Method of operating a multiple container shrink wrapping machine having a printing arrangement to print on the shrink wrap material simultaneously while wrapping containers and a multiple container shrink wrapping machine therefor

Abstract

A method for the formation of containers and device for the performance of the method. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

1 . A method of operating a multiple container shrink wrapping machine configured to shrink wrap multiple containers into a shrink wrapped pack of containers, said multiple container shrink wrapping machine comprising: a buffer line and a divider unit being configured and disposed to form a pack comprising a plurality of containers; an arrangement to store shrink wrap film material with or without an imprint that has not yet been printed upon by said machine; a shrink wrapping station being configured and disposed to shrink wrap a plurality of containers with shrink wrap film material into a shrink wrapped pack; a printing arrangement configured to print on the shrink wrap film material simultaneously with the wrapping of the containers into a pack of containers; said printing arrangement comprising at least one printing unit disposed a substantial distance away from said shrink wrapping station; said at least one printing unit comprising at least one printhead; said printing unit being configured to print in at least one color; a supply arrangement configured to store the at least one color; a supply of shrink wrap film material with or without an imprint; and a control device being configured and disposed to control at least said printing arrangement; said control device comprising at least one of: printing templates and printing software stored electronically;
 said method comprising:   feeding said shrink wrap film material from said supply to said printing arrangement;   moving said shrink wrap film material through said printing arrangement while simultaneously printing at least one color on a predetermined portion of said shrink wrap material with said at least one printing unit to make a predetermined portion of printed shrink wrap film material;   forming a predetermined pack of a predetermined plurality of containers; and   wrapping said predetermined pack comprising said predetermined plurality of containers with said predetermined portion of printed shrink wrap film material to identify said predetermined pack of containers.   
     
     
         2 . A method of operating a multiple container shrink wrapping machine configured to shrink wrap multiple containers into a shrink wrapped pack of containers, said multiple container shrink wrapping machine comprising: an arrangement being configured and disposed to form a pack comprising a plurality of containers; an arrangement to store shrink wrap film material with or without an imprint that has not yet been printed upon by said machine; a shrink wrapping station being configured and disposed to shrink wrap a plurality of containers with shrink wrap film material into a shrink wrapped pack; a printing arrangement configured to print on the shrink wrap film material substantially simultaneously with the wrapping of a pack of containers; said printing arrangement comprising at least one printing unit disposed a distance away from said shrink wrapping station; said at least one printing unit comprising at least one printhead; said printing unit being configured to print in at least one color; a supply arrangement configured to store the at least one color; a supply of shrink wrap film material with or without an imprint; and a control device being configured and disposed to control at least said printing arrangement; said control device comprising at least one of: printing templates and printing software stored electronically;
 said method comprising:   feeding said shrink wrap film material from said supply to said printing arrangement;   moving said shrink wrap film material through said printing arrangement;   moving at least one of said shrink wrap film material and said at least one printhead with respect to one another while substantially simultaneously printing at least one color on a predetermined portion of said shrink wrap film material with said at least one printing unit to make a predetermined portion of printed shrink wrap film material;   forming a predetermined pack of a predetermined plurality of containers; and   wrapping said predetermined pack comprising said predetermined plurality of containers with said predetermined portion of printed shrink wrap film material to identify said predetermined pack of containers.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said step of moving at least one of said shrink wrap film material and said at least one printhead with respect to one another further comprises moving said shrink wrap film material with respect to said at least one printing unit. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein said at least one printhead comprises an electrostatic printhead;
 said electrostatic printhead comprising a plurality of individually activatable nozzles;   said individually activatable nozzles:
 being configured to control a dispensing of ink; and 
 being disposed in at least one row across the width of said shrink wrap film material. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 said at least one row is disposed:
 at a right angle with respect to at least one of:
 a longitudinal dimension or length of said shrink wrap film material; and 
 a direction of transport of said shrink wrap film material; 
 
 over at least a substantial portion of the width of said shrink wrap film material; and 
   said printing on said predetermined portion of said shrink wrap film material comprises printing in lines.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said moving at least one of said shrink wrap film material and said at least one printhead with respect to one another comprises moving at a right angle to the height of said at least one printhead. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said shrink wrap film material is disposed essentially horizontally during said printing. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one printhead is disposed above said shrink wrap film material. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least one printing unit comprises one of (A) and (B):
 (A) at least two printheads; and   (B) at least three printheads.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein each printhead is configured to print one color. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 :
 wherein said method further comprises drying and setting said predetermined portion of said printed shrink wrap film material by applying at least one of: energy, heat, and ultraviolet light to said predetermined portion of said printed shrink wrap film material;   wherein said method further comprises at least one of (C) and (D):
 (C) heating said shrink wrap film material before said printing; and 
 (D) statically charging said shrink wrap film material before said printing; 
   said multiple container shrink wrapping machine including a cutting station, wherein said method further comprises cutting and separating said predetermined portion of printed shrink wrap film material from said shrink wrap film material;   wherein said cutting and separating taking place before said printing;   wherein said method further comprises:
 applying heat to said predetermined pack; and 
 shrinking said predetermined portion of said printed shrink wrap film material; and 
   wherein said predetermined portion of printed shrink wrap film material is modified at least partially during said wrapping of said predetermined pack.   
     
