Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a manual overwrapper and methods of use thereof. The overwrapper of the present disclosure can be used to overwrap articles using a wrapping material. Overwrapping is a preferable method to shrinkwrapping a majority of the time. The overwrapper comprises a tower and runway. The tower and runway may be affixed to one another or be molded out the same material. An operator moves an article to be overwrapped through the apparatus with the only, in some embodiments, the heater blocks requiring energy input.

Description:
CROSS RFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority of the U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/360,392 filed Feb. 28, 2002 entitled MANUAL COMPACT DISC JEWEL CASE OVERWRAPPER 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to compact disc jewel case overwrapper machines and methods of use thereof.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Practitioners of compact disc (hereinafter referred to as “CD”) production and replication are concerned with how to package the final CD product. Available to the practitioner is one method that involves shrink-wrapping a plastic-like sheet about the CD container (or “jewel case”). Another method involves over-wrapping the jewel case using a plastic-like sheet.  
           [0004]    In shrinkwrapping, the plastic-like sheet is disposed about a jewel case, then heat is applied to the structure. The application of heat will conform the plastic-like sheet to the surface of the jewel case. However, the shrinking of the plastic about the jewel case often results in an irregular plastic surface. For example, at the comers of the jewel case, the plastic-like sheet will normally not conform to the structural conformation of the jewel case resulting in a rippled-like appearance. This shrinkwrapping process does serve to enclose the jewel case within the plastic sheet, but the procedure suffers in aesthetic value.  
           [0005]    To overcome this difficulty, many practitioners employ overwrapping procedures. Overwrapping is a process whereby a plastic-like sheet is disposed about a jewel case just like in shrinkwrapping. However, unlike shrinkwrapping, the plastic-like sheet is manipulated in such a manner so as to conform the plastic to the outer surface of the jewel case resulting in a paucity of rippled plastic. This is accomplished primarily by manipulating the plastic-like sheet about the jewel case essentially as one would wrap a gift with wrapping paper. For example, the wrapping paper is cut to size and folded to essentially form a “V-like” appearance about the comers of the gift forming a “V-gift wrap” appearance. So to with the plastic-like sheet disposed about the jewel case employing overwrapping versus shrinkwrapping.  
           [0006]    Currently, there exists automated technology that can overwrap a jewel case. However, this technology is expensive and directed to large manufacturing operations. To date, there are no manual overwrappers that are relatively inexpensive and that can produce the same quality product as the large industrial automated overwrappers. There exists a need for a reliable, inexpensive manual overwrapper that provides a practitioner with the same quality overwrapping as provided by the industrial overwrappers but without the attendant maintenance and expense.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention pertains to a manual overwrapper and a method of use thereof. The overwrapper comprises a tower and runway. The tower and runway may be affixed to one another or be molded out of the same starting material. The tower comprises a back plate and a front holding plate that is disposed atop the back plate. The front holding plate is moveably displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tower. The tower further comprises one or more lateral side folders. These side folders facilitate the folding of a wrapping material that shrouds an article to be overwrapped along the lateral sides of the article. Heating blocks further comprise the tower. These heating blocks provide heat energy sufficient to seal the wrapping material.  
           [0008]    The overwrapper of the present invention further comprises a runway. In one embodiment, the runway comprises a top guard and rear guard. These guards are used to properly position an article along the runway. A top folder is also included in this I embodiment. This top folder facilitates the folding of a wrapping material about the top side of the article. A runway heating block is disposed along the runway and seals wrapping material that is disposed on the top side of the article.  
           [0009]    An electrical unit can be included, wherein the unit is preferably affixed to le tower at its rear and is shrouded in a protective covering. This electrical unit comprises a control panel from which an operator can control the input and output temperature of the unit. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TEE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is schematic representation of the side folding elements positioned 900 from that depicted in FIG. 1 illustrating the elements that are adjacently disposed to the back plate  12 ;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the runway&#39;s heating block  32 , viewed from a position along the upper surface of the runway  26 ; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 illustrates a method of overwrapping a jewel case. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]    The present invention pertains to compact disc jewel case (hereinafter “jewel case”) overwrapping machines and methods of use thereof The overwrapping machines disclosed herein are automated and operator friendly. In general, the overwrapper comprises a first functional component that facilitates the folding of plastic that is disposed about a jewel case along its lateral sides (the lateral sides are defined here as being perpendicular to the side comprising the hinge or bottom side of the jewel c e). A second functional component facilitates the folding of the plastic about the top side (side opposite the hinge side) of the jewel case. The first and second components can be structurally contiguous or separate structures.  
         [0015]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the first component  50  is perpendicularly disposed with the second component  52 . The first component  50 , or tower, can be disposed perpendicularly anywhere along the second component  26 , or runway. In a particular aspect of this invention, the tower  50  is disposed perpendicularly adjacent to a top guard  28  that is disposed upon the runway  26 , as shown in FIG. I.  
