Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to a process and apparatus for packaging a product, particularly a waste product, in a sealed tubular container. The invention pertains particularly to packaging a product in a container formed by one or more, heat bonded plastic sheets, particularly just one heat bonded plastic sheet. The invention pertains more particularly to packaging a product in a container heat sealed against leakage of its contents, particularly leakage of its liquid and gaseous contents.

Background of the invention

In order to dispose safely of waste products such as used disposable diapers, bandages and feminine hygiene products (e.g., tampons and sanitary napkins), ways have been sought for enabling individuals to enclose each product, produced by the individuals, in a container that can then be easily and safely collected and stored and then transported as a plurality of containers to a centralized waste disposal facility. In particular, ways have been sought for enabling individuals to enclose each product in a container, from which solids (including microorganisms), liquids and gases cannot escape or leak while a plurality of containers is being collected, stored, transported and disposed of.

EP0850836 has described a process and apparatus for providing tubular plastic packages for commodities. However, this prior process and apparatus are unsuitable for safely providing packages for waste products, such as disposable diapers, bandages and feminine hygiene products that can leak. This is because such waste products are not enclosed in plastic during their entire time in the apparatus and its process. Thus, the waste products can contaminate surfaces of the apparatus.

GB2206094A, EP0699584A2, EP2441684A2 and US2015151908A1 have described processes and apparatus for disposing safely of waste products, such as used diapers and bandages, in containers formed from one or more plastic sheets. In particular, EP2441684A2 described the use of two, adhesively coated sheets, the edges of which are pressure bonded to each other about the waste product contents of each of its containers. GB2206094A and EP0699584A2 described the use of a preformed single pleated tubular plastic sheet which is twisted or knotted at the top and bottom of each of its containers to seal its waste product contents. US2015151908A1 described the use of one or two, adhesively coated sheets (which may be heat sealable), the edges of which are pressure bonded to each other about the waste product contents of each of its containers.

However, none of these prior processes and apparatuses reliably produces a sealed container, from which solids and liquids cannot readily escape while the container is being formed about a waste product and from which solids, gases and liquids from the waste product cannot escape when the container is finally sealed. In this regard, these prior processes and apparatuses, that pressure bond the edges of their sheets to each other about the waste product contents of their containers, risk leakage of liquids and gases during the bonding of their sheets to each other which could reduce significantly the integrity of the bonds, being formed. Likewise, these prior processes and apparatuses, that twist or knot the top and bottom of each of their containers to seal their waste product contents, risk leakage of liquids and gases during storage.

Furthermore, each of the disclosed apparatus requires at least two layers of film coated with with a suitable pressure sensitive adhesive, or a pre-folded tubular films which limits the usefulness, and is difficult to handle.

US3779861, US3703252 and US6428457 disclose an apparatus and a process for moving a film under tension about a tubular mandrel, then sealing the overlapping edges of the resulting film wrapped about the mandrel, then moving the resulting tube upwardly under tension to form a hollow tube. However, while these documents show the production of a plastic tube, none of the processes disclosed in these documents permits to seal away waste products in any form.

Accordingly, there is a need for using a simple, essentially continuous sheet-like

thermoplastic films for reliably producing a sealed container.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect, this invention relates to a process for enclosing a product, especially a waste product, in a finally-sealed tubular plastic container; the process comprising the steps of:

providing a source, advantageously a roll, of a sheet of a plastic, advantageously thermoplastic, film having a first lengthwise portion; the sheet also having a second lengthwise portion, spaced lengthwise away from the first lengthwise portion, with a pair of second widthwise end portions on opposite sides of the second lengthwise portion; the sheet further having a third lengthwise portion which is spaced lengthwise further away from the first lengthwise portion than the second lengthwise portion, which has a tubular form and opposite widthwise sides of which have been heat sealed together along substantially the entire connection of the second and third lengthwise portions;

