Heat shrink packaging system and method

[0001] The present invention relates to heat shrink packaging systems that comprise a flexible wall heat shrink container or wrapper and a heat shrink label that can be applied to the container or wrap before shrinking. The invention also relates to methods of using packaging and labeling systems.

Background Art [0002] Flexible wall shrink containers, such as bags or pouches, and shrink wraps have been widely used for packaging and / or hermetically closing a wide range of goods. The main application of containers or shrink wrap is packaging of perishable food products such as red meats and poultry. Usually the food product is placed inside the heat shrink bag, air is removed or otherwise evacuated from the inside of the bag, the bag is sealed and the bag is then subjected to rapid heating to cause the bag to shrink around the contents of the bag, e.g. a food product. After packaging and shrinking, one or more paper or foil labels are then applied to the outside of the bag as needed to convey information such as bag contents, weight, expiration date, supplier, etc. As an alternative to or in addition to applying paper or foil labels, known it is also printed directly on the outside of the bag after shrinking.

[0003] The application of paper or foil labels or printing on the outside of a shrunken bag or other container with flexible walls is difficult and presents numerous problems. After shrinking, the bag or flexible wall container typically has an irregular contour corresponding to the contents of the bag or container. It is obvious that applying and maintaining labels on irregular, non-flat surfaces is a challenge and may require specific application techniques and adhesives or fixing strategies.

Printing on irregular, non-flat surfaces is also particularly difficult.

[0004] In view of these and other issues, it would be desirable to obtain a packaging system and a method in which labeling or printing can be avoided after shrinking the package, where at the same time the information requested and similar items could be placed outside the package.

Summary of the Invention [0005] Difficulties and disadvantages associated with previously known systems are solved in the present methods and methods of a packaging system having heat-shrinkable components matched to each other.

[0006] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for labeling and packaging a product. The method includes providing heat-shrinkable material and heat-shrink label. The method also includes applying the label to the heat-shrinkable material. The method further includes surrounding the article to be packaged with heat-shrinkable material having the heat-shrink label applied thereto. And the method includes shrinking both the heat shrink material and heat shrink label around the product to thus package the product.

[0007] In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for labeling and packaging a product. The method comprises obtaining a heat-shrinkable container with flexible walls defining the interior area and the outer surface. The method also includes applying a heat shrink label to the outer surface of the container with flexible walls. The method further includes placing the product within the interior of the container with flexible walls and emptying the interior of the container with flexible walls. And the method also includes shrinking both the flexible wall container and the label applied to the container.

[0008] In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of making a packaging system comprising, providing a flexible wall shrink container having a first set of shrink features and providing a heat shrink label having a second set of shrink features. The method also includes matching the first set of shrinkage features of the container with flexible walls to the second set of shrinkage features of the label such that after attaching the label to the container with flexible walls, and simultaneously shrinking the container with flexible walls and both container and label the flexible walls and label shrink to the same extent.

[0009] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a packaging system that comprises a heat-shrinkable container, with thin walls, or a wrapper having a first set of shrinking features. The packaging system also includes a heat shrink label having a second set of shrinkage features. The first set of shrinkage features and the second set of shrinkage features are matched.

[0010] In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for labeling and packaging a product. The method includes providing heat-shrinkable material and heat-shrink label. The method also includes applying the label to the heat-shrinkable material. The method further comprises forming at least one of the label and heat shrink material to thereby change their shape. The method further includes surrounding the article to be packaged with heat-shrinkable material having a heat-shrink label applied thereto. And the method includes shrinking of both heat-shrinkable material and heat-shrink labels around the product to thus mark and package the product.

[0011] It will be appreciated that the invention is able to create other and various embodiments and its various details may be modified in various aspects without departing from the present invention.