         [0016]    The tower  50  comprises a back plate  12 . This back plate  12  is an elongated piece of material disposed along the longitudinal axis (La) of the tower  50 . The back plate  12  comprises a front surface and a rear surface. The front surface is disposed toward the runway  26 . Curve guides  13  of the back plate  12  are disposed at or near the junction of the back plate  12  and runway  26 . FIG. 1 depicts two curve guides. However, it is envisaged within this invention that there may be only one curve guide or multiple curve guides in any particular embodiment. The back plate  12  can be secured to another component of the tower as depicted in FIG. I by a fastening means  24  such as a screw or it can be secured to a tower frame by welding or still it can be molded out of a basic tower frame element. The material composition used to construct the back plate  12  can be stainless steel, aluminum, plexi-glass, and alike. The width of the back plate  12  ban vary from the width of approximately a jewel case (about 25 inches) to whatever the width of the object desired to be overwrapped such as a cassette case, DVD case, VHS case or alike. The length of the back plate  12  along the longitudinal axis (La) of the tower  50  can vary as well. For example, the length can be sufficient to contain one or more jewel cases, for example, three jewel cases.  
         [0017]    The tower  50  further comprises a front holding plate  14 . The front holding plate  14  is disposed parallel to the back plate  12 . The front holding plate  14  has a similar geometry to the back plate  12  as well. Its longitudinal axis runs parallel to the longitudinal axis (La) of the tower  50  and is typically shorter. In one aspect of this embodiment the front holding plate  14  is disposed at a fixed position. In a particular aspect of this embodiment, the front holding plate  14  is movably displaceable. This can be accomplished by the means of fixation. For example, the fixation means  22  depicted in FIG. 1 comprises a spring that is attached to the front holding plate  14  and a securing arm  52 . In this particular figure, six fixation means are depicted, however it will be understood by the skilled artisan that this arrangement could be more or less than the six depicted and still be within the scope of this invention. The springs allow for displacement of the front holding plate  14  in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (La) of the tower  50 . The tension of the spring(s) are such that the article being displaced between the back plate  12  and front holding plate  14  will not traverse in a longitudinal direction unless an operator applies a sufficiently moderate force to displace the article along the longitudinal axis (La) of the tower  50 . In a particular aspect of this embodiment, the front holding plate  14  comprises one or more notches. These notches are defined by the front holding plate  14  and permit an operator to access the article being overwrapped. FIG. 1 depicts two notches, one at the apex of the front holding plate  12  and one centrally located along the longitudinal axis of the front holding plate  12 . The materials used to construct the front holding plate  14  include, but are not limited to, plastic, steel, plexi-glass, and alike.  
         [0018]    Two or more side folders  16  also comprise components of the tower  50 . FIG. 1 depicts two side folders  16  laterally disposed along the tower  50 . In FIG. 1, the side folders  16  are disposed laterally about the tower  50 . In one aspect, the side folders  16  extend longitudinally along the tower  50  less than either the back plate  12  or front holding plate  14 . It should be obvious to one skilled in the art that this relative pos4ion can be altered and still be considered to be within the scope of the invention. The side folders  16  can be molded out of a template of material or can be manufactured and fixed onto a tower frame by, for example, a screw fixation means  54 ,  56 , and  58 . See FIG. 2.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 depicts one embodiment of a side folder  16  in which this particular view illustrates the surfaces that are disposed toward an article being subjected to overwrapping. In this view, the side folder  16  is rotated 90° from its position in the tower  50 . In the tower  50 , element  38  is disposed toward the rear of the tower  50 , while element  36  is disposed toward an operator facing the apparatus of FIG. 1. Element  40  is disposed toward the top of the tower (opposite to the runway). This side folder  16   1  of FIG. 2 depicts three elements. The arrangement of these elements are disposed a longitudinal axis (Lf) that is parallel to the longitudinal axis (La) of the tower  50 . These three elements form channels  42 ,  44  and  60  as shown in FIG. 2. These channels play an important role in facilitating the folding of the wrapping material along the sides of the article submitted for overwrapping. The front side folder element  36  is in apposition to the middle side folder element  40 , which in turn is in apposition with rear side folder element  38 . The front side folder element  36  is oriented in such a manner that the side opposite the channel facing side is disposed toward an operator facing the apparatus of FIG. 1. As can be observed from FIG. 2, in this particular aspect of the invention, channels  42  and  44  are contiguous. The demarcation of separate channels is simply for purposes of discussion and to orient the practitioner to regions of the side folder  16 . For example, channel  42  is disposed between element  36  and element  40 , whereas channel  44  is disposed between element  40  and element  38 . Channel  60  is disposed between element  40  and element  38 . The construction of these channels can be accomplished by positioning elements  36 ,  38  and  40  in an appropriate position. Alternatively, the channels can be formed by carving, milling, or molding material out of a base material such a aluminum, plastic, polycarbonate and alike.  
