# US 11,993,413 B2 · Heat-shrinkable packaging

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- Number: US 11,993,413 B2
- Document ID: US11993413B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/636,943
- Filed: 2020-08-26
- Published: 2022-09-01
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2019-08-27
- Assignees: Diopass Sprl
- Applicants: Diopass Sprl
- Inventors: Frédéric Henry Schloesser; Mireille Paula Fluzin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993413B2

## CPC

- B65B 61/14: for incorporating, or forming and incorporating, handles or suspension means in packages (attaching, or forming and attaching, string handles or tags to tea-bags B65B29/04)
- B65B 21/245: {in flexible wrappers, e.g. foils (B65B21/26 takes precedence)}
- B65B 41/12: Feeding webs from rolls
- B65B 53/063: {Tunnels}
- B65B 61/02: for perforating, scoring {, slitting,} or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging {(scoring ampoules B65B3/006)}
- B65B 61/06: by cutting
- B65D 71/08: Wrappers shrunk by heat {or under tension, e.g. stretch films or films tensioned by compressed articles}
- B65D 75/56: Handles or other suspension means
- 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)
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a heat-shrinkable packaging intended for wrapping a series of containers, comprising a lower portion, an upper portion and lateral portions and having a reinforcement strip arranged transversely to the rows of containers, the packaging according to the present invention comprising at least two perforation lines. The present invention also relates to a method for packaging containers by means of a packaging and to a packaging blank.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for packaging containers (2) by a shrinkable packaging (1) intended for wrapping a series of containers (2), comprising:
a lower portion (3) corresponding to a base,
an upper portion (4), opposite said lower portion (3) and corresponding to a covering of said containers (2) which are arranged in parallel rows with respect to each other, said upper portion (4) comprising a central area (5) and a peripheral area (6),
lateral portions (7) connecting the lower portion (3) to the upper portion (4),
a reinforcement strip (8) arranged transversely to the parallel rows of containers (2), and at least two perforation lines (9a, 9b) which, in the central area (5) of the upper portion (4) of the packaging (1), are arranged in parallel to each other on both sides of the reinforcement strip (8), and which, in the peripheral area (6) of the upper portion (4) of the packaging (1), each of the at least two perforation lines progressively diverges from the reinforcement strip (8);
wherein the method comprises:
feeding a shrinkable film (15) onto at least one conveyor belt (16) along a determined direction of movement,
arranging said containers (2) on said at least one conveyor belt (16) provided with said shrinkable film (15), said containers (2) being arranged in rows in parallel to one another, said rows being arranged perpendicularly to said direction of movement of the film,
shrink wrapping (17) said containers (2) with said shrinkable film (15) forming a shrinkable film packaging (15) around said containers (2),
heat-shrinking (18) said shrinkable film (15) containing said containers (2), to hold said containers (2) tightly together,
positioning a reinforcement strip (8) on said shrinkable film (15), in parallel to said film feeding direction of movement, and
incising in said shrinkable film (15) at least two perforation lines (9a, 9b) which, in the central area (5) of the upper portion (4) of the packaging (1), are arranged in parallel to each other, on both sides of the reinforcement strip (8) and which, in the peripheral area (6) of the upper portion (4) of the packaging (1), each progressively diverge from the reinforcement strip (8).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the feeding comprises unwinding the shrinkable film (15) from a feed roll (22) and the positioning of the reinforcement strip (8) occurs on the shrinkable film (15) before said feeding step, on a surface of the film that forms an inner surface of said packaging after shrink wrapping.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, further comprising at least one step of cutting the shrinkable film which occurs after said positioning of the reinforcement strip (8) and before said feeding step.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said incising step occurs before feeding said shrinkable film (15) onto said conveyor belt (16).

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method according to claim 4, wherein said incision step occurs before said unwinding of the shrinkable film (15) from said feed roll (22).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising at least one step of printing at least one pattern on said film before and/or after said feeding step.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said packaging (1) and said reinforcement strip (8)are at least 85% a similar material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said packaging (1) and said reinforcement strip (8)are at least 90% a similar material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said packaging (1) and said reinforcement strip (8) are at least 95% a similar material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said reinforcement strip (8) comprises a tackifier by which it is attached to an inner surface of said shrinkable packaging (1) wrapping the series of containers (2).

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said packaging (1) and said reinforcement strip (8) are at least 80% a similar material.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least two perforation lines (9a, 9b) are each interrupted by at least one imperforate gap (10) having a predetermined length.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method Packaging (1) according to claim 12, wherein said at least two perforation lines (9a, 9b) have perforations (11) spaced apart from each other by at least one space (12) having a predetermined length, and wherein said at least one imperforate gap (10) is at least 1.5 times longer than said gap (12) between perforations (11).

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, wherein said at least two perforation lines (9a, 9b) have perforations (11) spaced apart from each other by at least one space (12) having a predetermined length, and wherein said at least one imperforate gap (10) is at least 2 times longer than said gap (12) between perforations (11) preferably at least 2 times longer.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, wherein said at least two perforation lines (9a, 9b) have perforations (11) spaced apart from each other by at least one space (12) having a predetermined length, and wherein said at least one imperforate gap (10) is at least 2 times longer than said gap (12) between perforations (11) preferably at least 2.5 times longer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said containers (2) are selected from the group consisting of bottles, tins, jars, cans for liquids, cartons and cans.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein a row of containers (2) contains two, three or four containers (2).