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Packaging material, and method of and machine for producing the sameRelated Patent Categories: Stock Material Or Miscellaneous Articles, Hollow Or Container Type Article (e.g., Tube, Vase, Etc.)Packaging material, and method of and machine for producing the same description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050287317, Packaging material, and method of and machine for producing the same. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a cushioning loose-fill packaging material in order to fill a container with transported goods, as well as to a method of and a machine for producing the same. [0002] One of the most popular loose-fill materials is small plastic foam pieces called "Packing Peanuts". However, this packaging material has numerous disadvantages. It requires special equipment and big working space, as well as additional big storage area, its delivery to customers costs more than production costs. They pose environmental problems, carry static electricity, which is bad for human health and can damage transported goods (for example, when electronics is shipped) and also raise problems with cleaning because electrolyzed peanuts stick to any surfaces, they do not absorb moisture or liquids. [0003] Other packaging materials are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,328,732; 5,468,525; 5,688,578; 5,698,293. The packaging materials disclosed in these references also have certain dis advantages. In particular, some of them do not have good bearing properties, they are weak, they uncoil, disintegrate, can collapse as a result of a small humidity, etc. [0004] There is another loose-fill packaging material disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,867. By that patent loose-fill packaging material has tetrahedral shape. This design has numerous of disadvantages: edge and joint has strive to unfold and whole tetrahedral collapse, bearing ability is determined by joint (seam) on tetrahedral body, loosing stability of tetrahedral vertical edge with further collapse. Tetrahedral joint (seam) rigidity and edge ability to loose stability are considerably lower than material strength. Thus bearing ability of tetrahedral loose-fill packaging material is considerably less than could be provided by Plastic Peanuts. [0005] Tetrahedral shape has tendency to self-compacting under vibration during transportation. That led to arising emptiness in container with shipped goods and it damage. [0006] Loose-fill has to be produced in very big quantities--even hundreds of millions. Mass production requires: simplicity of filling material design; allowance to create automatic machine with very high productivity (hundreds pieces per minute); possibility of operation combining (when one operation could be fulfilled simultaneously with another). Tetrahedral elements mass production cost as a loose-fill packaging is not suitable for that goal: big amount of technological operations (steps) and it complexity, necessity of long tools movement, etc. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a coushing loose-fill packaging material, which is a further improvement of the existing packaging materials. [0008] It is also another object of the present invention to provide a method of and a machine for producing a new coushing loose-fill packaging material. [0009] In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a coushing loose-fill packaging material comprising a tubular element composed of a material selected from the group consisting of paper and a paper product or other suitable sheet materials, said tubular element having an axis and two axial ends spaced for one another, at least one of said edges being tightly rolled in a direction selected from the group consisting of inwardly, outwardly and both. [0010] Considering the environmental requirements, paper and paper products are the most preferable for the tubular element manufacturing. [0011] In accordance with another feature of the present invention, a method of producing the packaging material is proposed which comprises the steps of forming a tubular element of a material selected from a group consisting of paper and a paper product or other sheet material and having an axis and two axial edges spaced from one another in an axial direction; and rolling at least one open of said edges in a direction selected from the group consisting of inwardly, outwardly and both. [0012] Finally, its another object of the invention to provide a machine for producing the coushing loose-fill packaging material which has means for forming a tubular element composed of a material selected from the group consisting of paper and a paper product or other sheet material and having an axis and two axial edges spaced from one another in an axial direction; and means for rolling at least one of the edges of the tubular element in a direction selected from the group consisting of inwardly, outwardly and both. [0013] In accordance with the present invention, the tubular element or tube can be made from suitable sheet material, for example, paper or different kinds of paper products: cardboard, preliminary produced paper tubing, preliminary formed paper, with corrugating, multilayer papers where each layer is different, etc. At least one edge of the paper tube is tightly rolled to form prestressed ring in order to provide compression stiffness, rigidity, and bearing properties, wherein edges can be rolled inside and/or outside. When edge(s) is tightly rolled it is preferable to form prestressed ring with no/or minimal gap between rolling turns. The paper tube with edges rolled outside provides reduction of filing weight per unit volume. When edge(s) is rolling the multilayer ring is creating in that area FIG. 1-3. This ring is formed with internal stress because of tight edge rolling and because there is difference between external ring diameter and internal ring diameter (FIG. 4--Dmid>Diw and FIG. 5--Dmid<Dow). The stress arises automatically during the edge(s) rolling (forming) process. The paper tube before, after or during production is wetted and consequently forced dried in order to create additional stress in the tube body, tube layers sticking together and to provide better rigidity. For the same purpose and to impart an improved look, knurls can be provided as well. Also, the paper tube can be impregnated to provide special properties: anti-terrorist functions--non-combustibility, anti-bacterial property, etc. [0014] In a method of the present invention and with the machine in accordance with the present invention, all steps and mechanisms are provided to fulfill corresponding above-mentioned operations. Mechanisms are located in a working zone. Different instruments, including a forming instrument, can be delivered to the working zone in certain sequence. The working zone can be composed of several zones. Semi-finished article can be transported from one zone to another for different technological operations. Any technological operation can be combined with other operations. The machine for producing the material includes a unit for wetting of paper, semi-product or finished product. The forming instrument or other components of the machine can be used as a wetting unit or a part of the wetting unit. A special dryer performs force drying. A heating forming instrument or other components of the machine can be used as a dryer or a part of the dryer unit. [0015] The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of a tubular element of packaging material of the invention. [0017] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the tubular element with different curvature. [0018] FIG. 3 is a three layer tubular element rolled edge. [0019] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of the tubular element with edges rolled inside. Dmid--tubular element pitch diameter; Diw--rolled ring internal diameter. [0020] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section of the tubular element with edges rolled outside. Dmid--tubular element pitch diameter; Dow--rolled ring external diameter. [0021] FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section of the tubular element with one edge rolled inside and another outside. Continue reading about Packaging material, and method of and machine for producing the same... Full patent description for Packaging material, and method of and machine for producing the same Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Packaging material, and method of and machine for producing the same patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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