EP0303806B1 - Package for dispensing sheet-like articles one by one - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a package for dispensing flat or sheet-like articles, preferably disposable aprons, one by one, which articles are extended at one end by a preferably continuous edge strip (5) which can be torn from the article along a perforated or otherwise weakened tearing line (4), are placed individually folded or unfolded in a stack (1) and connected to one another at the edge strips (5), the stack (1) being folded in such a way that the other ends (16, 17) of the articles lie near to said edge strips (5) and the package having suspension holes (6) and preferably a reinforcement (13), preferably made of cardboard or stiff paper, on which the edge strips (5) are mounted, the other end (16, 17) of each article being extended by a second edge strip (5') which is connected to the article in a tear-off manner, like the first one (5), the second edge strips (5') lying one above the other in the stack (1) together with the first edge strips (5) and, if appropriate, the reinforcement (13), arranged between the first and second edge strips (5, 5'), forming an attachment panel, and the suspension holes (6) being arranged in the attachment panel. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a dispenser pack for the individual removal of flexible, flat or web-shaped articles of daily use, according to the preamble of claim 1. The dispenser pack is preferably intended for storing and removing disposable aprons made of plastic, as are used in the food industry and in the medical field.

Such a dispenser pack is known from the German utility model DE-U-7920828: This known dispenser pack contains a stack of commodities which are each extended by an edge strip on one narrow side and which are fastened to one another on these edge strips.

The edge strips are connected to the consumer goods by a tear line, which is formed by a perforation or other weakening and along which the consumer goods can be torn off effortlessly and cleanly.

In the known dispenser pack, the articles of daily use are folded once in length in order to obtain a narrower stack, but can also be folded several times or unfolded.

The overlying edge strips are or the like in the known dispenser pack in the area of the top of a bracing by means of staples. attached to this, which is made of stiff paper or cardboard and has approximately the shape of a cardboard shirt insert, such as laundries put into pre-washed and ironed shirts.

This stiffener, which is referred to as the "core", is somewhat wider than the stack and has a recess on its top and bottom. The stack fastened in the area of the underside with the edge strips is knocked over the top of the core and led down to the front thereof, where it is guided through a guide slot which is formed by the lower end of the core which is bent forwards and upwards.

A hanging hole is formed on both sides of the stack on the top of the core, with which the entire package can be hung.

This dispenser pack is preferably accommodated in a packaging bag, not described in detail, with a Perforation on the underside, i.e. in the area of the free ends of the consumer goods.

The core also has a fold line in the middle, by means of which it can be folded together with the stack placed around it.

A typical disadvantage of modern packaging also occurs with the dispenser packaging described: The proportion of space, material and cost that is required for the packaging is very large, measured in relation to the proportion that is required for the packaged goods.

If one packs disposable aprons in the known dispenser pack, and if one assumes that the weight of the packaged disposable aprons is about 3 kg, then it is readily apparent that the cardboard sheet forming the core must have a very considerable size and rigidity. It is difficult to accommodate such a cardboard sheet in a waste bin, such as is used in hospital outpatient clinics, especially since such a waste bin must always be closed for hygienic reasons.

Another disadvantage of the known dispenser pack is that the individual articles of daily use can be difficult to remove: If, for example, the disposable aprons contained in the dispenser pack consist of a plastic that, when it slides on a similar plastic, has a high coefficient of friction, then must when pulling off a new disposable apron from the dispenser pack, the frictional force that results from the fact that the aprons lie on top of one another with mutual wrapping around one another is overcome.

In addition, the force required to tear off a disposable apron from the edge strip tends to kink the core, which is anyway provided with a fold line in the middle. The core must therefore be particularly stiff.

Based on this prior art, the invention has for its object to at least partially avoid the disadvantages mentioned above and to create a dispenser pack that is smaller than the known dispenser pack, has a smaller and more easily stowed waste fraction and facilitates the tearing off of the objects.

This object is solved by the features of claim 1.

Here, the everyday items are not only extended at one end, but also at the opposite end by an edge strip that can be torn off. The entire stack, whose opposite ends or narrow sides are formed by the first and second edge strips, is folded over in the middle so that the first and second edge strips lie one above the other.

Overall, these edge strips form a fastening strip, the rigidity of which is not reduced even if individual items of use are torn off, since the edge strips remain in the dispenser package.

If a stiffener is used on which the first edge strips are fastened, this lies between the first and second edge strips and likewise forms part of the fastening strip, which is further stiffened by the stiffening.

The hanging holes are formed in this mounting bar.

