EP0893242B1 - Method for manufacture of fibrous cellulosic products, in particular handkerchiefs or towels - Google Patents

Abstract

The procedure is for manufacturing cellulose fibre products such as paper handkerchiefs or serviettes, which may be rectangular or square in shape. Continuous strips (B1,B2) of paper are printed with two different and alternating designs (M1,M2). They are then cut into individual handkerchiefs or serviettes and are stacked prior to packing so that each stack contains articles with alternate designs. The paper used for the procedure is taken from a roll (10) and two rows of alternating designs are printed on it before the strip is divided lengthwise. Each section then passes through a folder (30) to fold the articles lengthwise, then a cutter (32) and finally another folded (34) to fold them transversely before stacking.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing fibrous cellulosic products, such as in particular handkerchiefs or rectangular or square napkins.

One way of marketing this type of product is to distribute in stacks of products which are usually all cut in the same format, each stack containing a certain number of products and being wrapped in plastic film or case flexible transparent which can include information and decorations advertising. Other materials are also used.

In order to make this type of product even more attractive, it has already been proposed that it includes, on each product, a decorative motif.

It can be a colored pattern that is printed on the product and / or an embossed motif in relief in the thickness of the product.

Always with the aim of increasing the approval of use of this type of product sold in bundles of stacked products, it was also proposed that each stack of products include products with at least two different patterns, each stack alternately containing products having a first motif and products comprising a second motif separate from the first.

For this purpose, it therefore proved necessary to carry out stacks of alternate products before final packaging of these batteries in packs in cases.

To this end, a manufacturing process has already been proposed. consisting in producing a first series of products each comprising a first decorative motif and which are cut to the desired format, to be made minus a second series of products each comprising a second decorative pattern and which are cut to the desired format, then to constitute a stack comprising alternately first and second products cut up for subsequent packaging in piles comprising belonging to the two series.

According to a known technique, each series of products is produced independently of each other then the products are put in piles, by automated means, alternately coming to take a product in one or the other series of cut products.

This manufacturing process is particularly complex, slow and expensive in its final phase because it requires, in addition to the installations classics allowing the independent production of the two series of products, to have an additional facility for stacking alternated.

Another known technique is that used for the products of tangled facial type. However to obtain the desired result, that is to say a handkerchief with embossing A followed by a handkerchief with embossing B, it an embossing group should be installed on each of the cotton wool spools cellulose, hence a significant additional material.

The object of the invention is to propose a new process for manufacturing to remove the additional installation alternate stacking, and therefore reduce manufacturing time and cost of alternate product packages.

• les premiers et deuxièmes produits sont réalisés en une bande continue comportant successivement et alternativement dans sa longueur des premiers et des deuxièmes produits ;
• la bande est ensuite tronçonnée pour obtenir une succession de premiers et deuxièmes produits alternés découpés au format ; et
• les produits successifs et alternés sont ensuite empilés consécutivement pour constituer ladite pile.

To this end, the invention proposes a manufacturing process of the type mentioned above, characterized in that:

• the first and second products are produced in a continuous strip comprising successively and alternately in its length first and second products;
• the strip is then cut to obtain a succession of first and second alternating products cut to size; and
• successive and alternating products are then stacked consecutively to form said stack.

Thanks to this design according to the invention, the cutting of the tape provides continuous flow of alternating products which can be immediately automatically stacked one after the other to build the desired stack.

For certain products, and in particular in the case of handkerchiefs paper, the products are folded, in a longitudinal orientation before to be cut to size, and they can also be folded in a transverse orientation after being cut to size and before being stacked.

Thanks to such characteristics, the stacking is directly obtained of folded handkerchiefs and alternate patterns.

To increase the production capacity of a manufacturing unit such products, two continuous strips are produced simultaneously and adjacent for the simultaneous constitution of two piles comprising each at least two alternating products of different patterns, and both adjacent strips are produced in a single width which is separated longitudinally in two strips before cutting the strips.

The alternate products of each of the two adjacent bands can be the same length and aligned longitudinally or they can be offset longitudinally.

Each of the two bands may alternately include first and second products, a first product from one of the bands being for example adjacent to a second product of the other strip.

Each strip can have a combination of at least two folds individual, or sheets, of cellulose wadding, superimposed. The two bands may be the same color or not, and be made of cotton wool cellulose different in nature.