Accordingly, the drawings and description should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0012] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of a packaging system in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment of the process in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention and (ii) or Other [0013] Preferably, the present invention provides a packaging system that comprises (i) a heat shrinkable container with flexible walls or a curl, a heat shrink label, a laminate label assembly. The heat-shrinkable label or laminate and / or heat-shrinkable container with flexible walls or curl has heat-shrinkable properties that are matched to each other. In this way, the label can be applied to a container with flexible walls or curled before shrinking. After the label has been attached, the resulting container assembly or is simultaneously subjected

Preferably, the properties of the shrink container with flexible walls or curl and (ii) the shrink label or laminate correspond to, or essentially correspond to, that when subjecting components (i) and (ii) to an operation that includes shrinkage, components (i) and ( ii) shrink at similar levels and / or pace. This ensures that shrinking does not cause excessive stress or physical deformation in elements (i) and / or (ii), and promotes close stopping and contact between elements (i) and (ii). The heat shrink wrap and the flexible wall shrink container having labels applied to them can be subjected to one or more operations to achieve specific types of shrinkage, such as skin wrap (known as "skinpackaging" and shrink label).

state of the art heat shrink and special shrinking in the tunnel, also known from the state of the art. Although the various components are generally described as "heat shrinkable" and thus shrinking when sufficiently heated, it is obvious that the components and materials can also be shrunk by other strategies and thus do not necessarily require heating to effect or induce shrinkage . Additional details and aspects of preferred embodiments of systems and methods are set forth herein.

by

Heat-shrinkable container with flexible walls or curl.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the packaging systems, a wide range of flexible wall containers, wrappers, films and / or laminates can be used. The flexible wall heat-shrinkable container or wrapper preferably comprises a biaxially oriented heat-shrinkable film. Biaxially oriented heat-shrinkable films are usually produced by extruding or co-extruding polymers from the melt into a thick film, followed by rapid quenching and by orienting the thick film under elevated temperature conditions, where the molecular orientation of the film and the film heating the orientation occurs.

At the next next close temperature does not tear. at temperature, the film will tend to shrink, trying to regain its original size.

Biaxially oriented heat-shrinkable films can be obtained by extruding or co-extruding the polymer (s) through a round matrix, resulting in a thick tubular film usually referred to as a "tape", which is also and quickly quenched by means of a cascade bath, usually to a temperature close to ambient temperature. The strip is then heated at an orientation temperature and biaxially stretched, being immediately aqueous or at this temperature, for example using the so-called "trapped bubble" technique, which uses internal gas pressure to expand the diameter of the strip to create a large " bubble "and moves the expanded pipe at a faster rate than the extrusion rate, in order to obtain the right orientation in the machine direction transverse and in the machine direction. Usually, the stretchability is at least about 3 times in each direction. The film is then cooled and wound in a cooled state to maintain the heat-shrinkable property. The orientation temperature range usually depends on the type of polymers used. The orientation temperature used to produce the heat-shrinkable films is in any case lower than the melting temperature of at least one polymer present in the film. Alternatively, biaxially oriented heat-shrinkable films can be obtained by extruding polymers through a flat matrix in the form of a sheet, and after a hardening step, heating the sheet to an orientation temperature and stretching the sheet. Longitudinal orientation is obtained generally by passing the sheet over at least two series of pull rollers, where the second set runs at a higher speed than the first set. Transverse orientation is usually done on an expander, where the edges of the sheet are gripped by clamps carried by two continuous chains running on two tracks, which expand as they progress. In the alternative to sequential stretching, i.e. either first longitudinal stretching and then lateral stretching or vice versa, stretching can be performed simultaneously in both directions. The stretched film is then cooled and rolled up as mentioned. Also, when orienting with a dilator, the stretch is usually at least about 3 times in each direction, but higher rates are common.

[0015] Films used in flexible wall heat-shrinkable containers or packaging, used in preferred embodiments of packaging systems typically comprise multiple layers, with different layers providing the films with the required physical and mechanical properties. Generally, the films used for making heat-shrinkable bags of preferred packaging systems have a total thickness of up to about 150 pm, preferably up to about 100 pm and even more preferably up to about 95 pm. Typically, the films have a thickness of from about 25 to about 150 pm, preferably from about 35 to about 100 pm and even more preferably from about 35 to about 95 pm.

[0016] Generally, a heat-shrinkable flexible wall container or wrapper shrinks from about 1% to about 40%, more preferably from about 20% to about 40%, more preferably from about 25% to about 35%, and more preferably from about 30 % to about 35%, in the longitudinal direction, and from about 1% to about 50%, more preferably from about 20% to about 50%, more preferably from about 30% to about 45%, and more preferably from about 38% to about 45%, in the transverse direction, when heated at 85 ° C. However, it is obvious that the invention is not limited in any way to these specific ranges of shrinking. These shrink ranges are periodically referred to herein as shrink properties associated with a preferred embodiment of containers with flexible walls or wrappers.

