EP1529629A1 - Method of packaging rolled products and embossing roll - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves rolling a paper sheet in logs. The logs are cut into individual rolls. The sheets of the individual rolls are embossed according to the respective embossing patterns (M 1-M 4) engraved on four zones (Z 1-Z 4) of an embossing cylinder. The zones are separated in an axial direction by an intermediate zone (Z t) having a micro-embossing pattern (D). An independent claim is also included for an embossing cylinder engraved with embossing pattern for implementing a method of manufacturing a tissue papers roll.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of products for use sanitary or domestic rolls and aims in particular the rolls of tissue paper or cellulose wadding wrapped in film. For example, the rolls are intended for use as toilet paper or paper towels.

The rolls are formed by winding a continuous sheet, possibly precut in successive coupons. The leaf is itself composed of one or more superposed folds of which at least the fold exterior, apparent, is embossed in a decorative pattern.

They are packaged in groups of two or more, that is to say encloses them in protective packaging for their retail sale. The invention relates in particular to the conditioning of rolls in a transparent film on at least part of its surface because we want leave the decor apparent.

The technique of transforming a tissue paper sheet, issue of the paper machine, in rolls ready for sale includes several steps found in the majority of production lines.

The sheet is unwound from a mother reel, 2.6m wide by example; it leads to an embossing unit in which the sheet is embossed, possibly associated in several folds to form a multi-ply leaf. The leaf is then wrapped around a mandrel of the same width as that of the mother reel, so that to form a roll of diameter corresponding to the final diameter of the rolls that one wishes to obtain. This roller, which is designated by log in the present technical field, is then cut into rolls individual. These are deposited on belt conveyors and guided to a marshalling yard where they are separated into roll trains successive to be wrapped in film.

For example, patent EP 0 995 681 in the name of the applicant discloses a unit for manufacturing and packaging such rolls.

More specifically, this document discloses a manufacturing unit and packaging in series of products in rolls which comprises, upstream in downstream relative to the direction of roll progress in the unit: a cutting station intended to cut the logs in successive trains, spaced or no, several rolls of smaller length, and a conveyor intended to convey the roll trains from the cutting station to a dispatching station which, in turn, distributes train by train several packing stations.

The problem that the invention aims to solve concerns the means of make packages of several rolls, at least two of them have different embossed decorations.

To realize these different sets, one solution would be to emboss the paper on units equipped with embossing rolls different, each embossing cylinder being engraved with a pattern different. We would thus produce logs with different decorations.

In the device presented above, if the logs are not all identical to the decor and that they are cut simultaneously, the post distribution can actually lead to a mixture of different rolls in the packages.

However, this solution is expensive. She asks for a management very heavy rollers that it's hard to envision in a high volume industrial plant with satisfactory performance. Between the embossing units and the packaging units, the installations provide towers forming a temporary storage. Log management different in these towers certainly would not be a solution economically interesting.

The present invention aims at a simple and economical solution in particular the problem referred to above.

According to the invention, the method of manufacturing and packaging rolls of tissue paper in which one waffles at minus one sheet of paper in an embossing unit comprising a engraved embossing cylinder, the sheet is wound into logs, the logs in individual rolls, the rolls are transported up to one of packaging, is characterized in that said embossing cylinder includes at least first zones with a first pattern of embossing and second areas with a second embossing pattern different from the first one, individual rolls being obtained with a embossed sheet according to the first pattern and individual rolls being obtained whose sheet is embossed according to the second pattern.

More precisely, the first zones and the second zones form distinct bands, transverse to the axis of the cylinder. According to a particular characteristic, they are separated in the axial direction by a so-called intermediate zone, the cutting of the logs being carried out in the embossed sheet at said zones intermediate. According to another particular characteristic the width of each of the areas in the axial direction is less than the width said individual rolls.

The engraved cylinder may include thirds, fourths areas, etc. with as many different patterns as the width of the sheet mother allows it. For example, for a sheet from a mother reel of 260 cm wide, the cylinder can include up to twenty-six zones with different patterns insofar as each individual roll has a width of 10cm.

According to one embodiment, the intermediate zone has no embossing pattern.

