Coreless flexible film packaging system and coreless containment package therefor

Abstract

A coreless flexible film packaging system is disclosed. The system includes: (i) a containment cylinder including a cylindrical wall defining first and second cylinder end apertures and an interior film containment area; (ii) a film feed slot in the cylindrical wall extending longitudinally along the containment cylinder; and (iii) a supply of flexible film wound about itself to form a film roll having a central cylindrical cavity, said roll including a leading end and a terminal end and contained within the interior film containment area. A coreless containment package and a method for packaging a flexible film are also described.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A coreless flexible film packaging system, said system comprising:
 (i) a containment cylinder comprising a cylindrical wall with an outer surface, said cylindrical wall defining first and second cylinder end apertures and an interior film containment area;   (ii) a film feed slot in said cylindrical wall extending longitudinally along said containment cylinder; and   (iii) a supply of flexible film wound about itself to form a film roll having a central cylindrical cavity, said film roll comprising a leading end and a terminal end and contained within said interior film containment area.   
     
     
         2 . The coreless flexible film packaging system of  claim 1  wherein said flexible film is self-winding. 
     
     
         3 . The coreless flexible film packaging system of  claim 1  wherein said central cylindrical cavity is lined by said film. 
     
     
         4 . The coreless flexible film packaging system of  claim 1  further comprising a seal strip affixed to said containment cylinder at said outer surface. 
     
     
         5 . The coreless flexible film packaging system of  claim 4  wherein said seal strip is adjacent to said film feed slot. 
     
     
         6 . The coreless flexible film packaging system of  claim 4  wherein said terminal end of said supply of said flexible film is affixed to said seal strip. 
     
     
         7 . The coreless flexible film packaging system of  claim 1  further comprising caps at each of said first and second end apertures. 
     
     
         8 . The coreless flexible film packaging system of  claim 7  wherein at least one if said caps is substantially transparent. 
     
     
         9 . A coreless containment package for containing a supply of flexible film comprising a leading end and a terminal end and wound about itself to form a film roll having a central cylindrical cavity, said package comprising:
 (i) a containment cylinder for containing said film roll, said cylinder comprising a cylindrical wall with an outer surface, said cylindrical wall defining first and second cylinder end apertures; and   (ii) a film feed slot in said cylindrical wall extending longitudinally along said containment cylinder.   
     
     
         10 . The coreless containment package of  claim 9  further comprising a seal strip affixed to said containment cylinder at said outer surface. 
     
     
         11 . The coreless containment package of  claim 10  wherein said seal strip is adjacent to said film feed slot. 
     
     
         12 . The coreless containment package of  claim 10  wherein said terminal end of said supply of said flexible film is affixed to said seal strip. 
     
     
         13 . The coreless containment package of  claim 9  further comprising caps at each of said first and second end apertures. 
     
     
         14 . The coreless containment package of  claim 13  wherein at least one of said caps is substantially transparent. 
     
     
         15 . The coreless containment package of  claim 9  wherein said central cylindrical cavity is lined by said film. 
     
     
         16 . A method for packaging a flexible film, said method comprising:
 (i) providing a containment cylinder, said cylinder comprising a cylindrical wall with an outer surface and a film feed slot in said cylindrical wall extending longitudinally along said containment cylinder, said cylindrical wall defining first and second cylinder end apertures and an interior film containment area;   (ii) feeding said flexible film into said interior film containment area through said film feed slot; and   (iii) winding said flexible film about itself to form a roll having a central cylindrical cavity lined by said film, said roll contained within said interior film containment area.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said winding step includes
 (a) removably inserting a rotating perforated axle into said interior film containment area; and 
 (b) removably attaching said leading end of said flexible film to said axle. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said removably attaching step (b) includes applying vacuum to said flexible film. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising releasing said vacuum and optionally applying pressure to said flexible film at the conclusion of said winding step. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising removing said perforated axle from said interior film containment area at the conclusion of said winding step.