         [0020]    In operation, an article such as a jewel case has a plastic sheet manually placed about it. (See FIG. 4.) The dimensions (length and width) of the plastic sheet is larger than that of the article. The lateral sides of the article, when positioned in the tower  50  of the overwrapper  10 , have extended portions of the plastic sheet disposed upon them. As the article and plastic sheet pass through the tower  50  along its longitudinal axis (La), the extended portion of the plastic sheet that is disposed along the back plate  12  (the “bottom” portion) slips into channel  60 , thereby facilitating its folding onto the lateral side of the article. The portion of the extended plastic sheet that is disposed towards the front holding plate  14  (the “top” portion) slips into channel  42 . As the article progresses along the longitudinal axis (La) of the tower  50 , the extended plastic of the top portion continues along channel  42  entering channel  44 . There the top portion of the plastic is folded inward along the lateral surface of the article atop the bottom portion of the plastic that has already been folded inward. The plastic portions are sealed as the article passes and pauses briefly (between 1 to 5 seconds) by the heating blocks  18  of the tower  50 , as described below.  
         [0021]    The present invention  10  comprises one or more heating blocks. These heating blocks are designed to heat seal the wrapping material on a folded side. In one embodiment of this invention, there are two heating blocks  18  affixed to the tower  50 . See FIG. 1. These heating blocks  18  are disposed distally from where an article subject to wrapping enters the tower  50 . In one particular aspect of this embodiment, two heating blocks  18  are disposed opposite one another and located along the lateral edge of the tower  50 . The heating surface (not shown) of each block  18  is disposed medially such that it effectuates the sealing of a wrapping material along the lateral side of an article as it traverses longitudinally along the tower&#39;s longitudinal axis (La). The heating surface reaches temperatures sufficient to seal the wrapping material. These temperatures range from about 180° C. to about 240° C. The heating blocks  18  can have their own supply of energy or can use energy from another source. FIG. 1 illustrates electrical connections  20  in which energy can be obtained from an electrical generator (not shown). In a particular aspect of this embodiment, the heating blocks  18  comprise protective shields (not shown). These shields prevent an operator from becoming electrocuted. Construction of the heating block shields can vary, but it must be able to protect an operator. In another aspect, there is an additional shield that traverses along the lateral sides of the tower  50  covering the side folders  16  and heating blocks  18  (not shown).  
         [0022]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the runway  26  comprises one or more heating blocks  32 . FIG. 1 illustrates one heating block  32 , but one skilled in the art will appreciate that more than one heating block  32  may be disposed along the runway  26 . In the particular embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the heating block  32  is disposed along the runway&#39;s medial side, that is, the side closest to the tower  50 . As a partially enclosed (wrapped) article egresses from the tower  50  with the wrapped material sealed along the article&#39;s lateral sides, it emerges with an unsealed top side. In one embodiment, the article is disposed along the tower  50  such that the bottom side (hinge side), for example of a jewel case, emerges first from the tower near the junction with the runway  26 . Once the article emerges from the tower  50 , an operator can position the article such that its bottom side is disposed adjacent to a rear guard  34  of the runway  26 . In FIG. 1 the rear guard  34  is depicted as one continuous structure. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that this need not be the case. Other rear guard  34  configuration are within the scope of this invention such as a discontinuous structure. In this position, the top side of the article is disposed adjacent to the top guard of the runway  26 . The article can then traverse the runway  26  in the direction of the heating block  32  that is used to seal the wrapping material along the top side of the article. In a particular aspect of this embodiment, an operator will manually traverse the article along the runway  26 . Alternatively, another aspect of this embodiment has the article traversing along the runway  26  via one or more conveyor means such as a belt (not shown). (This conveyor means could also be employed for moving an article along the tower  50 .)  
