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US 6,971,221 B2Granted
Packaging method and apparatus
AssigneeSealed Air Corporation
InventorsLaurence B. Sperry, Anthony O. Davlin, Eric A. Kane, Jesse S. Drake
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A packaging method and apparatus employ web material having cohesive on facing surfaces of two web portions between which an item is packaged. The cohesive adheres to itself by application of pressure alone, without heat, but tends not to adhere to other surfaces. The web portions are sealed together about the item by seal devices that apply pressure without heat to the web portions. The web portions and item can be passed through a resilient nip formed by two rolls, at least one of which has resiliently compliant roll portion(s) for pressing the web portions closely about the item.
Claims13
A method of packaging an item, comprising the steps of:
- positioning two web portions such that one face of one web portion faces one face of the other web portion;
- disposing an item between the web portions, the web portions being sized such that a marginal region of each of the web portions extends beyond all edges of the item;
- providing a layer of cohesive on the face of at least the marginal region of each of the web portions, the cohesive being sealable to itself by application of pressure alone;
- bringing the web portions together such that the cohesive on the marginal region of one of the web portions contacts the cohesive on the marginal region of the other web portion;
- and
- passing the web portions with the item therebetween through a nip formed by a pair of rolls, at least one of the rolls extending across the full width of the web portions and having a resiliently compliant roll portion that is radially compressed and deformed by the item passing through the nip, the resiliently compliant roll portion pressing the web portions to closely conform to the item and to adhere to each other around the item to form a package enclosing the item.
3 more elements
A method of packaging an item, comprising the steps of:
- positioning two web portions such that one face of one web portion faces one face of the other web portion;
- disposing an item between the web portions, the web portions being sized such that a marginal region of each of the web portions extends beyond all edges of the item;
- providing a layer of cohesive on the face of at least the marginal region of each of the web portions, the cohesive being sealable to itself by application of pressure alone;
- bringing the web portions together such that the cohesive on the marginal region of one of the web portions contacts the cohesive on the marginal region of the other web portion;
- and
- sealing the marginal regions of the web portions to each other at locations spaced transversely inward from opposite longitudinal edges of the web portions and spaced from and closely adjacent to opposite side edges of the item so as to substantially fix the item in position transversely and prevent the item from shifting toward either longitudinal edge of the web portions, the sealing step comprising forming non-contiguous first and second seals respectively adjacent the opposite side edges of the item, wherein each of the first and second seals is formed by pressing the web portions between a pair of contact members and longitudinally advancing the web portions while traversing the contact members transversely inward toward the item.
3 more elements
A method of packaging an item, comprising the steps of:
- positioning two web portions such that one face of one web portion faces one face of the other web portion;
- disposing an item between the web portions, the web portions being sized such that a marginal region of each of the web portions extends beyond all edges of the item;
- providing a layer of cohesive on the face of at least the marginal region of each of the web portions, the cohesive being sealable to itself by application of pressure alone;
- bringing the web portions together such that the cohesive on the marginal region of one of the web portions contacts the cohesive on the marginal region of the other web portion;
- applying pressure alone to at least the marginal regions of the web portions so as to seal the marginal regions together to enclose the item;
- determining a height of the item to be packaged;
- and
- severing the web portions along each of two transverse lines respectively spaced downstream and upstream of the item so as to produce a discrete package, wherein a spacing distance of each of the transverse lines from the item in a longitudinal direction thereof is a function of the height of the item.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.