According to another embodiment, the intermediate zone is embossed and comprises in particular an embossing pattern consisting of protuberances arranged in alignments or an embossing pattern consisting of micro-protuberances distributed in the proportion of at least 30 micro-protuberances per cm ² , the two patterns being alone or combined.

In particular, the motif of the intermediate zone constitutes a motive for at least one of the first or second zones. By reason background is understood to mean a motif or a motif element that is found in in areas or a set of areas.

According to another feature, the width of the area intermediate in the axial direction of the cylinder is between 1 and 40 mm, preferably between 5 and 30 mm.

According to another characteristic, the sum of the width of the first zone and the intermediate zone or the sum of the width of the second zone and the intermediate zone is substantially equal to that of an individual roll.

Thus, the cutting of the rolls can be carried out with some tolerance with respect to the relative position of the cutting blades in the length of the logs. The cut is made between the different patterns whatever their arrangement and / or orientation on the log. This feature makes it possible to be certain to split the logs between a first and second zone. This ensures the final rolls on which it appears only one reason, first, second or nth.

Aesthetically pleasing rolls having a good presentation.

From a single log cutting machine, one can train packaged packages consisting of several rolls having patterns of embossing different unlike the solution where they would be made to from several machines. This results in a saving in manufacturing and significant investment.

The solution of the invention also allows, in a simple manner, without have to put in place any way of managing the logs produced with different reasons, to obtain packages consisting of rollers having different embossing patterns.

According to another advantage of the process, the yawning of edges of the leaves when they consist of several folds linked between them. Just make sure the sheets are linked together at least in the intermediate zone. Fold binding is usually obtained by gluing the folds together along embossing reliefs. The non-embossed areas are not stuck.

Moreover, with a micro-embossing background, it ensures a homogeneous distribution of embossing efforts over the width of the width of the leaf.

According to another characteristic, we store temporarily log them before cutting into individual rolls.

According to another characteristic, train trains are individual rolls from the same log.

Thus one is not forced to realize the continuous production. This storage step after embossing the logs and before they are cut in rolls, makes it possible to manufacture a certain number of logs then, when making rolls is necessary, to take them back and to cut them according to the invention.

This modulation in the production is very advantageous because avoids online manufacturing.

• La figure 1 est un schéma d'une partie d'une installation de fabrication et d'emballage de produits en rouleaux ;
• Les figures 2A et 2B sont des schémas de la partie aval d'une installation de fabrication et d'emballage de produits en rouleaux depuis la découpe des logs jusqu'à l'emballage des rouleaux, selon deux variantes ;
• La figure 3 est un exemple d'un motif de gaufrage sur log, selon l'invention ;
• La figure 4 est une représentation schématique d'une installation de gaufrage. La figure 1 permet d'illustrer les principales étapes, connues, de la fabrication de produits en rouleaux.On trouve, d'amont en aval relativement au sens d'avancement des produits dans la chaíne de fabrication, un poste de découpe et un convoyeur.
• Le poste de découpe 12 est destiné à couper des logs 2 successifs de grande longueur et d'un diamètre donné, en trains successifs de plusieurs rouleaux 22 de plus petite longueur. Par exemple un log de 260 cm de long est découpé en 26 rouleaux 22.
• Le convoyeur 14 achemine les trains de rouleaux 22 du poste de découpe 12 à un poste de répartition 16 qui distribue les rouleaux 22 sur deux postes d'emballage 18A et 18B.

Other features, details, advantages of the invention will appear better on reading the following description given by way of illustration and in no way limitative, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a diagram of a part of a facility for manufacturing and packaging products in rolls;
• FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams of the downstream part of a facility for manufacturing and packaging products in rolls from the cutting of the logs to the packaging of the rolls, according to two variants;
• Figure 3 is an example of an embossing pattern on log, according to the invention;
• Figure 4 is a schematic representation of an embossing installation. FIG. 1 illustrates the main known steps in the manufacture of products in rolls. A cutting station and a conveyor are found, from upstream to downstream relative to the direction of travel of the products in the production line. .
• The cutting station 12 is intended to cut successive logs 2 of great length and of a given diameter, in successive trains of several rollers 22 of smaller length. For example a log 260 cm long is cut into 26 rolls 22.
• The conveyor 14 conveys the roller trains 22 of the cutting station 12 to a distribution station 16 which distributes the rollers 22 on two packing stations 18A and 18B.