[0017] Details of preferred temperatures and techniques for shrinking are described in detail herein in connection with descriptions of preferred embodiments.

[0018] Flexible wall containers or wrappers typically have a multilayer structure comprising a gas barrier layer, such as, for example, a layer comprising PVDC, EVOH, polyamide or co-polyamide, etc., as is known in the art. Other layers may be present. to provide the structure with the thickness and required mechanical properties. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene, polyester and polyolefin shrink film families provide a wide range of physical properties and film performance. The properties of the film play an important role in the selection of a specific film and may differ for each type of packaging application. Polyolefins have been most successful in applications where medium to high shrinkage strengths are preferred. Polyolefin films are also used in automatic shrink wrapping machines at high speeds, where shrinkage and sealing temperature are more accurately controlled. Polyolefin films are particularly suitable for this application because polyolefin films appear to be cleaner, leave less deposits and less residue, which extends the life of the equipment as well as reduces the maintenance of the equipment. Polystyrene may also be preferred for many applications.

[0019] In packaging applications for processed meat products, poultry, fresh red meat, cheeses and the like, the following layer assemblies are particularly preferred for shrink material, supplied both in the form of a flexible wall container and in the form of a curl, web, stock or sheet. Preferably, a multi-layer film assembly comprising at least a thermoplastic resin layer, as the outermost layer (A), a gas barrier resin layer, as the core layer (B), and a sealing resin layer, as the innermost layer (C), and optionally a layer adhesive between the individual layers. The sealing resin layer, the innermost layer (C), is a layer made of a material (a) in the form of a resin, comprising a linear ethylene-1-octene copolymer (b) and having a 1 octene content ranging from about 1% by weight to about 20% by weight, and a density of about 0.885 g / cm3³ up to about 0.960 g / cm³. The intermediate layer (D) formed of at least one resin selected from the group consisting of polyamide resins, thermoplastic polyester resins and ethylene copolymer resins is located between the outermost layer (A) and the core layer (B) of at least resins

The intermediate layer (D) may also contain one resin selected from the group consisting of polyamide, thermoplastic polyester resins and ethylene copolymer resins, and may also be between the core layer (B) and the innermost layer (C).

[0020] The resin material (a) forming the sealing resin layer of the innermost layer (C) may preferably be a resin material containing from 10 to 100% by weight of ethylene-1-octene copolymer and (b) and from 0 to 90% by weight of at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), very low density polyethylene (VLDPE) and ethylene-1-octene copolymer elastomers having a 1-octene content of 18% by weight or higher, and a density of 0.885 g / cm³ or lower.

[0021] The thermoplastic resin forming the outermost layer (A) may preferably be at least one resin selected from the group consisting of polyolefin resins such as linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), very low density polyethylene (VLDPE); thermoplastic polyester resins such as copolyester (Co-PET); polyamide resins such as aliphatic nylon and aromatic nylon; and ethylene-1-octene copolymer (b). In particular, when the ethylene-1-octene copolymer layer (b) is also used as the outermost layer (A), a multilayer heat-shrinkable film is obtained with sealing, mechanical, excellent sliding properties.

having excellent cleanliness and strength, blocking resistance and details

Additional of this more preferably construction and materials are found in US Patent 6,146,726 and its European equivalent EP 0810087.

[0022] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that a flexible wall container may have different shapes and may have rounded, straight or irregular edges, one or more of which are usually welded. Bags or pouches usually contain one or two factory seals and one or two folded edges. One edge, an open outlet of the bag, adapted to insert a product, is preferably sealed after inserting the product into the bag. In addition, the invention includes the use of a single or multi-layer heat shrink wrap. In this version of the invention, the fold is not formed into a package, bag or pouch configuration. Instead, fold it into a sheet or roll. In use, the curl is placed around the product or product to be packaged and then sealed or otherwise secured around the product.

