Heat shrink apparatus and device for packaging, and packaging line and process using said heat shrink apparatus and device
AssigneeCryovac, Inc.
InventorsRiccardo Palumbo, Giulio Benedetti, Silvia Bottini, Stefan Landolt, Peter Thurig
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Heat shrink apparatuses and devices can heat shrink selected portions of containers made from heat shrinkable plastic film. The apparatuses and devices selectively heat shrink a main portion of the container where a product is housed, or a terminal portion of the same container. A packaging line including one or more of the heat shrink apparatuses and devices.
Claims15
A heat shrink apparatus for processing containers that include heat shrinkable plastic film, each of the containers having a main portion in which a product is housed, a terminal portion that is not occupied by the product, and an intermediate portion connecting the main portion and the terminal portion, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- an inlet configured to receive containers to be processed;
- an outlet configured to deliver processed containers;
- a heat treatment zone between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the heat treatment zone is configured to heat shrink the main portion of each container;
- and
- a heat protected zone extending adjacent to the heat treatment zone, wherein the heat protected zone is configured to receive the terminal portion of each container;
- wherein the heat shrink apparatus is configured to:
- maintain a temperature in the heat treatment zone at or above a shrink temperature, and maintain a temperature in the heat protected zone below the shrink temperature;
- wherein the heat protected zone comprises a cooling structure defining an elongated seat;
- and wherein the elongated seat is configured to receive the terminal portion of each container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.