- moving the second lengthwise portion of the sheet away from the source and about an open-ended, vertically-extending tubular pipe and then toward an open top end of the pipe to form the second lengthwise portion of the sheet into a tubular form around the pipe with the second widthwise end potions overlapping each other; sealing, advantageously heat sealing, the overlapping second widthwise end portions of the second lengthwise portion of the sheet to each other, advantageously while pressing the overlapping second widthwise end portions against an exterior surface of the pipe, to form the second lengthwise portion of the sheet into a plastic tube with the pipe at an interior of the tube;

moving the tube, formed by the second lengthwise portion of the sheet, into an open top end of the pipe, advantageously with first opposed rotating rollers that are on opposite sides of, frictionally engage, the tube, and then downwardly through the pipe, so that the interior of the tube, formed by the second lengthwise portion of the sheet, is open at the top end of the pipe;

placing the product into the interior of the tube, formed by the second lengthwise portion of the sheet, at the open top end of the pipe, so that the product then falls or is transported downwardly through the tube, formed by the second lengthwise portion of the sheet, and the pipe to the heat sealed top of the third lengthwise portion of the sheet;

moving the tube, formed by the second lengthwise portion of the sheet, further downwardly through, and outwardly of, the pipe, advantageously with second opposed rotating rollers that are on opposite sides of, frictionally engage, the tube; and then sealing, advantageously heat sealing, to each other, opposite widthwise sides of top portions of the tube, formed by the second lengthwise portion of the sheet, along substantially the entire width of the top of the tube, formed by the second lengthwise portion of the sheet to enclose the product in the tube.

Advantageously, the process also comprises the step of:

engaging the product in the tube, formed by the second lengthwise portion of the sheet, after the tube is moved downwardly through the pipe, between third opposed rotating rollers that are above the second rollers and that have mating semi-circular apertures, which are advantageously centered along the length of the third rollers and which urge the product to move downwardly in the tube with rotation of the third rollers. Also advantageously, the third rollers are biased, more advantageously spring biased, against opposite widthwise sides of the tube, so that the third rollers and their apertures can reversibly move widthwise apart when urged by the size of the product in the tube between the third rollers.

In another aspect, this invention relates to an apparatus for enclosing a product, especially a waste product, in a finally-sealed tubular plastic container; the apparatus comprising: a source, advantageously a roll, of a sheet of a plastic, advantageously thermoplastic, film having a first lengthwise portion; the sheet also having a second lengthwise portion, spaced lengthwise away from the first lengthwise portion, with a pair of second widthwise end portions on opposite sides of the second lengthwise portion; the sheet further having a third lengthwise portion which is spaced lengthwise further away from the first lengthwise portion than the second lengthwise portion, which has a tubular form and opposite widthwise sides of which have been heat sealed together along substantially the entire width of the top of the third lengthwise portion;

an open-ended, vertically-extending tubular pipe adjacent to the source;

a mandrel between an outer surface of the pipe and the source, adapted to form the second lengthwise portion of the sheet into a tubular form around the pipe with the second widthwise end portions overlapping each other when the second lengthwise portion is moved away from the source along the mandrel toward the outer surface of the pipe and then toward an open top end of the pipe;

a first sealing device, adjacent to an exterior surface of the pipe, for sealing, advantageously heat sealing, to each other, the overlapping second widthwise end portions of the tubular form of the second lengthwise portion of the sheet,

advantageously while pressing the overlapping second widthwise end portions against the exterior surface of the pipe, to form the tubular form of the second lengthwise portion of the sheet into a plastic tube with the pipe at an interior of the tube;

first opposed rotating rollers that are on opposite widthwise sides of, and frictionally engage, the exterior of the tube, formed by the second lengthwise portion of the sheet, and that are adapted to move the tube toward an open top end of the pipe;

second opposed rotating rollers that are on opposite widthwise sides of, and frictionally engage, plastic tubes formed by the second and third lengthwise portions of the sheet, that are below an open bottom end of the pipe, and that are adapted to move the second and third lengthwise portions downwardly and thereby move the tube, formed by the second lengthwise portion of the sheet, into the open top end of the pipe and then downwardly in the pipe to and through the open bottom end of the pipe, so that the interior of the tube, formed by the second lengthwise portion of the sheet, is open at the top end of the pipe; and

a second sealing device, below the pipe, for sealing, advantageously heat sealing, to each other, opposite widthwise sides of top portions of the tube, formed by the second lengthwise portion of the sheet, along substantially the entire width of top portions of the tube, formed by the second lengthwise portion of the sheet, and thereby enclose a product in the tube.

