# US 6,718,736 B2 · Device and method for top seal packaging > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,718,736 B2 - Document ID: US6718736B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 09/980,639 - Filed: 2001-12-05 - Published: 2002-10-24 - Granted: 2004-04-13 - Earliest claimed: 2000-04-14 - Assignees: Ishida Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Toshio Oguri; Norio Kawanishi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6718736B2 ## CPC - B65B 7/164: {Securing by heat-sealing} - B65B 11/48: Enclosing articles, or quantities of material, by folding a wrapper, e.g. a pocketed wrapper, and securing its opposed free margins to enclose contents - B31B 50/60: Uniting opposed surfaces or edges; Taping - B31B 2105/0022: {Making boxes from tubular webs or blanks, e.g. with separate bottoms, including tube or bottom forming operations} - 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) - B31B: MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER (making wound articles, e.g. wound tubes, B31C; combined making and filling B65B) ## Abstract The present invention provides a wrapping device for welding a stretch film to a tray, and particularly a wrapping device that can provide a good appearance after the wrapping, and can suppress disadvantages in a transporting operation. A wrapping device 1 covers a top opening of a tray T with a stretch film Fm, welds the stretch film to the tray T, and thermally cuts it. The wrapping device 1 includes a stretch mechanism 9, a control portion and a film winding portion 53. The stretch mechanism 9 stretches the stretch film Fm. The control portion controls the stretch mechanism 9 to stretch the stretch film Fm at least before welding the stretch film Fm to the tray T. The film winding portion 53 winds up the stretch film Fm after the thermal cutting. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A top-seal wrapping device arranged to cover a top opening of a tray containing a wrapping target with a stretch film, and to weld the stretch film to a peripheral portion of the tray around the opening while thermally cutting the stretch film, comprising: a stretch mechanism arranged to stretch the stretch film; welding means for welding the stretch film to the peripheral portion of the tray; control means operatively coupled to said stretch mechanism for controlling the stretching of the stretch film by operating said stretch mechanism at least before said welding means welds the stretch film to the tray; cutting means for thermally cutting the stretch film at a cut portion; a heating body arranged to contact the peripheral portion of the tray surrounding the opening and contact the stretch film for welding the stretch film to the peripheral portion of the tray around the opening; and a film winding portion arranged to wind up the stretch film after said cutting means cuts the stretch film, said control means controlling said stretch mechanism, at least after said welding means welds the stretch film, to apply a tension to a portion of the stretch film near the cut portion in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the stretch film is wound up. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The top-seal wrapping device according to claim 1, wherein the stretch film is thermally cut at a position outside a portion welded to the peripheral portion around the tray opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The top-seal wrapping device according to claim 1, further comprising a film supply mechanism arranged to supply the stretch film to a position above the tray; a lift mechanism arranged to lift the tray to push the tray against the stretch film; and a tray holding portion arranged to hold the tray when welding the stretch film to the peripheral portion of the tray around the opening. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The top-seal wrapping device according to claim 3, wherein said tray holding portion prevents shifting of the tray position when the tray is lifted and pushed against the stretch film. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The top-seal wrapping device according to claim 3, wherein said tray holding portion contacts a side surface of the tray to prevent planar position shifting of the tray. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The top-seal wrapping device according to claim 3, further comprising a tray carrying and holding mechanism arranged to carry the tray thereon, and arranged to be transported to said lift mechanism together with the tray, wherein said tray holding portion forms a part of said tray carrying and holding mechanism, and said lift mechanism lifts the tray by lifting said tray carrying and holding mechanism. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The top-seal wrapping device according to claim 6, wherein said tray carrying and holding mechanism biases said tray holding portion toward the tray to adjust a planar position of the tray. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The top-seal wrapping device according to claim 3, further comprising position detecting means arranged to detect a positional state of the tray during transportation to said lift mechanism, wherein said control portion corrects shifting of position of the tray by said tray holding portion based on a result of a detection by said position detecting means. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The top-seal wrapping device according to claim 3, further comprising biasing means arranged to bias said tray holding portion toward the tray, wherein said control means controls a biasing force of said biasing means. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The top-seal wrapping device according to claim 9, further comprising biasing force detecting means arranged to detect the biasing force applied by said biasing means, wherein said control means controls the biasing force of said biasing means based on a result of the detection by said biasing force detecting means. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The top-seal wrapping device according to claim 9, wherein said control means controls the biasing force of said biasing means corresponding to the properties of at least one of the tray and the stretch film. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The top-seal wrapping device according to claim 1, further comprising a film supply mechanism arranged to supply the stretch film to a position above the tray; a lift mechanism arranged to lift and push the tray against the stretch film; a heating body arranged to contact the peripheral portion of the tray surrounding the opening and to contact the stretch film, and to weld the stretch film to the peripheral portion of the tray around the opening; and a position adjusting mechanism arranged to adjust a planar position of the tray before the tray comes into contact with the stretch film. ### Claim 13 A top-seal wrapping device arranged to cover a top opening of a tray containing a wrapping target with a stretch film, and to weld the stretch film to a peripheral portion of the tray around the opening while thermally cutting the stretch film, comprising: a stretch mechanism arranged to stretch the stretch film; welding means for welding the stretch film to the peripheral portion of the tray; control means operatively coupled to said stretch mechanism for controlling the stretching of the stretch film by operating said stretch mechanism at least before said welding means welds the stretch film to the tray; cutting means for thermally cutting the stretch film at a cut portion; a heating body arranged to contact the peripheral portion of the tray surrounding the opening and contact the stretch film for welding the stretch film to the peripheral portion of the tray around the opening; a film winding portion arranged to wind up the stretch film after said cutting means cuts the stretch film, a film transporting mechanism arranged to transport the stretch film; and a lift mechanism arranged to lift the tray such that the tray is pushed against the film that is transported by said film transporting mechanism said control means controlling said stretch mechanism to stretch the stretch film before the tray contacts the stretch film, and further controlling said stretch mechanism to reduce tension of the stretch film after the tray contacts the stretch film and before the stretch film is welded to the tray. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The top-seal wrapping device according to claim 13, wherein said stretch mechanism is arranged between a supply position of the stretch film and an end of a position at which said welding means welds the stretch means. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The top-seal wrapping device according to claim 14, further comprising detecting means arranged to detect an opening in the stretch film formed by the thermal cutting by said cutting means, said control means controlling said stretch mechanism such that said stretch mechanism stops operation on at least a portion of the stretch film including and neighboring to the opening detected by said detecting means. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The top-seal wrapping device according to claim 15, wherein said stretch mechanism has a plurality of film holding portions for holding the stretch film. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The top-seal wrapping device according to claim 16, wherein at least one of said plurality of film holding portions is set to have different holding forces from that of another of said plurality of film holding portions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The top-seal wrapping device according to claim 17, wherein said control means changes timing at which said plurality of film holding portions increases or reduces a tension of the stretch film based on the properties of at least one of the tray and the stretch film. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The top-seal wrapping device according to claim 18, wherein said stretch mechanism stretches the stretch film in at least one of a transporting direction of the stretch film and a width direction perpendicular to said transporting direction. ### Claim 20 A top-seal wrapping method for covering a top opening of a tray containing a wrapping target with a stretch film, welding the stretch film to a peripheral portion of the tray around the opening and thermally cutting the stretch film, comprising steps of: supplying a film by transporting the stretch film in a transporting direction to a position above the tray; welding the stretch film to the peripheral portion of the tray; stretching the stretch film in a direction crossing a direction in which the stretch film is transported at least before welding the stretch film to the tray; cutting the stretch film thermally at a cut portion; winding the remaining stretch film after the thermal cutting; and controllably stretching the remaining stretch film in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the stretch film is wound up. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The top-seal wrapping method according to claim 20, further comprising steps of adjusting a planar position of the tray; and lifting the tray against the stretch film; a heating body being brought into contact with a peripheral portion of the tray located around the opening and being in contact with the stretch film during said welding, and thereby welding the stretch film to the peripheral portion of the tray around the opening.