The dispenser pack according to the invention is hung on the fastening strip by means of the hanging holes. When a commodity is separated, it is not gripped at the free end, as in the generic dispenser pack, but rather in the middle where the entire stack has been turned over. In order to remove the article of daily use, it is necessary that two tear-off lines are not cut through, as before, but two tear-off lines. Nevertheless, less effort is required to tear off, since the tear-off force does not, as in the generic dispenser pack, contribute to increasing the friction of the consumer articles sliding over one another, so that surprisingly a very low tear-off force that is independent of the frictional behavior of the stacked consumer articles is required to remove a consumer article.

In addition, the dispenser pack according to the invention does not have a bulky and large core like the generic, but after removal of the articles of use only the fastening strip remains, which is relatively small and narrow and can also be easily stowed in a small waste bin.

Otherwise, the outer dimensions of the dispenser pack according to the invention are only larger by the width of an edge strip than those of the packaged consumer goods, in contrast to the known dispenser pack, the outer dimensions of which are considerably larger.

If, due to a manufacturing defect on one of the tear lines, an increased effort is required to tear one off Commodities are required, then this can be easily applied to the dispenser pack according to the invention, in contrast to the known dispenser pack, in which the tear-off force to be applied must not exceed the kink load for the core.

Especially when the fastening strip has a continuous stiffening, it is fundamentally not necessary that the second edge strips are formed continuously, but they can be formed, for example, in the case of consumer articles forming single-use aprons, only by extensions of the apron straps or the apron upper part. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the second edge strip, like the first edge, is also continuous, the associated tear line, for example in the case of a disposable apron as a consumer article, not extending over the entire length of the edge strip, but only over the connection areas to the apron straps or towards the apron top. In this way, the edge strip contributes to the stiffening of the fastening strip over the full length, the stacking and folding over of the disposable aprons is facilitated, since their ends protruding like a corner are kept at a uniform distance by the attached second edge strip, and finally the tearing off is also Disposable apron made easier by the fact that only a relatively short tear-off line has to be separated in the region of the second edge strip.

The first and second edge strips do not necessarily have to be of the same length, but they are, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in order to thereby further increase the rigidity of the fastening strip.

In the known dispenser pack mentioned at the outset, the stiffening required in the region of the first edge strip is formed by the core made of cardboard, cardboard or strong paper. Insofar as a stiffener is used in the dispenser pack according to the invention, which forms part of the fastening strip, this stiffener has very considerably smaller dimensions: This stiffening is preferred as strips of cardboard, cardboard or the like. formed, has the same length as the edge strips and a width that can be less than or equal to that of the edge strips.

The second edge strips can be wider than the first edge strips and, if necessary, connect the tip-like ends of the consumer article, the tangling of the consumer articles being prevented during stacking because of the width of the edge strip

The known dispenser pack is encased in a closed packaging bag and has a tearable tear seam in the area of the free ends of the consumer articles, that is to say on the underside of the vertically suspended dispenser pack, which is formed by a perforation or another weakening line. In this case, the document mentioned at the outset is no further indication of the exact arrangement and design of this tear seam.

The purpose of such a packaging bag is to form a cover for the suspended dispenser pack in order to prevent contamination of the articles of use contained therein and, if necessary, to maintain their sterility as far as possible even if the dispenser pack has been open for a long time and is almost empty .

In the case of the generic dispenser package, its packaging bag may also be closed on its underside after being torn open, so that a pocket is formed in which dirt can accumulate. In addition, the known dispenser pack contains a considerable proportion of voids, since the stack forms layers spread apart from one another in its central region, where it is turned over. If you accidentally bump into the suspended and opened dispenser pack, air is expelled from its cavities and then sucked in again, which can quickly get dust and germs into the dispenser pack.

In contrast to this, the dispenser package according to the invention, in which the two parts of the stack which are turned over one another lie closely on one another, has virtually no void portion. In addition, since the individual consumer items are grasped and removed exactly at the handling point, i.e. at the very bottom of the dispenser pack, in contrast to the known dispenser pack, in which the removal point is a little above the underside, a packaging bag must be when it is at the Dispenser pack remains to be opened exactly on its underside in order to make the articles of daily use accessible, so that the formation of dirt-absorbing pockets is excluded from the outset.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the tear seam on the lower edge of the packaging bag or in the vicinity of this lower edge is extended upwards by a small piece, for example by a hand's width, that is to say by about 8 to 10 cm, to the side of the bag. When the bag is hung up, this extension of the tear seam is arranged on the side that corresponds to the hand, with which the consumer goods are normally removed. It is therefore possible to remove these articles of use quickly and easily, without having to laboriously reach from below into a bag which is only open at the bottom. Nevertheless, the side surfaces of the bag hang constantly in use over the consumer articles contained in the dispenser package, so that these or the like from contamination, for example by spraying. are protected.

According to the invention, the position of the tear seam should not lie above the lower edge of the stack of consumer articles. Insofar as the tear seam lies above the lower edge of the packaging bag, it is preferably arranged on the front and back of the packaging bag in order to avoid the aforementioned formation of pockets.