Advantageously, the apparatus also comprises third opposed rotating rollers that are above the second rollers and that are on opposite width wise sides of, and advantageously contact, the tube, formed by the second lengthwise portion of the sheet, after it moves downwardly in the pipe; the third rollers being adapted to move any product within the tube downwardly out of, and away from, the bottom of the pipe; the third rollers having mating semi-circular apertures which are advantageously centered along the length of the third rollers to engage the product as it passes downwardly in the tube between the third rollers; the apertures in the third rollers urging the product to move downwardly in the tube with rotation of the third rollers. Also advantageously, the third rollers are biased, more advantageously spring biased, against opposite widthwise sides of the tube, so that the third rollers and their apertures can reversibly move widthwise apart when urged by the size of the product in the tube between the third rollers.

In yet another aspect, this invention relates to an apparatus for enclosing a product, especially a waste product, in a finally-sealed tubular plastic container; the apparatus comprising: an open-ended, vertically-extending tubular pipe;

a source of a tube of a plastic, advantageously a thermoplastic, extending downwardly in the pipe from an open top end of the pipe to and through an open bottom end of the pipe; an interior of the tube being open at the top end of the pipe for insertion of a product into the interior of the tube; - first opposed rotating rollers that are on opposite widthwise sides of, and frictionally engage, the tube, that are below an open bottom end of the pipe, and that are adapted to move the tube downwardly in the pipe;

second opposed rotating rollers that are above the first rollers and that are on opposite widthwise sides of, and advantageously contact, the tube; the third rollers being adapted to move the product within the tube downwardly out of, and away from, the bottom of the pipe; the third rollers having mating semi-circular apertures which are advantageously centered along the length of the third rollers to engage the product as it passes downwardly in the tube between the second rollers; the apertures in the second rollers urging the product to move downwardly in the tube with rotation of the second rollers; and

- a sealing device, below the pipe, for sealing, advantageously heat sealing, to each other, opposite widthwise sides of top portions of the tube and thereby enclose the product in the tube.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a packaging apparatus of this invention, from one side of the apparatus, with lower portions of the apparatus removed; shown is a plastic film that extends from a roll of the film, over a forming shoulder, along a lower forming surface of a mandrel, then about an outer tubular surface of an open-ended, vertically-extending pipe, then upwardly around the pipe and past a first pair of opposed rollers in a tubular form and past a first heat sealing device, then inwardly of the open top end of the pipe as a plastic tube, then downwardly in the pipe and then outwardly of the pipe through its open bottom end as a string of finally-sealed tubular plastic containers, each containing a product which cannot leak out of its container.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 1 from an opposite side of the apparatus, with lower portions of the apparatus removed.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a part of the upper portions of the apparatus of Figure 1, showing the vertically-extending pipe and the first heat sealing device adjacent the outer surface of the pipe.

Figure 4 is a perspective view, like Figure 1, of the apparatus of this invention, showing lower portions of the apparatus, below the open bottom end of its pipe: particularly shown are opposed second and third pairs of rollers for moving a plastic tube downwardly from the open bottom end of the pipe, without the housing for a motor for driving these rollers;

Figure 5 is a perspective view, like Figure 4, including a housing for a motor for driving the second and third pairs of opposed rollers.

Figure 6 is a close-up perspective view, like Figure 4, showing the second and third pairs of opposed rollers of the apparatus of this invention.

Figure 7 is a close-up perspective view, showing the second and third pairs of opposed rollers and a second heat sealing device of the apparatus of this invention; particularly shown is the movable arm of the second heat sealing device in an open position, away from the device's heated electric wire.

Figure 8 is a close-up perspective view, like Figure 7, showing the movable arm of the second heat sealing device in a closed position, pressing against the device's heated electric wire.

Description of the Invention

In accordance with this invention, the term "sheet" preferably means a thin continuous sheet of a plastic film or foil which can be heat sealed to itself to provide a liquid and gas barrier around about a product, particularly a waste product. Especially preferred are sheets of a thermoplastic film, particularly sheets made from polyolefins , more preferably Polyethylene or polypropylene, more preferably LDPE, or polyesters, and/or sheets coated with heat- or pressure activatible adhesives. The sheet of this invention preferably extends lengthwise, i.e., along the length of the sheet, from a substantially continuous source, such as a roll of the film.

Herein, the term "product" preferably means any organic product with a biologic or liquid or gaseous content which is to be contained. A product can be any compressible solid product, such as a food product, e.g., a meat or dairy product. The term "waste product" preferably means any disposable diaper, bandage or feminine hygiene product (e.g., a tampon or sanitary napkin); used medical supplies and clinical waste products such as waste bandages, swabs, bandages, and/or dressings, gloves, sheets and so on.

The apparatus, generally 10, of this invention can be used for packaging a plurality of individual products (not shown), particularly waste products, in a sheet, generally 14, of a plastic, preferably thermoplastic, film. With the apparatus 10, the sheet 14 is formed into a continuous, generally tubular structure 16 of discrete tubular plastic containers 18, each holding and safely enclosing one or more products against leakage.

As best seen from Figures 1, 2 and 4, the apparatus 10 includes a source 20 of a substantial continuous length of the sheet 14 of the plastic film. Preferably the source of the sheet of the film is a roll 20 of the sheet 14, wound about a central axis or core 21. However, other sources of the sheet of the film can be used, such as an extruder of a continuous flat sheet of the film or a pleated stack of flat sheets of the film.

In the apparatus 10, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, a first lengthwise portion 22 of the sheet 14 is preferably wound about the roll 20, with a free lengthwise end 24 extending lengthwise away (along the sheet 14) from the roll 20 to a second lengthwise portion 26 of the sheet. The apparatus forms the second lengthwise portion 26 of the sheet 14 into a plastic tube 28 for a product (not shown), to be packaged, as the sheet 14 on the roll 20 is unwound and the second lengthwise portion 26 of the sheet is moved away from the roll by the process of the apparatus. The second lengthwise portion 26 of the sheet extends lengthwise away (along the sheet 14) from the first lengthwise portion 22 and preferably the roll 20 to a third lengthwise portion 30 of the sheet 14. The third lengthwise portion 30 of the sheet extends lengthwise away (along the sheet 14) from the first and second lengthwise portions 22, 26 of the sheet 14 and is further lengthwise from the first lengthwise portion 22 and from the roll 20 than the second lengthwise portion 26. The apparatus previously formed the third lengthwise portion 30 into a previous plastic tube 32 for a previous product (not shown), to be packaged, as the sheet 14 on the roll 20 was previously unwound and the third lengthwise portion 30 was moved away from the roll 20. In this regard, the opposite widthwise sides of the previous plastic tube 32 have been heat sealed together along substantially the entire connection of the second and third lengthwise portions 26, 30. As the sheet 14 is unwound from the roll 20 in the apparatus 10, the second lengthwise portion 26 of the sheet is preferably moved lengthwise away from the roll and upwardly towards an open-ended, vertically-extending tubular pipe 40 adjacent to the roll. In this regard, the second lengthwise portion 26 is moved initially up to and over a forming shoulder 42, extending widthwise relative to the sheet 14, and then moved downwardly beneath a pair of identical mandrels 44. The mandrels 44 are adjacent to, and surround, the tubular outer surface 46 of the pipe 40 and extend lengthwise away from the forming shoulder 42. The mandrels 44 are symmetrical widthwise, relative to the sheet 14, about the pipe 40, and each has a lower forming surface 48, against which the second lengthwise portion 26 of the sheet is moved downwardly from the forming shoulder 42 toward the bottom 49 of the lower forming surface 48 of each mandrel 44 to the tubular outer surface 46 of the pipe 40. At the bottom 49 of the lower forming surfaces 48 of the mandrels 44, the second lengthwise portion 26 of the sheet is moved upwardly around the pipe 40, towards its open top end 50, whereby the second lengthwise portion 26 is provided with a tubular form 52 around, and adjacent to, the outer surface 46 of the pipe. The widthwise bottom ends 54, 54A of the mandrels 44 overlap, so that the widthwise end portions 56, 56A on opposite sides of the second lengthwise portion 26 of the sheet 14 are symmetrical about the pipe and overlap in the tubular form 52 of the second lengthwise portion 26 around the pipe.

Adjacent to the tubular outer surface 46 of the pipe 40 are a first pair of opposed rotating mating rollers 58. The first rollers 58 rotate widthwise on opposite widthwise sides of, and frictionally engage, the exterior of the tubular form 52 of the second lengthwise portion 26 of the sheet 14. The first rollers 58 are adapted to move the tubular form 52 of the second lengthwise portion 26 from the bottom 49 of the lower forming surfaces 48 of the mandrels 44 toward the open top end 50 of the pipe.

Also adjacent to the tubular outer surface 46 of the pipe 40, preferably above the rollers 58, is a downwardly-elongated first heating device 60. The first heating device 60 heat seals the overlapping widthwise end portions 56, 56A of the second lengthwise portion 26 of the sheet 14 to each other. Thereby, the first heating device 60 makes the tubular form 52 of the second lengthwise portion 26 of the sheet 14 into the plastic tube 28 with the pipe 40 at the interior of the tube.

Preferably, the first heating device 60 has a downwardly-extending, heated electric wire (not shown) that continuously contacts the overlapping widthwise end portions 56, 56A as the second lengthwise portion 26 of the sheet 14 is moved upwardly from the bottom of the lower forming surfaces 48 of the mandrels 44 toward the open top end 50 of the pipe. Preferably, the first heating device 60 also presses the overlapping widthwise end portions 56, 56A against the outer surface 46 of the pipe to enhance the heat seal of the tube 28. In the apparatus 10, as shown in Figures 4-8, the plastic tube 28, formed by the second lengthwise portion 26 of the sheet 14, is pulled into the open top end 50 of the pipe 40 and then pulled downwardly in the pipe to and through the open bottom end 64 of the pipe, so that the interior of the tube 28 is open at the top end 50 of the pipe. This is accomplished by a second pair of opposed rotating mating rollers 62, preferably made of a soft rubber or plastic, which rotate widthwise beneath the open bottom end 64 of the pipe 40. The second rollers 62 are on opposite widthwise sides of, and frictionally engage, the lengthwise end of the tube 28 formed by the second lengthwise portion 26 and the previous plastic tube 32 of the third lengthwise portion 28 of the sheet 14, containing the previous product (not shown). Thereby, the product can be inserted into the interior of the tube 28, formed by the second lengthwise portion 26 of the sheet 14, where the tube 28 is open at the top end 50 of the pipe 40. Then, the product can fall downwardly within the tube 28 until it reaches the sealed top of the previous plastic tube 32 of the third lengthwise portion 28 of the sheet 14.

In the apparatus 10, as best shown in Figures 7 and 8, is also a widthwise-elongated, second heating device 65, below the second rollers 62 and the open bottom end 64 of the pipe 40. The second heating device 65 heat seals opposite widthwise sides of the top of the tube 28, formed by the second lengthwise portion 26 of the sheet 14, along substantially the entire width of top portions of the tube 28 above the product within the tube 28. Preferably, the second heating device 65 has a widthwise, heated electric wire 65A that is intermittently brought into contact with the top portions of the tube 28 above its product. Also preferably, the second heating device 65

intermittently presses opposite widthwise sides of the top portions of the tube 28 together to enhance the heat seal of the tube 28. In this regard, the electric wire 65A of the second heating device 65 is preferably mounted on the frame 66 of the apparatus 10, and the frame 66 is provided with an arm 67 which is pivotally mounted on the frame 66, which has a pressure bar 68 on one end 69, and the end 69 of which can be moved towards and away from the electric wire of the second heating device. This allows the second heating device 65 to form a heat seal 71 at the top of the plastic tube 28 and thereafter release the top of the tube 28 to allow it, together with the product in the tube 28, to move further downwardly, away from the bottom end 64 of the pipe.

Thereby, the apparatus 10 forms the tube 28, formed by the second lengthwise portion 26 of the sheet 14, into a finally-sealed, tubular plastic container 70 containing a product. In accordance with this invention, finally-sealed, tubular plastic container 70 is preferably produced as one container 70 in a continuous string of finally-sealed tubular plastic containers 70, each containing a product which cannot leak out of its container. If desired, the first and second heating devices 60 and 65 can be replaced by other devices for sealing portions of the sheet 14 of film to each other. For example, such alternative sealing devices could each include a source of an adhesive for bonding together the portions of the sheet 14 and a device for curing or otherwise activating the adhesive between the portions of the sheet, as well as a device for pressing together the portions of the sheet.

Also If desired, the second heating device 65 can include two, vertically-separate, widthwise, heated electric wires, so that the heating device can form a pair of parallel heat seals 71 at the top portions of each plastic tube (e.g., 28 and 32). This would permit the resulting adjacent finally- sealed, tubular plastic containers to be separated (e.g., by cutting the sheet of film 14 between the heat seals 71 of the containers 70).