Shrink label [0023] A preferred embodiment of the shrink label or label assembly may have a number of different forms and configurations. Preferably, the heat-shrinkable label comprises a heat-shrinkable film layer and an adhesive layer for attaching the label to a substrate, such as the above-mentioned heat-shrinkable container or a wrapper. The label assembly may also include a separation layer covering the otherwise exposed surface of the adhesive layer. And the label assembly may further comprise a surface or outer layer having suitable properties for receiving inks or other decorative layers. The label assembly may additionally include strength layers if required by the specific application.

[0024] As previously explained herein, the ability of the film to shrink when exposed to heat is due to the orientation of the film during manufacture. During the production of the films, the films are usually heated to a range of their orientation temperature, which varies depending on the specific polymers used for the films, but is usually higher than room temperature and lower than the melting point of the polymer. The film is then stretched either sequentially or simultaneously in the longitudinal direction or in the machine direction (MD) and in the transverse direction or in the machine direction transverse (TD) to orient the film, if necessary. After stretching, the film is rapidly cooled, thus freezing the film in its bi-directionally oriented state. During heating, the orientation stress loosens and the film begins to shrink back to its original unoriented size.

[0025] Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene, polyester and polyolefin shrink film families provide a wide range of physical properties and film performance. The properties of the film play an important role when choosing a specific film and may vary for each type of packaging application.

[0026] As previously noted, polyolefins have been most successful in applications where medium to high shrinkage strengths are preferred. Polyolefin films are also used in automatic shrink wrapping machines at high speeds, where shrinkage and sealing temperature are more accurately controlled. Polyolefin films are particularly suitable for this application because polyolefin films appear to be cleaner, leave less deposits and less residue, which extends the life of the equipment as well as reduces the maintenance of the equipment. However, it is believed that for many applications, especially packaging of foodstuffs or food products, polystyrene may be preferred.

[0027] The heat-shrinkable label or label assembly typically comprises a plurality of layers and uses a variety of different films, depending on the required physical and mechanical properties. Generally labels have an overall thickness of up to about 100 pm and preferably from about 20 pm to about 90 pm.

[0028] The label or label assembly includes a film that shrinks from about 1% to about 40%, more preferably from about 20% to about 40%, more preferably from about 25% to about 35%, and more preferably from about 30 % to about 35%, in the longitudinal direction, and from about 1% to about 50%, more preferably from about 20% to about 50%, more preferably from about 30% to about 45%, and more preferably from about 38% to about 45%, laterally, when heated at 85 ° C. However, it is obvious that the invention is not limited in any way to these specific ranges of shrinking. These shrink ranges are periodically referred to herein as shrink properties related to the preferred embodiment of the labels.

[0029] Details of preferred temperatures for performing shrinking are described in detail herein in connection with descriptions of preferred embodiments.

[0030] Labels the next steps to metallize either decorative or with containers.

heat shrink can be processed such as printing, lamination to get labels with an aesthetic appearance for use on [0031] As previously noted, the heat shrink label or label assembly includes an adhesive layer along its bottom for attaching the label to an area of ​​a flexible wall container. As described in more detail herein, the label is applied before shrinking and is applied to a container with a flexible wall before the element shrinks. After the adhesive is attached to the label with a flexible wall container, the two components are simultaneously or substantially simultaneously subjected to one or more shrinking operations. It is obvious that operations that cause shrinkage usually involve heating and may also include the use of steam and / or hot water. Accordingly, the chosen adhesive should exhibit good performance and stability at elevated temperatures and when exposed to high humidity and / or liquid water.

[0032]

A wide range of adhesives can be used. Although not necessary, it is preferred that the label has an effective amount of adhesive and is disposed along the bottom of the label assembly. In many applications, it is preferable to use an adhesive, and more particularly an acrylic emulsion adhesive exhibiting relatively high waterproof properties. However, it is obvious that the invention is in no way limited to such adhesives. Conversely, it is believed that the packaging systems of the present invention and in particular label assemblies may use other adhesives and adhesive systems.

[0033] Preferred pressure sensitive emulsion adhesives are based on a first polymer emulsion that contains, in weight percent, from about 95% to about 97.5% by weight of the total of at least one acrylic acid alkyl ester from about 1 up to about 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl group. Useful alkyl acrylates include n-butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, isooctyl acrylate and the like. Butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and mixtures thereof are preferred. Butyl acrylate is most preferred.

