Systems and methods for forming laminates with patterned microwave energy interactive material

• US 9,216,564 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2012
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Walsh, Joseph C., Sinclair, Mark, Sloat, Jeffrey T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Sing P
• Application Number:
  US13/565,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20130032283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 156/247, 156/249
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2038/045 Slitting
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2439/70 Food packaging
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/0076 characterised in that the layers are not bonded on the totality of their surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/02 characterised by a sequence of laminating steps, e.g. by adding new layers at consecutive laminating stations
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/1292 selectively, e.g. in stripes, in patterns B32B37/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/20 involving the assembly of continuous webs only
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/0004 Cutting, tearing or severing, e.g. bursting; Cutter details cutting in general B26D; laminating combined with punching or perforating B32B38/04; removing all or part of the layers B32B38/10; cutting in combination with laying up and registration B32B38/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/10 Removing layers, or parts of layers, mechanically or chemically
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/344 Geometry or shape factors influencing the microwave heating properties
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3472 Aluminium or compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3477 Iron or compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3478 Stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3479 Other metallic compounds, e.g. silver, gold, copper, nickel
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3489 Microwave reflector, i.e. microwave shield B65D2581/3487 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3494 Microwave susceptor B65D2581/3487 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3446 specially adapted to be heated by microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/12 Surface bonding means and/or assembly means with cutting, punching, piercing, severing or tearing

Abstract

Portions of microwave energy interactive material may be cut and removed during intermediate steps in a lamination processes, so that remaining microwave energy interactive material in a resultant laminate is arranged in a pattern. Regarding the removal of the portions of the microwave energy interactive material, a compound laminate may be delaminated into parts, and one of the parts may be a sacrificial laminate that includes the removed portions of the microwave energy interactive material.

Claims

1. A method of forming a laminate comprising a pattern of microwave interactive material, the method comprising:

forming a compound laminate comprising first, second and third webs, wherein

the third web is positioned between the first and second webs,

the third web comprises microwave interactive material and a plurality of lines of disruption at least partially defining first and second pluralities of sections of the third web,

the forming of the compound laminate comprises bonding both of the first and second pluralities of sections of the third web to the second web with adhesive material, and

the bonding of both of the first and second pluralities of sections of the third web to the second web is comprised of the second plurality of sections of the third web being adhesively bonded to the second web more securely than the first plurality of sections of the third web are adhesively bonded to the second web, wherein;

the bonding of both of the first and second pluralities of sections of the third web to the second web with adhesive material is comprised of the adhesive material between the second and third webs being arranged in a pattern of adhesive segments so that there are unbonded areas between the second and third webs, and

the unbonded areas are configured so that the second plurality of sections of the third web are adhesively bonded to the second web more securely than the first plurality of sections of the third web are adhesively bonded to the second web; and

then separating the compound laminate into parts comprising a first laminate and a second laminate, wherein

the first laminate comprises the first web and the first plurality of sections of the third web,

the second laminate comprises the second web and the second plurality of sections of the third web, and

the separating comprises

adhesive bond failure between the second web and the first plurality of sections of the third web,

relative movement between the first and second webs, and

the adhesive bond failure being responsive to the relative movement between the first and second webs.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the separating comprises delaminating the first and second laminates from one another.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first web comprises paper.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second web comprises paper.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising laminating a fourth web to the second laminate, so that the second plurality of sections of the third web are positioned between the second and fourth webs.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein:

the second web comprises paper, and

the fourth web comprises a polymer film.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

an initial laminate comprises the first and third webs;

the forming of the compound laminate comprises laminating the initial laminate and the second web to one another; and

the method further comprises forming the lines of disruption in the third web prior to the laminating of the initial laminate and the second web to one another.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein:

the third web is a foil laminate comprising foil and a substrate; and

the forming of the lines of disruption comprises forming the lines of disruption in both the foil and the substrate, so that the lines of disruption define a pattern in the foil, the lines of disruption define a pattern in the substrate, and the pattern in the foil and the pattern in the substrate are superposed with respect to one another.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein:

the third web is a foil laminate comprising foil and a substrate; and

the laminating is carried out so that the foil is positioned between the substrate and the second web.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the unbonded areas are respectively adjacent the first plurality of sections of the third web for at least partially causing the first plurality of sections of the third web to be adhesively bonded to the second web less securely than the second plurality of sections of the third web are adhesively bonded to the second web.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive segments are adjacent the second plurality of sections of the third web and larger than the second plurality of sections of the third web for at least partially causing the bonding of the first plurality of sections of the third web to the second web.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive segments are adjacent the second plurality of sections of the third web and partially out of phase with the second plurality of sections of the third web for at least partially causing the bonding of the first plurality of sections of the third web to the second web.

13. A method of forming a laminate comprising a pattern of microwave interactive material, the method comprising:

forming a compound laminate comprising first, second and third webs, wherein

the third web is positioned between the first and second webs,

the third web comprises microwave interactive material and a plurality of lines of disruption at least partially defining first and second pluralities of sections of the third web,

the forming of the compound laminate comprises bonding both of the first and second pluralities of sections of the third web to the first web with adhesive material, and

the bonding of both of the first and second pluralities of sections of the third web to the first web is comprised of the first plurality of sections of the third web being adhesively bonded to the first web more securely than the second plurality of sections of the third web are adhesively bonded to the first web, wherein;

the bonding of both of the first and second pluralities of sections of the third web to the first web with adhesive material is comprised of the adhesive material between the first and third webs being arranged in a pattern of adhesive segments so that there are unbonded areas between the first and third webs, and

the unbonded areas are configured so that the first plurality of sections of the third web are adhesively bonded to the first web more securely than the second plurality of sections of the third web are adhesively bonded to the first web; and

then separating the compound laminate into parts comprising a first laminate and a second laminate, wherein

the first laminate comprises the first web and the first plurality of sections of the third web,

the second laminate comprises the second web and the second plurality of sections of the third web, and

the separating comprises

adhesive bond failure between the first web and the second plurality of sections of the third web,

relative movement between the first and second webs, and

the adhesive bond failure being responsive to the relative movement between the first and second webs.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising laminating a fourth web to the first laminate, so that the first plurality of sections of the third web are positioned between the first and fourth webs.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein:

the first web comprises paper, and

the fourth web comprises a polymer film.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein:

an initial laminate comprises the second and third webs;

the forming of the compound laminate comprises laminating the initial laminate and the first web to one another; and

the method further comprises forming the lines of disruption in the third web prior to the laminating of the initial laminate and the first web to one another.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein:

the third web is a foil laminate comprising foil and a substrate; and

the forming of the lines of disruption comprises forming the lines of disruption in both the foil and the substrate, so that the lines of disruption define a pattern in the foil, the lines of disruption define a pattern in the substrate, and the pattern in the foil and the pattern in the substrate are superposed with respect to one another.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein:

the third web is a foil laminate comprising foil and a substrate; and

the laminating is carried out so that the foil is positioned between the substrate and the second web.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the unbonded areas are respectively adjacent the second plurality of sections of the third web for at least partially causing the second plurality of sections of the third web to be adhesively bonded to the first web less securely than the first plurality of sections of the third web are adhesively bonded to the first web.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein the adhesive segments are adjacent the first plurality of sections of the third web and larger than the first plurality of sections of the third web for at least partially causing the bonding of the second plurality of sections of the third web to the first web.

21. The method according to claim 13, wherein the adhesive segments are adjacent the first plurality of sections of the third web and partially out of phase with the first plurality of sections of the third web for at least partially causing the bonding of the second plurality of sections of the third web to the first web.