The invention also relates to a continuous strip comprising successively and alternately in its length of the first and second fibrous cellulosic products respectively comprising a first and second decorative motif.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective des principaux éléments d'une installation pour la mise en oeuvre d'un procédé de fabrication conforme aux enseignements de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique en élévation illustrant la position des différents motifs sur un cylindre gravé de gaufrage appartenant à l'installation de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de détail illustrant une partie d'une laize gravée à l'aide du cylindre de la figure 2 et comportant deux bandes adjacentes de mouchoirs à motifs alternés et alignés longitudinalement ;
• les figures 4 et 5 sont deux schémas permettant d'illustrer différents agencements de motifs et de bandes dans une laize ; et
• les figures 6 et 7 sont des vues similaires à celle de la figure 1 qui illustrent deux variantes de réalisation de l'installation.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the main elements of an installation for the implementation of a manufacturing process according to the teachings of the invention;
• Figure 2 is a schematic elevational view illustrating the position of the different patterns on an engraved embossing cylinder belonging to the installation of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a detail view illustrating a portion of a width engraved using the cylinder of Figure 2 and having two adjacent strips of handkerchiefs with alternating patterns and aligned longitudinally;
• Figures 4 and 5 are two diagrams for illustrating different arrangements of patterns and bands in a width; and
• Figures 6 and 7 are views similar to that of Figure 1 which illustrate two alternative embodiments of the installation.

The method according to the invention will now be described in the context of the manufacture of handkerchiefs, in particular of cellulose wadding, which are generally square and packaged in stacks of handkerchiefs, each has handkerchiefs of different designs folded and wrapped in a plastic case.

FIG. 1 shows an installation comprising a reel 10 from which a web 12 of cellulose wadding is unwound.

From the reel 10, the width 12, which can be a folded sheet single or multiple, first pass through a calendering station 14 having function of smoothing the paper and giving it softness by passing between two calendering rollers 16.

The sheet 12 then passes to an embossing station 18 comprising for example a rubber cylinder 20 and an engraved steel cylinder 22, the post 18 having the function of marking in relief different patterns on the width 12, these patterns can also be colored.

The embossing of patterns on the width 12 is such that it results in making two adjacent longitudinal strips, each in accordance with lessons of the invention, successively and alternately along its length, handkerchiefs M1 and M2 with patterns distinct decorative.

In order to obtain the two adjacent bands B1 and B2, one uses by example an engraved cylinder of the type illustrated in FIG. 2 whose surface continuous cylindrical has two adjacent engraved bands b1 and b2 in the cross direction T. Each of these bands has an even number of engraved patterns m1 and m2 successive and alternated according to the direction of movement M.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, each engraved strip b1, b2, and therefore each strip of embossed paper B1, B2, thus comprises the two patterns alternately.

The design of the engraved cylinder 22 is also such as the patterns have the same circumferential length in the direction of travel M, and a first pattern m1 is aligned in the running direction with a pattern m2 of the other band.

After embossing and before separation, as can be seen in the Figure 3, thus obtaining a width 12 comprising the two bands adjacent B1 and B2, each of which alternately contains handkerchiefs M1 and M2.

The installation illustrated in Figure 1 includes a station 24, called slitting by which the bands B1 and B2 are separated by cutting. These then continue to run parallel and at the same speed on guide rollers 26 and 28 then to a station 30, not shown in details in the figures, where the longitudinal folding operations are carried out tissues.

The two bands then arrive at a common post 32 of cutting where the simultaneous cross section of the handkerchiefs of the two bands.

After the cutting station 32, two successions are obtained, depending on the direction of travel, handkerchiefs folded M1 and M2 longitudinally and cut to length which appear in scrolling successively and alternately in each queue.

Each line then passes to a station 34 where a folding is carried out transverse to lead to the formation of two rows of tissues cut and folded. They finally leave the installation according to a arrangement which makes it possible to automatically carry out series of P stacks of handkerchiefs each of which has an alternating stack of handkerchiefs M1 and M2.

It then only remains to condition each stack P by packaging means (not shown in the figures) for making handkerchief packs each containing a case in which is housed a pile of handkerchiefs.

As a variant and as can be seen in FIG. 4, it is of course possible from a width 12 of greater width, that is to say that additional adjacent bands are made simultaneously so as to have for example four adjacent strips comprising each of the alternate patterns.

As a variant, and as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 5, the strip patterns can be offset longitudinally by a strip adjacent to each other.

The choice of patterns aligned or offset from one strip to another results of a compromise, depending on the nature of each of the reasons, with a view to in particular to distribute in a balanced way the engravings on the engraved cylinder in particular to avoid untimely vibration phenomena at the post embossing.

The invention is of course not limited to the case where each of the piles includes handkerchiefs belonging to two different series.

It is of course possible to multiply the number of handkerchiefs different from each stack insofar as it suffices to provide that each strip comprises successively and alternately handkerchiefs with different decorations, for example three or four decorations different and successive.

The products thus produced, and in particular in the case of handkerchiefs, are of course not limited to the case where they include a only one fold per sheet.

On the contrary, they preferably have several folds Bunk.

This is for example the case in the illustrated embodiments in Figures 6 and 7.

In these figures, the installation uses a sheet or width 12 consisting of three superimposed folds which, beyond the calendering station 14, are divided into a single lower S fold and an upper double D fold.

The upper double D fold is entrained between the cylinder in rubber 20 and the engraved cylinder 22 of the embossing station.

The parts formed in relief on the double fold at the exit of the post embossing are then coated with glue by a gluing station 36 which here is shown schematically in the form of a two-cylinder sizing group with doctor blade chamber, other more conventional sizing groups can be envisaged, for example of the known type with three cylinders.

After applying the glue, the simple lower fold is married to the fold upper double embossed and glued by means of a matching cylinder 38.

The rest of the installation shown in Figure 6 is similar to that described and represented with reference to FIG. 1 and it thus makes it possible to make stacks of tissues with two alternating patterns with embossed edges and glued.

In the variant illustrated in FIG. 7, the embossing operations and of collage are reversed.

We see that we apply the glue before embossing on the fold upper double D by means of a gluing station 36.

To prevent the glue from covering the entire surface of the face corresponding to the double D fold, an applicator cylinder 40 is provided having application zones corresponding to the peripheral zones handkerchiefs which will then be engraved.

The third simple lower fold S is assembled to the upper fold double D at the same time as we emboss the patterns with through cylinders 20 and 22.

The rest of the installation, downstream of the embossing station 18, is identical to that described and represented with reference to FIG. 1 and it allows stacks of tissues with two alternating patterns with edges glued and embossed.

Claims (10)

1. Method for production of fibrous cellulose products, such as, in particular, square or rectangular handkerchiefs or napkins, comprising:

   production of a first series of products (M1), each comprising a first decorative pattern, and which are cut to the required format;

   production of at least one second series of products (M2), each comprising a second decorative pattern, and which are cut to the required format; then

   constitution of a stack (P) which comprises alternately first (M1) and second (M2) products, cut in order subsequently to be packed in stacks which belong to both series;

   characterised in that:

   the first (M1) and second (M2) products are produced in a continuous strip (B1, B2), which comprises first (M1) and second (M2) products in succession and alternately along its length;

   the strip is then cut (32) in order to obtain a succession of alternating first (M1) and second (M2) products cut to the format; and

   the successive alternating products (M1, M2) are then stacked consecutively, in order to constitute the said stack (P).
2. Method according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the products (M1, M2) are folded (30) according to a longitudinal orientation, before being cut to the format.
3. Method according to either of the preceding claims, characterised in that the products (M1, M2) are folded (34) according to a transverse orientation, after having been cut to the format, and before being stacked.
4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that two continuous, adjacent strips (B1, B2) are produced simultaneously, for simultaneous constitution of two stacks, each comprising at least two alternating products with different patterns, and in that the two adjacent strips are produced in a single width (12), which is separated longitudinally (24) into two strips before the strips (32) are cut.
5. Method according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the alternating products of each of the two adjacent strips have the same length, and are aligned longitudinally.
6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the alternating products of each of the two adjacent strips are offset longitudinally.
7. Method according to claim 5 or claim 6, characterised in that each of the two strips comprises alternately first and second products.
8. Method according to claim 7, taken in combination with claim 5, characterised in that a first product of one of the strips is adjacent to a second product of the other strip.
9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the strip comprises an association of at least two individual plies or sheets of superimposed cellulose wadding.
10. Continuous strip comprising in succession and alternately along its length first and second fibrous cellulose products, which comprise respectively a first and a second decorative pattern.

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