[0034] The second monomer component is one or more αβ unsaturated carboxylic acid present in a total amount of at least about 2.5% by weight, preferably from about 2.5% to about 5% by weight.

[0035] The unsaturated carboxylic acid may contain from about 3 to about 5 carbon atoms and contains, among others, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid and the like. Mixtures of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid are preferred, in appropriate weight proportions from about 1: 1 to about 1: 3, preferably from about 1: 1 to about 1: 2. Additional details of preferred adhesives can be found in one or more of US Patent 5,499,950; 5,563,205; 5,264,532; and 5,164,444.

[0036] Preferably, the shrink properties of the heat-shrinkable label and the flexible-wall heat-shrinkable container or wrapper are matched or "matched" such that, after being subjected to shrinking, the label and container exhibit similar degrees and / or shrinkage rates. The term "matched" as used herein refers to selecting or otherwise designing a label to obtain equivalent shrinking properties like a flexible wall shrink container or wrapper so that when components are simultaneously subjected to shrinking operations, no excessive stress or deformation of the material that causes interruption is caused. along the contact surface between the components. In this way, wrinkles, flaking or distortion are not displayed on the label or in the areas of the manufacturing or heat-shrinkable container to make the flexible walls near the label. The term matched "also refers to the selection, manufacture or otherwise design of flexible walls equivalent to heat shrink properties or curl container shrinking to obtain as heat shrink labels. And the term "tailored" also refers to the selection, manufacture or other design of both a heat shrinkable container with flexible walls or curl and a heat shrink label to achieve equivalent shrink properties. More specifically, the term "matched" refers to one component of the packaging system, i.e. a container with flexible walls or a label, to show a degree of shrinkage that is from about 90% to about 110% of the degree of shrinkage of the other component. For example, in the case of a biaxially oriented, heat-shrinkable container with flexible walls that has a shrinkage of 30% in the longitudinal direction and about 32% in the transverse direction, the heat-shrinkable label is matched by choosing the label and choosing materials to use in it, that the label is biaxially oriented and has a shrinkage of about 27% to about 33% in the longitudinal direction and a shrinkage of about 28.8% to about 35.2% in the transverse direction. More preferably, contractions of the components are in the range of 95% to 105% relative to each other, more preferably in the range of 98% to 102% relative to each other, and most preferably are about 100% or equivalent to each other.

the present invention is not related to any heavy wall or heat shrink connections. Thus, comfortably characterized by designing these elements, that their degrees of shrinkage also includes systems that are balanced with forces [0037] It is obvious that limited to, or resist, the particular phenomenon of a heat-shrinkable container curl and label, although the invention may be as a choice and / or the components relative to each other so fit together, in which the forces of contraction of the bond are invented. For example, it is obvious that the invention includes a system of a heat-shrinkable container with flexible walls and a heat-shrinkable label having properties such that when joining the label with the flexible-walled container and shrinking of both components, wrinkles, flaking or distortion on the label or in the areas are not exposed. a container with flexible walls near the label, because the shrinking forces associated with the flexible wall container and label are balanced with the binding forces between these components.

Packaging system [0038] The present invention also includes a packaging system that comprises the aforementioned flexible wall shrink container or curl, and a heat shrink label assembly. These two components may be provided in combination with each other to an end user such as a food processor, packaging unit or other end user. The packaging system will find wide application in various industries as illustrated by the following description regarding its use and related methods.