Figures 2A and 2B each illustrate an embodiment providing respectively one unit and two cutting units.

According to FIG. 2A, the installation comprises a single unit of 12, which allows cutting four logs simultaneously (no represented), resulting in four sets of rollers which are distributed at the level of the distributor 16 on twice four sets of rollers directed to two packaging units 18A, 18B.

According to FIG. 2B, the installation comprises two cutting units 12A, 12B, to cut two sets of logs simultaneously: here twice two logs 2.

From each cutting unit 12A, 12B thus leave two sets of rollers 22 each directed to a distributor 16A, 16B which directs alternatively the series of rollers 22 to one rail or another, the rails for directing rolls to a packaging unit 18A, 18B.

The present invention relates to a method for producing packages packaged comprising several rolls decorated according to patterns of different embossing. The rollers are arranged randomly or pseudo-randomly so that the packets all appear different, the number of possible combinations being very large.

This objective is achieved simply by the method according to the invention which preferably but not exclusively uses a cylinder 100 embossing engraved in a pattern as visible in Figure 3.

This figure shows the developed surface of a part of the cylinder 100. The distance Lp, taken in the direction of the axis of the cylinder, here corresponds to the width of four individual rolls.

At this distance, the embossing comprises a first zone Z ₁ , in the form of a strip perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder, with a first pattern M ₁ , a second zone Z ₂ in the form of a strip also, with a second pattern M ₂ different of the first and, in between, an intermediate transition zone Z _t , here with a pattern D different from the other patterns. The main patterns M ₁ and M ₂ are arranged in strips of width 1. The width 1 is smaller than that of an individual roll which is commonly 10 cm. The pattern D is composed of a bottom consisting of microprotrusions D1 and discrete protuberances arranged in alignments D2.

The representation of FIG. 3 shows two other zones Z ₃ and Z ₄ with still different patterns M ₃ and M ₄ . Between these zones, and according to this embodiment, the intermediate zones Z _t are all identical, with the same pattern D. This pattern D also constitutes a background pattern passing through all the patterns M ₁ to M ₄ . These here represent flowers distributed along strips. It is certain that other drawings are included within the scope of the invention which does not refer to the motifs as such.

The pattern D is preferably of the microgolding type, ie consisting of protuberances distributed at least in part regularly to the surface at a rate of 30 per cm ² at least. The density can be higher, up to 100 per cm ² in practice. The size of the protuberances is directly related to the density of the pattern. This pattern is in this embodiment completed by a lacing of protuberances forming corrugations.

Of course, the sequence of patterns according to the width of the width can take countless forms. A great freedom in the choice of motives and in their mutual arrangement on the log is advantageously possible.

In all cases, it is necessary to have at least two different patterns M _i across the width of the width.

According to another embodiment not shown, the third intermediate zones may be devoid of pattern D. The intermediate zones Z _t allow a certain tolerance of the position of the cutting members between a first zone Z ₁ and a second zone Z ₂ . The logs, given the variation of certain manufacturing parameters, may be slightly offset with respect to the theoretical position relative to the cutting member. The intermediate zone Z _t thus makes it possible to overcome this possible offset and to obtain rolls on which on which it appears only one motive.

Zones Z _t preferably cover a length of between 1 and 40, preferably between 5 and 30 mm.

The pattern in these zones Z _t may consist of straight or curved lines and / or alignments for example spikes or pins. In specialized vocabulary, alignments are commonly called lacis.

Preferably, the laces have a gluing function when several folds must be assembled by gluing, in particular, a dye can be added to the glue.

According to an additional feature of the invention, a micro-embossing can be expected on almost the entire surface of the log. According to another characteristic, it is advantageously realized before embossing the patterns. We waffle the leaf before its passage in the embossing station including the embossing cylinder according to the invention.

The micro-embossing can also be performed simultaneously with embossing of the Mi motives.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the two types embossing are performed on the same fold of the cellulosic product.

