainers, normally six or eight, with the folded blank usually
being interlocked with itself and the like containers in the
; Ipackage. The paperboard packages normally require partitions
Ibetween individual containers, especially in the case of glass
15 Ibottles, to avoid surface-to-surface contact. These paperboard
blank packages have not been entirely satisfactory in that they
'are relatively expensive and are comparatively difficult to form, i
¦ particularly with the high speeds required by modern filling,
¦Icapping and packaging machines.
20 I To overcome these and other deficiencies of the folded
Ipaperboard blank, cans have recently been packaged by assemblying
the cans with a multi-apertured carrier formed from a sheet of
resilient plastic material with the beaded end of the cans each
l being inserted through the apertures. The periphery of the
25 I,apertures grasp the sidewalls of the cans and are locked beneath
¦ the bead securely enough to permit carrying of the package by a
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1 I handle or ~inger holes formed in a central portion of the resi-
lient plastic carrier. Heretofore, it has not been considered
practical to package bottles in this manner because the elon-
~, gated neck and shoulder portion projecting upwardly from the
5 I cylindrical bod~ portion have made existing methods and apparatus
for the retention o cans in a multi-pack impractical or unduly
expensive for packaging bottles. Further, the relatively great
distance over which the carrier must be moved in its application
I onto the body portion of the bottles has made it necessary to
install the carrier on successive bottles substantially simultan-
eously to avoid excessive distortion and tearing of the plastic
carrier. Also, the side surfaces of bottles require additional
retention means such as an encompassing band to avoid surface-to-l~
l' surface impact of the bottles during handling, shipment and dis-
15 ' assembly of the package. Such apparatus for packaging containerstis disclosed in U. S. Patent Mo. 3,509,68~ to ~ohl and Scribner,
which patent is assigned to the same common assignee as the
present invention.
i
I More recently, the introduction of shrinkable plastic
20 I overwraps has occurred causing drastic changes in the paperboard
¦ packages of the past. The following U. S. patents are repres-
entative of packages using plastic overwraps of various types.
Most of these disclosures are directed to various transparent
I film-type non-foamed shrink wrap packages and to the use of
25 I prescribed handles, fingerholds and related supporting structures.
j The patents are:
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1 1 3,532,214 3,650,394 3,331,503
3,198,327 3,650,395 3,302,784
3,552,559 3,817,373 3,477,564
1 3,834,525 3,416,288 3,756,397
S ~ RE 28,535 3,747,749 3,217,874
. l
Multi-container packages which utilize transparent
I thermoplastic films are suitable for many applications; however,
¦ their use for packaging glass containers which contain light-
I sensitive comestibles such as beer is undesirable. Also such
10 li films do not provide the desired level of impact protection fora multi-pack of glass containers. Further, such films can be
I decorated with advertising information only with difficulty 1i
! ¦ requiring the use of supplemental labels or wrappers for product
¦ îdentification.
15 I The use of foamed polystyrene for shrink wrapping of
multi-pack integral packages is disclosed in U. S. Patent
3,400,810. However, the foamed polystyrene taught by this patent
is biaxially oriented and will shrink generally uniformly in
I both directions. This type of overwrap in heat-shrunken conditio}
20 I exhibits generally the same strength properties in both directionc
thus making expedient removal of the individual containers some-
what difficult. With this material, it is also difficult to form
¦ end seals of the flaps at the package ends due to both axial and ¦
circ~mferential shrinkage of the overwrap.
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1 I SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to
provide an improved tubular sleeve for assemblying bottles into
packages for most convenient handling, shipment and use.
Il I
' Another object is to provide an improved tubular
¦ preform comprised of resilient heat-shrinkable thermoplastic
material adapted to telescopically surround a group of assembled
bottles to form an integral package upon shrinking for convenient
¦ handling and shipment.
10 ~ Another object is to provide an improved flexible
heat-shrinkable tubular sleeve which is pre-oriented in both its
circumferential and axial directions adapted to unique manu-
¦ facture ana folding for its convenient shipment and subsequent
luse in assemblying machines designed to open the sleeve and place '
15 !the same telescopically around a group of bottles to form anintegral package. The sleeve upon shrinkage is strong and
¦provides cushioning protection to the surrounded bottles and yeL
is easily opened, is opaque to light for protecting the container !
contents, and is capable of being preprinted with information
or decoration prior to application.
i Another object of this invention is to provide a pre-
formed tubular banding material which is adapted to flat-folding
with minimal overlap of its folds as well as with an axial thermal
fusion seal, the sleeves being designed to be packaged and shipped
in multi-unit packages for subse~uent opening and application to
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1 I grouped similarly-shaped containers encompassing their major
exteriorly-exposed surfaces.
