ELECTROSCOPIC MATERIAL PACKAGING

Abstract

A method for producing enveloped electroscopic filter material can include feeding, from a main spool, at least one sheet of electroscopic filter material in a first direction, feeding, from a pair of spools, sheets of cover material in the first direction such that each spool feeds a sheet of cover material along a different side of the sheet electroscopic filter material, sealing, via a pair of heat-sealing roller nips, the at least one sheet of electroscopic filter material and the sheets of cover material periodically together to form sealed portions, and cutting, via a cutting mechanism, each sealed portion to produce envelopes of electroscopic filter material. The at least one sheet of electroscopic filter material can extend to the outermost edges of each envelope such that each envelope comprises substantially the same dimensions as the at least one sheet of electroscopic filter material.

Claims

1. A method for producing enveloped electroscopic filter material, comprising: feeding, from a main spool, at least one sheet of electroscopic filter material in a first direction; feeding, from a pair of spools, sheets of cover material in the first direction such that each spool feeds a sheet of cover material along a different side of the sheet electroscopic filter material; sealing, via a pair of heat-sealing roller nips, the at least one sheet of electroscopic filter material and the sheets of cover material periodically together to form sealed portions; cutting, via a cutting mechanism, each sealed portion to produce envelopes of electroscopic filter material, wherein the at least one sheet of electroscopic filter material extends to the outermost edges of each envelope such that each envelope has the same dimensions as the at least one sheet of electroscopic filter.

2. A system for producing enveloped electroscopic filter material, comprising: a main spool configured to receive at least one sheet of electroscopic filter material and to feed the electroscopic filter material in a first direction; a pair of spools configured to receive sheets of cover material and to feed the sheets of cover material in the first direction such that each spool feeds cover material along a different side of the electroscopic filter material; a pair of heat sealing roller nips configured to periodically seal the at least one sheet of electroscopic filter material and the sheets of cover material to form sealed portions; a cutting mechanism configured to cut each sealed portion to produce envelopes of electroscopic filter material, wherein the at least one sheet of electroscopic filter material extends to the outermost edges of each envelope such that each envelope comprises has the same dimensions as the at least one sheet of electroscopic filter material.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the sheets of cover material comprise plastic.

4. An article for storing electroscopic filter material comprising: at least one sheet of electroscopic filter material; a first sheet of cover material covering a first side of the at least one sheet of electroscopic filter material; a second sheet of cover material covering a second side of the at least one sheet of electroscopic filter material, wherein the at least one sheet of electroscopic filter material, the first sheet of cover material, and the second sheet of cover material each extend to the perimeter of the article and the perimeter of the article is heat sealed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0051] Subject matter hereof may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying figures, in which:

[0052] FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of packaged electroscopic filter material according to an embodiment.

[0053] FIG. 1C is a side view of the packaged electroscopic filter material of FIG. 1A.

[0054] FIG. 1D is a top-down view of the packaged electroscopic filter material of FIG. 1A.

[0055] FIG. 2A is a side view of a system for packaging electroscopic filter material according to an embodiment.

[0056] FIG. 2B is a front view of packaged electroscopic filter material according to an embodiment.

[0057] FIG. 2C is a side view of several individual packages of electroscopic filter material packaged together according to an embodiment.

[0058] FIG. 2D is a side view of several individual packages of electroscopic filter material stacked according to an embodiment.

[0059] FIGS. 2E and 2F are partial, side views of packaged electroscopic filter material according to embodiments.

[0060] FIGS. 2G is a side view of packaged electroscopic filter material according to an embodiment.

[0061] FIG. 3A is a side view of a system for packaging electroscopic filter material according to an embodiment.

[0062] FIG. 3B is a front view of packaged electroscopic filter material according to an embodiment.

[0063] FIG. 3C is a side view of several individual packages of electroscopic filter material packaged together according to an embodiment.

[0064] FIG. 3D is a side view of several individual packages of electroscopic filter material stacked according to an embodiment.

[0065] FIG. 4A is a side view of a system for packaging electroscopic filter material according to an embodiment.

[0066] FIG. 4B is side view of packaged electroscopic filter material according to an embodiment. FIG. 4C is a side view of a series of packaged electroscopic filter material according to an embodiment.

[0067] FIG. 4D is a front view of packaged electroscopic filter material according to an embodiment.

[0068] FIG. 4E is a side view of packaged electroscopic filter material according to an embodiment.

[0069] FIG. 5A is a side view of a system for packaging electroscopic filter material according to an embodiment.

[0070] FIG. 5B is a side view of packaged electroscopic filter material according to an embodiment.

[0071] FIG. 5C is a side view of packaged electroscopic filter material according to an embodiment.

[0072] While various embodiments are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the claimed disclosures to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter as defined by the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0073] One article the present disclosure 100 is presented in FIGS. 1A through 1D. One article of the present disclosure 100 is comprised of a cover having a surface area and one (1) article of electroscopic filter material enveloped within the surface area. One article of the present disclosure 100 is comprised of a cover having a surface area and one (1) article of electroscopic filter material enveloped within the surface area, where the cover is low density polyethylene and the electroscopic filter material is made from polypropylene and alumina particles. One article of the present disclosure 100 is comprised of a cover having a surface area and one (1) folded article of electroscopic filter material enveloped within the surface area, where the cover measures approximately eight (8) inches by eight (8) inches by one (1) inch and where the electroscopic filter material measures sixty (60) inches by seven (7) inches, approximately. One article of the present disclosure 100 is comprised of a cover having a surface area and one (1) folded article of electroscopic filter material enveloped within the surface area, where the cover measures approximately eight (8) inches by eight (8) inches by one (1) inch and where the electroscopic filter material measures sixty (60) inches by seven (7) inches, approximately, and optionally where the filter material is joined together at its ends.