         [0023]    Prior to reaching the heating block  32  along the runway  26 , the wrapping material needs to be prepared. Once an article emerges from the tower  50 , the wrapping material along the top side of the article needs to be manually folded in order to effectuate a “V-gift wrapped” appearance in the final product. In one aspect, an operator can properly fold the wrapping material about the top side of the article using their index finger. (See FIG. 4.) Essentially, the operator facilitates the inward movement of wrapping material from a lateral direction along the top side of the article. Then the operator places the article along the runway  26  in such a manner as to position the bottom side of the artlicle adjacent to the rear guard  34  and the top side of the article adjacent to the top guard  28 . Preferably, the wrapping material is larger than the article to be wrapped in such a manner that when the wrapping material is placed about the article, the wrapping material extends beyond the articles. In order to effectuate proper wrapping, the wrapping material that exceeds the top margin of the article and is closest to the runway  26  surface when the article is flush with the runway  26  is folded in upon the top side of the article. The article is now ready to traverse along the runway  26  and interact with a top folder  30  that is disposed along the runway  26 . FIG. 1 depicts this top folder  30  disposed along the medial side of the runway  26  and between the top guard  28  and heating block  32 . As the article traverses along and passes the top folder  30  the wrapping material is conformed in such a manner as to effectuate the “V-gift wrapped” appearance. FIG. 3 depicts one embodiment of the top folder  30 . In this depiction, the top folder  30  comprises two elements  46  and  48 . There is an angular channel  62  disposed between element  46  and element  48 . The wrapping material along the top side of the article facing the operator enters the channel  62  of the top folder  30  from the left, as depicted in FIG. 3. Following this procedure, the wrapping material along the top side of the article will have a “V-gift wrapped” appearance. To secure this appearance, the article is brought into proximity with the hearing block  32  for about I to  5  seconds. The heating surface of the heating block  32  is disposed toward the top side of the article. As the article is brought into proximity with the heating block  32 , the wrapping material is sealed to form a “V-gift wrapped” appearance. The temperature range for the runway heating block  32  is essentially the same as for the tower heating blocks  18 . The energy source for the runway heating block  32  can be independent from the rest of the apparatus, alternatively, it can participate in the units energy source.  
         [0024]    An electrical utility unit can be affixed to the rear of the tower  50 . This electrical unit can comprise a control platform in which the operator can adjust the current going to, for example, a thermostat that supplies current to the heating clocks of the invention. Preferably, this electrical unit is encased within a protective shield or box with only the control elements, for example knobs and indicators, exposed.  
         [0025]    Articles that can be used with this invention include, but are not limited to, compact disc jewel cases, cassette cases, DVD cases, VHS cases, and alike. The dimensions of the overwrapper can be adjusted according to what type of article is being subjected to the overwrapper in order to accommodate the article.  
         [0026]    The instant invention pertains to methods for overwrapping an article employing the overwrapper disclosed herein. For illustrative purposes only, the following description concerns the overwrapping procedure used to overwrap a compact disc using plastic wrap. However, as one skilled in the art will appreciate, any article of manufacture and suitable wrapping material can be used in the methods described herein.  
         [0027]    The jewel case is wrapped about with one sheet of plastic, such as polypropylene, such that the jewel case is centered, wherein equal margins of overhanging plastic at each edge except to bottom side or hinge exists. See FIGS. 4 a  &amp;  b . The plastic sheet can be pre-sized and/or pre-cut prior to use. An operator next places the unsealed, wrapped jewel case into the tower  50 . See FIG. 4 c . As depicted in FIG. 4 c , the jewel case is placed into the tower in a particular orientation, that is, the bottom side of the jewel case is first placed between the back plate  12  and front holding plate  14 .  
         [0028]    The notch or notches at the top of the front holding plate  14  (that region closest to the entry point of the jewel case into the tower  50 ) can be used by the operator to traverse the partially wrapped jewel case along the longitudinal axis (La, as depicted in FIG. 1) toward the runway  26 . The central notch defined by the front holding plate  14  can be used by the operator to continue the movement of the partially wrapped jewel case longitudinally about the tower  50 . See FIG. 4 d . As described above, this movement of the partially wrapped jewel case positions the jewel case adjacent to, first, the side folders  16  thus facilitating the “V-gift wrap” folding of the plastic wrapping material along the lateral sides of the jewel case, and second, positions the partially wrapped jewel case adjacent to the heat blocks  20  thus facilitating the sealing of the plastic wrap along the lateral sides of the jewel case. Following the sealing of the plastic wrap along the lateral sides of the jewel case, the jewel case together with the wrap can be extruded from the tower  50  as shown in FIG. 4 e.    
         [0029]    The plastic margins extending beyond the edge of the top side of the jewel need to be manipulated. As depicted in FIG. 4 f , the lateral portion of the plastic are folded in on the last section of plastic film to be sealed. Next, the jewel case is placed flat on the runway  26  between the top guard  28  and rear guard  34 . See FIG. 4 g . In this position the extended plastic film along the bottom face of the jewel case, that is, the face lying on the runway  26  is folded over on to the top side of the jewel case. The extend plastic film that is on the top face of the jewel case, that is, the face that is side opposite the bottom face and exposed to the operator, is placed atop of the top guard  28  as shown in FIG. 4 g . The jewel case is then moved along the runway  26  toward the runway&#39;s heater block  31 . As traverses along the runway  26 , the extended plastic along the top side of the case is folded in toward the jewel case by the top folder  30  that is disposed on the runway  26 . The plastic film on the top side of the case is then heat sealed by passing and pausing for between I to 5 seconds the case past the runway&#39;s heater block  32 . Now, the jewel case is securely sealed in a plastic film and can be removed from the overwrapper.