The micro-embossing confers a better homogeneity to the product, in that it avoids substantial differences in thickness between the different areas.

An example of an embossing installation is described below. assembly, shown in FIG. 4 which allows the production of a two-ply leaf, one of which is embossed. This machine includes said 100 rotating cylinder, made of steel or other rigid material, suitably engraved on the surface according to the pattern that allows the embossing of the invention. For example, this is the pattern shown in Figure 3. A rubber cylinder 110 is rotatably mounted on an axis parallel to the first. It presses the cylinder 100 by means of appropriate cylinders not shown. A first strip of paper is guided from one upstream reel, around the cylinder 110 and between the two cylinders 100 and 110. The sheet then marries the relief of the cylinder 100 by the pressure of the rubber. Depending on the pressure of the cylinders and the nature of the rubber, the Paper penetrates more or less deeply inside the engraved pattern. The delicacy of it is also a parameter that must be kept account. The sheet plated on the cylinder 100 then passes in front of a sizing device 104 which applies glue on the top of the relief elements. Glue 104 here is a cylinder with a rigid surface which receives glue from a doctor's room for example.

A second strip of paper from a second reel example is filed against the first tape by a marrying cylinder 106. The film of glue on the first sheet P1 migrates partly on the parts of the second P2 band that come into contact with the parts in relief of the band P1. The two folds are thus linked together by these surfaces in contact. The two-ply sheet is then rolled, log in particular and leads to the post-processing stations.

Other embossing and sheet assembly facilities that this can be applied, depending on the product you want get. For example, the roll 106 can be replaced by a second embossing unit and associate the plies in point-to-tip mode or in nested mode with a marrying cylinder as is known from the skilled person. If two-step embossing is planned, a first embossing cylinder suitably engraved upstream of the cylinder 100.

Claims (15)

Process for manufacturing and packaging rolls of tissue paper in which at least one sheet of paper is embossed in an embossing unit comprising an engraved embossing cylinder, the sheet is wound into logs (2), logs are cut (2) in individual rolls (22), the rollers (22) are conveyed to a packaging unit (18), characterized in that said embossing roll comprises at least first zones (Z ₁ ) with a first embossing and second zones (Z ₂ ) with a second embossing pattern different from the first, rolls being obtained whose sheet is embossed according to the first pattern and rolls being obtained whose sheet is embossed according to the second pattern. The method of claim 1 wherein the first zones and the second areas of the embossing cylinder form separate bands, transverse to the axis of the cylinder. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein said first zones (Z ₁ ) and said second zones (Z ₂ ) are separated in the axial direction by an intermediate zone (Z _t ), the cutting of the logs (2) being carried out in the intermediate zones ( Z _t ). Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, the width of each of the first or second zones (Z ₁ or Z ₂ ) in the axial direction is less than the width of said individual rollers (22). Method according to one of claims 3 or 4 wherein the intermediate zone (Z _t ) has no embossing pattern. The method of claim 3 or 4 wherein the intermediate zone (Z _t ) has an embossing pattern. Method according to the preceding claim wherein the intermediate zone (Z _t ) consists of protuberances arranged in alignments. Method according to one of claims 6 and 7, wherein the intermediate zone (Z _t ) comprises an embossing pattern consisting of micro-protuberances distributed in the proportion of at least thirty protuberances per cm ² . Method according to one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the pattern of the intermediate zone (Z _t ) constitutes a background pattern for at least one of the first (Z ₁ ) or second (Z ₂ ) zones. Method according to one of claims 6 to 9, the width of the intermediate zone (Z _t ) in the axial direction of the cylinder is between 1 and 40 mm, preferably between 5 and 30mm. Method according to the preceding claim, the sum of which width of the first zone and the third zone where the sum of the width of the second zone and the third zone is substantially equal to that of an individual roll (22). Method according to one of the preceding claims in which we temporarily store the logs (2) before cutting them into rolls individual (22). Method according to one of the preceding claims in which individual roll trains (22) are formed from one and the same log (2). Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the sheet is first waffled before being embossed by said cylinder of embossing. Embossing cylinder engraved to allow the application process according to one of the preceding claims.

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