As best shown in Figures 4 and 6-8, the apparatus 10 also preferably includes a third pair of opposed rotating mating rollers 72, that are above the second rollers 62 and that rotate widthwise beneath the open bottom end 64 of the pipe 40. The third rollers 72 are preferably adjacent, and parallel to, the second rollers 62. The third rollers 72, preferably made of a rigid material such as steel, are on opposite widthwise sides of the tube 28, formed by the second lengthwise portion of the sheet 14, and of the product within the tube 28. The third rollers 72 preferably contact opposite widthwise sides of the outer surface of the tube 28. The third rollers 72 have mating semi-circular apertures 74 which are centred along the length of the third rollers and can physically engage any product as it passes downwardly in the tube 28 between the third rollers. As a result, the apertures 74 in the third rollers 72 urge the product to move downwardly in the tube with rotation of the third rollers. The third rollers 72 are also biased, preferably by a spring 76, against opposite widthwise sides of the tube 28, so that the third rollers and their apertures 74 can reversibly move widthwise apart when urged by the size of the product in the tube 28 between the third rollers. As a result, the apertures 74 in the third rollers 72 can move the product through the tube 28, downwardly away from the open bottom end 64 of the pipe 40, without the product accumulating in the tube above the third rollers and thereby obstructing the pipe 40.

The rollers 58, 62 and 72 of the apparatus 10 can be driven in a conventional manner by conventional electric motors (not shown).

Likewise, the heat sealing devices 60 and 65 of the apparatus 10 can be powered in a conventional manner by a conventional source of electricity (not shown).

The apparatus 10 and its motors and its heat sealing devices 60 and 65 can be actuated in any conventional manner, such as by a start/stop button (not shown) which can be pushed by a user each time a product is to be wrapped in a plastic tube 28. Alternatively, the apparatus 10 and its motors and its heat sealing devices 60 and 65 can be actuated by a conventional optical sensor that is adjacent to the open top end 50 of the pipe 40 and that can sense the insertion of a product into the open top end 50 of the pipe 40.

The apparatus of this invention can be used in a process for packaging a product, particularly a waste product, in a finally-sealed tubular plastic container 70:

providing a source 20, preferably a roll, of a sheet 14 of a plastic, a preferably thermoplastic, film having a first lengthwise portion 24; the sheet also having a second lengthwise portion 26, spaced lengthwise away from the first lengthwise portion, with a pair of second widthwise end portions 56, 56A on opposite sides of the second lengthwise portion; the sheet further having a third lengthwise portion 28 which is spaced lengthwise further away from the first lengthwise portion than the second lengthwise portion, which has a tubular form and opposite widthwise sides of which have been heat sealed together along substantially the entire connection of the second and third lengthwise portions;

moving the second lengthwise portion 26 of the sheet away from the source 20 and about an open-ended, vertically-extending tubular pipe 40 and then toward an open top end 50 of the pipe to form the second lengthwise portion of the sheet into a tubular form 52 around the pipe 40 with the second widthwise end potions overlapping each other;

heat sealing the overlapping second widthwise end portions 56, 56A of the second lengthwise portion of the sheet to each other, preferably while pressing the overlapping second widthwise end portions against an exterior surface 46 of the pipe 40, to form the second lengthwise portion of the sheet into a plastic tube 28;

moving the tube 28, formed by the second lengthwise portion 26 of the sheet 14, into an open top end 50 of the pipe 40, preferably with first opposed rotating rollers that are on opposite sides of, frictionally engage, the tube 28 and then downwardly in the pipe, so that the interior of the tube, formed by the second lengthwise portion of the sheet, is open at the top end of the pipe;

