Method and systems for applying stretch films/plastic films at a controlled temperature and/or transfer of electrostatic charge
A system for controlling the temperature of a film before and/or during application, the system including: a heat source for heating a film; and stretch rollers; wherein the heat source heats the film from an ambient temperature to a temperature from about 2° C. to about 40° C. above the ambient temperature, wherein the film is heated prior to or simultaneous to being stretched by the stretch rollers, and wherein the ambient temperature is below 15° C. A system for improving the application of film by transfer of electrostatic charge is also described. The preheating system and/or electrostatic charge system may be used to enhance binding and sealing properties of stretch films used for wrapping palletized products in a reduced temperature environment. Other embodiments of the preheating film system and electrostatic charge system, and methods for their use, are described herein.
1. A method for improving application of a film, comprising:
stretching the film;
charging the film with an electrostatic charge;
wrapping the film around a perishable product at an ambient temperature to form a sealed enclosure;
forming a film tail; and
adhering the film tail to the wrapped product.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the film is charged by an electrostatic source located on a film carriage head or a stretch hooder.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the film is charged with a positive charge, a negative charge, or alternating between a positive charge and a negative charge.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the electrostatic source emits an output from about 0.1 mA to about 0.9 mA.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the electrostatic source emits a voltage from about 50 mV to about 200 mV.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the operating distance of the electrostatic source is from about 5 mm to about 250 mm from the film.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ambient temperature is from about −5° to about 15° C.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising charging a top sheet and/or bottom sheet.
9. A method for eliminating or reducing film tails from a wrapped good, comprising:
wrapping a film from a film source around a pallet of goods;
charging an area of the film that is yet to be wrapped around the pallet of goods;
cutting the area of the film that is yet to be wrapped around the pallet of goods from the film source to form a charged film tail; and
adhering the charged film tail to the wrapped pallet of goods.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising injecting a modified atmosphere inside the wrapped film.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising charging the film prior to wrapping the film around the wrapped pallet of goods.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the film is charged by an electrostatic source located on a film carriage head or a stretch hooder.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the film is charged with a positive charge, a negative charge, or alternating between a positive charge and a negative charge.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the electrostatic source emits an output from about 0.1 mA to about 0.9 mA.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the electrostatic source emits a voltage from about 50 mV to about 200 mV.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the operating distance of the electrostatic source is from about 5 mm to about 250 mm from the film.
17. The method of claim 9 , wherein the pallet of goods is at an ambient temperature from about −5° to about 15° C.
18. The method of claim 9 , further comprising charging a top sheet and/or bottom sheet.
19. The method of claim 9 , further comprising stretching the film prior to wrapping the film.
20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising injecting a modified atmosphere inside the wrapped film.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the film tail comprises cutting an area of the film that is yet to be wrapped to form the film tail.
22. A method for eliminating or reducing film tails from a wrapped good, comprising:
wrapping a film from a film source around a good;
charging an area of the film that is yet to be wrapped around the good;
cutting the area of the film that is yet to be wrapped around the good from the film source to form a charged film tail; and
adhering the charged film tail to the wrapped good,
wherein the film is charged by an electrostatic source located on a film carriage head or a stretch hooder.