[0074] Described herein, is a package 100 of filter material, electroscopic material, N95 material, N99 material, or other important filtration material, that contains one and only one continuous, substantially unfenestrated, piece of said material, where the volume of the electroscopic material to be enveloped by the packaging is enveloped within a package that is spherically, cylindrically, planar, or otherwise naturally shaped to maximize the volume of the contents within the envelope, and where the article of the present disclosure draws its natural shape from the physical properties of the materials from which the contents and the envelope or package are composed and their processing together. Described herein, is a package 100 of filter material, electroscopic material, N95 material, N99 material, or other important filtration material, that contains one and only one continuous, substantially unfenestrated, piece of said material, where the volume of the electroscopic material to be enveloped by the packaging is enveloped within a package that is spherically, cylindrically, planar, or otherwise naturally shaped to maximize the volume of the contents within the envelope, and where the article of the present disclosure draws its natural shape from the physical properties of the materials from which the contents and the envelope or package are composed and their processing together, in relation to a seal or conduit of the material or the article as its representative.

[0075] One manufacturing process 200 of the present disclosure is presented in FIG. 2A where the output is an article 201 comprised of a cover 202 having a surface area and at least one (1) article of electroscopic filter material 203 enveloped within the surface area, where further the filter material 203 is attached to the cover 202 in at least one location. One manufacturing process 200 of the present disclosure is presented in FIG. 2A where the output is an article 201 comprised of a cover 202 having a surface area and a periphery and at least one (1) article of electroscopic filter material 203 enveloped within the surface area, where further the filter material 203 is attached to the cover 202 in at least one location near the periphery. One manufacturing process 200 of the present disclosure is presented in FIG. 2A where the output is an article 201 comprised of a cover 202 having a surface area and a periphery and at least one (1) article of electroscopic filter material 203 enveloped within the surface area, where further the filter material 203 is heat sealed between cover webs 204 and 205 in at least one location near the periphery to form a hermetic seal. Optional embodiments of the present disclosure 207, 208, and 209 are presented in FIG. 2D and views of section perspective 206 as presented in FIG. 2B. An embodiment of the present disclosure is comprised of one or more packaged articles 201 and a box 210 as presented in FIG. 2C. A close-up of view of an embodiment of the present disclosure 201 within view scope 211 as presented in FIG. 2A is presented in FIG. 2E, is comprised of a cover 202 and at least one article of filter material 203 that is heat sealed to the cover 202 at at least one end 212. A close-up of view of an embodiment of the present disclosure is presented in FIG. 2F, is comprised of a cover 202 and three articles 213 of filter material 203 that is heat sealed to the cover 202 at atleast one end 214. FIG. 2G depicts a side view of an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0076] In embodiments, manufacturing process 200 can be a web conversion process incorporating heat sealing roller nips 215 and heat sealing and cutting jaws 216.

[0077] One manufacturing process 300 of the present disclosure is presented in FIG. 3A that manufactures an article 301 by combining a filter material 305 and a cover material 306 by folding the cover material 306 around the filter material 305 and heat sealing the cover material along one edge as shown by variations 302 and 303 in FIG. 3D. FIG. 3C depicts several articles packaged in a circular container with an opening. FIG. 3B depicts a front view of an article.

[0078] One manufacturing process 400 of the present disclosure is presented in FIG. 4A that manufactures an article 401 by combining a filter material 405 and a cover material 406 by inserting the filter material 405 within the cover material 406 and heat sealing the filter material 405 within the cover material 406 along two edges 407 and 408. An embodiment of the present disclosure is a roll 409 of manufactured articles 401 that are frangibly separated with perforations 410 as presented in FIG. 4C. FIGS. 4B, 4D, and 4E depict various embodiments of articles according to the present disclosure.

[0079] One manufacturing process 500 of the present disclosure is presented in FIG. 5A that manufactures an article 501 by extruding a cover material 502 around a filter material 504, where the filter material may be previously manufactured and accepted by the process from a roll 503. One manufacturing process 500 of the present disclosure is presented in FIG. 5A that manufactures an article 501 by co-extruding a cover material 502 around a filter material 504, and heat sealing and cutting or heat sealing and perforating the continuously assembled materials.

[0080] Various embodiments of systems, devices, and methods have been described herein. These embodiments are given only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed disclosures. It should be appreciated, moreover, that the various features of the embodiments that have been described may be combined in various ways to produce numerous additional embodiments. Moreover, while various materials, dimensions, shapes, configurations and locations, etc. have been described for use with disclosed embodiments, others besides those disclosed may be utilized without exceeding the scope of the claimed disclosures.

[0081] Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the subject matter hereof may comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual embodiment described above. The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the subject matter hereof may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the various embodiments can comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, elements described with respect to one embodiment can be implemented in other embodiments even when not described in such embodiments unless otherwise noted.

[0082] Although a dependent claim may refer in the claims to a specific combination with one or more other claims, other embodiments can also include a combination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of each other dependent claim or a combination of one or more features with other dependent or independent claims. Such combinations are proposed herein unless it is stated that a specific combination is not intended.

[0083] Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is further limited such that no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is yet further limited such that any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein.

[0084] For purposes of interpreting the claims, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim.