GB1599299A

GB1599299A - Netting refill for a packaging machine

Info

Publication number: GB1599299A
Application number: GB3601177A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Netlon Ltd
Current assignee: Netlon Ltd
Priority date: 1978-05-26
Filing date: 1978-05-26
Publication date: 1981-09-30
Also published as: ES231558Y; ES231558U; ES231556U; ES231557U; ES231559U; ES231557Y; ES231556Y; ES231559Y

Description

(54) A NETTTING REFILL FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE (71) We, NETLON LIMITED, a British Company, of Mill Hill, Blackburn, BB2 4PJ, Lancashire, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: Background of the invention The present invention relates to securing a netting refill for a packaging machine of the type which inserts articles into a length of continuous tubular netting, hereinafter called a packaging machine of the type referred to. The articles are usually fruit or vegetables. such as oranges or potatoes, and the netting is constricted at intervals to divide the tube into suitable packages which can then be cut from the continuous length of tubing.The netting can be made of any suitable material, though nowadays is normally made of plastics material, and the netting can be made in any suitable way, for instance by knitting or by integral extrusion as described in U.K. Patent Specification No. 836 555. Normally the packaging machine has a rigid loading tube through which the articles are fed and the netting is placed around the tube as an annular bundle. In the art, one says that the netting has been "condensed", meaning that its length has been very considerably shortened by axially collapsing and folding the netting while keeping the centre of the tubular netting unobstructed; the bundle so formed is called a "sleeve" The netting may be specially fabricated with such condensation in view, for instance as described in U.K.

Patent Specification No. 52145/76 Serial No.

1591165.

The sleeve is secured with ties, straps or bands. In one arrangement, a collapsable card tube is inserted within the sleeve and the sleeve is secured by two narrow, diametrically opposite bands of paper or plastics material which pass down the interior of the sleeve and encircle the sleeve; in another arrangement the sleeve is secured by two wide, diametrically opposite bands of paper which also pass down the interior of the sleeve and encircle the sleeve. The ties, straps or bands are broken when the sleeve is actually on the loading tube of the packaging machine.

Although the arrangements referred to above secure the sleeve in an adequate manner, they do not completely protect the netting from dirt, which can be important if sensitive foodstuffs are to be packaged, and it is normal practice to put the secured sleeve in a paper or plastics material bag as an additional packaging operation.

The invention According to the invention there is provided a netting refill for a packaging machine of the type referred to, the refill comprising a length of continuous tubular netting which is condensed into a sleeve and a protective and securing wrapping which toroidally embrances substantially all the surfaces of the sleeve, the wrapping being substantially imperforate.

The wrapping thus embraces the exterior surface, the end faces and the interior surface of the sleeve. In this way, the wrapping both secures and protects the refill and provides a good hygienic presentation which can be maintained until the refill is on the loading tube of the packaging machine.

In addition, the refill has a better appearance.

The wrapping may for example comprise at least one tube, of a transparent plastics material film such as polyethylene, whose axis is generally parallel to that of the sleeve. The wrapping may be a single such tube with its end portions joined to each other by any suitable method, for instance by the use of adhesive tape, by sticking or by stapling.With such as arrangement, there are three preferred possibilities for applying the tube: The centre position of the tube passes down the interior of the sleeve, the next portions of the tube pass around the ends of the sleeve, and the end portions of the tube pass along the exterior of the sleeve and are Joined to one another; The centre portion of the tube passes along the exterior of the sleeve, the next portions of the tube pass in around the ends of the sleeve, and the end portions of the tube pass down the interior of the sleeve and are joined to one another; or The tube passes down the interior of the sleeve, around one end of the sleeve and back along the exterior of the sleeve, the two end portions of the tube being joined to one another at one end of the sleeve.

In another arrangement, the wrapping is formed of two tubes, one of which passes down the interior of the sleeve and the other of which passes along the exterior of the sleeve, the respective end portions of the tubes being joined to each other at respective ends of the sleeve.

