Heat activated support system

Abstract

A method for packaging a plurality of particles in a flexible container begins by moving the particles through an opening of the flexible container to at least partially fill the flexible container. An expandable material is then disposed, in an unexpanded state, to at least a portion of the flexible container. Next, at least a portion of the expandable material is activated after the moving step has begun to expand the expandable material and increase the rigidity of the expandable material to stabilize the flexible container.

1 . A method for packaging a plurality of items in a flexible container comprising the steps of:
 moving the plurality of particles through an opening of the flexible container to at least partially fill the flexible container;   disposing an expandable material in an unexpanded state to at least a portion of the flexible container; and   activating at least a portion of the expandable material after the moving the plurality of particles has begun to expand the expandable material and to increase the rigidity of the expandable material for stabilizing the flexible container.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the activating step includes exposing the flexible container to an activating source after the moving a plurality of particles step has begun. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the activating source includes heat. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the activating source includes radio frequency radiation. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the activating source includes ultraviolet radiation. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the activating source includes ultrasonic radiation. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the activating source includes an electromagnetic field. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising the step of disposing the flexible container in a mold prior to or after the moving step and prior to the exposing step to control the shape of the flexible container during expansion of the expandable material. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the expandable material includes a plurality of ribs made of a polymeric material being expandable. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the flexible container comprises:
 front and rear panels extending vertically along an axis;   each of the front and rear panels having top edges and side edges and bottom edges; and   the top edges defining the opening and the bottom edges being sealed to each other defining a storage compartment extending radially between the panels and axially from the top opening to the bottom edges for storing the plurality of particles.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the disposing step includes the step of disposing a plurality of ribs on each of the front and rear panels with the ribs extending traversely between the side edges and being spaced in vertical relationship from one another. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the flexible container includes a generally column-like structure having walls extending vertically along an axis from a base to define the opening, the walls and the base defining a storage compartment for storing the plurality of particles therein. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of particles includes a food product. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the food product includes cereal. 
   
   
       15 . A method for packaging a plurality of items in a flexible container comprising the steps of:
 stacking a plurality of cartons together;   wrapping the cartons with a flexible film;   disposing an expandable material in an unexpanded state to at least a portion of the flexible film; and   activating at least a portion of the expandable material after the wrapping step has begun to expand the expandable material and to increase the rigidity of the expandable material for stabilizing the stack of cartons.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the activating step includes exposing the flexible film to an activating source after the moving a plurality of particles step has begun. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the activating source includes one of heat, radio frequency radiation, ultraviolet radiation, ultrasonic radiation, and electromagnetic field. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of disposing the flexible film in a mold prior to or after the moving step and prior to the exposing step to control the shape of the flexible film during expansion of the expandable material. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the expandable material includes a plurality of ribs made of a polymeric material being expandable.