In principle, it is possible to form holes in the packaging bag which are aligned with the suspension holes in the fastening strip.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the packaging bag has no holes, so that the sterile packaging of the consumer goods is made possible.

To hang the dispenser pack according to the invention, pointed mandrels can be used which pierce the packaging bag in the area of the hanging holes. However, it may also be possible, for example with a triangular scraper, to briefly drill the packaging bag in the area of the hanging holes before hanging up the dispenser pack.

In any case, the edges of the holes made in the packaging bag lie against the suspension mandrels, so that the penetration of dirt from above is very difficult.

A preferred use of the dispenser package according to the invention is in the packaging of disposable aprons which are folded lengthwise once before they are placed in a stack.

With such a dispenser pack, according to a further, preferred embodiment of the invention, the upwardly elongated section of the tear seam is arranged in the region of the fold of the individual aprons, where it is easier to grip and pull off an individual apron than on the opposite side, where the free cut edges meet lie on them and, under certain circumstances, adhere to one another due to air pressure or static electricity.

In this embodiment, as well as when using other consumer goods, the packaging bag on the side of the extension of the tear seam is preferably designed such that it projects beyond the associated side of the consumer goods at a distance. Thus, the upwardly extending extension of the tear seam can be arranged in an area outside of the articles of daily use, so that they remain covered over their entire extent by the separated sides of the packaging bag during use.

• Abb. I die Draufsicht auf einen Stapel von Einmalschürzen nach dem Stanzen und vor dem Umlegen,
• Abb. II eine erste Ausführungsform einer fertigen Spenderpackung ohne Verpackungsbeutel, in Seitenansicht,
• Abb. III die Spenderpackung der Abb. II, in Frontansicht,
• Abb. IV eine zweite Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Spenderpackung, mit Verpackungsbeutel,
• Abb. V eine Frontansicht der Spenderpackung der Abb. IV, und
• Abb. VI den Unterteil der Spenderpackung der Abb. IV und V, in Frontansicht und nach Aufreißen des Verpackungsbeutels.

The object of the invention is explained in more detail, for example, with the aid of the attached schematic drawing. In this show:

• Fig. I the top view of a stack of disposable aprons after punching and before folding,
• Fig. II a first embodiment of a finished dispenser pack without packaging bag, in side view,
• Fig. III the dispenser pack of Fig. II, in front view,
• Fig. IV a second embodiment of a dispenser pack according to the invention, with packaging bag,
• Fig. V is a front view of the dispenser pack of Fig. IV, and
• Fig. VI the lower part of the dispenser pack of Fig. IV and V, in front view and after opening the packaging bag.

In Fig. I, the plan view of a stack 1 is shown on a greatly reduced scale, which is formed from disposable aprons which are folded over one another in the middle along their longitudinal axis of symmetry.

Each of the disposable aprons is extended on its underside via a transverse tear line 4 by a first edge strip 5. The edge strip 5 extends over the entire width of the disposable apron, so that the tear line 4 and the edge strip 5 are folded over so that they lie one on top of the other. The entire edge strip 5 has four suspension holes 6, which are arranged such that they lie on top of one another when folded along the bow 11, so that the stack 1 formed, on the right side of which in the drawing the superimposed longitudinal bend 11, continuous suspension holes 6 are created.

A neck tape 16 and apron straps 17 are formed on the top of the disposable apron by means of punched-out portions 2, the punched-out portions 2 being delimited by continuous cutting lines 3.

The free upper boundary lines of the neck band 16 and the apron bands 17 are formed by a tear line 4. As can be seen from Fig. I, the sections delimited by the tear-off lines 4 of the neck band 16 and the apron bands 17 are connected to one another by a second edge strip 5 ', which also has four hanging holes 6 which are in register with one another in pairs.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the width of the upper edge strip 5 'is larger than that of the lower edge strip 5, in order to ensure that the three-part tear-off line 4 delimiting the upper edge strips 5' together with the cutting line 3 has such a large length that the accidental loosening of the upper edge strip 5 'then, while the individual disposable aprons are placed in a stack 1, is reliably avoided.

At the middle level of the stack 1 shown in Fig. I, the dash-dotted line indicates the point at which the stack 1, as shown in Fig. II, is folded over to form a dispenser package. Here are then the free longitudinal edges of the edge strips 5 and 5 'flush with each other and the suspension holes 6 are in mutual coverage. For the rest are the marginal strips 5, 5 'attached to each other so that the hanging holes 6' can not slip against each other. Here, the stack of lower or first edge strips 5 and upper or second edge strips 5 'form a continuous fastening strip, which is preferably, as shown in Fig. II, reinforced by a stiffener 13, which is formed by a narrow cardboard strip, the Length is equal to that of the two edge strips 5, 5 'and its width is a little larger than that of the lower or first edge strip 5 and about half as large as that of the upper or second edge strip 5'.