placing the product into the interior of the tube 28, formed by the second lengthwise portion of the sheet, at the open top end 50 of the pipe 40, so that the product then falls downwardly through the tube, formed by the second lengthwise portion of the sheet, and the pipe to the heat sealed top portions of the third lengthwise portion 28 of the sheet; moving the tube 28, formed by the second lengthwise portion of the sheet, further downwardly through, and outwardly of, the pipe 40, preferably with second opposed rotating rollers 62 that are on opposite sides of, frictionally engage, the tube; and then heat sealing together opposite widthwise sides of top portions of the tube 28, formed by the second lengthwise portion 26 of the sheet 14, along substantially the entire width of the top of the tube, formed by the second lengthwise portion of the sheet. Alternatively with the process and apparatus of this invention, two or more sheets 14 of the plastic film can be formed into a sealed tubular plastic container 70. This can be done by unwinding a second lengthwise portion 26 of each sheet of film surrounding an open-ended, vertically- extending tubular pipe 40, preferably from a separate source of film, more preferably a separate roll 20 of film. Each roll 20 is preferably adjacent to, and has its axis 21 tangential to, the pipe 40. The second lengthwise portion 26 of each sheet is preferably unwound lengthwise, relative to the sheet, from its roll and upwardly towards the pipe 40 adjacent to the roll. In this regard, the second lengthwise portion 26 of each sheet is moved away from the roll and initially up to and over a separate forming shoulder 42, extending widthwise relative to the sheet, and then moved downwardly beneath a separate mandrel 44. The mandrel 44 for each sheet is adjacent to, and surrounds, a part of the tubular outer surface 46 of the pipe 40 and extends lengthwise away from the forming shoulder 42 for the sheet. The mandrels 44 for the two or more sheets are symmetrical about the pipe 40. Each mandrel 44 has a lower forming surface 48, against which the second lengthwise portion 26 of a sheet is moved downwardly from its forming shoulder 42 towards the bottom 49 of the lower forming surface 48 of the mandrel 44 to the tubular outer surface 46 of the pipe 40. At the bottom 49 of the lower forming surfaces 48 of the mandrels 44, the second lengthwise portions 26 of the sheets are moved upwardly together around the pipe 40 and towards its open top end 50, whereby the second lengthwise portions 26 together are provided with a tubular form 52 around, and adjacent to, the outer surface 46 of the pipe. The widthwise ends of the mandrels 44 overlap, so that the widthwise end portions 56, 56A on opposite sides of the second lengthwise portion 26 of each sheet 14 overlap the widthwise end portions 56, 56A on opposite sides of the second lengthwise portion 26 of one or more other sheets 14 in the tubular form 52 of the second lengthwise portions 26 of the sheets around the pipe. Then, two or more, first heating devices 60, adjacent to the tubular outer surface 46 of the pipe 40 and preferably above a first pair of opposed rotating mating rollers 58, heat seal the overlapping widthwise end portions 56, 56A on opposite sides of the second lengthwise portions 26 of the one or more other sheets 14 to each other. Thereby, the first heating devices 60 make the tubular form 52 of the second lengthwise portions 26 of the sheets 14 into a plastic tube 28. Preferably, each first heating device 60 is a downwardly-extending electric wire that continuously contacts a pair of overlapping widthwise end portions 56, 56A of second lengthwise portions 26 of two sheets 14 as they move together moved upwardly from the bottom 49 of each lower forming surface 48 of one of the mandrels 44 toward the open top end 50 of the pipe. Preferably, each first heating device 60 also presses a pair of overlapping widthwise end portions 56, 56A of second lengthwise portions 26 of two sheets 14 against the outer surface 46 of the pipe to enhance the heat seal of the tube 28.

The present invention also relates to an apparatus for packaging a product, particularly a waste product, in a sealed tubular plastic container; the apparatus comprising:

a holder for providing of a sheet of a plastic, preferably thermoplastic, film, the sheet having:

o a first lengthwise portion,

o a second lengthwise portion, spaced lengthwise away from the first lengthwise portion, and

o a third lengthwise portion which is spaced lengthwise further away from the first lengthwise portion than the second lengthwise portion;

an open-ended, vertically-extending tubular pipe adjacent to the source;

a mandrel between an outer surface of the pipe and the source, adapted to form the second lengthwise portion of the sheet into a tubular form around the pipe with the second widthwise end portions overlapping each other when the second lengthwise portion is moved away from the source along the mandrel toward the outer surface of the pipe and then toward an open top end of the pipe; and

a first sealing device, preferably heating device adjacent to an exterior surface of the pipe, for sealing, preferably heat sealing, to each other the overlapping second widthwise end portions of the tubular form of the second lengthwise portion of the sheet, preferably while pressing the overlapping second widthwise end portions against the exterior surface of the pipe, to form the tubular form of the second lengthwise portion of the sheet into a plastic tube.

The present invention also relates to a kit of parts comprising an apparatus as set out herein above, and (b) a roll of a sheet of the plastic film, wound about the axis of the roll, for use with the apparatus.

The present apparatus, kit of parts and process may advantageously not only make use of relatively simple thermoplastic films, but also avoid direct contact of waste products with parts of the apparatus, otherwise necessitating a regular cleaning and/or disinfection of this contact surface. The waste product rather is essentially only in contact with the film surface that forms the internal surface of the packaging, and will get sealed into the film.

As such, the apparatus and process are particularly useful for handling and discarding dangerous waste products such as clinical waste or the like into an essentially hermetically sealed packaging, which can be discarded directly, and does not exhibit any surface that was exposed to the waste products.