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 radiant energy source having a peak wavelenth of from about 400 nm to about 100,000 nm.  
     
     
         2 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein said means is coherent source of radiation.  
     
     
         3 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein said means is an non-coherent source of radiation.  
     
     
         4 . The machine of  claim 3  wherein said means is at least one NIR lamp.  
     
     
         5 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein said radiant energy source has a peak wavelenth of from about 700 nm to about 10,000 nm.  
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 4  wherein said radiant energy source has a peak wavelenth of from about 750 nm to about 5,000 nm.  
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein said reactivatable adhesive reactivates to a temperature of at least about 200° F. upon exposure of less than about 1200 watts/sq inch of near infrared energy for a period of less that about 10 seconds.  
     
     
         7 . The converting machine of  claim 1  wherein the substrate is a celluosic material, a thermoplastic material, a metallic material or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The converting machine of  claim 1  wherein the substrate is a plastic material.  
     
     
         9 . 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 having a peak wavelegth of from about 400 nm to about 100,000 nm.  
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9  wherein the applied adhesive is irradiated with NIR energy for a time sufficient to reactivate the adhesive.  
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 9  wherein the package comprises vertical side panels, and at least a top and/or bottom flap.  
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein said adhesive is applied to at least one of said top or bottom flap.  
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein said adhesive is applied to a vertical side panel.  
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 9  wherein said package is a tubular shaped carton.  
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 9  wherein said carton is a tubular shaped case.  
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 9  wherein the adhesive is a hot melt adhesive.  
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 9  wherein pressure is applied to effect said sealing.  
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 9  wherein the applied adhesive is exposed to radiant energy for a period of less that about 10 seconds.  
     
     
         19 . 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 radiant energy having a peak wavelegth of from about 400 nm to about 100,000 nm.  
     
     
         20 . The packaging machine of  claim 19  wherein said radiant energy source has a peak wavelength of from about 700 nm to about 10,000 nm.  
     
     
         21 . The packaging machine of  claim 12  wherein the filling station is located between the bottom flap sealing station and the top flap sealing station.  
     
     
         22 . The packaging machine of  claim 19  wherein the source of radiant energy is at least one NIR lamp.  
     
     
         23 . An article of manufacture having applied on at least one substrate surface thereof an adhesive comprising an energy-absorbing ingredient and which is capable of being reactivated upon exposure to short durations of radiant energy having a peak wavelength of from about 700 nm to about 10,000 nm.  
     
     
         24 . The article of  claim 23  which is a flat carton blank.  
     
     
         25 . The carton blank of  claim 24  which is a flat, folded carton blank.  
     
     
         26 . The carton blank of  claim 24  wherein the adhesive is capable of being reactivated upon exposure to radiant energy for a period of less than about 5 seconds.  
     
     
         27 . The carton blank of  claim 24  wherein the energy-absorbing ingredient present in the adhesive is a pigment.  
     
     
         28 . The carton blank of  claim 27  wherein the energy-absorbing ingredient present in the adhesive is carbon black.  
     
     
         29 . The carton blank of  claim 24  wherein the energy-absorbing ingredient present in the adhesive is an organic dye.  
     
     
         30 . The carton blank of  claim 24  wherein the adhesive is a thermoplastic adhesive.  
     
     
         31 . The carton blank of  claim 24  which has easy open and reseal properties.  
     
     
         32 . The article of  claim 23  which is a tape.