Ream of paper having heat sealable wrapper

Abstract

The wrapper for a ream of paper has an inner surface coated with polyethylene. When the wrapper is formed about a ream of paper, the inner layer overlaps and contacts the outer layer along a longitudinal seam. The polyethylene layer is used to create a seal with the application of heat. Areas of the inner surface in proximity to a heat source during the heat sealing process and where a seal will not be beneficial are covered with a heat shield, such as a varnish. In this way, damage to the paper is avoided. The varnish includes Styrenated Acrylic polymer, with Kaolin Clay and ink. The varnish is applied to the wrapper during the same manufacturing process as the polyethylene coating.

1 . A packaged ream of paper comprising:
 a plurality of pieces of paper stacked to form a ream of paper;   a wrapper extending from a first side to a second side and between an upper extent and a lower extent to form an outer surface and an inner surface dimensioned to wrap about the ream of paper and form an overlap area along at least a portion of the first side and second side;   a heat sealable polymer layer applied to at least a portion of the inner surface of the wrapper to secure the wrapper about the ream of paper when subjected to a predetermined temperature and predetermined pressure;   a primer layer applied to at least a portion of the outer surface of the wrapper to reduce at least one of the predetermined temperature and the predetermined pressure at which the heat sealable polymer layer forms a seal; and   a melt shield layer at least applied bordering at least a portion of the overlap area on the inner surface of the wrapper to restrict the heat sealable polymer layer from encountering the ream of paper and to protect the ream of paper from contact with molten heat sealable polymer layer when subjected to the predetermined temperature and the predetermined pressure applied to at least the overlap area to secure the wrapper about the ream of paper.   
   
   
       2 . The packaged ream of paper of  claim 1  wherein the melt shield is a includes at least one of varnish, Styrenated Acrylic polymer latex, Styrenated Acrylic polymer with Kaolin Clay, polyvinylidene chloride, silicone coating, and ink. 
   
   
       3 . The packaged ream of paper of  claim 1  wherein the primer layer is configured to reduce the predetermined pressure to less than 5 pounds/square inch (psi) and wherein the melt shield layer is configured to maintain structural stability when subjected to greater than 5 psi. 
   
   
       4 . The packaged ream of paper of  claim 1  wherein the primer layer is configured to reduce the predetermined temperature to less than 400 degrees F. and wherein the melt shied layer is configured to maintain structural stability when subjected to greater than 400 degrees F. 
   
   
       5 . The packaged ream of paper of  claim 1  wherein the primer layer includes polyethyleneimine (P.E.I.). 
   
   
       6 . The packaged ream of paper of  claim 1  wherein the heat sealable polymer is arranged along one of the first side and the second side of the wrapper and wherein the melt shield layer is applied over a portion of the heat sealable polymer to restrict the heat sealable polymer to a strip extending at an extremity of the one of the first side and the second side of the wrapper. 
   
   
       7 . The packaged ream of paper of  claim 1  wherein the heat sealable polymer layer includes a polyethylene layer. 
   
   
       8 . The packaged ream of paper of  claim 7  wherein the polyethylene layer includes low density polyethylene (LDPE). 
   
   
       9 . The packaged ream of paper of  claim 1  wherein the melt shield layer extends continuously between the upper extent and the lower extent along the overlap area. 
   
   
       10 . The packaged ream of paper of  claim 1  wherein the melt shield layer extends at least partially into the overlap area. 
   
   
       11 . The packaged ream of paper of  claim 1  wherein the heal sealable polymer layer extends over an entirety of the inner surface of the wrapper and the melt shield layer extends over the heat sealable polymer layer except along a lane extending within the overlap area on one of the first side and the second side of the wrapper. 
   
   
       12 . The packaged ream of paper of  claim 1  wherein the wrapper includes at least one paper and film.