Packaging system

Abstract

High speed case and carton sealing lines for packaging articles. The carton to be packaged, i.e., filled and sealed, having disposed thereon an adhesive comprising an energy-absorbing ingredient that is capable of absorbing and reflecting radiant energy. The automated packaging machine comprises a means to reactivate an adhesive to effect sealing.

1 . A packaging machine comprising a means for reactivating an adhesive present on a packaging substrate, said means comprising a source of ultrasonic waves.  
     
     
         2 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein said wherein said reactivatable adhesive reactivates upon exposure to wave energy of from about 15 kiloHertz to about 60 kiloHertz.  
     
     
         3 . The machine of  claim 2  wherein said wherein said reactivatable adhesive reactivates upon exposure to wave energy of from about 20 kiloHertz to about 40 kiloHertz.  
     
     
         4 . The machine of  claim 2  wherein said reactivation means is an ultrasonic horn.  
     
     
         5 . The machine of  claim 4  wherein said ultrasonic horn is a rectangular horn.  
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 4  wherein said ultrasonic horn is a rotory horn or cylindrical shape.  
     
     
         7 . A process of packaging an article by forming, filling and sealing a package that has had applied to at least a portion thereof a reactivatable adhesive, said process comprising forming and/or sealing a package by exposing the applied reactivatable adhesive to radiant energy for a time sufficient to reactivate the adhesive, said radiant energy being ultrasonic waves.  
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 7  wherein the applied adhesive activated by contacting the substate with an ultrasonic horn.  
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8  wherein the ultrasonic horn is a rectangular horn.  
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 8  wherein the ultrasonic horn rotary horn of cylindrical shape.  
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 7  wherein said reactivatable adhesive reactivates upon exposure to wave energy of from about 15 kiloHertz to about 60 kiloHertz.  
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11  wherein said reactivatable adhesive reactivates upon exposure to wave energy of from about 20 kiloHertz to about 40 kiloHertz.  
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 7  wherein the package comprises vertical side panels, and at least a top and/or bottom flap.  
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein said adhesive is applied to at least one of said top or bottom flap.  
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein said adhesive is applied to a vertical side panel.  
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 7  wherein said package is a tubular shaped carton.  
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 7  wherein said package is a tubular shaped case.  
     
     
         18 . A form, fill and seal packaging machine comprising a frame, a plurality of stations carried by the frame, and a feeding means for feeding cartons to be formed, filled and sealed, said stations comprising a carton erection station, a bottom and/or top flap sealing station and a filling station, said top and/or bottom sealing station comprising a source of ultrasonic waves.  
     
     
         19 . The packaging machine of  claim 18  wherein said reactivatable adhesive reactivates upon exposure to wave energy of from about 15 kiloHertz to about 60 kiloHertz.  
     
     
         20 . The machine of  claim 18  wherein said wherein said reactivatable adhesive reactivates upon exposure to wave energy of from about 20 kiloHertz to about 40 kiloHertz.  
     
     
         21 . The packaging machine of  claim 18  wherein the filling station is located between the bottom flap sealing station and the top flap sealing station.  
     
     
         22 . The packaging machine of  claim 18  wherein the source of ultrasonic waves is an ultrasonic horn.  
     
     
         23 . An article of manufacture having applied on at least one substrate surface thereof an adhesive capable of being reactivated upon exposure to ultrasonic waves.  
     
     
         24 . The article of  claim 23  which is a flat carton blank.  
     
     
         25 . The carton blank of  claim 24  wherein the adhesive is a thermoplastic.  
     
     
         26 . The carton blank of  claim 23  which is a flat, folded carton blank.