The invention also provides a method of securing a netting refill for a packaging machine of the type referred to which refill comprises a length of continuous tubular netting which has been condensed into a sleeve, the method comprising providing down the interior of the sleeve a tube of wrapping material with the axis of the tube generally parallel to that of the sleeve, and drawing at least one end portion of the tube back over the exterior of the sleeve so that the wrapping material covers substantially all the surfaces of the sleeve.

In one specific procedure, the end portions of the tube are joined to each other and the tube is subsequently rotated toroidally with respect to the sleeve so that the.

join is substantially within the interior of the sleeve. However, it may be preferred to leave the join between the end portions of the tube at a position other than within the interior so that the refill can be slid onto the loading tube of the packaging machine, the wrapping opened and the netting drawn off without removing the wrapping completely.

Brief description of the drawings The invention will be further described.

by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first netting refill in accordance with the inven tion Figure 2 is a section along the line II - II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of a second netting refill in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 is a section along the line IV - IV of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a section corresponding to that of Figure 4 but through a third netting refill in accordance with the invention; Figure 6 is a plan view of a fourth netting refill in accordance with the invention; and Figure 7 is a section along the line VII VII of Figure 6.

Detailed description of the drawings In each Figure of the drawings, there is a sleeve 1 of condensed, tubular netting.

In the first netting refill, a tube 2 of plastics material film has been provided in the interior of the sleeve 1 and the end portions 3 have been drawn back over the exterior of the sleeve 1 so that the tube 2 coves all the surfaces of the sleeve 1. The end portions 3 are joined to each other on the outside of the refill by means of two lengths of self-adhesive tape 4.

The second netting refill is wrapped in exactly the same manner except that small pieces 5 of self-adhesive tape are used instead of the larger pieces of Figures 1 and 2, and the tube 2 is subsequently rotated toroidally as indicated by the arrows in Figure 4 so that the join between the end portions 3 is substantially within the interior of the sleeve 1.

The third netting refill is similar to that of Figure 1 and 2, except that the tube 2 passes down the interior of the sleeve 1, around one end of the sleeve 1 and back along the exterior of the sleeve 1, the two end portions of the tube 2 being joined to one another by staples 6 at one end of the sleeve 1.

The fourth netting refill has a wrapping formed of two seamless tubes 7 and 8, one of which passes down the interior of the sleeve 1 and the other of which passes along the exterior of the sleeve 1, the respective end portions of the tubes 7, 8 being joined to each other by staples 9 at respective ends of the sleeve 1.

In practice, the tube 2 or 7 can be placed upon a frame and the netting condensed over the tube 2 or 7 prior to completing the wrapping.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A netting refill for a packaging machine of the type which inserts articles into a length of continuous tubular netting, the refill comprising a length of continuous tubular netting which is condensed into a sleeve and a protective and securing wrapping which toroidally embraces substantially all the surfaces of the sleeve, the wrapping being substantially imperforate.

