Method and System for Wrapping and Preparing Facemasks for Packaging in a Manufacturing Line

• US 20180208343A1
• Filed: 10/16/2015
• Published: 07/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2015
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: O&M Halyard, Inc. (Owens and Minor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Avent Incorporated (Avanos Medical, Inc.)
• Inventors: Weber, Joseph P., Houde, Ajay Y., Harrington, David L., Pamperin, Mark T., Harris, Nathan C.
• Application Number:
  US15/502,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20180208343A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/27 Means for performing other operations combined with cutting B26D9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/32 for conveying or stacking cut product means for removing cut-out material or waste B26D7/18
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 1/38 Cutting-out; Stamping-out
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 1/384 using rotating drums
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/20 Packaging garments, e.g. socks, stockings, shirts
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/18 by suction-operated grippers
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/24 by endless belts or chains B65B35/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 51/30 Devices, e.g. jaws, for applying pressure and heat, e.g. for subdividing filled tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/06 by cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 65/003 Packaging lines, e.g. general layout
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 9/02 Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 9/067 the web advancing continuously B65B9/08 takes precedence

Abstract

An automated method and system for preparing facemask for subsequent stacking and packaging in a facemask production line include conveying individual facemasks in an alternating and offset nesting pattern on a first conveyor at a first conveying speed. The facemasks are transferred to a second conveyor having a second conveying speed that is greater than the first conveying speed so that an increased gap is generated between adjacent facemasks. The aligned facemasks are wrapped at an automated in-line wrapping station wherein a continuous wrapping material is bonded around each individual facemask. At an in-line cutting station, the bonded wrapping material is cut between each adjacent facemask.

Claims

1. An automated method for preparing facemasks for subsequent stacking and packaging in a facemask production line, comprising:

cutting individual facemasks in a cut pattern from a web at a cutting station, the cut pattern producing an alternating and offset nesting pattern;

conveying the individual facemasks in the alternating and offset nesting pattern on a first conveyor at a first conveying speed with an initial gap between adjacent facemasks;

transferring the facemasks from the first conveyor onto a top surface of a second conveyor having a second conveying speed that is greater than the first conveying speed so that an increased gap is generated between adjacent facemasks;

conveying the facemasks at their offset and gapped state laying on the second conveyor to an automated in-line wrapping station;

wrapping the facemasks at an automated in-line wrapping station wherein a continuous wrapping material is bonded around each individual facemask; and

at an in-line cutting station, cutting the bonded wrapping material between each adjacent facemask.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the facemasks are deposited directly from the first conveyer onto the second conveyor.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the facemasks are transferred from the first conveyor to the second conveyor by an intermediate device that functionally spans between the first and second conveyors.

4. The method as in claim 3, wherein the intermediate device is a vacuum conveyor or a vacuum puck placer.

5. The method as in claim 1, further comprising, prior to the wrapping step, aligning the facemasks along a common conveying axis by removing the offset between adjacent facemasks as the facemasks are conveyed along the production line.

6. The method as in claim 5, wherein, at the cutting station, a cut line is made between adjacent facemask that is perpendicular to the common conveying axis to separate the wrapped facemasks into individual rectangular articles.

7. The method as in claim 6, wherein the facemasks have a trapezoidal shape and are wrapped in a rectangular wrapper.

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein, at the cutting station, alternating non-perpendicular cut line is made between adjacent facemasks relative to a conveying direction of the facemasks through the cutting station.

9. The method as in claim 8, further comprising making an additional cut line at the cutting station that is parallel to the conveying direction and adjacent to an end of the facemasks.

10. The method as in claim 9, wherein the facemasks have a trapezoidal shape, and the cuts lines at the cutting station result in individual wrapped trapezoidal articles.

11. A system for preparing facemask for subsequent stacking and packaging in a facemask production line, wherein the system is specifically configured to practice the method of claim 1.