Multi-stage heater plates for sealing and shrinking overwrap

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.

1 . 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.    
   
   
       2 . The heating plate according to  claim 1 , wherein heat is supplied to the heating plate using multiple heating devices.  
   
   
       3 . The heating plate according to  claim 2 , wherein heat is supplied to the heating plate by at least two independently controlled heating devices.  
   
   
       4 . The heating plate according to  claim 3 , wherein the heating devices are maintained at a temperature of between about 140° C. and 170° C.  
   
   
       5 . The heating plate according to  claim 3 , wherein the heating devices are maintained at a temperature of about 150° C.  
   
   
       6 . The heating plate according to  claim 2 , wherein heat is supplied to the heating plate using at least four independently controlled heating devices.  
   
   
       7 . The heating plate according to  claim 6 , wherein two of the independently controlled heating devices are maintained at a temperature of between about 140° C. and 160° C. and two of the independently controlled heating devices are maintained at a temperature of between about 160° C. and 180° C.  
   
   
       8 . The heating plate according to  claim 6 , wherein two of the independently controlled heating devices are located on a portion of the heating plate directly opposite the first stage and second stage and are maintained at a temperature of 150° C., and two of the independently controlled heating devices are located on a portion of the heating plate directly opposite from the third stage and fourth stage and are maintained at a temperature of 170° C.  
   
   
       9 . The heating plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the third recessed areas in the fourth stage have a first recessed portion and a second recessed portion, wherein the second recessed portion is recessed further than the first recessed portion and, wherein the second recessed portion is rectangular shaped.  
   
   
       10 . The heating plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the first stage preheats wrappings around the packages, the second stage activates adhesive along edges of wrappings, the third stage seals wrappings around packages, and the fourth stage shrinks wrappings around packages.  
   
   
       11 . The heating plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the first stage, the first non-recessed areas, the second non-recessed areas, and the third non-recessed areas all lie in the same plane.  
   
   
       12 . 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.    
   
   
       13 . A heating apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the set of cigarette packs contacts multiple areas of the multiple stage heating plate as the set of cigarette packs is linearly advanced through the heating area.  
   
   
       14 . The heating apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein each occurrence of contact between the set of cigarette packs and the multiple stage heating plate corresponds to a heating stage.  
   
   
       15 . A heating apparatus according to  claim 12  further comprising a loading passage through which sets of packs are advanced into the heating area.  
   
   
       16 . A heating apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the first reciprocating device comprises a reciprocating arm body, a pivotable lever arm, and a spring mechanism.  
   
   
       17 . 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.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the four heating stages are on one heating plate.  
   
   
       19 . A cigarette pack sealed according to the method of  claim 17 .  
   
   
       20 . A cigarette pack sealed by the apparatus of  claim 12 .  
   
   
       21 . 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.    
   
   
       22 . The heating plate according to  claim 21 , wherein the heating plate comprises at least three of the stages.  
   
   
       23 . The heating plate according to  claim 21 , wherein the heating plate comprises the first stage, the second stage, the third stage and the fourth stage.  
   
   
       24 . The heating plate according to  claim 21 , wherein heat is supplied to the heating plate by at least two independently controlled heating devices.  
   
   
       25 . The heating plate according to  claim 24 , wherein the heating devices are maintained at a temperature of between about 140° C. and 170° C.  
   
   
       26 . The heating plate according to  claim 25 , wherein the heating devices are maintained at a temperature of about 150° C.  
   
   
       27 . The heating plate according to  claim 21 , wherein heat is supplied to the heating plate using at least four independently controlled heating devices.  
   
   
       28 . The heating plate according to  claim 27 , wherein two of the independent heating devices are located on a portion of the heating plate directly opposite the first stage and second stage and maintained at a temperature of between about 140° C. and 160° C., and two of the independent heating devices are located on a portion of the heating plate directly opposite from the third stage and fourth stage and are maintained at a temperature of about 160° C. and 180° C.  
   
   
       29 . The heating plate according to  claim 28 , wherein the two independent heating devices located on the portion of the heating plate directly opposite the first stage and second stage are maintained at a temperature of 150° C., and the two independent heating devices located on the portion of the heating plate directly opposite the third stage and fourth stage are maintained at a temperature of 170° C.  
   
   
       30 . The heating plate according to  claim 21 , wherein the first stage preheats wrapping around a package, the second stage activates adhesive along edges of the wrapping, the third stage seals the wrapping around the package, and the fourth stage shrinks the wrapping around the package.  
   
   
       31 . The heating plate according to  claim 21 , wherein the first stage, the first non-recessed areas, the second non-recessed areas, and the third non-recessed areas all lie in the same plane.  
   
   
       32 . 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.    
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the four heating stages are on one heating plate.  
   
   
       34 . A cigarette package sealed according to the method of  claim 32 .  
   
   
       35 . A cigarette package sealed by the heating plate of  claim 21 .  
   
   
       36 . 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.    
   
   
       37 . The heating plate according to  claim 36 , wherein the heating plate comprises at least three of the stages.  
   
   
       38 . The heating plate according to  claim 36 , wherein the heating plate comprises the first stage, the second stage, the third stage and the fourth stage.