2. The refill of Claim 1. wherein the wrapping is a single tube with its end portions joined to each other.

3. The refill of Claim 2, wherein the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. by the use of adhesive tape, by sticking or by stapling. With such as arrangement, there are three preferred possibilities for applying the tube: The centre position of the tube passes down the interior of the sleeve, the next portions of the tube pass around the ends of the sleeve, and the end portions of the tube pass along the exterior of the sleeve and are Joined to one another; The centre portion of the tube passes along the exterior of the sleeve, the next portions of the tube pass in around the ends of the sleeve, and the end portions of the tube pass down the interior of the sleeve and are joined to one another; or The tube passes down the interior of the sleeve, around one end of the sleeve and back along the exterior of the sleeve, the two end portions of the tube being joined to one another at one end of the sleeve. In another arrangement, the wrapping is formed of two tubes, one of which passes down the interior of the sleeve and the other of which passes along the exterior of the sleeve, the respective end portions of the tubes being joined to each other at respective ends of the sleeve. The invention also provides a method of securing a netting refill for a packaging machine of the type referred to which refill comprises a length of continuous tubular netting which has been condensed into a sleeve, the method comprising providing down the interior of the sleeve a tube of wrapping material with the axis of the tube generally parallel to that of the sleeve, and drawing at least one end portion of the tube back over the exterior of the sleeve so that the wrapping material covers substantially all the surfaces of the sleeve. In one specific procedure, the end portions of the tube are joined to each other and the tube is subsequently rotated toroidally with respect to the sleeve so that the. join is substantially within the interior of the sleeve. However, it may be preferred to leave the join between the end portions of the tube at a position other than within the interior so that the refill can be slid onto the loading tube of the packaging machine, the wrapping opened and the netting drawn off without removing the wrapping completely. Brief description of the drawings The invention will be further described. by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first netting refill in accordance with the inven tion Figure 2 is a section along the line II - II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of a second netting refill in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 is a section along the line IV - IV of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a section corresponding to that of Figure 4 but through a third netting refill in accordance with the invention; Figure 6 is a plan view of a fourth netting refill in accordance with the invention; and Figure 7 is a section along the line VII VII of Figure 6. Detailed description of the drawings In each Figure of the drawings, there is a sleeve 1 of condensed, tubular netting. In the first netting refill, a tube 2 of plastics material film has been provided in the interior of the sleeve 1 and the end portions 3 have been drawn back over the exterior of the sleeve 1 so that the tube 2 coves all the surfaces of the sleeve 1. The end portions 3 are joined to each other on the outside of the refill by means of two lengths of self-adhesive tape 4. The second netting refill is wrapped in exactly the same manner except that small pieces 5 of self-adhesive tape are used instead of the larger pieces of Figures 1 and 2, and the tube 2 is subsequently rotated toroidally as indicated by the arrows in Figure 4 so that the join between the end portions 3 is substantially within the interior of the sleeve 1. The third netting refill is similar to that of Figure 1 and 2, except that the tube 2 passes down the interior of the sleeve 1, around one end of the sleeve 1 and back along the exterior of the sleeve 1, the two end portions of the tube 2 being joined to one another by staples 6 at one end of the sleeve 1. The fourth netting refill has a wrapping formed of two seamless tubes 7 and 8, one of which passes down the interior of the sleeve 1 and the other of which passes along the exterior of the sleeve 1, the respective end portions of the tubes 7, 8 being joined to each other by staples 9 at respective ends of the sleeve 1. In practice, the tube 2 or 7 can be placed upon a frame and the netting condensed over the tube 2 or 7 prior to completing the wrapping. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A netting refill for a packaging machine of the type which inserts articles into a length of continuous tubular netting, the refill comprising a length of continuous tubular netting which is condensed into a sleeve and a protective and securing wrapping which toroidally embraces substantially all the surfaces of the sleeve, the wrapping being substantially imperforate.

3. The refill of Claim 2, wherein the

centre portion of the tube passes down the interior of the sleeve, the next portions of the tube pass around the ends of the sleeve, and the end portions of the tube pass along the exterior of the sleeve and are joined to one another.

4. The refill of Claim 2, wherein the centre portion of the tube passes along the exterior of the sleeve, the next portions of the tube pass around the ends of the sleeve, and the end portions of the tube pass down the interior of the sleeve and are joined to one another.

5. The refill of Claim 2, wherein the tube passes down the interior of the sleeve, around one end of the sleeve and back along the exterior of the sleeve, the two end portions of the tube being joined to one another at one end of the sleeve.

6. The refill of Claim 1, wherein the wrapping is formed of two tubes, one of which passes down the interior of the sleeve and the other of which passes along the exterior of the sleeve, the respective end portions of the tubes being joined to each other at respective ends of the sleeve.

7. A netting refill, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A netting refill, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A netting refill, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A netting refill, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of securing a netting refill for a packaging machine of the type which inserts articles into a length of continuous tubular netting, which refill comprises a length of continuous tubular netting which has been condensed into a sleeve, the method comprising providing down the interior of the sleeve a tube of wrapping material with the axis of the tube generally parallel to that of the sleeve, and drawing at least one end portion of the tube back over the exterior of the sleeve so that the wrapping material covers substantially all the surfaces of the sleeve.

12. The method of Claim 11, wherein the end portions of the tube are joined to each other and the tube is subsequently rotated toroidally with respect to the sleeve so that the join is substantially within the interior of the sleeve.

13. A method of securing a netting refill, substantially as herein described.