     
         12 . A multiple container shrink wrapping machine configured to shrink wrap multiple containers into a shrink wrapped pack of containers, said multiple container shrink wrapping machine comprising:
 a packing arrangement being configured and disposed to form a pack comprising a plurality of containers;   a storage arrangement being configured to store shrink wrap film material with or without an imprint that has not yet been printed upon by said multiple container shrink wrapping machine;   a shrink wrapping station being configured and disposed to shrink wrap a plurality of containers with shrink wrap film material into a shrink wrapped pack;   a printing arrangement being configured to print on the shrink wrap film material substantially simultaneously with the wrapping of packs of containers;   said printing arrangement comprising:
 at least one printing unit being disposed a distance away from said shrink wrapping station; 
 said at least one printing unit:
 comprising at least one printhead; and 
 being configured to print in at least one color; 
 
   a supply arrangement being configured to store the at least one color;   a control device being configured and disposed to control at least said printing arrangement;   said control device comprising at least one of:
 printing templates; and 
 printing software stored electronically; and 
   a moving arrangement being configured and disposed to move at least one of the shrink wrap film material and said at least one printhead with respect to one another while substantially simultaneously printing at least one color on a predetermined portion of the shrink wrap film material with at least one printing unit to make a predetermined portion of printed shrink wrap film material.   
     
     
         13 . The multiple container shrink wrapping machine according to  claim 12 , wherein said moving arrangement being configured and disposed to move at least one of the shrink wrap film material and said at least one printhead with respect to one another while substantially simultaneously printing is configured to move said shrink wrap film material with respect to said at least one printing unit. 
     
     
         14 . The multiple container shrink wrapping machine according to  claim 13 , wherein said at least one printhead comprises an electrostatic printhead;
 said electrostatic printhead comprising a plurality of individually activatable nozzles;   said individually activatable nozzles:
 being configured and disposed to control a dispensing of ink; and 
 also being disposed in at least one row across the width of the shrink wrap film material. 
   
     
     
         15 . The multiple container shrink wrapping machine according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 said at least one row is disposed:
 at a right angle with respect to at least one of:
 a longitudinal dimension or length of the shrink wrap film material; and 
 a direction of transport of the shrink wrap film material; and 
 
 over at least a substantial portion of the width of the shrink wrap film material. 
   
     
     
         16 . The multiple container shrink wrapping machine according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 said at least one printhead comprises a height; and   said moving arrangement machine is configured to move the shrink wrap film material and said at least one printhead with respect to one another at a right angle to the height of said at least one printhead.   
     
     
         17 . The multiple container shrink wrapping machine according to  claim 16  including guiding elements configured to guide the shrink wrap film material, said guiding elements being configured to dispose the shrink wrap film material essentially horizontally during printing. 
     
     
         18 . The multiple container shrink wrapping machine according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 said at least one printhead is configured to be disposed above the shrink wrap film material during printing; and   said at least one printing unit comprises one of (A) and (B):
 (A) at least two printheads; and 
 (B) at least three printheads. 
   
     
     
         19 . The multiple container shrink wrapping machine according to  claim 18 , wherein each printhead is configured to print in one color. 
     
     
         20 . The multiple container shrink wrapping machine according to  claim 19 ,
 including a drying station being configured to dry and set the predetermined portion of the printed shrink wrap film material by being configured to apply at least one of: energy, heat, and ultraviolet light to the predetermined portion of the printed shrink wrap film material;   including a heater being configured to heat the shrink wrap film material before printing and a static charging arrangement configured to statically charge the shrink wrap film material before printing;   including a cutting station being configured to cut and separate a predetermined portion of printed shrink wrap film material from the shrink wrap film material and said cutting station is also configured to cut the shrink wrap film material and separate the cut shrink wrap film material before wrapping;   including a pack heater being configured to apply heat to a predetermined pack and shrink the predetermined portion of printed shrink wrap film material; and   a wrapping modifier being configured to modify, at least partially, the predetermined portion of printed shrink wrap film material while wrapping a predetermined pack.