# US 11,110,645 B2 · Method and systems for applying stretch films/plastic films at a controlled temperature

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- Number: US 11,110,645 B2
- Document ID: US11110645B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/815,208
- Filed: 2017-11-16
- Published: 2019-05-16
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2017-11-16
- Assignees: RLMB Group, LLC
- Applicants: The Bowden Group
- Inventors: R. Craig Bowden
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11110645B2

## CPC

- B29C 55/065: {in several stretching steps}
- B29B 13/023: {Half-products, e.g. films, plates}
- B29B 13/08: by using wave energy or particle radiation
- B29C 48/0018: {combined with shaping by orienting, stretching or shrinking, e.g. film blowing (B29C48/0017 takes precedence)}
- B29C 48/08: flexible, e.g. films
- B29C 48/21: the layers being joined at their surfaces
- B29C 51/46: Measuring, controlling or regulating
- B29C 55/18: by squeezing between surfaces, e.g. rollers
- B29D 7/01: Films or sheets
- B29C 35/02: Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing {during moulding, e.g. in a mould}(cold vulcanisation B29C35/18 {; vulcanising tyres, presses therefor B29D30/0601})
- B29C 35/0255: {using friction}
- B29C 35/12: Dielectric heating
- B29C 63/0091: {in particular atmospheres}
- B29C 2035/0283: {Thermal pretreatment of the plastics material}
- B29C 2035/046: {dried air}
- B29C 2035/0822: {using IR radiation}
- B29C 2035/0855: {using microwave}
- B29C 2035/0861: {using radio frequency}
- B29C 2948/92704: Temperature
- B29K 2105/256: {Sheets, plates, blanks or films}
- B65B 25/001: {of foodstuffs, combined with their conservation (B65B25/041, B65B25/062, B65B25/067 take precedence)}
- B65B 2011/002: {Prestretching mechanism in wrapping machines}
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29B: PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
- B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00)
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00)

## Abstract

A system for controlling the temperature of a film before and/or during application, the system including: a heat source for heating a film; and stretch rollers; wherein the heat source heats the film from an ambient temperature to a temperature from about 2° C. to about 40° C. above the ambient temperature, wherein the film is heated prior to or simultaneous to being stretched by the stretch rollers, and wherein the ambient temperature is below 15° C. The preheating system may be used to enhance binding and sealing properties of stretch films used for wrapping palletized products in a reduced temperature environment. Other embodiments of the preheating film system, and methods for its use, are described herein.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for increasing the temperature of a film before and/or during application of the film in a reduced temperature environment, the method comprising:
providing a film to at least one roller;
providing a film preheater system that is configured to increase the temperature of the film, the film preheater system comprising a heat source that is configured to provide a targeted application of heat directly to the film, wherein the film preheater system is positioned so as to provide heat directly to a surface of the film and across a width of the film on the at least one roller;
warming the film from an ambient temperature of the reduced temperature environment to a temperature from about 2° C. to about 40° C. above the ambient temperature of the reduced temperature environment;
stretching the film on the at least one roller; and
wrapping the film around a perishable product;
wherein the ambient temperature of the reduced temperature environment to which the film is exposed is below 15° C.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the film is comprised of polyolefin, PVC, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, ethylene propylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene or a combination thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the film is comprised of linear low density polyethylene.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the film is warmed by direct contact with warmed air provided by the heat source.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the film is warmed by infrared radiation using a lamp as the heat source.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the film is warmed by conduction using a metal heat block as the heat source.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the film is warmed by radiation using a metal heat block as the heat source.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the perishable product maintains a temperature of below 15° C. during the warming, stretching, and wrapping steps.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the warming step occurs prior to or simultaneous with the stretching step.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the ambient temperature of the reduced temperature environment is from about 0° to about 15° C.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
injecting a modified atmosphere inside the wrapped film.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the wrapping step forms an airtight sealed enclosure around the perishable product.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 further comprising:
injecting a modified atmosphere inside the airtight sealed enclosure.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 further comprising:
maintaining an atmosphere inside the airtight sealed enclosure.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the heat source comprises an infrared lamp, a metal heat block, or heated air.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the stretching occurs prior to the wrapping.

### Claim 17

A method for improving the application of a film in a reduced temperature environment, the method comprising:
providing a film to at least one roller;
stretching the film on the at least one roller;
wrapping the film around a product at an ambient temperature of the reduced temperature environment;
warming the film using a film preheater system comprising a heat source that is configured to provide a targeted application of heat directly to the film;
warming a modified atmosphere using a heater to a temperature from about 2° C. to about 40° C. above the ambient temperature of the reduced temperature environment; and
injecting the warmed, modified atmosphere inside the wrapped film;
wherein the ambient temperature of the reduced temperature environment to which the film is exposed is below 15° C.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein injecting the modified atmosphere comprises injecting a gas within the wrapped film.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein warming the modified atmosphere occurs prior to or during injecting inside the wrapped film.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the film and the modified atmosphere are warmed to about the same temperature.