Device for forming partitioned film packages
View Patent ↗A process for producing partitioned packages by which a first film is formed into an elongated inner tube and a second film is formed into an elongated outer tube surrounding the inner tube. Reactive components are filled into the inner and outer tubes as the tubes are formed to maintain the reactive components separate from each other. Only the outer tube is actively engaged to advance the tube longitudinally. Frictional forces from the advancing outer tube are applied to the component within the outer tube and, in turn, are applied to the inner tube thereby advancing the inner tube at a rate substantially the same as the outer tube.
1. A process for producing a partitioned package comprising:
drawing a first web of a first film into a tubular configuration while overlapping edges of the web to produce an inner tube;
drawing a second web of a first film around the inner tube into a tubular configuration while overlapping edges of the second web to produce an outer tube;
filling the inner tube with a first material;
filling a gap between the inner tube and the outer tube with a second material that is different from the first material;
engaging only the outer tube such that the outer tube the outer tube is advanced, thereby causing the second material within the outer tube to advance and drag the inner tube along therewith at substantially the same rate as the outer tube; and
constricting and sealing the advancing filled tubes at spaced apart locations and severing the sealed tubes at the seal locations to produce a package partitioning the first and second material.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein portions of the outer tube are engaged by an advancing surface.
3. The process of claim 2 , wherein the advancing surface comprises a rotating wheel engaging portions of the outer tube.
4. The process of claim 2 , wherein the advancing surface comprises a rotating belt engaging portions of the outer tube.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises a polymerizable resin composition and the first material comprises a polymerization catalyst.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the inner tube is constricted within the outer tube.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the outer tube has greater strength than the inner tube.
8. The process of claim 7 , wherein the outer tube comprises polyethylene terephthalate.
9. The process of claim 8 , wherein the inner tube comprises polyethylene or polypropylene.