Methods [0039] The present invention provides a wide range of methods and processes for packaging products using the systems described herein. A generally preferred embodiment of the method includes obtaining a flexible wall shrink container having the appropriate size, configuration, and properties for (container) removal of the container, product (s) to be packaged, or placing it therein. One or more heat-shrink labels or other laminated assemblies described herein are appropriately selected and / or fitted and applied to a flexible wall container, if desired. Usually, effective amounts of glue are used to stick the label to the outside of the container. The container labeled is then filled or otherwise combined with the product intended to be placed in it. After air and / or liquid from inside, the container is sealed. Although welding is usually used, other sealing methods such as adhesive sealing can be used, and / or Ultrasonic mechanical sealing techniques can usually be used. an air removal operation conventionally called vacuum packaging. The sealed, labeled container with flexible walls containing the product (s) of interest is then subjected to one or more operations to simultaneously shrink both the container with flexible walls and the label. Typically, shrinkage can be obtained by exposure to elevated temperatures, such as temperatures from about 70 ° C to about 99 ° C, and preferably from about 85 ° C to about 92 ° C, for a period of time from about 0.1 second to 5 or more seconds and preferably from about 1.5 seconds to 2 seconds. It is clear that the invention is in no way limited to these specific temperatures and / or times. Conversely, it is obvious that, depending on the materials used in the flexible shrink container and shrink label, temperatures lower than 70 ° C or higher than 99 ° C can be used to shrink these components. In addition, exposure times different from the given preferred range can be used. In addition, a wide range of heating strategies can be used to induce shrinkage, and thus the invention is in no way limited to heating by exposure to steam or hot water. For example, exposure to hot air or other gas flows may be used. And you can use various process equipment or operations to perform shrinking, such as steam tunnels, hot liquid containers, etc.

[0040] In addition, it is also evident that the method of labeling and packaging an object or other article (s) can use a series of operations in which a heat-shrinkable label or label assembly is applied to a heat-shrinkable material, such as a sheet or web material, and applying the label, the heat-shrinkable material is then formed into a flexible walled container, such as a bag or pouch. Preferably, such a method includes providing a heat-shrinkable material and a heat-shrink label or label assembly. The label is then applied to the heat shrink material at the desired location. As described herein, adhesive application is preferred. Then one or more products to be packaged are sealed using heat shrink material. This can be achieved in many ways, such as wrapping the product in heat-shrinkable material. Another approach is to create a container with flexible walls as described herein from heat-shrinkable material having a label applied thereto and then placing the product (s) within the container with flexible walls. After the product (s) are properly closed with a heat-shrinkable material having a label applied to it, the heat-shrink material and label are subjected to one or more operations to shrink around the product (s).

[0041] Furthermore, it is also evident that other strategies may be carried out to induce shrinkage outside of heating. For example, it is also obvious that other techniques may be carried out to cause shrinkage of the flexible wall container and / or label. For example, to cause shrinkage, exposure to electromagnetic radiation and in particular infrared radiation or microwave radiation may be used.

[0042] The present invention also provides methods of making a packaging system. These methods relate to providing a heat shrinkable container with flexible walls and a heat shrink label. The flexible wall container and / or label are selected such that their heat shrink properties are matched to each other as described herein. This ensures that when the label is attached to a container with flexible walls before shrinking followed by shrinking, both the label and the container undergo equivalent shrinkage sizes.

[0043] Figure 1 schematically shows a preferred embodiment of a packaging system 10 in accordance with the present invention. The preferred embodiment of the system 10 comprises the following heat-shrinkable container 20. and the heat-shrinkable label assembly 50. The flexible-wall container 20 has an outer surface 22 and an inner surface 24, which in turn defines the interior area 26 inside the container 20. The flexible wall container 20 may comprise one or more sealed areas 28 and / or side walls 30, and initially at least one open area 32 through which access to the interior area 26 can be accessed. The container 20, with flexible walls, comprises a layer 42 shrink film, optional barrier layer 40 and one or more optional outer layer (s) 44 or intermediate layers (not shown). The label assembly 50 has an outer surface 52 and an opposingly facing bottom or inner surface 54. Once the label assembly 50 is positioned and secured to the container 20 with flexible walls at a destination 36 defined along the outer surface 22 of the container 20, the inner surface of the label 50 is preferably towards the outer surface 22 of the container 20. The label assembly 50 includes a heat shrink film layer 62, an optional outer layer 60, and one or more additional layers, such as an additional layer 64. The label assembly 50 also includes an adhesive layer 66 and a separation layer 68 in contact with the exposed surface of the adhesive layer 66.

