# US 7,610,737 B2 · Continuous motion wrapping method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,610,737 B2 - Document ID: US7610737B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/507,904 - Filed: 2006-08-22 - Published: 2008-03-27 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-08-22 - Assignees: Valley Tissue Packaging, Inc. - Inventors: Lloyd Kovacs - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610737B2 ## CPC - B65B 61/10: using heated wires or cutters - B65B 9/067: the web advancing continuously (B65B9/08 takes precedence) - B65B 25/145: {packaging folded articles} - Y10T 83/0414: At localized area [e.g., line of separation] - Y10T 83/293: Of tool - 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) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method, system, and apparatus for separating products, such as napkins or rolls of paper, encased in a tube of continuously moving thermoplastic wrapping material into product units is disclosed. At predetermined intervals spaced products are fed into the tube at wrapper length intervals, and the tube is thermally cut at wrapper intervals to form individually girth wrapped articles. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of packaging products in a tubular thermoplastic material comprising: forming a moving tube of thermoplastic material from a web of said material; delivering spaced product units to be wrapped into the tube; and separating the spaced product units in the tube from one another with a heated cutting element that travels along a cutting path defining a horizontal velocity component of at least about 80 feet per minute the cutting path defining a first cutting segment and a second cutting segment that cross each other at a crossing point, wherein while traveling through a single cycle of the cutting path, the heated cutting element passes through the crossing point (i) once in a downward direction and (ii) once in an upward direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the heated cutting element is moveable in two mutually orthogonal directions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the step of separating the spaced product units from one another comprises moving the heated cutting element transversely through the tube and in the same direction of movement as the tube of thermoplastic material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the movement of the heated cutting element in the same direction of movement of the tube is at a velocity that matches the velocity of the movement of the tube. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the step of separating the spaced product units from the tube comprises making a first cut in the tube in a downward transverse motion and making a second cut in the tube in an upward transverse motion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the heated cutting element is mounted on at least one moveable carriage moveable in a first direction and said moveable carriage is mounted on at least one carriage arm moveable in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein a forming shoulder pull belt is provided for feeding the spaced product units within the tube, toward the cutting element, and the carriage arm is mounted on a support located adjacent the forming shoulder pull belt. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the spaced product units are at least one stack of napkins. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the spaced product units are at least one roll of paper product. ### Claim 10 A method of packaging products in a tubular thermoplastic material comprising: forming a moving tube of thermoplastic material from a web of said material; delivering spaced product units to be wrapped into the tube; and separating the spaced product units in the tube from one another with a heated cutting element; and moving the heated cutting element through a cutting path that defines, (i) a first cutting segment through which the heated cutting element moves downwardly through the tube; (ii) a second cutting segment that intersects and crosses through the first cutting segment, the heated cutting element moving upwardly through the tube while moving through the second cutting segment; (iii) a lower direction change segment connecting lower portions of the first and second cutting segments; and (iv) an upper direction change segment connecting upper portions of the first and second cutting segments. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the cutting path defines an upright figure-eight shape in which the lower and upper direction change segments extend arcuately between the first and second cutting segments. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the heated cutting element travels a greater horizontal distance while moving through the upper direction change segment than it does while moving through the lower direction change segment.