¦ A further object is to provide tubular banding
1 material formed from flexib~e foamed sheet thermoplastic material
5 i which is heat-shrinkable having fold lines at opposite sides
and a fusion seal along a bottom portion intermediate the side
fold lines, the sleeve being adapted to uniform pile-type
stacking for easy opening and usage. The tubular banding material
j can thus be packaged flat in muiti-pack units for delivery and
10 ! use in conjunction with packaging machines adapted to moving
spaced tightly-assembled groups of bottles through the apparatus. !
The tubular preformed sleeve of this invention is thus
especially adapted for use with high speed filling and capping
~ machines to receive the filled, capped bottles issuing from such
15 , machines and form them into packages such as the conventional
¦ six-pack employed to merchandise soft drinks and beer. The
bottles to be packaged are fed onto a horizontal belt conveyor
in spaced groups each normally consisting of two parallel rows
of three bottles each in upright side-by-side relation. The
groups of bottles are carried by the conveyor past a sleeve-apply-
ing position with the groups then being telescopically deposited
in individual sleeves. Adjacent the sleeve-applying position,
¦ flexible tubular sleeves are fed from a magazine in flat-folded
~ condition, one at a time,onto an opening conveyor where they are
i subsequently picked up and retained by retention arms followlng
¦~ which distention means serve to open the sleeves serially into
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generally rectangular configuration. The opened sleeves are then
moved arcuately downwardly and along the bottle conveyor where the
bottle groups are telescoped into the tubular sleeves for deposi-
tion centrally therewithin. The sleeves containing the assembled
bottles are then conveyed through a heat-shrinking tunnel oven
where the sleeves are heat-shrunk tightly around the grouped bottles.
The sleeves are shrunken to a considerable extent around the major
exposed surfaces of the bottles leaving only portions of the end
bottles of the group slightly exposed.
The tubular sleeves of the present invention comprise a
plastic overwrap which is opaque, prestretched and oriented,
laminated composite material. The sleeves are primarily oriented in
a circumferential direction and constitute a closed cellular, foamed,
thermoplastic, polyolefin layer laminated to a non-cellular thermo-
plastic polyolefin film. The sleeves in heat shrunken condition
circumscribe the assembled containers and snugly engage the tops
of containers in shrink-fit relation.
Thus, in accordance with the present teachings, a tubular
preform article is provided for use in packaging a plurality of
similar containers in tightly-held array. The preform article is
comprised of heat-shrinkable flexible foamed opaque thermoplastic
material of uniform wall thickness which is pre-stretched and
oriented in both its circumferential and axial directions to
facilitate substantial heat-shrinkage upon usage. A thermal
fusion seal extends throughout the axial dimension of the tubular
preform article and a decorative pattern is imprinted on the
exterior surface of the preform article except in the area of the
thermal fusion seal. A pair of pleated side folds is disposed
, along the sides of the preform article to flatten the article and
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an off-center transverse fold is provided wherein the top panel is
folded on itself to place the article in double-folded flattened
condition for pile-type stacking.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention
will be apparent from the following detailed specification and
reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the tubular
sleeve manufacturing process and resultant folded sleeves.
With reference to the drawings, a sheet of thermo-
plastic material having the aforesaid characteristics is taken
as a blank 1 to be formed into a tubular sleeve 2. The sleeve
2 has a uniform wall thickness and is preferably comprised of a
laminated polymeric olefinic thermoplastic material such as poly-
ethylene. The composite material has one surface comprised of
a layer of a closed-cell foamed olefin polymer firmly adhered to
a non-cellular olefin polymeric film. The cellular foamed layer
is preferably on the inside of the sleeve 2a and the non-cellular
film layer is preferably on the outside of the sleeve 2b present-
ing a smooth non-porous surface especially adapted to decorating.
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1 I The laminated composite material is impervious to air, light
, and water and has a primary orientation in a circumferential
direction when formed into a tubular sleeve. The material has
, a secondary orientation in the axial direction when formed into
~ a sleeve. The composite material in sheet form has a bulk
density ranging from about ~ to 30 pounds per cubic foot and
particularly desirable tensile strength for practicing the
' present invention. The laminated foamed and film sheet should
I have an overall thickness preferably ranging from about 0.004
I to 0.020 inch.
~ I
The tubular sleeve is formed from a pre-stretched and
oriented lengthy sheet or ribbon of cellular and non-cellular
¦ olefinic thermoplastic material which is preprinted or decorated
on the smooth film side. The primary orientation of the material
¦ extends in major amount along the longitudinal or axial direction
I of the lengthy sheet or ribbon, and preferably has a shrinkage
¦ of about 70% as formed. The sheet has a substantially-lesser
; shrinkage ranging from about 10 to 20% in the transverse directio
I or across the sheet as formed.