The stacks of first and second edge strips 5, 5 'are preferably fastened to the stiffening 13 by wire clips. The stiffening 13 is formed by a cardboard strip and in turn has holes, not shown in the drawing, which are aligned with the hanging holes 6 of the folded-over stack 1.

As shown in Fig. III, the lower part of the stack 1 shown in Fig. I turned back.

In Fig. IV to VI a second embodiment of a dispenser pack is shown, which differs from that in Fig. I to III in that the stack 1 is received with the fastening strip in a packaging bag 7.

Through the upper, open side of the rectangular packaging bag 7, which can be closed by a flap 8, the stack 1 is pushed into the packaging bag 7 in the form shown in FIGS. II and III; then the flap 8 is folded over and attached sterile, for example welded shut. At the same time, the position of the stack 1 within the packaging bag 7 is also fixed.

As can be seen from FIGS. IV and V, the packaging bag 7 extends on the right side of the stack 1, that is to say on the side on which the bow 11 of the disposable aprons lies, at a distance beyond the stack 1 and also on the underside , i.e. the side that is opposite the mounting strip.

A tear seam 9 extends, as can be seen from Fig. V, near the lower edge of the packaging bag 7 from its left side in the drawing to almost its right side, from there about 8 to 10 cm upwards and then to the right side edge of the packaging bag 7, the tear seam being formed on the front and back of the packaging bag 7. However, the tear seam 9 does not touch or overlap the underside of the stack 1 at any point.

If the packaging bag 7 is torn open, its lower part is severed along the tear seam 9, so that the remaining lower section of the packaging bag 7, as can be seen in FIG. VI, has a lower free edge 15 which is still below the stack 1, and a right-hand separating edge, which makes it possible to lift a corner 10 of the front of the packaging bag so that a disposable apron can be gripped in the region of the bow 11 and pulled out of the packaging bag 7 downwards. After removing this apron, the bent corner 10 falls down again, so that in the opened dispenser pack the stack 1 is always protected from splashing and similar contamination.

Claims (9)

1. A dispenser pack for individually withdrawing flat or sheet-like commodities, preferably disposal aprons, which are extended at one end by a preferably continuous marginal strip (5) which can be detached from the commodity along a perforated or otherwise weakened tear-off line (4), laid individuallly folded or unfolded to form a stack (1) and connected to each other at the marginal strips (5), the stack (1) being folded in such a way that the other ends (16, 17) of the commodities lie in the vicinity of these marginal strips (5), and the dispenser pack having suspension holes (6) and preferably a stiffener (13) made preferably of board or stiff paper on which the marginal strips (5) are fixed, characterised in that

― the other end (16, 17) of each commodity is extended by a second marginal strip (5′) which, like the first (5), is connected to the commodity so as to be detachable,

― the second marginal strips (5′) lying one above the other in the stack (1) form a fastening strip together with the first marginal strips (5) and, where applicable, with the stiffener (13) arranged between the first and second marginal strips (5, 5′), and

― the suspension holes (6) are arranged in the fastening strip.

2. A dispenser pack according to claim 1, characterised in that the second marginal strip (5′) extends over the whole width of the stack (1).

3. A dispenser pack according to either one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the first and second marginal strips (5, 5′) are of approximately equal length.

4. A dispenser pack according to claim 3, characterised in that the stiffener is designed as a strip (13), the length of which corresponds to that of the marginal strips (5, 5′) and the width of which at the most only slightly exceeds that of the marginal strips (5, 5′).

5. A dispenser pack according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which has a covering made from a closed packaging bag (7) which is provided with a detachable, perforated or otherwise weakened tear seam (9) close to that underside of the dispenser pack which faces away from the upper side carrying the suspension holes, characterised in that the tear seam (9) is arranged on the lower edge of the packaging bag (7) or its immediate vicinity, extends over the whole length of the packaging bag (7) and is extended on one side of the packaging bag as far as the upper side of the dispenser pack over a distance of approximately 5 cm to 15 cm, preferably 8 cm to 10 cm.

6. A dispenser pack according to claim 5, characterised in that the packaging bag (7) covers the suspension holes (6).

7. A dispenser pack according to either one of claims 5 or 6, characterised in that the packaging bag (7) projects above the stack (1) at a distance from the latter on the side of the extension of the tear seam (9).

8. A dispenser pack according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterised in that the tear seam extends outside the region of the packaging bag (7) covering the stack (1), and in that the packaging bag (7) is preferably fixed to the fastening strip.

9. A dispenser pack according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the commodities are formed of disposable aprons folded once lengthways along their longitudinal axis of symmetry, characterised in that the extension of the tear seam (9) is arranged on the head side (11) of the disposable aprons.

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