Multi-stage heater plates for sealing and shrinking overwrap
AssigneePhilip Morris USA Inc.
InventorsDuane Wilder, William Rech
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved cigarette package has been achieved using multistage heating plates on the ends of package wrapping. The first stage of the heating plate preheats the wrapping, the second stage activates adhesive along edges of the wrapping, the third stage seals the wrapping and the fourth stage shrinks the wrapping around the cigarette packs.
Claims38
A heating plate for packaging comprising:
- a first stage that comprises a flat surface for contacting wrapping that is folded around packages;
- a second stage that comprises first recessed areas and first non-recessed areas, wherein the first non-recessed areas comprise four surfaces for contacting the wrappings of packages;
- a third stage that comprises second recessed areas and second non-recessed areas, wherein the second non-recessed areas comprise two contiguous H-shaped surfaces for contacting the wrappings of packages;
- and
- a fourth stage that comprises third recessed areas and third non-recessed areas, wherein the non-recessed areas comprise four trapezoidal shaped surfaces for contacting the wrappings of packages.
A heating apparatus for use in cigarette packaging comprising:
- a heating area comprising a multiple stage heating plate;
- a first reciprocating device that advances a set of cigarette packs linearly through the heating area and along multiple stages of the multiple stage heating plate;
- and
- a second reciprocating device that moves the multiple stage heating plate inwardly to contact the set of cigarette packs and outwardly to allow the set of cigarettes to be moved through the heating area.
A method of sealing and shrinking a wrapping material around packages comprising:
- contacting the wrapping material with a first heating stage to preheat the wrapping material along folded edges;
- contacting the wrapping material with a second heating stage to tack the wrapping material;
- contacting the wrapping material with a third heating stage to seal the wrapping material around the packages;
- and
- contacting the wrapping material with a fourth heating stage to shrink the wrapping material.
A heating plate for packaging comprising at least two of the following stages:
- a first stage for contacting wrapping that is folded around a package;
- a second stage that comprises first recessed areas and first non-recessed areas;
- a third stage that comprises second recessed areas and second non-recessed areas;
- and
- a fourth stage that comprises third recessed areas and third non-recessed areas.
A method of sealing and shrinking a wrapping material around a package comprising at least two of the following steps:
- contacting the wrapping material with a first heating stage to preheat the wrapping material along folded edges;
- contacting the wrapping material with a second heating stage to tack the wrapping material;
- contacting the wrapping material with a third heating stage to seal the wrapping material around the package;
- and
- contacting the wrapping material with a fourth heating stage to shrink the wrapping material.
A heating plate for packaging comprising at least two of the following stages:
- a first stage that preheats wrapping around a package;
- a second stage that activates adhesive on the wrapping;
- a third stage that seals the wrapping around the package;
- and
- a fourth stage that shrinks the wrapping around the package.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.