20 , The lengthy ribbon or web of printed sheet material
is normally wrapped into rolls for subsequent use. The printed
rolls are sized to a prescribed width which is equivalent to
the desired axial length of the tubular preform to surround the
assembled bottles with the requisite end overhang. Thus the
I sheet or ribbon of oriented preprinted stock having its primary
or entation extending continuously in the lengthwise or machine
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1 direction is taken as the starting material. The sheet in roll
¦ form is delivered onto a drum where the sheet is severed into
, uniform lengths of prescribed width or axial dimensions. The
¦, length is slightly greater than the desired circumferential or
¦ radial dimension to loosely surround the assembled bottles
¦ transversely of the rows.
The blanks which are normally cut in succession from
a roll are placed on individual mandrels and wound thereon and
¦ seamed by overlapping the trailing marginal end of the blank over
¦, its leading marginal end. The blank ends are united at the
overlapped region by fusion, adhesion or other known methods to
form a sleeve or tube of the material comprising a tubular
preform. A preferred method of forming the seam 2c consists of
i locally heating the two overlapped portions of material resting
15 1il in physical engagement, contacting the area with a pressure-
applying heated seal bar, and with such heat and pressure forming
a lineal fusion or heat seal.
I The seam 2c may also be formed by an adhesive com-
'l patible with the sheet material. The seam extends continuously
, and uniformly throughout the axial length of the sleeve as formed~
~ The overlapped ends of sleeve employed to form the seam are
¦ devoid of printing and decoration so that no intermediate materia7
will adversely affect seam formation.
I !
The newly-formed sleeve or tube is then flattened into
i collapsed condition by the use of gusseted side folds 2d formed
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l I in the sleeve sides. The juxtaposed sides of the sleeve are
moved inwardly to ~orm axially-extending pleats or gusset folds
with their centerfold being near the central region of the
sleeve sides. Thus three axial fold lines are employ2d to fold
~ each side upon itself with the middle fold projecting inwardly.
¦ The side folds are formed so that the bottom portion 2e of the
¦ sleeve is formed having a substantially-greater width than the
top portion 2f. Both top and bottom panels are rectangularly
I shaped with the parallel fold lines defining the edges of the
top panel residing inwardly of the fold lines defining the bottom
panel. Thus the folds comprising the side folds 2d do not
I overlie one another with the sleeve in initially-flattened
condition. The fold lines are such that they do not detract
from the exterior appearance of the sleeve after opening and
application to the assembled bottles.
After the side folds are formed as aforesaid, the top
panel is folded near a central region 2g perpendicular to the
sleeve axis. The transverse fold is made substantially off-cente~
so that the open end edges of the sleeve are spaced apart a
substantial distance to facilitate easy opening of the sleeve.
The seam 2c preferably resides in a central bottom
region of the flattened sleeve with the side folds on both sides
thereof. The doubly-folded sleeves are readily adapted to being
~ packaged in multiple unit boxes, trays or envelopes containing
¦ a substantial number of similarly-folded and aligned sleeves,
I the number being 200 to 500 per box, tray or envelope, for exampl~ .
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1 I The sleeve being formed of flexible laminated foam
and film thermoplastic material is adaptable to withdrawal
one-by-one from the multi-pack tray or box. The material being
1 flexible permits its being readily opened into tubular form for
I introduction of the assembled bottles. The sleeve can be
initially opened by various methods, such as by freeing the
shorter folded portion of the outermost sleeve and pulling the
sleeve from the pile-type stack by such free end.
I The sleeve thus folded is especially valuable for
I feeding one at a time to a sleeve-applying machine. The fold
lines of the tubular preform are preferably made by passing the
¦ preform through nip rolls 3 to flatten it; however, other methods
may also be used such as pressing between flat plates. The
sleeve is adapted to easy opening such as by diametrically-
disposed vacuum cups just prior to its enclosing a group ofbottles telescopically.
In a preferred form of the invention, the sleeve has a
¦ length of about 11 1/2 inches and the top panel is folded having
¦ a width of about 5 5/8 inches, with the bottom panel being about
¦ 6 5/8 inches wide. The center fold is made with about one inch
¦ offset so that the end edges are disposed substantially apart.
This sleeve is especially valuable for surrounding a six-bottle
group of standard size and shape non-returnable 12-ounce beer
bottles for heat-shrinking into tight conformity. Only small
equi-sized openings exist at the ends of the final package when
the bottles are centrally located in tangential contact. ~o
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1 I movement of individual bottles occurs within the package after
heat-shrinking the sleeve therearound.
The tubular sleeve results in no waste at the sleeve-
; applying station of a packaging machine. Its usage in multi-
I pack units provides an economical wrap for application by such
machines with little or no downtime to exchange or replace rolls
~ of banding or labeling material. As desired, the sleeves may be
I ¦ produced at a centralized location and shipped to many smaller
¦ operations to be expediously opened and applied to the selected
containers.
Various modifications may be resorted to within the
spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the
~, appended claims.
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