[0044] Figure 2 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the method 100 according to the present invention. Method 100 generally includes the operation 110 of providing a flexible wall container with flexible walls as described herein. Method 100 also includes the operation 120 of providing a heat shrink label assembly as described herein. It is obvious that these steps can be carried out in reverse order or carried out simultaneously. Method 100 also includes the operation 130 of applying a label assembly to a flexible walled container. Usually this operation is carried out using an effective amount of adhesive located between the label and the flexible wall container. For a preferred embodiment of the system 10 shown in

Figure 1, this operation is carried out by removing the separating layer 68 from the label assembly 50 to thereby reveal the surface of the adhesive layer 66. The adhesive surface is then contacted with a flexible wall container to affix the label to it. The preferred method 100 also includes the operation of 140 placing one or more articles or objects in a flexible wall container. The method 100 further includes operations 150 and 160, in which the flexible wall container is sealed and its contents such as air are removed, followed by sealing the container. It is understood that operations 150 and 160 may be performed in reverse order, or may be performed simultaneously or substantially simultaneously, relative to each other. It is believed that conventional vacuum packaging methods can be used as operations 150 and 160. Method 100 also includes operation 170 in which both the flexible wall container and label assembly are heated or otherwise exposed to elevated temperatures to shrink both the flexible wall container and label assembly. Preferably, these components shrink together with each other. Many techniques can be used to shrink a container with flexible walls and a label assembly.

Preferably, shrinkage is achieved by immersion heating or exposure of the elements to water having a temperature of about 70 ° C to about 99 ° C for a time period of about 0.1 seconds to about 5 seconds. It is understood that the present invention is in no way limited to this form of heating to induce shrinkage. After the operation 170, the objects or articles inside the container are sealed and generally protected against external agents and / or agents.

[0045] Another preferred example of the method of the invention is the use of the forming operation prior to shrinking the package, and applying a label thereon. For example, in this preferred embodiment of the method, the heat-shrinkable label as previously described herein is applied to a molded web of plastic or equivalent material. The plastic is also preferably heat-shrinkable. The label and plastic sheet, tray or container housing the product (s) in question are then subjected to a forming operation in which the plastic sheet, tray or container is deformed or otherwise modified in shape to better receive or contain product (s) in question. During the forming operation, the label can also be deformed. Preferably, the forming operation is a thermoforming operation. When the label and plastic sheet, tray or container have been properly formed, the products to be packaged are placed in or on the thermoformed assembly. The resulting packaged product or products are then subjected to a shrinking operation in which a label and a plastic sheet, tray or or packet with a strong joint shape of a sealed laminate (packet).

closing the container, they are thermally shrunk to surround and seal the packaging in this way.

[0046] It is understood that the present invention and various preferred embodiments can be used in combination with shrinking materials and / or shrinking packaging systems. Generally, shrinking includes providing a packaging form or thermoformed packet. The loading of the package is done so that a seal is formed, usually without overlapping the edges of the film. The foil and weld are carefully cut to fit the packaging. At the final stage of the packaging system, the film is shrunk, usually in a heated tank. In a preferred shrinking process, a heat-shrinkable web is provided, which is usually a multi-layer laminate. One or more heat shrink labels are optionally applied to the laminate. The laminate with the applied labels is then thermoformed into the desired shape. Usually the shape into which the laminate is thermoformed corresponds to the product or packaging to be closed. After proper shaping, a thermoformed packet is formed. The article is then placed in a thermoformed first web is connected to the second web in this way the article (s) inside the thermoformed packet. Preferably, simultaneously with this sealing operation, vacuum lamination is performed to remove the contents of the packet or internal area in which the product (s) are placed. At this stage, another heat-shrinkable label and preferably a pressure-sensitive label may be applied to the outer surface of the packet or resulting package. Preferably, the packet or packaging is then subjected to heat to thereby shrink the web (s) and label (s). Preferably, water having a temperature from about 85 ° C to about 92 ° C can be used.

[0047] In the future application and development of this technology, many other benefits will no doubt become apparent.

[0048] All patents, published applications and articles listed herein are incorporated in their entirety as references.

[0049] It is understood that each individual feature or more features or component of one embodiment described herein may be combined with one feature or more features or components

Thus, and all the components of another embodiment, the present invention includes all combinations of components or features of the embodiments described herein.

[0050] As described above, the present invention solves many problems associated with previously known systems and methods. However, it is obvious that various changes in the details, materials and arrangement of the components that are described herein and illustrated in the drawing to explain the essence of the invention can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the attached patent claims.

Avery Dennison Corporation

Proxy:

78P34255PL00

EP 2 569 219 B1