1 EP 1 256 520 A1 2

Description a core providing the rigidity and mechanical properties

required for good machinability and which permits a
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION substantial increase in film length as compared to paper
straw wrappers of the same diameter roll thereby result-
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of Ap- 5 ing in less frequent machine stoppage for reloading of
plication Ser. No. 09/391,011, filed September 7, 1999. wrapper strip rolls.
[0006] Another feature of the present invention is to
TECHNICAL FIELD provide a method of wrapping straws with thin plastic
film strips which is substantially fully automatic and
[0002] The present invention relates to a machine and 10 which can handle elongated tubular objects, such as
a method for wrapping an elongated object, such as a straws, of different dimensions.
drinking straw, with a plastic film, and to the wrapped [0007] Another feature of the present invention is to
object resulting therefrom. More specifically, the inven- provide a straw sealed in a thin plastic film wrapper
tion relates to a straw wrapping machine and method which is water-proof and on which wrapper there is pro-
and a straw wrapped in a plastic film wrapper which 15 vided printed matter and/or graphics.
seals the straw therein. The machine can also be retro- [0008] Another feature of the present invention is to
fitted quite easily to convert to a paper straw wrapper. provide a straw wrapped in a thin plastic film and where-
in the straw and wrapper are completely recyclable by
BACKGROUND ART the manufacturer.
20 [0009] Another feature of the present invention is to
[0003] Straws of all types are packaged in different provide a thin plastic wrapper for elongated articles and
manners whereby to project the straw in a sanitary man- wherein the wrapper is completely sealed and can be
ner to prevent contamination thereof. It is also known to easily sterilized.
package thermometers in sterilized wrappers. It is still [0010] Another feature of the present invention is to
further known to attach short drinking straws on bever- 25 pre-stretch the film strip to increase the yield of a supply
age packages or cans with shrink wrappers or other roll and to weaken the film to facilitate the removal of a
straw attaching films. However, the majority of straws straw wrapped by said pre-stretched film.
are packaged individually in thin paper wrappers of the [0011] A still further feature of the present invention
type commonly used to manufacture cigarettes. A dis- is to provide a thin plastic film straw wrapping machine
advantage of such wrappers is that they cannot be used 30 which can be easily and economically converted to a
to sterilize the straws due to their absorbency. Further- paper straw wrapping machine.
more, because These papers are highly absorbent, they [0012] According to the above features, from a broad
are susceptible to contamination by liquids should liquid aspect, the present invention provides a machine for
be splashed against the wrapped straw or the straw wrapping drinking straws with a waterproof plastic film,
placed on a liquid spill which we often find on counter 35 said machine comprising drive means for continuously
tops where drinks of all sorts are dispensed. Another advancing a narrow thin film strip from a supply means
disadvantage of using these thin paper wrappers is that to a wrapper loading and forming means, tension means
it is difficult to print on these papers. Also, because the to maintain a continuous tension on said film drawn from
paper is highly absorbent, if the wrapped straw was in said supply means, said wrapper loading and forming
contact with liquid, the liquid could also dissolve the ink 40 means having a trough former for folding said advancing
and contaminate the straw inside the wrapper. A further film strip into a film trough, insert means for positioning
disadvantage is that because these straws are usually spaced-apart drinking straws into said film trough of said
made of plastics material, it is difficult to recycle straws advancing film strip for engagement and conveyance of
in their paper wrappers as the two materials need to be said drinking straws by said film trough, straw dispens-
separated for recycling. Accordingly, they are destroyed 45 ing means for supplying pre-oriented drinking straws to
and not recycled. said insert means, sealing and severing means for heat
sealing said film trough about individual ones of said
SUMMARY OF INVENTION drinking straws and severing said film trough between
adjacent ends of said drinking straws to form individually
[0004] It is a feature of the present invention to pro- 50 wrapped drinking straws, said trough former having a
vide a machine, a method and a plastic film wrapped geometric forming plate defining a tapered bottom wall
straw which substantially overcomes the above-men- having an inlet end and progressively merging opposed
tioned disadvantages of the prior art. upright side walls merging to a narrow rear trough sec-
[0005] Another feature of the present invention is to tion, and film drawing means spaced from said rear
provide a machine for automatically wrapping straws 55 through section for pulling said film through said trough
with a thin plastic film strip which is contained in a roll form a flat condition adjacent said inlet end to a progres-
and wherein the plastic film is a co-extruded film struc- sively folded trough condition toward said narrow rear
ture with a sealing layer permitting high line speed and trough section.