Cooling Film Wrapped Articles

Abstract

This invention is directed to form openings in the heat shrink film for allowing cooling air to circulate between the articles while maintaining the structural integrity of the heat shrunk film. This is accomplished by slitting the heat shrink film and forming slots between the slitted parts of the film.

1 . A process for cooling an article or a bundle of articles wrapped with heat shrink film comprising,
 forming a slot in the longitudinal direction in at least a portion of the heat shrink film by separating the film thereby allowing cold air to circulate through the heat shrink film,   film wrapping the article with the slotted film,   heat shrinking the film,   transporting the film wrapped article to a cooler, and   cooling the film wrapped article.   
     
     
         2 . A process according to  claim 1  wherein a slot is formed in the top portion of the wrapped article. 
     
     
         3 . A process according to  claim 2  wherein multiple slots are formed in the film after the film is unwound from a top roll by slitting the film in the longitudinal direction to form separate film parts. 
     
     
         4 . A process according to  claim 3  includes separating the parts of film into ribbons by forming a slot between the ribbons. 
     
     
         5 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A process for according to  claim 1  wherein the slot has distance greater than about 22 mm between the separated film, 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for cooling an article or a bundle of articles wrapped with heat shrink film comprising,
 means for forming slots in the longitudinal direction of the film in a portion of the heat shrink film so cold air can circulate through the heat shrunk film to cool the article or a bundle of articles,   means for film wrapping the article with the slotted film   means for transporting the film wrapped article to a cooler, and   means for cooling the film wrapped article.   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the slots are formed in the top portion of the film of the wrapped article. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 14  having means for forming multiple slots after the film is unwound from a top roll by slitting the film in the longitudinal direction to form separate film parts. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 14  including means for separating the parts of film into ribbons by forming a slot between the ribbons. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 14  including tilted guide rollers to separate the parts of film into ribbons having slots between the ribbons. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the slots have a distance greater than about 22 mm. 
     
     
         20 . A heat shrinkable film wrapped article or bundle of articles comprising,
 at least a portion of the wrapped film separated into ribbons having slots greater than 22 mm for cooling air circulation and, wherein the article is at a temperature of 20 degrees F. below ambient.